Ecclesiastes 2:1-7
Ecclesiastes
2:1
I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with
mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity.
Then Solomon directs his heart to experience mirth which
would be “pleasure, frivolity, or merrymaking.”
In this verse “prove” means he will try or make an attempt to satisfy
himself with mirth. He is going to
bask in an enjoyment of pleasure.
After he had done this, his anticipation was greater than the results and he
categorizes pleasure as vanity. In
other words, it was an empty experience and one that had no substance to fill
his heart with what was needed.
Earthly vanities are fleeting.
Ecclesiastes
2:2
I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What
doeth it?
Even laughter when it is not controlled by the individual
or is in response to some sinful act or words it seems like madness.
A foolish person laughs at everything including laughing to scorn.
Job had suffered the laughing derision by those who knew him.
I am as one mocked of his
neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is
laughed to scorn. (Job 12:4)
Then Solomon asks the question, what good does it do man or how does
scornful or foolish laughing minister to a person?
Of course, the question remained open ended because no one on earth could
give a proper answer.
Ecclesiastes
2:3
I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet
acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see
what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the
heaven all the days of their life.
In ancient pagan societies, people would believe that if
you got drunk you would be better able to connect with your god which is what
the Apostle Paul wrote against in Ephesians 5:18.
And be not drunk with wine,
wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
(Ephesians 5:18) In
Deuteronomy God speaks to that specific situation.
Ye have not eaten bread, neither
have ye drunk wine or strong drink: that ye might know that I am the LORD your
God. (Deuteronomy 29:6)
Solomon was experimenting with wine and did not become drunk and out of
control as much wine would do that.
He was in full control of his faculties as we read that his heart was being
driven by wisdom. He wanted to know
why so many turned to wine and to folly which if they remain unsaved will be how
they will run their lives until death.
Give strong drink unto him that is
ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
(Proverbs 31:6) In
Proverbs 31:6, it says give wine unto those who have heavy hearts.
The word “heavy” carries with it the meaning of “discontented or bitter.”
Many drink alcohol because they believe it will help mollify their
problems or fill up an emptiness in their heart.
Looking at the spiritual aspect of Proverbs 31:6, we give the “strong
drink” of the gospel to the unsaved especially those who mock or reject.
How that they told you there
should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly
lusts. (Jude 18)
We give the wine of the gospel to those who are of heavy hearts, maybe
after a personal tragedy or a personal situation.
But new wine must be put into new
bottles; and both are preserved.
(Luke 5:38)
Ecclesiastes
2:4
I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me
vineyards:
Solomon then begins to state what he did with the great
wisdom and talents the LORD gave him.
He did great works, that is, he did not sit around and get fat like so
many world rulers. Solomon had
designed and directed the building using his arts and skills. This is not
speaking of only one project but speaks about what he generally did throughout
his rule.
{17} And Solomon built Gezer, and Beth-horon the nether,
{18} And Baalath, and Tadmor in the wilderness, in the land,
{19} And all the cities of store that Solomon had, and cities for his
chariots, and cities for his horsemen, and that which Solomon desired to build
in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and in all the land of his dominion.
(1 Kings 9:17-19)
Then he built houses and his greatest accomplishment was
the great temple of Solomon which was the house of God.
His own personal house was thirteen years in building made of gold,
ivory, silver, and the cedars of Lebanon.
And it came to pass, when Solomon
had finished the building of the house of the LORD, and the king's house, and
all Solomon's desire which he was pleased to do,
(1 Kings 9:1) Then he
not only did building projects but he also was into the agricultural arena by
planting vineyards.
Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon; he
let out the vineyard unto keepers; every one for the fruit thereof was to bring
a thousand pieces of silver. (Song
of Solomon 8:11)
Ecclesiastes
2:5
I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in
them of all kind of fruits:
Solomon then went on to plant gardens, orchards, and
trees with all kinds of fruits. Thy
plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with
spikenard, (Song of Solomon 4:13)
Camphire was a flower which had a very sweet smell and was used by women
to paint their nails on their hands and feet.
The Hebrew name is “kophar” and the Arab name is “henna.”
{11} Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon; he let out the
vineyard unto keepers; every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand
pieces of silver. {12} My vineyard,
which is mine, is before me: thou, O Solomon, must have a thousand, and those
that keep the fruit thereof two hundred.
{13} Thou that dwellest in the gardens, the companions hearken to thy
voice: cause me to hear it. (Song
of Solomon 8:11-13)
Ecclesiastes
2:6
I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood
that bringeth forth trees:
Then Solomon had pools of water created to be able to
keep a constant flow of water for the trees.
Then I went on to the gate of the
fountain, and to the king's pool: but there was no place for the beast that was
under me to pass. (Nehemiah 2:14)
The trees would then grow up strong and be able to supply all the wood
necessary for any building projects that would come along.
South of Bethlehem, there are three large reservoirs called the Pools of
Solomon. Josephus in his
commentaries also speaks about a pool of Solomon.
Ecclesiastes
2:7
I got me servants and maidens, and had servants
born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above
all that were in Jerusalem before me:
Solomon was able to purchase servants and maidens because
to take care of his estate was a huge responsibility and many were needed to
accomplish that.
Happy are thy men, happy are these thy
servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom.
(1 Kings 10:8) Solomon’s
servants were even born to him in his house.
{55} The children of Solomon's servants: the children of
Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Peruda,
{56} The children of Jaalah, the children of Darkon, the children of
Giddel, {57} The children of
Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth of Zebaim, the
children of Ami. {58} All the
Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants, were three hundred ninety and
two. (Ezra 2:55-58)
To get an idea of the vastness of the flocks which he
owned, just look at the amount of sacrifices he made at the dedication of the
Temple.
And Solomon offered a sacrifice of peace
offerings, which he offered unto the LORD, two and twenty thousand oxen, and an
hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the children of Israel
dedicated the house of the LORD. (1
Kings 8:63) The requirements of
Solomon for each day was also immense.