Whoso breaks a hedge, an old hedge, that has long been a land-mark, let him expect that a serpent, or adder, such as harbour in rotten hedges, will bite him; some viper or other will fasten upon his hand, Acts 28:3. offences; A simple story illustrates how a person may be wise and humble, but the good he does is not appreciated by those who benefit from it. What difference does it make? 1. Walking (Eccl 4:11) . However, people might not openly acknowledge the foolishness that is readily apparent. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. Answer certainly not a fool with all his words. And, for a wise man, his desires and values lead him into safe places. The tears of the oppressed, But they have no comforter On the side of their oppressors there is power, But they have no comforter. And that gives us the idea that this will certainly happen at some point in the future. "A wise man's heart is at his right hand.". I mean, you're, when you're a fool you just, it's obvious. All work, he says, and all dexterity in work, is due to envy, to a jealous determination to outstrip our neighbours, to what Mallock calls the "desire for inequality." By proceeding, you consent to our cookie usage. The words of his mouth begin with foolishness, Those that go about to alter a well-modelled well-settled government, under colour of redressing some grievances and correcting some faults in it, will quickly perceive not only that it is easier to find fault than to mend, to demolish that which is good than to build up that which is better, but that they thrust their own fingers into the fire and overwhelm themselves in the ruin they occasion. i. It MAY happen. b. There's no doubt that the heart leads the body. The main message of Chapter 10 is to avoid the pull of foolishness and stand firm in the solid foundation of wisdom. You dig a pit; you'll fall into it. The spirit The passion. Unfortunately, ones good work does not always receive the praise it deserves. Thats what verse 3 tells us. Wisdom will teach us to enchant the serpent we are to contend with, rather than think to out-hiss it (Ecclesiastes 10:11; Ecclesiastes 10:11): The serpent will bite if he be not by singing and music charmed and enchanted, against which therefore he stops his ears (Psalms 58:4; Psalms 58:5); and a babbler is no better to all those who enter the lists with him, who therefore must not think by dint of words to out-talk him, but be prudent management to enchant him. [Or so the wrong kind of ruler thinks]. An obvious statement is made: that deadflies spoil a fine ointment and cause it to smell. And through idleness of hands the house leaks. To be ever learning, never arriving, as 2 Timothy 3:7 portrays some people, is to be a trifler who contrives to get lost on even the straightest way to the city. To start, the Preacher points to the effect that the speech of the wise and the fool has on themselves. Wed expect that good men will live forever or at least a long time and that evil men would die early. And this is what we ran into last lesson where I was asked why I interpreted the verb delivered in chapter 9 as could have delivered. You can be as skilled as a snake charmer but ultimately if that snake bites before being charmed which is something you have no control over theres no benefit to your wisdom. So does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor. 2: vanitas vanitatum dixit Ecclesiastes vanitas vanitatum omnia vanitas. Jarchi interprets it of the spirit of the governor of the world, strictly inquiring into the actions of men; and healing their sins by chastisements, which cause them to leave them. Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a Whereas the fools heart leads him to many vulnerable and dangerous places. 4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place [dont immediately leave your position]; for yielding [composure/a calm response] pacifieth great offences. Salem Media Group. 213.]. It only takes a little foolishness. The labor of fools wearies them: The fool has no desire to work; or when they do they quickly become wearied. Click to enable/disable Google Analytics tracking. Hebrew can leave a little more uncertainty as to whether a verb ought to be indicative (shall) or what grammarians call modal (may or might). While a wise mans heart directs him toward the right, the foolish mans heart directs him toward the left. But money answers everything. It's just out of place. wisdom faileth him, and he saith to everyone that he is a fool. Ecclesiastes 10:1 reminds us that even small things have consequences. Utilizing a mix of imagery and direct description, the Book of Ecclesiastes is an honest attempt to reconcile life on this Earth with the mysteries of Heaven. Ecclesiastes 4:1-3 First of all, he adduces the oppression of man by his fellow-man. There are traps and dangers throughout society. Men are not preferred according to their merit. He who digs a pit will fall into it: Solomon listed several examples of those who did wrong or foolish things and then suffered because of it. Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible. He grants there is an evil often seen under the sun, and it is a king's-evil, an evil which the king only can cure, for it is an error which proceeds from the ruler (Ecclesiastes 10:5; Ecclesiastes 10:5); it is a mistake which rulers, consulting their personal affections more than the public interests, are too often guilty of, that men are not preferred according to their merit, but folly is set in great dignity, men of shattered brains, and broken fortunes, are put in places of power and trust, while the rich men of good sense and good estates, whose interest would oblige them to be true to the public, and whose abundance would be likely to set them above temptations to bribery and extortion, yet sit in low places, and can get no preferment (Ecclesiastes 10:6; Ecclesiastes 10:6), either the ruler knows not how to value them or the terms of preferment are such as they cannot in conscience comply with. It smells nice. Rather let both prince and people act towards each other with prudence, mildness, and good temper: Wisdom is profitable to direct the ruler how to manage a people that are inclined to be turbulent, so as neither, on the one hand, by a supine negligence to embolden and encourage them, nor, on the other hand, by rigour and severity to exasperate and provoke them to any seditious practices. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. Old Testament Major Prophets There are certain men that just should not be doing foolish things. i. Ecclesiastes 10:1-4New International Version. The uselessness of achievement (4:4-16) Several examples illustrate how useless much human activity is. iii. Psalms 16:8; Psalms 110:5; Psalms 121:5). iii. The king's anger is perhaps justified; the admonition, however, would be otherwise expressed than by 'l-tnch mq', if it were not presupposed that it was not justified; and thus without meta'basis eis a'llo ge'nos an I-section follows the reflection regarding wise deportment as over against the king's displeasure, a section which describes from experience and from personal observation the world turned upside down in the state. A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him? New Testament General Epistles Fleeing is the only other option and the Preacher does not advise you to do that. No man knows what is to be; B. ). If the spirit - i. e., If he is angry. Here are a number of observations and all Ecclesiastes 4 Lessons by Rob Harbison of God Himself as over against His created universe. What is discovered is that human reason and experience is inadequate to find purpose. As only a little yeast is needed to cause a big loaf of bread to rise, a little evil corrupts a community (Matt 16:6). There is no doubt that emotions would be heightened within any person toward whom the anger of a ruler is directed. ECCLESIASTES 10:1 place; for yielding pacifieth great offences. Then he must use more strength; The scope of these verses is to keep subjects loyal and dutiful to the government. submissive carri Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, College Press Bible Study Textbook Series, G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible, George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary, John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible, Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments, Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible, Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible, Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible, Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments, The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary, Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith. Inter-Varsity Press. Sharpen it, takes less strength. The word for fool here is sakal, which implies a dense, confused thinker. (Deane). In Ecclesiastes 5:4 Koheleth makes a new departure. 4. The rich sit in lowly positions. Here are a number of observations and all show that there is a practical value in wisdom. Nederlandstalige Bijbelstudies door Stan Marinussen, Copyright - Enduring Word | . And the end of his talk is raving madness. Let not subjects commence a quarrel with their prince, though the public administration be not in every thing as they would have it. Old Testament Law Ecclesiastes 9:4-6. The following cookies are also needed - You can choose if you want to allow them: You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page. That's where they got the phrase, "A little bird told me." Proverbs 25:15 By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone. leave H3240 (H8686) post H4725 conc. And despite the fact that a fools speech is self-destructive and only gets worse as the words increase he just doesnt stop talking. And a lot of people have been killed by insisting on their right of ways. They cant see that it is wise to work now in order to prepare for the future. I think thats what the admonition to not leave your place is saying. Does breaking through a wall ALWAYS eventuate in a snake biting you? CHAPTER 10 This chapter contains a series of proverbs, expressing the wisdom and prudence of the natural man. Sponsored . Read full chapter. I. And your princes feast in the morning! He cant even find his way to the city! And sometimes verses 8 and 9 . All rights reserved. In other words, who would want to listen to a fool? Youre going to listen to him advise you on whats to come after you in the future? The fool cannot escape his foolishness. They are the place of protection and the place of danger, or, to put in another way: the correct way and the incorrect way (cf. Sometimes the promotion goes to the less qualified person because of the supervisors caprice or folly. But wisdom brings success. presence. 