Annotations on the book of Ecclesiastes

and discontent will make men as anxious, as froward, as impatient under a small estate, as craving, hoarding, coveting under a greater, Prov. 30.9. Ps. 59.15. The words of this verse are proverbial, the former part, by the word handful, expressing a little estate; as Ps. 72.16. Ezek. 13.19. The other, by hands full, a greater and more plentiful, gotten with all the strength and labour of the whole man, Mic. 7.3.

V. 7. vanity under the Sun] Another vanity, and quite contrary to the former; as fools when they avoid one extreme, fall into the other.

V. 8. There is one alone, &c.] One, (i. e.) one by himself; as Gen. 19.9. and not a second; that is, either no companion, or member in his family to provide for, or no heir to succeed him in his estate; none for whom he can say, It is this man for whom I labour. See v. 15.

This covetous wretch is here described, 1. By his solitariness, he lives all alone, he cannot endure two months in a house.

2. By his excessive labour; there is no end of all his labour: He toils infinitely, and without measure, Isa. 2.7. Job. 22.5. Some by labour, understand wealth gotten by labour. He hath a vast estate, and yet is as greedy as if he had nothing.

2. By his excessive labour; there is no end of all his labour: He toyls infinitely, and without measure, Isa. 2.7. Job. 22.5. Some by labour, understand wealth gotten by labour. He hath a vast estate, and yet is as greedy as if he had nothing.

3. By his insatiable desires, neither is his eye satisfied with riches] He hath enough for his back, his belly, his calling, the decency of his state and condition, but he hath not enough for his eye. Though he can but see it, and have no use of it, yet he is displeased that he sees no more. The eye is the instrument of coveting, 1 Joh. 2.16. Josh. 7.21. Chap. 1.8. & 2.10. A covetous man, though he have as much as his eye can see, yet he would have more still, Isa. 5.8. Hab. 2.5. Prov. 30.15. Job 40.23, 24.

4. By his folly and inconsiderateness, he doth not weigh with himself the absurdity of his so living, he still goes out of himself in labour after riches, but never comes to himself, to ⟨p. 133⟩reason and argue the case, or to call himself to an account of his doings, Jer. 8.6. Luke 15.17. Ps. 4.5.

5. By his Inhumanity and self-cruelty, denying those comforts to himself, which God hath given him, using himself worse than God would have the Ox used in the Law, Deut. 25.4. Treading out the corn, and yet muzzling himself, Chap. 6.2.

5. By his Inhumanity and self-cruelty, denying those comforts to himself, which God hath given him, using himself worse than God would have the Oxe used in the Law, Deut. 25.4. Treading out the corn, and yet muzling himself, Chap. 6.2.

6. By the groundlessness of this cruelty, He hath none, while he lives, for whom he doth it, and when de dies, he leaves no heir, kinsman, second to enjoy it, but undergoes all his toil, and bereaves himself of all comfort, for he knows not whom, Ps. 39.6. The censure of all which is, that it is vanity, and a very sore and grievous affliction.

6. By the groundlesness of this cruelty, He hath none, while he lives, for whom he doth it, and when de dies, he leaves no heir, kinsman, second to enjoy it, but undergoes all his toyl, and bereaves himself of all comfort, for he knows not whom, Ps. 39.6. The censure of all which is, that it is vanity, and a very sore and grievous affliction.

V. 9. Two are better than one] Good more than one: so the comparative useth to be expressed; as Chap. 7.1, 2, 3, 5, 8. Prov. 8.11. Hag. 2.10. upon occasion of the solitary life of this miser, he showeth the benefit of society, and mutual helpfulness which thereby one man affordeth unto another, therefore God made woman for a companion and an helper unto man, Gen. 2.18. and Christ sent forth his Disciples by Two and Two, Mar. 6.7. Luke 10.1. not only that they might be joyful witnesses of the truth which they were to deliver, as Moses ⟨p. 134⟩and Aaron, Joshua and Zorobbabel, in reference unto whom we read of, Two witnesses, Rev. 11.3, 4. and in that respect the Apostle usually joineth one or two more to himself in the inscription of his Epistles, as joint witnesses of the truth of the doctrine therein delivered, 1 Cor. 1.1. 2 Cor. 1.1. Phil. 1.1. Coloss. 1.1. 1 Thes. 1.1. But withal, That they might with more ease and success carry on the ministry, wherein they were employed, and help mutually to strengthen, to encourage, to comfort one the other.

