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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 5:9-17

Solomon had shown the vanity of pleasure, gaiety, and fine works, of honour, power, and royal dignity; and there is many a covetous worldling that will agree with him, and speak as slightly as he does of these things; but money, he thinks, is a substantial thing, and if he can but have enough of that he is happy. This is the mistake which Solomon attacks, and attempts to rectify, in these verses; he shows that there is as much vanity in great riches, and the lust of the eye about them, as... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 5:11

When goods increase, they are increased that eat them ,.... When a man's substance increases by trade, or otherwise, very often so it is that his family increases, and he has more mouths to feed, and backs to clothe; or his estate growing larger, if he lives suitably to it, he must keep more servants; and these, as they have but little work to do, are described by their eating, rather than by their working; and besides, such a growing man in the world has more friends and visitors that come... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 5:12

The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much ,.... Or "of a servant" F9 העבד του δουλου , Sept. "servi", Arab. "i.e. agricolae", Drusius, Rambachius; "qui par regi famuloque venis", Senec. Hercul. Fur. v. 1073. , who enjoys sleep equally as a king; a tiller of the ground, as Jarchi; who also interprets it of one that serves the Lord, as likewise the Targum; a beloved one of his, to whom he gives sleep, Psalm 127:2 . A refreshing sleep is always reckoned... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 5:11

When goods increase - An increase of property always brings an increase of expense, by a multitude of servants; and the owner really possesses no more, and probably enjoys much less, than he did, when every day provided its own bread, and could lay up no store for the next. But if he have more enjoyment, his cares are multiplied; and he has no kind of profit. "This also is vanity." read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 5:12

The sleep of a laboring man is sweet - His labor is healthy exercise. He is without possessions, and without cares; his sleep, being undisturbed, is sound and refreshing. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 5:8-17

Section 7. Perils to which one is exposed in a despotic state, and the unprofitableness of riches. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 5:10-17

The thought of the acts of injustice and oppression noticed above, all of which spring from the craving for money, leads the bard to dwell upon the evils that accompany this pursuit and possession of wealth, which is thus seen to give no real satisfaction. Avarice has already been noticed ( Ecclesiastes 4:7-12 ); the covetous man now reprobated is one who desires wealth only for the enjoyment he can get from it, or the display which it enables him to make, not, like the miser, who gloats... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 5:11

Koheleth proceeds to notice some of the inconveniences which accompany wealth, which go far to prove that God is over all. When goods increase, they are increased that eat them. The more riches a man possesses, the greater are the claims upon him. He increases his household, retainers, and dependents, and is really none the better off for all his wealth. So Job in his prosperous days is said to have had "a very great household" ( Job 1:3 ), and the servants and laborers employed by Solomon... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ecclesiastes 5:12

Another inconvenience of great wealth—it robs a man of his sleep. The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much. The laborer is the husbandman, the tiller of the ground ( Genesis 4:2 ). The Septuagint, with a different pointing, renders δούλου , "slave," which is less appropriate, the fact being generally true of free or bond man. Whether his fare be plentiful or scanty, the honest laborer earns and enjoys his night's rest. But the abundance of the rich will not... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ecclesiastes 5:11

They ... that eat them - i. e., The laborers employed, and the household servants. read more

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