---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Ecclesiastes 9"
description: "CHAPTER 9   :-. 1. declare—rather, explore;
the result of my exploring is this, that \"the righteous, c., are
in the hand of God. No man knoweth either the"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/ecclesiastes/9"
---

CHAPTER 9

.

**1. declare**—rather, explore;
the result of my exploring is this, that "the righteous, c., are
in the hand of God. No man knoweth either the love or hatred (of God
to them) by all that is before them," that is, by what is
*outwardly* seen in His present dealings ([Ecclesiastes 8:14](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/8/14)
[Ecclesiastes 8:17](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/8/17)). However, from the
sense of the same words, in [Ecclesiastes 9:6](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/9/6),
"love and hatred" seem to be the feelings *of the wicked
towards the righteous,* whereby they caused to the latter comfort
or sorrow. Translate: "Even the love and hatred" (exhibited
towards the righteous, are in God's hand) ([Psalms 76:10](../../../kjv/psalms/76/10);
[Proverbs 16:7](../../../kjv/proverbs/16/7)). "No man knoweth
all that is before them."

**2. All things . . . alike**—not
universally; but as to *death.* are made by HOLDEN
the objection of a skeptical sensualist. However, they may be
explained as Solomon's language. He repeats the sentiment already
implied in [Ecclesiastes 2:14](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/2/14); [Ecclesiastes 3:20](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/3/20);
[Ecclesiastes 8:14](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/8/14).
**one event**—not
eternally; but *death* is common to all.
**good**—morally.
**clean**—ceremonially.
**sacrificeth**—alike to
Josiah who sacrificed to God, and to Ahab who made sacrifice to Him
cease.
**sweareth**—rashly and
falsely.

**3.** Translate, "There is an
evil above all (evils) that are done," c., namely, that not only
"there is one event to all," but "also the heart of
the sons of men" makes this fact a reason for "madly"
persisting in "evil while they live, and after that," &c.,
sin is "madness."
**the dead**— ([Proverbs 2:18](../../../kjv/proverbs/2/18)
[Proverbs 9:18](../../../kjv/proverbs/9/18)).

**4. For**—rather, "Nevertheless."
*English Version* rightly reads as the *Margin, Hebrew,*
"that is joined," instead of the text, "who is to be
chosen?"
**hope**—not of mere
temporal good ([Job 14:7](../../../kjv/job/14/7)); but
of yet repenting and being saved.
**dog**—metaphor for the
vilest persons ([1 Samuel 24:14](../../../kjv/1-samuel/24/14)).
**lion**—the noblest of
animals ([Proverbs 30:30](../../../kjv/proverbs/30/30)).
**better**—as to hope of
salvation; the noblest who die unconverted have no hope; the vilest,
so long as they have life, have hope.

**5. know that they shall die**—and
may thereby be led "so to number their days, that they may apply
their hearts to wisdom" ([Ecclesiastes 7:1-4](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/7/1-4);
[Psalms 90:12](../../../kjv/psalms/90/12)).
**dead know not anything**—that
is, so far as their *bodily* senses and *worldly* affairs
are concerned ([Job 14:21](../../../kjv/job/14/21);
[Isaiah 63:16](../../../kjv/isaiah/63/16)); also, they know no
door of repentance open to them, such as is to all on earth.
**neither . . . reward**—no
advantage from their worldly labors ([Ecclesiastes 2:18-22](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/2/18-22);
[Ecclesiastes 4:9](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/4/9)).
**memory**—not of the
righteous ([Psalms 112:6](../../../kjv/psalms/112/6); [Malachi 3:16](../../../kjv/malachi/3/16)),
but *the wicked,* who with all the pains to perpetuate their
names ([Psalms 49:11](../../../kjv/psalms/49/11)) are soon
"forgotten" ([Ecclesiastes 8:10](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/8/10)).

