Ecclesiastes 9:13-16

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 9:13-18

Solomon still recommends wisdom to us as necessary to the preserving of our peace and the perfecting of our business, notwithstanding the vanities and crosses which human affairs are subject to. He had said (Eccl. 9:11), Bread is not always to the wise; yet he would not therefore be thought either to disparage, or to discourage, wisdom, no, he still retains his principle, that wisdom excels folly as much as light excels darkness (Eccl. 2:13), and we ought to love and embrace it, and be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 9:13

This wisdom have I seen also under the sun ,.... Or, "this also I have seen under the sun, even wisdom" F8 גם זה ראיתי חכמה תחת השמש "Hoc etiam vidi sub sole, nempe sapientiam", Tigurine version; "etiam hoc vidi, sapientiam sub sole", Cocceius; "etiam hoc vidi, videlicet, sapientiam sub sole", Gejerus. : besides those things he had, just now observed, he took notice that there was such a thing as wisdom among men; though success did not always attend the wise, the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 9:14

There was a little city, and few men within it ,.... Which some take to be a piece of history, a real matter of fact; that as the city of Abel, when besieged by Joab, was delivered by the counsel of a wise woman, 2 Samuel 20:15 ; so there was a city, which Solomon had knowledge of, which was delivered from the siege of a powerful king, by the wise counsel of a poor wise man: though others think it is only a fiction, fable, or parable; the moral of which is, that political wisdom, even in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 9:15

Now there was found in it a poor wise man ,.... Christ, who is man, though not a mere man, but God as well as man; who was so in purpose, covenant, and promise, before his incarnation, since truly and really so; and "poor", as it was foretold he should be, and who became so for the sake of his church and people, Zechariah 9:9 ; yet "wise", even as man, being filled with wisdom, in which he increased, and gave such evident proofs of; on whom the spirit of wisdom rested, and in whom the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 9:16

Then said I, wisdom is better than strength ,.... Wisdom of mind, even in a poor man, is better than strength of body, even of the, most potent prince and powerful army, as may be concluded from the above instance; since the poor wise man could do more by his wisdom than the great king with his mighty army; who was obliged to break up the siege, in consequence of the counsel given, or the methods directed to, or taken, by the poor man; nevertheless, the poor man's wisdom is despised,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 9:14

There was a little city, and few men within it - Here is another proof of the vanity of sublunary things; the ingratitude of men, and the little compensation that genuine merit receives. The little history mentioned here may have either been a fact, or intended as an instructive fable. A little city, with few to defend it, being besieged by a great king and a powerful army, was delivered by the cunning and address on a poor wise man; and afterwards his townsmen forgot their obligation to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 9:16

The poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard - I cannot help pursuing this illustration a little farther. The soldier who found Archimedes busily employed in drawing figures upon the sand, put to him some impertinent question, withal rudely obtruding himself on his operations. To whom this wonderful mathematician replied, "Stand off, soldier, and do not spoil my diagram;" on which the bloody savage struck him dead! read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 9:13

This wisdom have I seen also under the sun ; better, as the Septuagint, This also I saw to be wisdom under the sun . The experience which follows he recognized as an instance of worldly wisdom. To what special event he alludes is quite unknown. Probably the circumstance was familiar to his contemporaries. It is not to be considered as an allegory, though of course it is capable of spiritual application. The event in Bible history most like it is the preservation of Abel-Beth-maachah by... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 9:13-16

Section 9. That wisdom, even when it does good service, is not always rewarded, is shown by an example. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 9:14

There was a little city . The substantive verb is, as commonly, omitted. Commentators have amused themselves with endeavoring to identify the city here mentioned. Thus some see herein Athens, saved by the counsel of Themistocles, who was afterwards driven from Athens and died in misery (Justin; 2.12); or Dora, near Mount Carmel, besieged unsuccessfully by Antiochus the Great, B.C. 218, though we know nothing of the circumstances (Polyb; 5.66); but see note on Ecclesiastes 9:13 . The... read more

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