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John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 10:9

Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith ,.... That carries them from the quarry, where they are dug; or takes them from a heap, where they lie; or that attempts to pull them out of a building, where they are put; or removes them from places, where they are set as boundaries and landmarks; all which is troublesome, and by which men get hurt; the stones fall upon them, or are too heavy for them, or they do what they should not do, and so bring themselves into trouble; as do all such... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 10:10

If the iron be blunt ,.... With which a man cleaves wood: the axe, made of iron: and he do not whet the edge ; with some proper instrument to make it sharper, that it may cut the more easily; then must he put to more strength ; he must give a greater blow, strike the harder, and use more force; and yet it may not be sufficient, or; it may be to no purpose, and he himself may be in the greatest danger of being hurt; as such are who push things with all their might and main, without... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 10:1

Dead flies - Any putrefaction spoils perfume; and so a foolish act ruins the character of him who has the reputation of being wise and good. Alas! alas! in an unguarded moment how many have tarnished the reputation which they were many years in acquiring! Hence, no man can be said to be safe, till he is taken to the paradise of God. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 10:2

A wise man's heart is at his right hand - As the right hand is ordinarily the best exercised, strongest, and most ready, and the left the contrary, they show, The command which the wise man has over his own mind, feelings, passions, etc., and the prudence with which he acts. And, 2. The want of prudence and management in the fool, who has no restraint on his passions, and no rule or guard upon his tongue. The right hand and the left are used in Scripture to express good and evil. The... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 10:3

When - a fool walketh by the way - In every act of life, and in every company he frequents, the irreligious man shows what he is. Vanity, nonsense, and wickedness are his themes: so that in effect he saith to every one that he is a fool. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 10:4

If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee - If the king get incensed against thee. Leave not thy place - Humble thyself before him, that is thy place and duty; for yielding to him, and not standing stoutly in thy defense, pacifieth great offenses: and then, when his anger is appeased, he will hear any thing in thy justification, if thou have any thing to offer. This is good advice to a child in reference to his parents, and to an inferior of any kind in reference to his superiors. ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 10:5

An error which proceedeth from the ruler - What this error in the ruler is, the two following verses point out: it is simpiy this - an injudicious distribution of offices, and raising people to places of trust and confidence, who are destitute of merit, are neither of name nor family to excite public confidence, and are without property; so that they have no stake in the country, and their only solicitude must naturally be to enrich themselves, and provide for their poor relatives. This is... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 10:8

Whoso breaketh a hedge, a serpent shall bite him - While spoiling his neighbor's property, he himself may come to greater mischief: while pulling out the sticks, he may be bit by a serpent, who has his nest there. Some have supposed that נחש nachash here means a thorn; perhaps from the similarity of its prick to the serpent's sting. He who forces his way through a hedge will be pricked by the thorns. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 10:9

Whoso removeth stones - This verse teaches care and caution. Whoever pulls down an old building is likely to be hurt by the stones; and in cleaving wood many accidents occur for want of sufficient caution. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 10:10

If the iron be blunt - If the axe have lost its edge, and the owner do not sharpen it, he must apply the more strength to make it cut: but the wisdom that is profitable to direct will teach him, that he should whet his axe, and spare his strength. Thus, without wisdom and understanding we cannot go profitably through the meanest concerns in life. read more

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