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PARALLEL BIBLE - Ecclesiastes 4:14


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King James Bible - Ecclesiastes 4:14

For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor.

World English Bible

For out of prison he came forth to be king; yes, even in his kingdom he was born poor.

Douay-Rheims - Ecclesiastes 4:14

Because out of prison and chains sometimes a man cometh forth to a kingdom: and another born king is consumed with poverty.

Webster's Bible Translation

For out of prison he cometh to reign; whereas also he that is born in his kingdom becometh poor.

Original Hebrew

כי
3588 מבית 1004 הסורים 612 יצא 3318 למלך 4427 כי 3588 גם 1571 במלכותו 4438 נולד 3205 רשׁ׃ 7326

Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge

VERSE (14) -
1Ki 14:26,27 2Ki 23:31-34; 24:1,2,6,12; 25:7,27-30 La 4:20

SEV Biblia, Chapter 4:14

Porque de la cárcel salió para reinar; aunque en su reino nació pobre.

Clarke's Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 4:15

Verse 15. With the second child that shall stand up - The Targum applies this to the case of Jeroboam and Rehoboam. History affords many instances of mean persons
raised to sovereign authority, and of kings being reduced to the meanest offices, and to a morsel of bread. Agrippa himself ascended the throne of Israel after having been long in prison. See Josephus, Ant. lib. xviii. c. 8. This the heathens attributed to fortune.

Si fortuna volet, fies de rhetore consul; Si volet haec eadem, fies de consule rhetor. JUV. Sat. vii., ver. 197.

Though I have given what the Jews suppose to be the allusion in these verses, yet the reader may doubt whether the reference be correct. There is a case implied, whether from fact or assumption I cannot say; but it seems to be this: A king who had abused the authority vested in him by oppressing the people, had a son whose prudent conduct promised much comfort to the nation, when he should come to the throne. The father, seeing the popular wish, and becoming jealous of his son, shut him up in prison. In the interim the old king either dies or is deposed, and the son is brought out of prison, and placed on the throne. Then (ver. 15, 16) multitudes of the people flock to him, and begin to walk under the sun; i.e., the prosperous state to which the nation is raised by its redemption from the former tyranny. However, the wise man insinuates that this sunshine will not last long. The young king, feeling the reins in his own hands, and being surrounded by those whose interest it was to flatter in order to obtain and continue in court favour, he also becomes corrupted so that those who come after shall have no cause of rejoicing in him. This appears to be the case; and similar cases have frequently occurred, not only in Asiatic, but also in European history, I have, in another place, referred to the case of Rushn Achter, who was brought out of prison and set upon the throne of Hindoostan. This is expressed in the following elegant Persian couplet, where his fortune is represented as similar to that of the patriarch Joseph: - "The bright star is now become a moon: Joseph is taken out of prison, and become a king." Rushn Achter signifies a bright or splendid star.


John Gill's Bible Commentary

Ver. 15. I considered all the living which walk under the sun , etc.] All men that were then alive, who were capable of walking upon the earth; even all of them that were under the heavens, in every land and nation, under whatsoever dominion or government: these, and their manners, Solomon had particularly observed, and made his remarks upon, by which it appeared how fickle the minds of the populace were under every government, and how precarious and uncertain were the honour and dignity of princes; with the second child that shall stand up in his stead : the heir and successor or every prince, that shall rise up and take the throne of his father or predecessor, and reign in his stead. The wise man observed how the people commonly behaved towards him; how that they generally stood best affected to him, than to the reigning prince; worshipped the rising sun, courted his favour and friendship, soothed and flattered him; expressing their wishes to see him on the throne, and treated with neglect and contempt their lawful sovereign. Some, contrary to the accents, connect this with the word “walk” f106 ; that walk with the second child, join themselves to him, converse with him, and show him great respect and honour: and there are others that, by this second child, understand the poor and wise child, that succeeds the old and foolish king, whom yet, in time, the people grow weary of; such is the levity and inconstancy of people, that they are not long pleased with princes, old or young, wise or foolish. The Targum interprets this of the foresight Solomon had, by a spirit of prophecy, of those that rebelled against his son Rehoboam, and of those that cleaved unto him, who was his second, and reigned in his stead.

