Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

“Futility of futilities,” says the Teacher, “futility of futilities! Everything is futile!”

“The repetition increases the force. all--Hebrew, "the all"; all without exception, namely, earthly things. vanity--not in themselves, for God maketh nothing in vain (1Ti 4:4, 5), but vain when put in the place of God and made the end, instead of the means (Ps 39:5…”

What does a man gain from all his labor, at which he toils under the sun?

“What profit . . . labour--that is, "What profit" as to the chief good (Mt 16:26). Labor is profitable in its proper place (Ge 2:15; Pr 14:23). under the sun--that is, in this life, as opposed to the future world.”

The sun rises and the sun sets; it hurries back to where it rises.

“"Panting" as the Hebrew for "hasteth"; metaphor, from a runner (Ps 19:5, "a strong man") in a "race." It applies rather to the rising sun, which seems laboriously to mount up to the meridian, than to the setting sun; the accents too favor MAURER, "And…”

All the rivers flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full; to the place from which the streams come, there again they flow.

“The connection is: Individual men are continually changing, while the succession of the race continues; just as the sun, wind, and rivers are ever shifting about, while the cycle in which they move is invariable; they return to the point whence they set out.”

What has been will be again, and what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.

“Rather, "no new thing at all"; as in Nu 11:6. This is not meant in a general sense; but there is no new source of happiness (the subject in question) which can be devised; the same round of petty pleasures, cares, business, study, wars, &c.…”

I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

“Therefore, "the Preacher" (Koheleth) is repeated. was king--instead of "am," because he is about to give the results of his past experience during his long reign. in Jerusalem--specified, as opposed to David, who reigned both in Hebron and Jerusalem; whereas Solomon reigned only in Jerusalem.”

And I set my mind to seek and explore by wisdom all that is done under heaven.

“As man is doomed to get his bread, so his knowledge, by the sweat of his brow (Ge 3:19) [GILL]. exercised--that is, disciplined; literally, "that they may thereby chastise, or humble themselves."”

I have seen all the things that are done under the sun, and have found them all to be futile, a pursuit of the wind.

“The reason is here given why investigation into man's "works" is only "sore travail" (Ec 1:13); namely, because all man's ways are vain (Ec 1:18) and cannot be mended (Ec 1:15).”

What is crooked cannot be straightened, and what is lacking cannot be counted.

“Or, rather, man's state is utterly wanting; and that which is wholly defective cannot be numbered or calculated. The investigator thinks he can draw up, in accurate numbers, statistics of man's wants; but these, including the defects in the investigator's labor, are not partial, but…”

I said to myself, “Behold, I have grown and increased in wisdom beyond all those before me who were over Jerusalem, and my mind has observed a wealth of wisdom…

“His wisdom exceeded that of all before Jesus Christ, the antitypical Koheleth, or "Gatherer of men," (Lu 13:34), and "Wisdom" incarnate (Mt 11:19; 12:42). had . . . experience--literally, "had seen" (Jer 2:31). Contrast with this glorying in worldly wisdom (Jer 9:23, 24).”

So I set my mind to know wisdom and madness and folly; I learned that this, too, is a pursuit of the wind.

“"Madness," literally, "vaunting extravagance"; 7:25, &c., support English Version rather than DATHE, "splendid matters." "Folly" is read by English Version with some manuscripts, instead of the present Hebrew text, "prudence." If Hebrew be retained, understand "prudence," falsely so called (1Ti 6:20), "craft" (Da 8:25).”

I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy what is good!” But it proved to be futile.

“I said . . . heart-- (Lu 12:19). thee--my heart, I will test whether thou canst find that solid good in pleasure which was not in "worldly wisdom." But this also proves to be "vanity" (Isa 50:11).”

I sought to cheer my body with wine and to embrace folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom—until I could see what was worthwhile for men to do under heaven…

“1Co 12:2); or, one "allured" (2Pe 2:18, 19). yet acquainting . . . wisdom--literally, "and my heart (still) was behaving, or guiding itself," with wisdom [GESENIUS]. MAURER translates: "was weary of (worldly) wisdom." But the end of Ec 2:9 confirms English Version.”

and I accumulated for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces.

“9:20). peculiar treasure of kings and . . . provinces--contributed by them, as tributary to him (1Ki 4:21, 24); a poor substitute for the wisdom whose "gain is better than fine gold" (Pr 3:14, 15). singers--so David (2Sa 19:35). musical instruments . . .”

Then I turned to consider wisdom and madness and folly; for what more can the king’s successor do than what has already been accomplished?

“Better, GROTIUS, "What man can come after (compete with) the king in the things which are done?" None ever can have the same means of testing what all earthly things can do towards satisfying the soul; namely, worldly wisdom, science, riches, power, longevity, all combined.”

When there is a man who has labored with wisdom, knowledge, and skill, and he must give his portion to a man who has not worked for it, this too…

“Suppose "there is a man," &c. equity--rather "with success," as the Hebrew is rendered (Ec 11:6), "prosper," though Margin gives "right" [HOLDEN and MAURER].”

Nothing is better for a man than to eat and drink and enjoy his work. I have also seen that this is from the hand of God.

“English Version gives a seemingly Epicurean sense, contrary to the general scope. The Hebrew, literally is, "It is not good for man that he should eat," &c., "and should make his soul see good" (or "show his soul, that is, himself, happy"), &c. [WEISS].”

To the man who is pleasing in His sight, He gives wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner He assigns the task of gathering and accumulating that which…

“Though the retribution be not so visible and immediate now as then, it is no less real. Happiness even here is more truly the portion of the godly (Ps 84:11; 1Ti 4:8). that he--the sinner may give--that is, unconsciously and in spite of himself.”

To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:

“Man has his appointed cycle of seasons and vicissitudes, as the sun, wind, and water (Ec 1:5-7). purpose--as there is a fixed "season" in God's "purposes" (for example, He has fixed the "time" when man is "to be born," and "to die," Ec 3:2), so…”

What does the worker gain from his toil?

“But these earthly pursuits, while lawful in their season, are "unprofitable" when made by man, what God never intended them to be, the chief good.”

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men, yet they cannot fathom the work that God has done from beginning…

“This incapacity for "finding out" (comprehending) God's work is chiefly the fruit of the fall. The worldling ever since, not knowing God's time and order, labors in vain, because out of time and place.”

I know that everything God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God does it so that they should fear Him.

“Man's part, therefore, is to do and enjoy every earthly thing in its proper season (Ec 3:12, 13), not setting aside God's order, but observing deep reverence towards God; for the mysteriousness and unchangeableness of God's purposes are designed to lead "man to fear before…”

Furthermore, I saw under the sun that in the place of judgment there is wickedness, and in the place of righteousness there is wickedness.

“Here a difficulty is suggested. If God "requires" events to move in their perpetual cycle, why are the wicked allowed to deal unrighteously in the place where injustice ought least of all to be; namely, "the place of judgment" (Jer 12:1)?”

I said in my heart, “God will judge the righteous and the wicked, since there is a time for every activity and every deed.”

“There is a coming judgment in which God will vindicate His righteous ways. The sinner's "time" of his unrighteous "work" is short. God also has His "time" and "work" of judgment; and, meanwhile, is overruling, for good at last, what seems now dark.”

I said to myself, “As for the sons of men, God tests them so that they may see for themselves that they are but beasts.”

“The oppressed share in death, but the comparison to "beasts" applies especially to the ungodly oppressors (Ps 49:12, 20).”