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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 4:4-6

Here Solomon returns to the observation and consideration of the vanity and vexation of spirit that attend the business of this world, which he had spoken of before, Eccl. 2:11. I. If a man be acute, and dexterous, and successful in his business, he gets the ill-will of his neighbours, Eccl. 4:4. Though he takes a great deal of pains, and goes through all travail, does not get his estate easily, but it costs him a great deal of hard labour, nor does he get it dishonestly, he wrongs no man,... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 4:7-12

Here Solomon fastens upon another instance of the vanity of this world, that frequently the more men have of it the more they would have; and on this they are so intent that they have no enjoyment of what they have. Now Solomon here shows, I. That selfishness is the cause of this evil (Eccl. 4:7, 8): There is one alone, that minds none but himself, cares for nobody, but would, if he could, be placed alone in the midst of the earth; there is not a second, nor does he desire there should be: one... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 4:13-16

Solomon was himself a king, and therefore may be allowed to speak more freely than another concerning the vanity of kingly state and dignity, which he shows here to be an uncertain thing; he had before said so (Prov. 27:24; The crown doth not endure to every generation), and his son found it so. Nothing is more slippery than the highest post of honour without wisdom and the people's love. I. A king is not happy unless he have wisdom, Eccl. 4:13, 14. He that is truly wise, prudent, and pious,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 4:4

Again I considered all travail, and every right work ,.... The pains that men take to do right works. Some apply themselves, with great diligence and industry, to the study of the liberal arts and sciences; and to attain the knowledge of languages; and to writing books, for the improvement of those things, and the good of mankind: and others employ themselves in mechanic arts, and excel in them, and bring their works to great perfection and accuracy; when they might expect to be praised and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 4:5

The fool foldeth his hands together ,.... In order to get more sleep, or as unwilling to work; so the Targum adds, "he folds his hands in summer, and will not labour;' see Proverbs 6:10 . Some persons, to escape the envy which diligence and industry bring on men, will not work at all, or do any right work, and think to sleep in a whole skin; this is great folly and madness indeed: and eateth his own flesh ; such a man is starved and famished for want of food, so that his flesh is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 4:6

Better is a handful with quietness ,.... These are the words of the fool, according to Aben Ezra; and which is the sense of other interpreters, particularly Mr. Broughton, who connects this verse with Ecclesiastes 4:5 by adding at the end of that the word "saying"; making an excuse or an apology for himself and conduct, from the use and profitableness of his sloth; that little had with ease, and without toil and labour, is much better than both the hands full with travail and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 4:7

Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun. Another vanity besides what he had taken notice of, and is as follows. Aben Ezra's note is, "I turned from considering the words of this fool, and I saw another fool, the reverse of the former.' read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 4:8

There is one alone , and there is not a second ,.... According to Aben Ezra, either no friend or companion, or no servant, or no wife, which last sense he prefers; no friend or companion he chooses, because friendship and fellowship lead to expenses; and no servant who would be chargeable to him; and no wife, which would be more expensive, and bring on a family of children; wherefore, to save charges, he chooses to have neither of these; for this is a covetous man who is here desert bed;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 4:9

Two are better than one ,.... The wise man takes occasion, from the solitariness Of the covetous man before described, to show in this and some following verses the preferableness and advantages of social life; which, as it holds true in things natural and civil, so in things spiritual and religious; man is a sociable creature, was made to be so; and it was the judgment of God, which is according to truth, and who can never err, that it was not good for man to be alone, Genesis 2:18 . It... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 4:10

For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow ,.... That is, if anyone of them fall, the other will lift him up, as they are travelling together, in whatsoever manner; if one falls from his horse, or out of his carriage, or into a ditch, the other will endeavour to raise him up again: this, as it is true in a natural, so in a figurative and metaphorical sense, with religious persons especially; "if one of them falls upon the bed, and lies sick,' as the Targum paraphrases it, his... read more

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