OceanSide church of Christ




Click here to see all of the YouTube videos belonging to OceanSide
(opens in a new browser)

 Previous Return to Ecclesiastes Next 

Ecclesiastes 2:6 – I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees.

 

Thought:  Solomon insured the success of his harvest.  He knew that there were times when draught would come.  This would take a toll on his crops.  Thus, he made pools of water.  He stored water so he could irrigate his trees in the dry spells.  Solomon was not going to allow nature to hinder him.  He was going to have it all regardless.  If happiness could be found in labor, he was determined to find it.  Would he find it?  We must keep reading.

 

Isaiah 55:10

 

Commentary:

 

A.     Barnes:  “A short distance south of Bethlehem, in a valley in the defile of Urtas, three “Pools of Solomon” are still shown and an adjoining hill still bears the name of the “Little Paradise” (e-sword).

 

B.      When a person has something of value, there are usually other things needed to sustain it.

1.       Gardens, plants, trees, fruits, and vegetables must be watered in order to produce.

2.       Thus, Solomon made “pools of water,” reservoirs, in order to irrigate his vegetation.

3.       Solomon’s wealth enabled him to be able to do whatever was needed to be done.  If something was needed, all he had to say was:  “Buy it,” or “Built it.” 

4.       Remember, he had given his heart to find something in life.  Surely surrounding yourself with the most beautiful houses and buildings will bring joy and happiness to life.

 

C.     LESSON:  One thing usually leads to another.

1.       If you purchase a swimming pool, there are other costs associated with the pool:  chairs, toys, chemicals, etc.

2.       My father had a saying:  “If you can’t afford to maintain what you buy, do not buy it.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ecclesiastes 2:7 – I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house, also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me.

 

Thought:  Solomon was intent on being successful.  He worked hard to expand his wealth.  His luxurious lifestyle also included having servants and maidens in his house.  They would do the menial tasks of the home.  They would also make certain that the king’s needs were satisfied.  Solomon also enriched himself with large flocks of animals.  These flocks were part of the evidence of his wealth.  His search for happiness in things was part of his experiment.  Could he find happiness there?

 

I Kings 9:20-21

 

Commentary:

 

A.     The buildings, gardens, and pools of water that Solomon built also needed to be manned.  People were needed to tend and take care of these things.

 

B.      Therefore, Solomon “got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house.”

1.       Two passages:

a.       1 Kings 5:15

 

And Solomon had threescore and ten thousand that bare burdens, and fourscore thousand hewers in the mountains.

 

b.      1 Kings 9:20-21

 

And all the people that were left of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, which were not of the children of Israel, their children that were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel were not able utterly to destroy, upon those did Solomon levy a tribute of bondservice unto this day.

 

2.       It is difficult for us to imagine the organizational structure that was needed in order for Solomon to carry out all of the affairs within his kingdom.

3.       Most likely his kingdom came with all of the good and evil found in other large systems of government:  loyalty, diligence, success, extortion, bribery, and other forms of immorality.

 

C.     Solomon also notes that he added possession of great and small cattle “above all that were in Jerusalem before me.”

1.       Cattle consisted of many different animals.  “Oxen, neat, horses, asses, mules, camels, and such like; with sheep and goats” (Clarke, e-sword).

2.       Cattle was one of proofs of riches for wealthy individuals.  Remember Job (Job 1:3).

 

His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and give hundred asses…

 

3.       Cattle involved assets, food, and a means of bartering.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ecclesiastes 2:8 – I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of the kings and of the provinces:  I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delight of the sons of men, as musical instruments and that of all sorts.

 

Thought:  Solomon’s list of items sought after to bring him happiness is impressive.  Silver, gold, revenues from taxes, singers, luxury items, and musical instruments are listed in this verse alone.  His thinking seems to be:  “If I can just have that or that or that I can find happiness.”  Not much has changed in the world since Solomon’s day.  People are constantly accumulating things in an attempt to find joy.  Had they read Ecclesiastes, they would have saved themselves a lot of money.

 

I Kings 9:28

 

Commentary: 

 

A.     Solomon’s wealth also involved stores of silver and gold, that is, precious metals. 

1.       He could easily mine as much gold and silver as he desired from the surrounding region.

2.       Too, when prominent people visited him, they would bring him gold, silver, and precious stones.

a.       Hiram, king of Tyre (1 Kings 9:14)

 

And Hiram sent to the king sixscore talents of gold.

 

b.      Queen of Sheba (1 Kings 10:2)

 

And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bare spices, and very much gold, and precious stones.

 

B.      Solomon also lists the “peculiar treasure of the kings of the provinces” as part of his wealth.

1.       The word literally means “shut up.”  It involved wealth that was closely shut up.

2.       BDB describes it as valued property, treasure.

3.       We have all heard of the jewels of the Crown Royal in England.  These are locked away in extremely secure locations in the best safes man can make.

4.       Because it is described as being received from the kings of the provinces, many think it involved the levies placed on these kings who were in subjection to Solomon.

 

C.     Solomon wasted no funds on entertainment either.

1.       I gat me men singers and women singers. 

a.       These were vocal and instrumental performers.

b.      They are described by Solomon as “the delight of the sons of men.”

1)      Delight:  luxury, exquisite delight, pleasantness, comfort

2)      These were the top entertainers in their fields. 

2.       He also obtained “musical instruments and that of all sorts.”

a.       The most expensive musical instrument in the world presently is the MacDonald Strativarius Viola which is estimated at $45 million.

 

Macdonald' Stradivari Viola Fails to Sell for $45 million

b.      There are multiple musical instruments that Solomon could have purchased:  harp, lyre, cymbals, reed pipe, drums, trumpets, clappers, bells, and shofars.

Ecclesiastes 2:9 – So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem:  also my wisdom remained with me.

 

Thought:  Solomon has been chasing a dream up to this point.  He has sought happiness in many things.  His labors were productive.  He admits:  “So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem.”  He also continued to manifest great wisdom.  In essence, Solomon appeared “to have it all.”  It is the life for which so many yearn.  They believe that if they had it, they would be happy.  The question is:  “Was Solomon?”  Did his increase, his wisdom, and his greatness bring joy?

We will have to continue to read to find that answer.

 

I Kings 10:23

 

Commentary:

 

A.     Solomon’s building projects were a great success.  Solomon’s kingdom grew immensely.  He had a huge labor force.  He had wealth beyond measure.

 

B.      Solomon could boast:  “So I was great!”

1.       He “had it all.”

2.       He had the life that so many people wish they could have today:  the life of Reilly, the millionaire’s life, the life of the rich and famous.

3.       This life presents a life of stability, independence, power, freedom, and happiness.

4.       It appears to be a life that is easy and free from all worry.

 

C.     Solomon also retained his wisdom during his various endeavors. 

1.       Wisdom is needed in order to keep a person grounded and sane. 

2.       Not all people are able to handle extreme abundance in this life.

a.       There are some people who obtain great wealth that seem to lose their minds.

b.      There are others who allow their pleasures to overcome them.

c.       There are some who go to their graves because they do not know how to cope with the fame, the abundance, the power, and the freedom.