Ecclesiastes 8

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Jesus was called teacher. Abraham, Moses, and Jesus were all teaching the people The Way of God and His righteousness. Jesus came to take the kingdom from those who were teaching something different from Moses and appointed it to the Apostles so that they would bear fruit and the world might be saved through repentance.
Chapter 7: The song of fools who make the sacrifice of fools verses the Song of the Lamb and the Corban of Christ. The gifts that destroy and keeps wisdom far off as there is a woman whose heart is a snare and a net. We need to know ourself which comes with the wisdom of God.
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V1 "who knoweth the interpretation[1]? Who knows the solutions? Who is wise or just thinks he is wise?
V3 He warns "keep the king's commandment" and do not be hasty to go out because he does as he pleases. Many want to come out of Babylon before they repent and seek the kingdom of God. Who is their wise counsel and is he wise?
V4 "word of a king is, there is power:"[2] which means "exercise power over"[3]
V6 "to every purpose there is time and judgment"[4]
8V "no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit"
9V "one man ruleth over another to his own hurt"
V10 Many commentaries say "The English version is scarcely intelligible"[5] and they suggest alternative versions. "And so I have seen the wicked buried and they went their way; but from the holy place they departed."
V11 If a "sentence"[6] or decree against the wicked is slow does not mean it will fail to come.
12V It will be well for those who reverence God.
13V the wicked will sink into darkness and it will not be well with them.
14V Just men can be treated like they were wicked as we see with Christ.
V15 But "to eat, and to drink, and to be merry"[7] is to be joyfull because he benefits from his own labour.[8] and not the covetous practices[9] of idolatry.[10]
V16 In this verse "I applied mine heart to know wisdom" expresses an idea we saw in Ecclesiastes 1:13[11] where a man is guided by his heart is a "sore travail...to be exercised(06031) Our heart cannot know the wisdom of God but rather that is only known by the revelation of God.

The word exercised can have a meaning of humbling affliction(06031). The author is talking about his own heart seeking wisdom which is like a man eating of his own tree of knowledge. Thinking you can figure out God's ways is truly vanities of vanity.

V16 Commentaries again struggle with this translation including verse 16. Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges even quotes Cicero, "He was of wonderful vigilance, who did not sleep during his entire consulship."[12]
The Pulpit Commentary seems to suggest confusion comes in part because of the chapter break with Ecclesiastes 9 is misleading.
they also reach out to the Septuagint and the Vulgate along with other quotes from Cicero and more of the Greek classics to attempt to make some sense of the text "(For also there is that neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes.)"
They seem torn by the "parenthetical clause expressing either the restless, unrelieved labor that goes on in the world, or the sleepless meditation of one who tries to solve the problem of the order and disorder".
But The Pulpit Commentary does say that "Man's wisdom is incapable of explaining the course of God's providential government" adding that "death awaits all without any exception, whatever be their condition or actions." But of course death awaits all who eat of the tree of knowledge.
V16 The answer to verse 16 may be seen by simply reading it literally. The verse ends with the words (בעיניו)with his eyes (איננו)no (ראה׃)one sees.
This unique phrase "with his eyes no one sees"[13] which contains the word "no" normally spelled AlefYodNun[14] but in the text we see AlefYodNunNunVaV with a double Nun.
This is preceded by (את־ הענין אשר נעשה) the business that is done (על־הארץ) on the earth (כאשר נתתי את־לבי לדעת חכמה ולראות) (כי גם ביום) for even though (בַּיּוֹם֙)day (ובלילה)or night.[15] Normally the letters VavBeitLamedYodLamedHey(ובלילה) are translated and in the night as we see where it also occurs in Job 24:14, Psalms 42:8 and even in Genesis 1:18. But here the translators put it in parentheses (for also there is that neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes:).
The word sleep is ShemNunHey(שנה). The author may be simply saying that if you sleep day and night you still may not see with your eyes under the light of the sun because your own wisdom will not let you see the wisdom of God. If you look only with your eyes and wisdom of your heart will not be able to see. This is the same as eating of the tree of knowledge which will keep you in the dark.
Verse 17 may provide the explanation. You cannot find out the works of God under the sun by looking with your own eyes. You need the eyes of the Holy Spirit because you own heart is grossly inadequate.[16] But the Gatherer/Teacher states that he "beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out" but this may be because of what he will tell us in verse 17 of Chapter 9, "The words of wise men are heard in quiet"(bənaḥaṯ (בְּנַ֖חַת))".
Summary: We should keep the king's commandments and not be hasty to go out until we eat, drink, and are merry in our own labor alone and see and hear the wisdom of God in the quiet of our personal heart and mind for we cannot know or see the wisdom of God by our own knowledge.
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The Wise Man Keeps the King's Command

