Historical chapter commentary
Verse 1. Delights. He speaks in the name of libertines, (Saint Gregory Dial. iv. 4.) or after his conversion. Calmet.—The worldling might object that since wisdom affords not content, it is best to try pleasure. But this meets not with the approbation of the wise, as all terrestrial joy is short, and can yield no more than a passing consolation. Worthington.
Verse 2. Why. Hebrew “What doth that?” Septuagint “Why dost thou so?” Immoderate laughter is a sign of folly. Sirach 21:23. Calmet.—“Even spiritual joy is a temptation.” Saint Jerome
Verse 3. Wine, and to lead a temperate life. Calmet.—Prot. “to give myself unto wine, (yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom) and to lay hold on folly,” and so forth Bible.—I wished to indulge myself in pleasure, yet so as not to lose the reputation of wisdom. Calmet. 5:9. Bible.
Verse 4. Works; palaces, towns, and particularly the temple. Many, like Solomon, will refrain from wine, and still yield to other excesses.
Verse 5. Orchards. Hebrew “paradises,” in which fruit-trees were planted. Calmet.
Verse 7. Family of slaves, “born in my house,” (Prot.) distinct from those whom I got for money. Bible.—There were generally procured from foreign nations, as the Hebrews obtained their liberty on the sabbatic year.—Sheep. David had the like; but Solomon had also horses. 3 Kennicott. 10:21.
Verse 8. Silver, which became, in consequence, of little value.—Singing. At the court of Persia, people sung all night, and during the feasts. Athen. xii. and 14.—Cups and vessels; (Aq. and Sym.) or, “men and women to,” and so forth (Sept.) or, “a field and fields;” ( Calmet.) or, Prot. “as musical instruments, and that of all sorts.” Hebrew shidda beshiddoth. Bible.
Verse 9. Wisdom, not that which was supernatural, and could not be found amid such delights. verse 3. Jam. 3:17. I knew that all this was vanity. Calmet.
Video meliora proboque,
Deteriora sequor. Ovid. Bible.
Verse 10. Labour. Hebrew “and this was my portion of all my labour.” I perceived that I could not thus obtain content. Calmet.—“Thou (O God) hast made us for thyself, and our hearts are restless till they repose in thee.” Saint Augustine Conf. i. 1. Menochius.—Aurelius makes the same confession as Solomon, respecting the insatiable nature of his own heart, and the emptiness of pleasure, and so forth
Verse 12. What. Hebrew “For what man shall come after the king?” Septuagint “after counsel?” Many other versions may be given of this obscure text. Solomon stopt at human wisdom, without consulting the divine; or he asks who shall have greater facility to acquire knowledge than himself, or equal his works? Calmet.—Man’s wisdom compared with God’s is contemptible; though it be preferable to folly. Menochius.
Verse 14. Darkness and ignorance. He knows not whither he is going. Proverbs 4:19 and 17:24. Wisdom is to be preferred before wealth, and so forth Calmet.—Consideration directs a person to do good.—Alike. Thus worldlings speak, who reflect not on the life to come. Worthington.—In many respects all resemble one another, though their sentence be very different. Menochius.
Verse 15. Vanity. This inference was false, (verse 16) or my labouring for wisdom was to no purpose. Calmet.—Septuagint “I then spoke more in my heart, (for the fool speaks out of his abundance) since this also is vanity.” Bible.
Verse 16. Unlearned. He answers, (Jans.) or rather continues the objections. Geier. Calmet.
Verse 17. Life. Hebrew “I hated life,” as all is attended with anxiety. Romans 7:24.
Verse 19. Solicitous. We naturally desire to have our plans perfected. Solomon had, perhaps, a presentiment of Roboam’s misconduct. Sirach 47:27.
Verse 20. Off, in a sort of despair; suggested by worldly wisdom. Religion alone can impart steady principles. Calmet.—Prot. “I went about, to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun;” in the transactions of the world. Bible.
Verse 21. Wisdom. The writings of the wise are often perverted by perverse heretics. Saint Jerome—Idle heirs dissipate the possessions, which had been accumulated with such industry. Calmet.—Riches tend to encourage the profligacy of the heir. Menochius.
Verse 24. Drink, using with moderation the things which we have acquired, rather than to be solicitous for more, ( Worthington.) which may fall into the hands of an idle heir, who is appointed by God, verse 26. This may also be the plea of libertines, ( Calmet.) who would use freely what he has given. Saint Augustine con. Jul. iv. 3.
Verse 26. Pleased God, though he may not be his relation. Proverbs 26:16. Job 13:22. Calmet.