Ecclesiastes 2:7-8

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

Solomon here, in pursuit of the summum bonum?the felicity of man, adjourns out of his study, his library, his elaboratory, his council-chamber, where he had in vain sought for it, into the park and the playhouse, his garden and his summer-house; he exchanges the company of the philosophers and grave senators for that of the wits and gallants, and the beaux-esprits, of his court, to try if he could find true satisfaction and happiness among them. Here he takes a great step downward, from the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 2:7

I got me servants and maidens ,.... Menservants, and maidservants; the Targum adds, "of the children of Ham, and of the rest of the strange people;' these were such as he hired, or bought with his money; and had servants born in my house ; and these were all employed by him; either as his retinue and equipage, his attendants and bodyguards; or to take care of his household, his gardens, and pools; or for his horses and chariots, and for various offices; see 1 Kings 4:26 , Ezra... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 2:8

I gathered me also silver and gold ,.... In great quantities: the weight of gold which came to him in one year was six hundred threescore and six talents; see 1 Kings 9:14 ; and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces ; whatsoever was valuable and precious, such as is laid up in the cabinets of kings, as jewels and precious stones; and everything rare and curious, to be found in all provinces of the earth, or which were brought from thence as presents to him; the Targum is,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 2:7

Servants and maidens - For my works, fields, folds, and various domestic labors. Servants born in any house - Besides those hired from without, he had married couples in the precincts of his grounds, palaces, etc., who, when their children grew up, got them employment with themselves. Great and small cattle - Oxen, neat, horses, asses, mules, camels, and such like; with sheep and goats. And multitudes of most of these he needed, when we are told that his household consumed daily ten... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 2:8

The peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces - The tares levied off his subjects. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

Section 2. Vanity of striving after pleasure and wealth. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 2:7

I got me —I bought, procured— servants and maidens . These are distinct from those mentioned immediately afterwards, servants born in my house ; Septuagint, οἰκογενεῖς : called in the Hebrew, "sons of the house" ( Genesis 15:3 ). They were much more esteemed by their masters, and showed a much closer attachment to the family than the bought slaves or the conquered aboriginals, who were often reduced to this state ( 1 Kings 9:20 , 1 Kings 9:21 ). The number of Solomon's... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 2:8

I gathered me also silver and gold . Much is said of the wealth of the historical Solomon, who had all his vessels of gold, armed his body-guard with golden shields, sat on an ivory throne overlaid with gold, received tribute and presents of gold from all quarters, sent his navies to distant lands to import precious metals, and made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones (see 1 Kings 9:28 ; 1 Kings 10:14-27 ; 2 Chronicles 1:15 ; 2 Chronicles 9:20-27 ). The peculiar treasure of... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 2:7

I got - Rather, I bought, in distinction from those born in the house. The “children of Solomon’s servants” (compare Ezra 2:55, Ezra 2:58) were more probably of Canaanite origin 1 Kings 9:20-21; 1 Kings 5:15 than Hebrews 1 Kings 9:22.Possessions of great and small cattle - Rather, herds of oxen and sheep.All ... before me - King David’s herds and flocks are mentioned in 1 Chronicles 27:29, 1 Chronicles 27:31 : but we have no specific account of the wealth of other Canaanite or Hebrew... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 2:8

Kings - Both tributary 1 Kings 10:15 and independent 1 Kings 5:1; 1 Kings 9:14; 1 Kings 10:2; the “provinces” probably correspond to the kingdoms mentioned in 1 Kings 4:21.As musical ... sorts - Rather, Many women (compare 1 Kings 11:1-3). read more

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