1 Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation[1] of a thing? a man's wisdom maketh his face to shine[17], and the boldness of his face shall be changed.

2 I counsel thee to keep the king's commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God.

3 Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him.

4 Where the word of a king is, there is power:[2] and who may say unto him, What doest thou?

5 Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man's heart discerneth both time and judgment.

In God's time

6 Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him.

7 For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be?

8 There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it.

9 All this have I seen, and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the sun: there is a time wherein one man ruleth over another to his own hurt.

Those Who Fear God Will Do Well

10 And so I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of the holy, and they were forgotten in the city where they had so done: this is also vanity.

11 Because sentence[6] against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.

12 Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him:

13 But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.

Ways of God Are Mysterious

14 There is a vanity which is done upon the earth; that there be just men, unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked; again, there be wicked men, to whom it happeneth according to the work of the righteous: I said that this also is vanity.

Eat, drink, and be merry

15 Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun.

Sleep with your eyes

16 When I applied mine heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth: (for also there is that neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes:)

Not in the tree of knowledge

17 Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because though a man labour to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea further; though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it.

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  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 06592 פֵשֶׁר‎ pesher [pay’-sher] corresponding to 06591; n m; [BDB-833b] [{See TWOT on 1847 }] AV-interpretation 1; 1
    1) interpretation, solution
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 07983 שִׁלְטוֹן‎ shiltown (Aramaic) [shil-tone’] שָׁלַט‎ shalat from 07980 "exercise power over"; n m; [BDB-1020b] [{See TWOT on 2396 @@ "2396b" }] AV-power 2; 2
    1) mastery
  3. ↑ Not exercise authority
    Matthew 20:25 "But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you:..."
    Mark 10:42 "But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you:..."
    Luke 22:25 "And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye [shall] not [be] so:..."
  4. ↑ 04941 ^טפשׁמ^ MemShinPeiTet mishpat \@mish-pawt’\@ מִשְׁפָּט has 50 different variations and appears some 420 times and is from the three letter Hebrew word 08199 טפשׁ; n m; {See TWOT on 2443 @@ "2443c"} AV-judgment 296, manner 38, right 18, cause 12, ordinance 11, lawful 7, order 5, worthy 3, fashion 3, custom 2, discretion 2, law 2, measure 2, sentence 2, misc 18; 421
    1) judgment, justice, ordinance
    1a) judgment
    1a1) act of deciding a case
    1a2) place, court, seat of judgment
    1a3) process, procedure, litigation (before judges)
    1a4) case, cause (presented for judgment)
    1a5) sentence, decision (of judgment)
    1a6) execution (of judgment)
    1a7) time (of judgment)
    1b) justice, right, rectitude (attributes of God or man)
    1c) ordinance
    1d) decision (in law)
    1e) right, privilege, due (legal)
    1f) proper, fitting, measure, fitness, custom, manner, plan
    See Deuteronomy 25
    • מ ם Mem Fountain of water, a flow, a fountain of the Divine Wisdom [massive, overpower chaos] (Numeric value: 40)
    • ש Shin Eternal Flame of Spiritual Revelation, bound to the coal of righteousness, the Divine Essence. [sun... teeth... consume destroy] (Numeric value: 300)
    • פ ף Pei Communication: The Oral Torah The mouth, blow, edge. [Mouth speak open word] (Numeric value: 80)
    • ט Tet Introversion - The Concealed power of good or paradoxically evil [to twist a snake... wheel To surround (gestation)] (Numeric value: 9)