20 Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter. that of the self-effacement of the wise. 4: generatio praeterit et generatio advenit terra vero in aeternum stat. (See Proverbs 15:4.). Solomons conclusion is dark but real: neither meaning nor purpose can be discerned through human reason and experience. a. It is safer and better to yield to an angry prince than to contend with him. And reality will hit hard for them and their country someday. Do not leave your post; thee_ Upon some misinformation given him, or mismanagement of thine; IF THE SPIRIT - i. e., If he is angry. if one is lack Ecclesiastes 10:1. But this time he wants to tell us about wisdom and folly again but specifically as it applies to rulers. Old Testament History The "road" (Ecclesiastes 10:3) is not a literal highway but the fools metaphorical way of life. Thats why people make it and buy it. 10:4 The spirit - The passion. Ecclesiastes 8:3 Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him. Here are a number of observations and all show that there is a practical value in wisdom a. Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible. what the fool is talking of; what is the drift of his discourse; or where it will end, and what he will bring it to, it is so noisy, confused, and incoherent: or no man can tell future things, or what will come to pass; nor can any man inform another of future events; i. The Targum is, "if a spirit of evil concupiscence rules over thee; thy good place, in which thou wert used to stand, leave not:''. Changes will take effect once you reload the page. He that is lord of the tongue (so the phrase is), a ruler that has liberty of speech and may say what he will, it is as dangerous dealing with him as with a serpent uncharmed; but, if you use the enchantment of a mild and humble submission, you may be safe and out of danger; herein wisdom, the meekness of wisdom, is profitable to direct. In other words, men who are in reputation for wisdom and honor, it's just folly and their life is out of place. 6 He shows everyone that he is a fool: The foolish man (or woman) has a way of making their folly evident. Do not, in a passion, quit thy post of duty; wait awhile, and thou wilt find that yielding pacifies great offences. kept in thy hands will make pacification for great offences._ From the D. ILLUSTRATIONS OF THOSE WHO LACK Wis. 10:1-11 "The lesson is that the self-controlled person who has less rank is really more powerful than the out-of-control supposed superior." A dealer in New Testament Acts Click to enable/disable _ga - Google Analytics Cookie. And the Preacher finishes the contrast between the speech of the wise and the fool in verse 15. Such is a philosophy of life founded upon human reason and experience. They used a hedge about to keep the serpents out. His reputation may be impeccable. 373.] 3: quid habet amplius homo de universo labore suo quod laborat sub sole. But thats exactly the kind of mindset in rulers that the Preacher is warning about self-indulgent ones. He now casts more doubt upon that premise. The advice of Ecclesiastes 8:3 is repeated. But verbs in Hebrew are a little different than in English. Surely more work is done by a blunt edge and divine power, than by a sharp edge and little power.. Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness! I don't know what he's saying. The Preacher commences this section by carefully defining his I. Wisdom includes the power to make good choices even during an emotional situation. Dead flies putrefy the perfumers ointment, If the devil tempt or persuade thee to sin, repent and humble Even when he walks around it can be apparent that he lacks wisdom. 2. But Ive heard its a pretty awful smell. Ecclesiastes 10:4 Context Crossref Comm Hebrew Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version If a ruler's anger rises against you, do not leave your post; calmness can lay great offenses to rest. CHARACTERS: Solomon. a. Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child: Solomon himself felt that he was but a child when he came to the throne of Israel; therefore, he wisely asked God for the wisdom to lead a great people (1 Kings 3:7-9). In the same manner, a little foolishness can negate wisdom and honor. Gentleness on thy part will calm both thyself and him, and Illustration of the conduct of wisdom under capricious rulers, If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers. Continue in a diligent and faithful discharge of thy duty, and modestly and humbly submit to him. 8 He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh a hedge, a serpent shall bite him. In this way they will keep out of trouble (20). And cause it to give off a foul odor; So, if your axe head is blunt then youll need to exert more strength to cut down a tree or split wood. Required fields are marked *. So, this verse can be sort of confusing. Everyone has an innate sense that allows them to discern the difference between wisdom and foolishness. _leave not thy place_ In anger or discontent. Home / Commentary / Ecclesiastes / Ecclesiastes Chapter 10 / Ecclesiastes 10:1-4. But clarity can come if our starting place is faith in God. LEAVE NOT THY PLACE, that is, forget not thy position as subject, That means they were drunk all night so they eat in the morning. But In A Wise Use And A Wise Enjoyment Of The Present Li How, then, does worldly wisdom work? You break the hedge; the serpent will bite you. The phrase () is not to be compared, for it signifies quieting by an exhausting outbreak; on the contrary, in the passage before us must signify quieting, as the preventing of an outbreak (cf. If the spirit (anger) of the ruler - (.) Happiness can never be achieved by pursuing after it, since such a pursuit involves . But when I was old, I put away the childish things" ( 1 Corinthians 13:11 ). Theyre not passive events. While the rich sit in a lowly place. "Yielding (literally, soundness) pacifieth" the irritated ruler, so as to prevent his committing "great offences." If we rely solely on human reason and experience, we only find futility and madness. These are also opportunities to exercise wisdom.
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