---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Ecclesiastes 5"
description: "CHAPTER 5   :-. 1. From vanity connected with
kings, he passes to vanities ( :-) which may be fallen into in serving the King of kings, even
by those who,"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/ecclesiastes/5"
---

CHAPTER 5

.

**1.** From vanity connected with
kings, he passes to vanities () which may be fallen into in serving the King of kings, even
by those who, convinced of the vanity of the creature, wish to
worship the Creator.
**Keep thy foot**—In going
to worship, go with considerate, circumspect, reverent feeling. The
allusion is to the taking off the shoes, or sandals, in entering a
temple ([Exodus 3:5](../../../kjv/exodus/3/5); [Joshua 5:15](../../../kjv/joshua/5/15),
which passages perhaps gave rise to the custom). WEISS
needlessly reads, "Keep thy *feast days*" ([Exodus 23:14](../../../kjv/exodus/23/14);
[Exodus 23:17](../../../kjv/exodus/23/17); the three great
feasts).
**hear**—rather, "To
be ready (to draw nigh with the desire) to hear (obey) is a better
sacrifice than the offering of fools" [HOLDEN].
(*Vulgate; Syriac*). ([Psalms 51:16](../../../kjv/psalms/51/16);
[Psalms 51:17](../../../kjv/psalms/51/17); [Proverbs 21:3](../../../kjv/proverbs/21/3);
[Jeremiah 6:20](../../../kjv/jeremiah/6/20); [Jeremiah 7:21-23](../../../kjv/jeremiah/7/21-23);
[Jeremiah 14:12](../../../kjv/jeremiah/14/12); [Amos 5:21-24](../../../kjv/amos/5/21-24)).
The warning is against mere ceremonial self-righteousness, as in [Amos 5:21-30](../../../kjv/amos/5/21-30). *Obedience* is the spirit of the law's requirements
([Deuteronomy 10:12](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/10/12)). Solomon sorrowfully
looks back on his own neglect of this (compare [1 Kings 8:63](../../../kjv/1-kings/8/63);
[Ecclesiastes 11:4](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/11/4); [Ecclesiastes 11:6](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/11/6)).
*Positive* precepts of God must be kept, but will not stand
instead of obedience to His *moral* precepts. The last provided
no sacrifice for *wilful* sin ([Numbers 15:30](../../../kjv/numbers/15/30);
[Numbers 15:31](../../../kjv/numbers/15/31); [Hebrews 10:26-29](../../../kjv/hebrews/10/26-29)).

**2. rash**—opposed to the
*considerate reverence* ("keep thy foot," ). This verse illustrates , as to *prayer* in the house of God ("before God,"
[Isaiah 1:12](../../../kjv/isaiah/1/12)); so [Isaiah 1:12](../../../kjv/isaiah/1/12) as to *vows.* The remedy to such vanities is stated
([Ecclesiastes 5:6](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/5/6)). "Fear thou God."
**God is in heaven**—Therefore
He ought to be approached with carefully weighed words, by thee, a
frail creature of earth.

**3.** As much "business,"
engrossing the mind, gives birth to incoherent "dreams," so
many words, uttered inconsiderately in prayer, give birth to and
betray "a fool's speech" (), [HOLDEN and
WEISS]. But implies that the "dream" is not a comparison, but
the *vain thoughts of the fool* (sinner, ), arising from multiplicity of (worldly) "business."
His "dream" is that God hears him for his much speaking (), independently of the frame of mind [*English Version*
and MAURER].
**fool's voice**—answers to
"dream" in the parallel; it comes by the many "words"
flowing from the fool's "dream."

**4. When thou vowest a vow unto
God**—Hasty words in *prayer* ([Ecclesiastes 5:2](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/5/2);
[Ecclesiastes 5:3](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/5/3)) suggest the subject of
hasty *vows.* A vow should not be hastily made ([Judges 11:35](../../../kjv/judges/11/35);
[1 Samuel 14:24](../../../kjv/1-samuel/14/24)). When made, it must be
kept ([Psalms 76:11](../../../kjv/psalms/76/11)), even as God
keeps His word to us ([Exodus 12:41](../../../kjv/exodus/12/41);
[Exodus 12:51](../../../kjv/exodus/12/51); [Joshua 21:45](../../../kjv/joshua/21/45)).

**5.** ([Deuteronomy 23:21](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/23/21);
[Deuteronomy 23:23](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/23/23)).

**6. thy flesh**—Vow not with "thy
mouth" a vow (for example, fasting), which the lusts of the
flesh ("body," [Ecclesiastes 2:3](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/2/3),
*Margin*) may tempt thee to break ([Ecclesiastes 2:3](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/2/3)).
**angel**—the "messenger"
of God ([Job 33:23](../../../kjv/job/33/23)); minister
([Revelation 1:20](../../../kjv/revelation/1/20)); that is, the priest
([Malachi 2:7](../../../kjv/malachi/2/7)) "before"
whom a breach of a vow was to be confessed ([Leviticus 5:4](../../../kjv/leviticus/5/4);
[Leviticus 5:5](../../../kjv/leviticus/5/5)). We, Christians, in our
vows (for example, at baptism, the Lord's Supper, c.) vow in the
presence of Jesus Christ, "the angel of the covenant" ([Leviticus 5:5](../../../kjv/leviticus/5/5)), and of ministering angels as witnesses ([1 Corinthians 11:10](../../../kjv/1-corinthians/11/10)
[1 Timothy 5:21](../../../kjv/1-timothy/5/21)). Extenuate not any
breach of them as a slight error.