  5. ↑ Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 06599 פִתְגָּם‎ pithgam [pith-gawm’] of a Persian word only found in Esther 1:20, and in Chaldee parts of Ezra and Daniel 06600 פִתְגָּם‎.; n m; [BDB-834a] [{See TWOT on 1852 }] AV-decree 1, sentence 1; 2
    1) edict, decree
  7. ↑ 08057 שִׂמְחָה‎ simchah [sim-khaw’] ShinMemChetHey from 08056 ShinMemChet; n f; [BDB-970b] [{See TWOT on 2268 @@ "2268b" }] AV-joy 44, gladness 31, mirth 8, rejoice 3, rejoicing 2, misc 6; 94
    1) joy, mirth, gladness
    1a) mirth, gladness, joy, gaiety, pleasure
    1b) joy (of God)
    1c) glad result, happy issue
    • ש Shin Eternal Flame of Spiritual Revelation, bound to the coal of righteousness, the Divine Essence. [sun... teeth... consume destroy] (Numeric value: 300)
    • מ ם Mem Fountain of water, a flow, a fountain of the Divine Wisdom [massive, overpower chaos] (Numeric value: 40)
    • ח Chet The Life Force - Dynamic nature of - cause and effect - give life and live.[fence, thread, hedge, chamber...cycle] (Numeric value: 8)
    • ה Hey Expression, Thought, Speech, Action. Manifest seeds of thought and life. [Emphasize, jubilation, window, fence] (Numeric value: 5)
  8. ↑ Luke 14:15 And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed [is] he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.
    Luke 22:16 For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.
    Luke 22:30 That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
  9. ↑ Jesus against covetousness
    Mark 7:9 "And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition." See Corban.
    Mark 7:20 "And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man."
    Luke 12:15 "And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth."
    Luke 16:14 "And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him. 15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God."
    Luke 21:34 "And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and [so] that day come upon you unawares. 35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth."
    Matthew 19:17 "And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? [there is] none good but one, [that is], God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments."
    John 14:15 "If ye love me, keep my commandments."
    John 14:21 "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him."
    John 15:10 "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love."
  10. ↑ Covetousness is idolatry
    Colossians 3:5 "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:"
    Ephesians 5:5 "For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God."
    1 Corinthians 5:10 "Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. 11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat."
  11. ↑ Ecclesiastes 1:13 "And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith."
  12. ↑ "Fuit mirificâ vigilantiâ qui toto suo consulatu somnum non vidit."
  13. ↑ with his eyes no one sees(בעיניו איננו ראה׃)
  14. ↑ 0369 אַיִן‎ ‘ayin [ah’-yin] as if from a primitive root meaning to be nothing or not exist; subst/neg/adv; [BDB-34a] [{See TWOT on 81 }] AV-except, faileth, fatherless, incurable, infinite, innumerable, neither, never, no, none, not, nothing, nought, without; 29
    1) nothing, not, nought subst
    1a) nothing, nought neg
    1b) not
    1c) to have not (of possession) adv
    1d) without w/prep
    1e) for lack of
  15. ↑ The word night is LamedYodLamed.
  16. ↑ Matthew 13:15 For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and [their] ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with [their] eyes, and hear with [their] ears, and should understand with [their] heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 16 But blessed [are] your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
    Mark 8:18 Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?
  17. ↑ 0215 ^רוא^ ‘owr \@ore\@ a primitive root; v; AV-light 19, shine 14, enlighten 5, break of day 1, fire 1, give 1, glorious 1, kindle 1; 43
    1) to be or become light, shine
    1a) (Qal)
    1a1) to become light (day)
    1a2) to shine (of the sun)
    1a3) to become bright
    1b) (Niphal)
    1b1) to be illuminated
    1b2) to become lighted up
    1c) (Hiphil)
    1c1) to give light, shine (of sun, moon, and stars)
    1c2) to illumine, light up, cause to shine, shine
    1c3) to kindle, light (candle, wood)
    1c4) lighten (of the eyes, his law, etc)
    1c5) to make shine (of the face)
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