John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 9. All this have I seen , etc.] Observed, taken notice of, and thoroughly considered; all that is said above, concerning the scarcity of good men and women, the fall of our first parents, the excellency of wisdom, the necessity and advantage of keeping the king’s commandment, the time and manner of doing it, the evil consequences that follow an inattention to these things, ignorance of what is to come, and the unavoidableness of death; and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the sun ; not so much to mechanic works and manual operations performed by men, as to moral or immoral works, and chiefly the work of Providence with respect to good and bad men, the consequence of which were the following observations; [there is] a time wherein one man ruleth over another to his own hurt ; or “the man ruleth over men” f204 ; for this is not to be understood of private rule in families, of the parent over his children, or master over his servant, but of a king over his subjects; who is the man, the principal man in the kingdom; and such a man ruling in an arbitrary and tyrannical way is to his own detriment in the issue. So Rehoboam; by his oppressive government, lost ten tribes out of twelve. Some have lost their whole kingdoms, and come to an untimely end; as well as ruined their immortal souls. Some render it “to his hurt” f205 ; to the hurt of those that are ruled, when it should be for their good, the protection of their persons and properties; but instead of that they lay heavy burdens upon them, take away their property, and injure and insult their persons. So the Targum, “to do ill to him.”
But Jarchi interprets it of the king himself. Some take it in both senses; and so it is usually in fact, that wicked princes rule to their own hurt, and the hurt of their subjects.
Matthew Henry Commentary
- Commendations of wisdom. (Eccl. 8:1-5) To prepare for sudden evils an death. (Eccl. 8:6-8) It shall be well with the righteous, and ill with the wicked. (Eccl. 8:9-13) Mysteries of Providence. (Eccl. 8:14-17)
Eccl. 8:1-5 None of the rich, the powerful, the honourable, or the accomplished of the sons of men, are so excellent, useful, or happy, a the wise man. Who else can interpret the words of God, or teach arigh from his truths and dispensations? What madness must it be for weak an dependent creatures to rebel against the Almighty! What numbers for wrong judgments, and bring misery on themselves, in this life and tha to come!
Eccl. 8:6-8 God has, in wisdom, kept away from us the knowledge of future events, that we may be always ready for changes. We must all die, no flight or hiding-place can save us, nor are there any weapon of effectual resistance. Ninety thousand die every day, upwards of sixty every minute, and one every moment. How solemn the thought! O that men were wise, that they understood these things, that they woul consider their latter end! The believer alone is prepared to meet the solemn summons. Wickedness, by which men often escape human justice cannot secure from death.
Eccl. 8:9-13 Solomon observed, that many a time one man rules ove another to his hurt, and that prosperity hardens them in their wickedness. Sinners herein deceive themselves. Vengeance comes slowly but it comes surely. A good man's days have some substance; he lives to a good purpose: a wicked man's days are all as a shadow, empty an worthless. Let us pray that we may view eternal things as near, real and all-important.
Eccl. 8:14-17 Faith alone can establish the heart in this mixed scene where the righteous often suffer, and the wicked prosper. Solomo commended joy, and holy security of mind, arising from confidence i God, because a man has no better thing under the sun, though a good ma has much better things above the sun, than soberly and thankfully to use the things of this life according to his rank. He would not have u try to give a reason for what God does. But, leaving the Lord to clea up all difficulties in his own time, we may cheerfully enjoy the comforts, and bear up under the trials of life; while peace of conscience and joy in the Holy Ghost will abide in us through all outward changes, and when flesh and heart shall fail _________________________________________________
Original Hebrew את853 כל3605 זה2088 ראיתי7200 ונתון5414 את853 לבי3820 לכל3605 מעשׂה4639 אשׁר834 נעשׂה6213 תחת8478 השׁמשׁ8121 עת6256 אשׁר834 שׁלט7980 האדם120 באדם120 לרע׃7451
