Nazarene Commentary 2000©

21^st Century Paraphrase of the Hebrew Scriptures© –
21^st Century Version of the Christian Scriptures© [NCMM]

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ECCLESIASTES

CHAPTER FOUR:
PROVERBS REGARDING THE WORTHWHILE AND WORTHLESS

Summary

Having identified two types of living – the worthless and the worthwhile – Solomon proceeds with many proverbs that are helpful in coping with that hard burden done under the sun. He begins by blessing the dead who no longer experiences such oppression. Better yet is the person who has not come into existence. Other sayings or proverbs deal with: materialism, the benefit of companionship, life’s realities. Solomon outlines several types of labor and their motives: envy, greed, and that rewarded labor when it is shared.

Ecclesiastes 4:1-3 – The Blessed Dead

EC4:1 Once more I examined all the burdensome works of oppression done under the sun. 88 And, behold, all the oppressed shedding tears without any one to comfort them! 89 The oppressors have all the power and provide no comfort themselves! 90
88 Once more I examined all the burdensome works of oppression done under the sun: Or, BAS: And again I saw all the cruel things which are done under the sun; DAR: the oppressions; KNX: wrongs. Compare Ecclesiastes 5:8. [Job 35:9; Micah 2:2] History is one long record of oppression of the rich and powerful over the poor and afflicted.
89 And, behold, all the oppressed shedding tears without any one to comfort them: Or, BAS: there was the weeping of those who have evil done to them, and they had no comforter; KNX: innocent folk in tears; TAY: no one helping them; LXX: no comforter PARAKALON]. [James 5:4] Much of this oppression has been caused by religion and her comrades the merchants, political leaders, and the military. [Revelation 18:3, 5, 13, 24]
90 The oppressors have all the power and provide no comfort themselves: Or, BAS: and from the hands of the evil-doers there went out power, but they had no comforter; JPS: and on the side of them that oppressed them was power; but they had no comforter; KNX: who is to comfort them, powerless against their oppressors. [Psalm 69:20; 2 Timothy 4:16]
EC4:2 So I thought the dead who had already died more blessed than the living still alive. 91
91 So I thought the dead who had already died more blessed than the living still alive: Or, BAS: So my praise was for the dead who have gone to their death, more than for the living who still have life; SPR: congratulated; ABP: esteemed happy; JB: salute. The dead are finally at peace. [Job 3:17]
EC4:3 Indeed, better than both is the person who has not yet come into existence 92 – that person who has not yet experienced irritating labor done under the sun. 93
92 Indeed, better than both is the person who has not yet come into existence: Or, BAS: Yes, happier than the dead or the living seemed he who has not ever been. The Nazarene teaches the same. [Luke 23:29; compare Jeremiah 20:18]
93 That person who has not yet experienced irritating labor done under the sun: Or, BAS: who has not seen the evil which is done under the sun. He does not believe in human pre-existence.

Ecclesiastes 4:4-6 – The Futility of Materialism

EC4:4 I realized that all the hard labor and all that skillful work – those things that result in jealousy and envy by a neighbor – all of it was completely futile and trying to capture the wind. 94
94 I realized that all the hard labor and all that skillful work – those things that result in jealousy and envy by a neighbor – all of it was completely futile and trying to capture the wind: Or, BAS: And I saw that the cause of all the work and of everything which is done well was man’s envy of his neighbour. This again is to no purpose and a desire for wind. Not only is hard labor under the sun futile but it also stirs up envy and jealousy in others.
EC4:5 The stupid person folds his hands and devours his own flesh. 95
95 The stupid person folds his hands and devours his own flesh: Or, BAS: The foolish man, folding his hands, takes the flesh of his body for food. Possibly by being lazy the stupid person grows thin for lack of work. [Proverbs 6:10; 20:4; 24:33] See notes on Ephesians 4:28 and 2 Thessalonians 3:10.
EC4:6 A mere handful with peaceful serenity is much better than two handfuls along with hard labor and trying to capture the wind. 96
96 A mere handful with peaceful serenity is much better than two handfuls along with hard labor and trying to capture the wind: Or, BAS: One hand full of rest is better than two hands full of trouble and desire for wind; LXX: Better is a handful of quietness, than both the hands full of labour and striving after wind; ASV: quietness; JB: repose. [Psalm 37:16; Proverbs 15:16; 16:8; 17:1] Ecclesiastes stresses the benefit of the simple non-materialistic life.

