John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:12
For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence ,.... Or, a "shadow" of refreshment and protection, under which men sit with pleasure and safety; a man by his wisdom, and so by his money, is able to defend himself against the injuries and oppressions of others, and especially when both meet in one and the same man. Jarchi renders and interprets it, "he that is in the shadow of wisdom is in the shadow of money, for wisdom is the cause why riches come;' and so the Targum, "as a man... read more
Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:11-22
Solomon, in these verses, recommends wisdom to us as the best antidote against those distempers of mind which we are liable to, by reason of the vanity and vexation of spirit that there are in the things of this world. Here are some of the praises and the precepts of wisdom. I. The praises of wisdom. Many things are here said in its commendation, to engage us to get and retain wisdom. 1. Wisdom is necessary to the right managing and improving of our worldly possessions: Wisdom is good with an... read more