**7.** (See on ). God's service, which ought to be our chief good, becomes by
"dreams" (foolish fancies as of God's requirements of us in
worship), and random "words," positive "vanity."
The remedy is, whatever fools may do, "Fear *thou* God"
([Ecclesiastes 12:13](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/12/13)).

**8.** As in , so here the difficulty suggests itself. If God is so exact
in even punishing hasty words (), why does He allow gross injustice? In the remote
"provinces," the "poor" often had to put
themselves for protection from the inroads of Philistines, &c.,
under chieftains, who oppressed them even in Solomon's reign ().
**the matter**—literally,
"the pleasure," or purpose (). Marvel not at this *dispensation of God's will,* as
if He had abandoned the world. Nay, there is coming a capital
judgment at last, and an earnest of it in partial punishments of
sinners meanwhile.
**higher than the highest**—
([Daniel 7:18](../../../kjv/daniel/7/18)).
**regardeth**— ([Daniel 7:18](../../../kjv/daniel/7/18)).
**there be higher**—*plural,*
that is, the three persons of the Godhead, or else, "regardeth
not only the 'highest' kings, than whom He 'is higher,' but even the
petty tyrants of the provinces, namely, the high ones who are above
them" (the poor) [WEISS].

**9.** "The profit (produce) of
the earth is (ordained) for (the common good of) all: even the king
himself is served by (the fruits of) the field" (). Therefore the common Lord of all, high and low, will
punish at last those who rob the "poor" of their share in
it ([Proverbs 22:22](../../../kjv/proverbs/22/22); [Proverbs 22:23](../../../kjv/proverbs/22/23);
[Amos 8:4-7](../../../kjv/amos/8/4-7)).

**10.** Not only will God punish at
last, but meanwhile the oppressive gainers of "silver" find
no solid "satisfaction" in it.
**shall not be satisfied**—so
the oppressor "eateth his own flesh" (see on and [Ecclesiastes 4:5](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/4/5)).
**with increase**—is not
satisfied with the gain that he makes.

**11. they . . . that eat them**—the
rich man's dependents ([Psalms 23:5](../../../kjv/psalms/23/5)).

**12.** Another argument against
anxiety to gain riches. "Sleep . . . sweet" answers to
"quietness" ([Ecclesiastes 4:6](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/4/6));
"not suffer . . . sleep," to "vexation of spirit."
Fears for his wealth, and an overloaded stomach without "laboring"
(compare [Ecclesiastes 4:5](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/4/5)), will not
suffer the rich oppressor to sleep.

**13, 14.** Proofs of God's
judgments even in this world (). The rich oppressor's wealth provokes enemies, robbers, c.
Then, after having kept it for an expected son, he loses it
beforehand by misfortune ("by evil travail"), and the son
is born to be heir of poverty. [Ecclesiastes 2:19](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/2/19)
[Ecclesiastes 2:23](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/2/23) gives another aspect of
the same subject.

**16.** Even supposing that he loses
not his wealth before death, *then* at least he must go stripped
of it all ([Psalms 49:17](../../../kjv/psalms/49/17)).
**laboured for the wind**—
([Hosea 12:1](../../../kjv/hosea/12/1); [1 Corinthians 9:26](../../../kjv/1-corinthians/9/26)).

**17. eateth**—appropriately put
for "liveth" in general, as connected with [Ecclesiastes 5:11](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/5/11);
[Ecclesiastes 5:12](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/5/12); [Ecclesiastes 5:18](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/5/18).
**darkness**—opposed to
"light (joy) of countenance" ([Ecclesiastes 8:1](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/8/1);
[Proverbs 16:15](../../../kjv/proverbs/16/15)).
**wrath**—fretfulness,
literally, "His sorrow is much, and his infirmity (of body) and
wrath."

**18.** Returns to the sentiment
([Ecclesiastes 3:12](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/3/12); [Ecclesiastes 3:13](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/3/13);
[Ecclesiastes 3:22](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/3/22)); translate: "Behold
the good which I have seen, and which is becoming" (in a man).
**which God giveth**—namely,
both the good of his labor and his life.
**his portion**—legitimately.
It is God's gift that makes it so when regarded as such. Such a one
will use, not abuse, earthly things ([Ecclesiastes 3:22](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/3/22)). Opposed to the anxious life of the covetous ([Ecclesiastes 5:10](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/5/10);
[Ecclesiastes 5:17](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/5/17)).

**19.** As refers to the "laboring" man (), so [Ecclesiastes 5:19](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/5/19) to the
"rich" man, who gets wealth not by "oppression"
([Ecclesiastes 5:8](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/5/8)), but by "God's
gift." He is distinguished also from the "rich" man
([Ecclesiastes 6:2](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/6/2)) in having received by
God's gift not only "wealth," but also "power to eat
thereof," which that one has not.
**to take his portion**—limits
him to the lawful use of wealth, not keeping back from God *His*
portion while enjoying his own.

**20.** He will not remember much,
looking back with disappointment, as the ungodly do (), on the days of his life.
**answereth . . . in the
joy**—God *answers* his prayers in giving him "power"
to *enjoy* his blessings. GESENIUS
and *Vulgate* translate, "For God (so) occupies him with
joy," c., that he thinks not much of the shortness and sorrows
of life. HOLDEN, "Though
God gives not much (as to real enjoyment), yet he remembers (with
thankfulness) the days for (he knows) God *exercises* him by the
joy," &c. (tries him by prosperity), so *Margin,* but
*English Version* is simplest.

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