**6. love, and . . . hatred,**
c.—(referring to [Ecclesiastes 9:1](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/9/1) see on
[Ecclesiastes 9:1](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/9/1)). Not that these cease in
a future world absolutely ([Ezekiel 32:27](../../../kjv/ezekiel/32/27);
[Revelation 22:11](../../../kjv/revelation/22/11)); but as the end of
this verse shows, relatively to persons and things in this world.
Man's love and hatred can no longer be exercised for good or evil in
the same way as here; but the fruits of them remain. What he is at
death he remains for ever. "Envy," too, marks the wicked as
referred to, since it was therewith that they assailed the righteous
(see on [Ecclesiastes 9:1](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/9/1)).
**portion**—Their "portion"
was "in this life" ([Ecclesiastes 9:1](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/9/1)), that they now "cannot have any more."

**7.** Addressed to the "righteous
wise," spoken of in [Ecclesiastes 9:1](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/9/1).
Being "in the hand of God," who now accepteth "thy
works" in His service, as He has previously accepted thy person
([Genesis 4:4](../../../kjv/genesis/4/4)), thou mayest "eat .
. . with a cheerful (not sensually 'merry') heart" ([Ecclesiastes 3:13](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/3/13);
[Ecclesiastes 5:18](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/5/18); [Acts 2:46](../../../kjv/acts/2/46)).

**8. white**—in token of joy (). Solomon was clad in *white* (JOSEPHUS,
*Antiquities,* 8:7,3); hence his attire is compared to the
"*lilies*" (), typical of the spotless righteousness of Jesus Christ,
which the redeemed shall wear ([Revelation 3:18](../../../kjv/revelation/3/18);
[Revelation 7:14](../../../kjv/revelation/7/14)).
**ointment**— ([Revelation 7:14](../../../kjv/revelation/7/14)), opposed to a gloomy exterior ([2 Samuel 14:2](../../../kjv/2-samuel/14/2);
[Psalms 45:7](../../../kjv/psalms/45/7); [Matthew 6:17](../../../kjv/matthew/6/17));
typical, also ([Ecclesiastes 7:1](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/7/1); [Song of Solomon 1:3](../../../kjv/song-of-solomon/1/3)).

**9. wife . . . lovest**—godly and
true love, opposed to the "snares" of the "thousand"
concubines ([Ecclesiastes 7:26](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/7/26); [Ecclesiastes 7:28](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/7/28)),
"among" whom Solomon could not find the true love which
joins one man to *one* woman ([Proverbs 5:15](../../../kjv/proverbs/5/15);
[Proverbs 5:18](../../../kjv/proverbs/5/18); [Proverbs 5:19](../../../kjv/proverbs/5/19);
[Proverbs 18:22](../../../kjv/proverbs/18/22); [Proverbs 19:14](../../../kjv/proverbs/19/14)).

**10. Whatsoever**—namely, in the
service of God. This and last verse plainly are the language of
Solomon, not of a skeptic, as HOLDEN
would explain it.
**hand,** c.— (, *Margin* [1 Samuel 10:7](../../../kjv/1-samuel/10/7),
*Margin*).
**thy might**—diligence
([Deuteronomy 6:5](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/6/5); [Jeremiah 48:10](../../../kjv/jeremiah/48/10),
*Margin*).
**no work . . . in the grave**—
([John 9:4](../../../kjv/john/9/4); [Revelation 14:13](../../../kjv/revelation/14/13)).
"The soul's play-day is Satan's work-day; the idler the man the
busier the tempter" [SOUTH].

