1:1–31; 8:22).
ECCLESIASTES—NOTE ON 4:1–3 The oppressiveness of some lives renders death more appealing.
ECCLESIASTES—NOTE ON 4:3 evil deeds. Earthly life can be so disheartening as to make nonexistence preferable.
ECCLESIASTES—NOTE ON 4:4 man's envy. The lack of satisfaction with life leads some to conclude that everyone else has it better.
ECCLESIASTES—NOTE ON 4:5 folds his hands . . . eats his own flesh. Even the man who settles into idleness, living on what he takes from others, is selftormented and never satisfied (cf. Isa. 9:20; 44:20).
ECCLESIASTES—NOTE ON 4:7–12 The futility of labor alone without satisfaction and without any heir to experience its value is addressed (cf. 2:18–22, a complementary message). Life is better with companionship.
Solomon Reflects on Genesis
Solomon Reflects on Genesis Toward the end of his life, the penitent King Solomon pondered life in the wake of the fall and the outworking of man's sin. Solomon drew the following conclusions, possibly from his own study of Genesis: 1. God created the heavens and earth with laws of design and regularity (Eccles. 1:2–7; 3:1–8; cf. Gen. 1:1–31; 8:22). 2. Man is created from dust and returns to dust (Eccles. 3:20; 12:7; cf. Gen. 2:7; 3:19). 3. God placed in man his life-giving breath (Eccles. 12:7; cf. Gen. 2:7). 4. As God ordained it, marriage is one of life's most enjoyable blessings (Eccles. 9:9; cf. Gen. 2:18–25). 5. Divine judgment results from the fall (Eccles. 3:14–22; 11:9; 12:14; cf. Gen. 2:17; 3:1–19). 6. The effect of the curse on creation is "vanity," i.e., futility (Eccles. 1:5–8; cf. Gen. 3:17–19). 7. Labor after the fall is difficult and yields little profit (Eccles. 1:3, 13; 2:3; 3:9–11; cf. Gen. 3:17–19). 8. Death overcomes all creatures after the fall (Eccles. 8:8; 9:4–5; cf. Gen. 2:17; 3:19). 9. After the fall, man's heart is desperately wicked (Eccles. 7:20, 29; 8:11; 9:3; cf. Gen. 3:22; 6:5; 8:21). 10. God withholds certain knowledge and wisdom from man for his wise, but unspoken, reasons (Eccles. 6:12; 8:17; cf. Gen. 3:22). ©1997 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
ECCLESIASTES—NOTE ON 4:13–16 The cherished popularity of kings is precarious and short-lived.