Ecclesiastes 1

Verse 1. Jerusalem. This clearly designates Solomon. See verse 12. Calmet. 12:8.

Verse 2. Vanities. Most vain and despicable, ( Calmet.) and frustrating the expectations of men. Menochius.—Saint Augustine reads vanitantium, and infers that this vanity of sublunary things is an effect of man’s sin. Yet he afterwards discovered that he had read incorrectly. Ret. i. 7.

Verse 3. Labour. People fight for a mere point; for such is the earth compared with the universe. Sen. q. Nat. Hoc est punctum, and so forth Matthew 16:26.

Verse 4. Ever. Its substance remains, though the form be changed. Calmet.—At the end of time, it will be purified to continue for ever. Worthington.

Verse 5. Place daily. Its annual motion is then mentioned. Calmet.

Verse 6. Spirit. The sun, (Saint Jerome) which is like the soul of the world, and which some have falsely asserted to be animated; or rather ( Calmet.) the wind is meant, as one rises in different parts of the world when another falls. Pliny ii. 27. Menochius.

Verse 7. Again. The sea furnishes vapours, and so forth Homer (Il. φ.) expresses himself in the same manner.

Verse 8. Hearing. In all sciences there are many difficulties. If a man had arrived at perfect knowledge, his researches would cease.

Verse 10. New. Such vicissitudes have occurred before, though we must not infer that the world is eternal; or that there have been many others before this, as Origen would suppose. Prin. iii. 5. and so forth Calmet.—Men’s souls, which are created daily, are nevertheless of the same sort as Adam’s was; and creatures proceed from others of the same species, which have been from the beginning. Saint Thomas Aquinas p. 1. q. 73. Worthington.—Natural and moral things continue much the same. Menochius.

“Behold”, from “הִנֵּה”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.

Verse 11. Things. Otherwise we should read of similar events to those which we behold. The same cause naturally produces the same effect.

Verse 12. Israel. This was the case with none of Solomon’s descendants. Calmet.

The Hebrew word rendered “God” is “אֱלֹהִ֑ים” (Elohim).

Verse 14. Vexation. Hebrew also, “food of wind;” (Sym.) or “choice of the spirit.” Septuagint People are eager to become learned, and yet find no satisfaction. Bible.—All natural things are insufficient to procure felicity. Worthington.

O Curas hominum! O quantum est in rebus inane! Persius.

Verse 15. Perverse. Habitual and obstinate sinners. Calmet.—Fools, who follow the broad road. Bible.—Hebrew and Septuagint “the defect cannot be numbered.” We know not to what a height the soul of man might have risen, if he had continued faithful.

Verse 16. Learned. Solomon was blessed both with a natural genius, which he improved by study, and also he had the gift of supernatural wisdom. Yet he declares that all is vanity and pain.

Verse 17. Errors. Septuagint “parables and science.” But to discern the mistakes of men is a part of wisdom, ( Calmet.) and Grabe substitutes “wanderings,” instead of “parables,” after Theodot. as Hebrew ealluth ( Bible.) means “errors,” ( Calmet.) or “follies.” Mont.

Verse 18. Labour. He is bound to do more for heaven, as he is convinced of his own defects, and of the strict judgments of God. Wisdom is not true happiness, but the means to obtain it. Worthington.—The more a person knows, the more he is convinced of his own ignorance, ( Calmet.) and filled with grief, that wisdom should be so much concealed. Saint Jerome—Those who are learned, feel indignant that their disciples should be so dull. Menochius.