**11.** This verse qualifies the
sentiment, [Ecclesiastes 9:7-9](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/9/7-9).
Earthly "enjoyments," however lawful in their place ([Ecclesiastes 9:7-21](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/9/7-21)), are to give way when any work to be done for God requires
it. Reverting to the sentiment ([Ecclesiastes 9:7-21](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/9/7-21)), we ought, therefore, not only to work God's work "with
might" ([Ecclesiastes 9:10](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/9/10)), but also
with the feeling that the event is wholly "in God's hand"
([Ecclesiastes 9:1](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/9/1)).
**race . . . not to the swift**—
([2 Samuel 18:23](../../../kjv/2-samuel/18/23)); spiritually
([Zephaniah 3:19](../../../kjv/zephaniah/3/19); [Romans 9:16](../../../kjv/romans/9/16)).
**nor . . . battle to . . .
strong**— ([1 Samuel 17:47](../../../kjv/1-samuel/17/47); [2 Chronicles 14:9](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/14/9);
[2 Chronicles 14:11](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/14/11); [2 Chronicles 14:15](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/14/15);
[Psalms 33:16](../../../kjv/psalms/33/16)).
**bread**—livelihood.
**favour**—of the great.
**chance**—seemingly,
really Providence. But as man cannot "find it out" ([Psalms 33:16](../../../kjv/psalms/33/16)), he needs "with all might" to use opportunities.
Duties are ours; events, God's.

**12. his time**—namely, of death
([Ecclesiastes 7:15](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/7/15); [Isaiah 13:22](../../../kjv/isaiah/13/22)).
Hence the danger of delay in doing the work of God, as one knows not
when his opportunity will end ([Isaiah 13:22](../../../kjv/isaiah/13/22)).
**evil net**—fatal to them.
The unexpected suddenness of the capture is the point of comparison.
So the second coming of Jesus Christ, "as a snare" ([Isaiah 13:22](../../../kjv/isaiah/13/22)).
**evil time**—as an "evil
net," fatal to them.

**13.** Rather, "I have seen
wisdom of this kind also," that is, exhibited in the way which
is described in what follows [MAURER].

**14, 15.** ().
**bulwarks**—military works
of besiegers.

**15. poor**—as to the temporal
advantages of true wisdom, though it often saves others. It receives
little reward from the world, which admires none save the rich and
great.
**no man remembered**— ().

**16.** Resuming the sentiment
([Ecclesiastes 7:19](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/7/19); [Proverbs 21:22](../../../kjv/proverbs/21/22);
[Proverbs 24:5](../../../kjv/proverbs/24/5)).
**poor man's wisdom is
despised**—not the poor man mentioned in [Proverbs 24:5](../../../kjv/proverbs/24/5); for *his* wisdom could not have saved the city, had
"his words not been heard"; but poor men in general. So
Paul ([Acts 27:11](../../../kjv/acts/27/11)).

**17. The words of wise,**
&c.—Though generally the poor wise man is not heard (), yet "the words of wise men, when heard in quiet (when
calmly given heed to, as in ), are more serviceable than," &c.
**ruleth**—as the "great
king" ([Ecclesiastes 9:14](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/9/14)). Solomon
reverts to "the rulers to their own hurt" ([Ecclesiastes 9:14](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/9/14)).

**18. one sinner,** c.— ([Joshua 7:1](../../../kjv/joshua/7/1)
[Joshua 7:11](../../../kjv/joshua/7/11); [Joshua 7:12](../../../kjv/joshua/7/12)).
Though wisdom excels folly ([Ecclesiastes 9:16](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/9/16);
[Ecclesiastes 7:19](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/7/19)), yet a "little
folly (equivalent to *sin*) can destroy much good," both in
himself ([Ecclesiastes 10:1](../../../kjv/ecclesiastes/10/1); [James 2:10](../../../kjv/james/2/10))
and in others. "Wisdom" must, from the antithesis to
"sinner," mean religion. Thus typically, the "little
city" may be applied to *the Church* ([Luke 12:32](../../../kjv/luke/12/32);
[Hebrews 12:22](../../../kjv/hebrews/12/22)); the great king to
*Satan* ([John 12:31](../../../kjv/john/12/31)); the
despised poor wise man, Jesus Christ ([Isaiah 53:2](../../../kjv/isaiah/53/2);
[Isaiah 53:3](../../../kjv/isaiah/53/3); [Mark 6:3](../../../kjv/mark/6/3);
[2 Corinthians 8:9](../../../kjv/2-corinthians/8/9); [Ephesians 1:7](../../../kjv/ephesians/1/7);
[Ephesians 1:8](../../../kjv/ephesians/1/8); [Colossians 2:3](../../../kjv/colossians/2/3)).

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