Ecclesiastes 7:26

WHAT SOLOMON CLAIMED THAT HE LEARNED

"And I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets and whose hands are bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her. Behold, this have I found, saith the Preacher, laying one thing to another, to find out the account; which my soul still seeketh, but I have not found: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found. Behold, this only have I found: that God made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions."

"I have found more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets" (Ecclesiastes 7:26). This is fully in harmony with what Solomon had written in Proverbs 2:14; 5:3,4, etc. "Solomon himself had experienced much bitterness from the sin and misery into which women can lead their victims."[35] In this verse, however, he is speaking particularly of the wicked woman described repeatedly in the first seven chapters of Proverbs. Nevertheless, as Barton charged, what Solomon wrote here is sufficient grounds for assuming that, "He was a misogynist."[36] After all, it was not Solomon, but Lemuel, who wrote that magnificent 31chapter of Proverbs in praise of women. Such thoughts as are written there seem never to have entered into Solomon's heart. The bitter words Solomon wrote here should be understood as Waddey said, "They are the words of a man speaking purely from his own distorted, sinful reason and experience. It would be sinful to quote what Solomon said here as God's assessment of women."[37] After all, "By woman came the Christ and salvation for mankind."

"God made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions" (Ecclesiastes 7:29). At least, this was one valid discovery that Solomon actually made. Moreover, his experience had nothing to do with it. All men can read it in Genesis 1:26.

"Many inventions" (Ecclesiastes 7:29). What are these? Scholars are in agreement that scientific and industrial inventions are not mentioned here. "These verses reflect the writing of Genesis 4:21ff, and Genesis 6:1ff. Perhaps they were intended to suggest that the harem was one of man's wicked contrivances."[38] Waddey also, a very dependable scholar accepted this interpretation. "Man has corrupted himself by seeking out evil things and doing them. Modern man is still busily engaged in a frenzied attempt to out-sin his progenitors."[39] Solomon's bitterness in the final paragraph of this chapter was explained by Grieve, "Either as the result of some bitter personal experience, or from the intrigues of the harem."[40]