Noldius thinks Solomon refers to the history of his friend Hiram, king of Tyre, whose kingdom, in his and in his son’s time, was very large, flourishing, and opulent, but in a following reign not so; and he renders and paraphrases the words thus, ““I saw all the works under the sun; [with] Baleazarus, the son of a friend” (Hiram, for ynç , rendered “second”, is the same as rbj , “a friend”), “who shall stand” or “reign after him: there is no end of all the people”,” etc. the kingdom in those two reigns being flourishing; yet posterity shall not rejoice in him, in Abdastratus, the grandson of Hiram, destroyed by the four sons of his nurse f108 .


Matthew Henry Commentary

Miseries from oppression. (Eccl. 4:1-3) troubles from envy. (Eccl 4:4-6) The folly of covetousness. (Eccl. 4:7,8) The advantages of mutual assistance. (Eccl. 4:9-12) the changes of royalty. (Eccl 4:13-16)

Eccl. 4:1-3 It grieved Solomon to see might prevail against right Wherever we turn, we see melancholy proofs of the wickedness and miser of mankind, who try to create trouble to themselves and to each other Being thus hardly used, men are tempted to hate and despise life. But good man, though badly off while in this world, cannot have cause to wish he had never been born, since he is glorifying the Lord, even in the fires, and will be happy at last, for ever happy. Ungodly men have most cause to wish the continuance of life with all its vexations, as far more miserable condition awaits them if they die in their sins. I human and worldly things were our chief good, not to exist would be preferable to life, considering the various oppressions here below.

Eccl. 4:4-6 Solomon notices the sources of trouble peculiar to well-doers, and includes all who labour with diligence, and whose efforts are crowned with success. They often become great an prosperous, but this excites envy and opposition. Others, seeing the vexations of an active course, foolishly expect more satisfaction i sloth and idleness. But idleness is a sin that is its own punishment Let us by honest industry lay hold on the handful, that we may not wan necessaries, but not grasp at both hands full, which would only creat vexation of spirit. Moderate pains and gains do best.

Eccl. 4:7,8 Frequently, the more men have, the more they would have and on this they are so intent, that they get no enjoyment from what they have. Selfishness is the cause of this evil. A selfish man care for nobody; there is none to take care of but himself, yet he wil scarcely allow necessary rest to himself, and the people he employs. He never thinks he has enough. He has enough for his calling, for his family, but he has not enough for his eyes. Many are so set upon the world, that in pursuit of it they bereave themselves, not only of the favour of God and eternal life, but of the pleasures of this life. The distant relations or strangers who inherit such a man's wealth, neve thank him. Covetousness gathers strength by time and habit; me tottering on the brink of the grave, grow more grasping and griping Alas, and how often do we see men professing to be followers of Him who, "though he was rich, for our sakes became poor," anxiousl scraping money together and holding it fast, excusing themselves by common-place talking about the necessity of care, and the danger of extravagance!

Eccl. 4:9-12 Surely he has more satisfaction in life, who labours har to maintain those he loves, than the miser has in his toil. In all things union tends to success and safety, but above all, the union of Christians. They assist each other by encouragement, or friendl reproof. They warm each other's hearts while they converse together of the love of Christ, or join in singing his praises. Then let us improv our opportunities of Christian fellowship. In these things all is no vanity, though there will be some alloy as long as we are under the sun. Where two are closely joined in holy love and fellowship, Chris will by his Spirit come to them; then there is a threefold cord.

Eccl. 4:13-16 People are never long easy and satisfied; they are fon of changes. This is no new thing. Princes see themselves slighted by those they have studied to oblige; this is vanity and vexation of spirit. But the willing servants of the Lord Jesus, our King, rejoic in him alone, and they will love Him more and more to all eternity __________________________________________________________________


Original Hebrew

כי 3588 מבית 1004 הסורים 612 יצא 3318 למלך 4427 כי 3588 גם 1571 במלכותו 4438 נולד 3205 רשׁ׃ 7326


CHAPTERS: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
VERSES: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

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