Ecclesiastes 4:7, 8 – When Saving Is Futile

EC4:7 I examined again another futile effort done under the sun: 97
97 I examined again another futile effort done under the sun: Or, BAS: Then I came back, and I saw an example of what is to no purpose under the sun.
EC4:8 here is someone with no heir, no son or daughter, and yet he never stops toiling, his eye never satisfied with riches. 98 Nor does he ever ask, “Who am I working so hard for while I myself go without the things I want?” All of that is completely futile! Indeed, it is an effort in futility! 99
98 Here is someone with no heir, no son or daughter, and yet he never stops toiling, his eye never satisfied with riches: Or, BAS: It is one who is by himself, without a second, and without son or brother; but there is no end to all his work, and he has never enough of wealth; LXX: yet is there no end of all his labour, neither is his eye satisfied with riches; MOF: not satisfied with wealth. Compare Ecclesiastes 5:10. [Proverbs 27:20] See notes on 1 Timothy 6:9.
99 Nor does he ever ask, “Who am I working so hard for while I myself go without the things I want?” All of that is completely futile! Indeed, it is an effort in futility: Or, BAS: For whom, then, am I working and keeping myself from pleasure? This again is to no purpose, and a bitter work; JPS: and for whom do I labour, and deprive my soul [NEPHESH] of good? this is also vanity, and an evil trouble; LXX: for whom then do I labour, and bereave my soul [PSYKHEN] of pleasure?’ This also is vanity, yea, it is a grievous business. See notes on Luke 12:19. [Psalm 39:6]

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 – The Benefit of Companionship

EC4:9 Two are better than one, for their shared labor results in better production. 100
100 Two are better than one, for their shared labor results in better production: Or, BAS: Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their work; GDS: a good wage; KNX: better be in partnership with another, than alone; partnership brings advantage to both. [Proverbs 27:17]
EC4:10 Because if one stumbles the other will pick them up, but woe to the person who stumbles with no one to help. 101
101 Because if one stumbles the other will pick them up, but woe to the person who stumbles with no one to help: Or, BAS: And if one has a fall, the other will give him a hand; but unhappy is the man who is by himself, because he has no helper; KNX: with the lonely it goes hard. [Job 4:4; Galatians 6:1]
EC4:11 Also, if two sleep together they stay warm. But how does the solitary person stay warm? 102
102 Also, if two sleep together they stay warm. But how does the solitary person stay warm: Or, BAS: So again, if two are sleeping together they are warm, but how may one be warm by himself; KJV: have heat. In ancient times and in many countries today people often sleep together in order to stay warm. Note Luke 17:34. Often the well-off each have their own bed with a heating blanket. Note King David, Solomon’s father, at 1 Kings 1:2.
EC4:12 And where an adversary can overcome the solitary person, two persons can take their stand against him. Indeed, a three-fold rope is hard to break. 103
103 And where an adversary can overcome the solitary person, two persons can take their stand against him. Indeed, a three-fold rope is hard to break: Or, BAS: And two attacked by one would be safe, and three cords twisted together are not quickly broken; NEB: a cord of three strands is not quickly snapped. The LXX Greek for three-fold hear is ENTRITON. Such a rope with three strands is called “hard lay” rope.

Ecclesiastes 4:13-16 – The Realities of Life

EC4:13 A wise though poor youth is much better than an old and stupid king who will no longer listen to advice. 104
104 A wise though poor youth is much better than an old and stupid king who will no longer listen to advice: Or, BAS: A young man who is poor and wise is better than a king who is old and foolish and will not be guided by the wisdom of others; DAR: Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king, who hath not known to be warned any more; LXX: Better is a poor [PENES] and wise [SOPHOS] child than an old and foolish king, who knoweth not how to receive admonition any more; SPR: frugal. [Proverbs 19:1; 28:6] Compare Ecclesiastes 9:15. Jesus was such a youth. [Luke 2:40]
EC4:14 For the wise youth can get out of prison and become a king, but this stupid king even if born to it can yet become a pauper. 105
105 For the wise youth can get out of prison and become a king, but this stupid king even if born to it can yet become a pauper: Or, BAS: Because out of a prison the young man comes to be king, though by birth he was only a poor man in the kingdom; DAR: For from a house of prisoners he hath come out to reign, for even in his own kingdom he hath been poor; LXX: For out of prison he came forth to be king; although in his kingdom he was born poor. Joseph is an example. [Genesis 41:14, 40] Compare Job 5:11; 2 Samuel 7:8.
EC4:15 I have seen it happen among all those living – coming and going under the sun – they will be in favor of the wise youth who becomes king though he be the second choice and yet takes the place of the stupid king. 106
106 I have seen it happen among all those living – coming and going under the sun – they will be in favor of the wise youth who becomes king though he be the second choice and yet takes the place of the stupid king: Or, BAS: I saw all the living under the sun round the young man who was to be ruler in place of the king; LXX: I saw all the living that walk under the sun, that they were with the child, the second, that was to stand up in his stead. Compare examples at 1 Kings 3:7 and 2 Kings 21:24.
EC4:16 At first there was no end of people who supported the wise youth as king, and yet after time passes they no longer delight in him. For a certainty even this is completely futile and trying to catch the wind. 107
107 At first there was no end of people who supported the wise youth as king, and yet after time passes they no longer delight in him. For a certainty even this is completely futile and trying to catch the wind: Or, BAS: There was no end of all the people, of all those whose head he was, but they who come later will have no delight in him. This again is to no purpose and desire for wind; DAR: there is no end to all the people, to all who were before them; also, the latter rejoice not in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit. [1 Kings 1:40; 12:4; 2 Samuel 20:1]

Mark Heber Miller