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Ec 4:1-16.

1. returned--namely, to the thought set forth

(Ec 3:16; Job 35:9).

power--MAURER, not so well, "violence."

no comforter--twice said to express continued suffering without any to give comfort

(Isa 53:7).

2. A profane sentiment if severed from its connection; but just in its bearing on Solomon's scope. If religion were not taken into account

(Ec 3:17, 19),

to die as soon as possible would be desirable, so as not to suffer or witness "oppressions"; and still more so, not to be born at all

(Ec 7:1).

Job

(Job 3:12; 21:7),

David

(Ps 73:3,

&c.), Jeremiah

(Jer 12:1),

Habakkuk

(Hab 1:13),

all passed through the same perplexity, until they went into the sanctuary, and looked beyond the present to the "judgment"

(Ps 73:17; Hab 2:20; 3:17, 18).

Then they saw the need of delay, before completely punishing the wicked, to give space for repentance, or else for accumulation of wrath

(Ro 2:15);

and before completely rewarding the godly, to give room for faith and perseverance in tribulation

(Ps 92:7-12).

Earnests, however, are often even now given, by partial judgments of the future, to assure us, in spite of difficulties, that God governs the earth.

3. not seen--nor experienced.

4. right--rather, "prosperous" (see on

Ec 2:21).

Prosperity, which men so much covet, is the very source of provoking oppression

(Ec 4:1)

and "envy," so far is it from constituting the chief good.

5. Still the

fool (the wicked oppressor) is not to be envied even in this life, who "folds his hands together" in idleness

(Pr 6:10; 24:33),

living on the means he wrongfully wrests from others; for such a one

eateth his own flesh--that is, is a self-tormentor, never satisfied, his spirit preying on itself

(Isa 9:20; 49:26).

6. Hebrew; "One open hand (palm) full of quietness, than both closed hands full of travail." "Quietness" (mental tranquillity flowing from honest labor), opposed to "eating one's own flesh"

(Ec 4:5),

also opposed to anxious labor to gain

(Ec 4:8; Pr 15:16, 17; 16:8).

7. A vanity described in

Ec 4:8.

8. not a second--no partner.

child--"son or brother," put for any heir

(De 25:5-10).

eye--

(Ec 1:8).

The miser would not be able to give an account of his infatuation.