SEV Biblia, Chapter 2:4
Engrandecí mis obras, edifiqué para mí casas, planté para mí viñas;
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 2:4
Verse 4. I builded me houses - Palace after palace; the house of the forest of Lebanon, 1 Kings vii. 1, &c.; a house for the queen; the temple, &c., 2 Chron. viii. 1, &c.; 1 Kings ix. 10, &c., besides many other buildings of various kinds.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 4. I made me great works , etc.] He did not spend his time in trifling things, as Domitian f51 , in catching and killing flies; but in devising, designing, directing, and superintending great works of art and skill, becoming the grandeur of his state, and the greatness of his mind: the Midrash restrains it to his great throne of ivory, overlaid with gold, ( Kings 10:18), but it is a general expression, including all the great things he did, of which the following is a particular enumeration; I builded me houses ; among which must not be reckoned the house of God, though that was built by him, and in the first place; yet this was built, not for his own pleasure and grandeur, but for the worship and glory of God: but his own house and palace is chiefly meant, which was thirteen years in building; and the house of the forest in Lebanon, which perhaps was his country seat; with all other houses and offices, for his stores, for his servants, his horsemen, and chariots; see ( 1 Kings 7:1,2 9:1,19); and in fine spacious buildings men take a great deal of pleasure, and promise themselves much happiness in dwelling in them, and in perpetuating their names to posterity by them; see ( Psalm 49:11 Job 21:21). The Targum is, “I multiplied good works in Jerusalem; I builded me houses; the house of the sanctuary, to make atonement for Israel; the king’s house of refreshment, and the conclave and porch; and the house of judgment, of hewn stones, where the wise men sit and do judgment; I made a throne of ivory for the royal seat;” I planted me vineyards ; perhaps those at Engedi were of his planting; however, he had one at Baalhamon, and no doubt in other places, ( Song of Solomon 1:14 8:11); the Targum makes mention of one at Jabne, planted by him; these also add to the pleasure of human life; it is delightful to walk in them, to gather the fruit and drink of the wine of them; see ( Song of Solomon 7:12).
Matthew Henry Commentary
The vanity and vexation of mirth, sensual pleasure, riches, and pomp (Eccl. 2:1-11) Human wisdom insufficient. (Eccl. 2:12-17) This world to be used according to the will of God. (Eccl. 2:18-26) Eccl. 2:1-11 Solomon soon found mirth and pleasure to be vanity. What does noisy, flashy mirth towards making a man happy? The manifol devices of men's hearts, to get satisfaction from the world, and their changing from one thing to another, are like the restlessness of a ma in a fever. Perceiving it was folly to give himself to wine, he nex tried the costly amusements of princes. The poor, when they read such description, are ready to feel discontent. But the remedy against all such feelings is in the estimate of it all by the owner himself. All was vanity and vexation of spirit: and the same things would yield the same result to us, as to Solomon. Having food and raiment, let u therewith be content. His wisdom remained with him; a stron understanding, with great human knowledge. But every earthly pleasure when unconnected with better blessings, leaves the mind as eager an unsatisfied as before. Happiness arises not from the situation in whic we are placed. It is only through Jesus Christ that final blessednes can be attained.
Eccl. 2:12-17 Solomon found that knowledge and prudence were preferabl to ignorance and folly, though human wisdom and knowledge will not make a man happy. The most learned of men, who dies a stranger to Chris Jesus, will perish equally with the most ignorant; and what good can commendations on earth do to the body in the grave, or the soul i hell? And the spirits of just men made perfect cannot want them. S that if this were all, we might be led to hate our life, as it is all vanity and vexation of spirit.
Eccl. 2:18-26 Our hearts are very loth to quit their expectations of great things from the creature; but Solomon came to this at length. The world is a vale of tears, even to those that have much of it. See what fools they are, who make themselves drudges to the world, which afford a man nothing better than subsistence for the body. And the utmost he can attain in this respect is to allow himself a sober, cheerful us thereof, according to his rank and condition. But we must enjoy good in our labour; we must use those things to make us diligent and cheerfu in worldly business. And this is the gift of God. Riches are a blessin or a curse to a man, according as he has, or has not, a heart to make good use of them. To those that are accepted of the Lord, he gives jo and satisfaction in the knowledge and love of him. But to the sinner he allots labour, sorrow, vanity, and vexation, in seeking a worldl portion, which yet afterwards comes into better hands. Let the sinne seriously consider his latter end. To seek a lasting portion in the love of Christ and the blessings it bestows, is the only way to tru and satisfying enjoyment even of this present world __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
הגדלתי 1431 מעשׂי 4639 בניתי 1129 לי בתים 1004 נטעתי 5193 לי כרמים׃ 3754