V. 9. Two are better than one] Good more than one: so the comparative useth to be expressed; as Chap. 7.1, 2, 3, 5, 8. Prov. 8.11.

because they have a good reward for their labour] Or, a Benefit mutually from each other in their labour, by counsel, by comfort, by assistance and co-operation, by supply of any want, or infirmity which may befall each other, 1 Sam. 23.16, 17. 2 Cor. 8.18, 19, 22. Act. 13.2, 5. Prov. 27.17. Act. 19.29. Phil. 4.3. They do both promote the common good, they do the more easily compass it, they do the more sweetly enjoy it. This mutual benefit is further opened […] some particulars of mutual danger, mutual rest, and mutual defence.

because they have a good reward for their labour] Or, a Benefit mutually from each other in their labour, by counsel, by comfort, by assistance and co-operation, by supply of any want, or infirmity which may befall each other, 1 Sam. 23.16, 17. 2 Cor. 8.18, 19, 22. Act. 13.2, 5. Prov. 27.17. Act. 19.29. Phil. 4.3. They do both promote the common good, they do the more easily compass it, they do the more sweetly enjoy it. This mutual benefit is further opened 〈…〉 some particulars of mutual danger, mutual rest, and mutual defence.

V. 10. If they fall,] That is, if one or either of them fall, the plural is used distributively or partitively to either of the singulars: as, The wicked men they fly, ⟨p. 135⟩Prov. 28.1. i. e. every man. She shall be saved, if they abide, 1 Tim. 2.15. i. e. if any of them abide. Falling, here, may be understood in all senses, for corporal falls, into a pit, from a horse or the like. Metaphorically, if they fall into diseases, disgraces, dangers. Spiritually, into sins or errors. In any adversities, The society of friends is useful to pity, to restore, to support, to convince, to comfort. Whereas such a solitary worldling as he spake of before, is forsaken of all, and hath none to stand to him. This is sometimes the lot of the godly in trouble, but then God stands by them, Ps. 22.11. 2 Tim. 4.16, 17.

V. 10. If they fall,] That is, if one or either of them fall, the plural is used distributively or partitively to either of the singulars: as, The wicked men they flye, ⟨p. 135⟩Prov. 28.1. i. e. every man. She shall be saved, if they abide, 1 Tim. 2.15. i. e. if any of them abide. Falling, here, may be understood in all senses, for corporal falls, into a pit, from a horse or the like. Metaphorically, if they fall into diseases, disgraces, dangers. Spiritually, into sins or errors. In any adversities, The society of friends is useful to pity, to restore, to support, to convince, to comfort. Whereas such a solitary worldling as he spake of before, is forsaken of all, and hath none to stand to him. This is sometimes the lot of the godly in trouble, but then God stands by them, Ps. 22.11.

But woe to him that is alone] Woe to him, is in the Original, one word made of two; as is observed out of Kimchi. It is here an interjection of grieving, with a denouncing of some evil which is coming towards a man: It is once more used in this Book, Chap. 10.16. and hardly at all elsewhere in that sense. Woe to him that is alone, or, to him that One, when he falleth, and there is not a second to lift him up.

V. 11. Again, if two lye together, then they have heat, &c.] This also may be understood not only literally, as 1 Reg. 1.1, 2. but metaphorically for all kind of mutual assistance, and encouragement in any work which is to ⟨p. 136⟩be done, Heb. 10.24. Luke 24.32.

V. 12. And if one prevail against him] i. e. Some stranger or third person assault, and be too hard for him, that is, for one of the two, then two or three shall stand against that One, and shall be easily able to resist him. See 2 Sam. 10.11. Jer. 41.13, 14. Ps. 127.5. This is another benefit of society and friendship, aid & protection against assaults, whether outward, or spiritual in Temptations from Satan. In all those, and so proportionably in all other cases, in war, in peace, in danger, in business, day and night, in the multitude of counsellors there is safety, Prov. 11.14. & 14.22. provided that this Society be undertaken in the fear of God, and in good and lawful things, otherwise, combinations in wickedness are cursed, Ps.64.5, 6, 7. Ps. 83.3—9. Nahum 1.10, 12. Prov. 11.21.