Historical chapter commentary
Verse 1. Heaven, in this world, where alone things change. Saint Jerome—Nothing is here perpetual, but to be used in a proper manner. Worthington.—The heart must not be attached to any thing created. Calmet.—Pleasure had been condemned and approved. Calmet. 2. He shews that all must have its time. Menochius.
Verse 5. Stones, with a sling, or to render a field useless. 4 Kennicott. 3:25. Isaiah 5:2.—Embraces. Countenance was sometimes prescribed for married people. Leviticus 20:18 and 1 Corinthians 7. Saint Jerome Saint Augustine Ench. 78. Calmet.—Hatred often succeeds love. verse 8 and 2 Kennicott. 13:14. Bible.
Verse 9. Labour? What advantage does he derive from any of these things? Calmet. 1:3. Calmet.
Verse 11. Consideration. Lit. “dispute.” Hebrew and Septuagint “heart.” Bible.—Pagn. “He has implanted the desire of immortality in their hearts.”—End. If we could discover the properties of each thing, we should be in raptures; ( Calmet.) but as we cannot, this increases our vexation. Menochius.
Verse 12. Well; virtuously: or, perhaps, as literally, to enjoy himself. verse 13. Calmet.—Thus thinks the man of pleasure. Isaiah 22:13. Saint Jerome
Verse 13. God. He gives peace and plenty; and still more, the grace to use these things, so as to obtain heaven. Calmet.
Verse 14. Feared. The order of the seasons, and so forth teaches men to adore Providence. Saint Jerome—He has arranged every thing, how mutable soever. Saint Augustine Conf. i. 6.
Verse 15. Past. He causes plants to spring forth afresh. Hebrew Septuagint and so forth “But will God seek after the oppressed?” Here commences another objection. Calmet.
Verse 17. And then. Prot. “for there is a time there (verse 1) for every purpose, and for every work.” At the day of judgment all will receive their due. Bible.
Verse 18. Beasts. Another doubt; or suggestion of infidels. Saint Gregory Dial. iv. 4.
Verse 19. Man hath nothing more, and so forth that is as to the life of the body. Challoner.
Verse 21. Who knoweth, and so forth that is experimentally; since no one in this life can see a spirit. But as to the spirits of the beasts, which is merely animal, and becomes extinct by the death of the beast, who can tell the manner it acts so as to give life and motion, and by death to descend downward, that is, to be no more? Challoner.—Few are able to prove that the soul of man is immortal rather that that of beasts, since the bodies of both are subject to the like inconveniences. The objection is answered Calmet. 12:7. Calmet.—The difficulty of answering is intimated by “Who?” and so forth Psalms 14:1. Menochius.
Verse 22. After him. He knows not who shall be his heir, or how soon he may die. None returns from the other world to inform him of what is there transacted. Thus the libertine encourages himself. Calmet.