Albert Barnes Commentary Ecclesiastes 12

Remember now - Rather, And remember. The connection between this verse and the preceding one is unfortunately interrupted by our division of chapters.

Creator - Gratitude to God as Creator is here inculcated, just as previously (Ecclesiastes 11:9) the fear of God as Judge was. Godliness, acquired as a habit in youth, is recommended as the proper compensation for that natural cessation of youthful happiness which makes the days of old age more or less evil; more evil in proportion as there is less godliness in the heart, and less evil where there is more godliness.

While the evil days come not - Rather, before the evil days come.

While ... not - Or, Before. The darkening of the lights of heaven denotes a time of affliction and sadness. Compare Ezekiel 32:7-8; Job 3:9; Isaiah 5:30. Contrast this representation of old age with 2 Samuel 23:4–5.

The body in old age and death is here described under the figure of a decaying house with its inmates and furniture.

This verse is best understood as referring to the change which old age brings to four parts of the body: the arms (“the keepers”), the legs (“the strong men”), the teeth (“the grinders”), and the eyes.

And the doors ... is low - The house is viewed from the outside. The way of entry and exit is stopped: little or no sound issues to tell of life stirring within. The old man, as he grows older, has less in common with the rising generation; mutual interest and social contact decline. Some take the doors and the sound of the mill as figures of the lips and ears and of the speech.

He shall rise ... - Here the metaphor of the house fades from view. The verb may either be taken impersonally (“they shall rise,” compare the next verse): or as definitely referring to an old man, who as the master of the house rises out of sleep at the first sound in the morning.

All the daughters of musick - that is, Singing women (Ecclesiastes 2:8).

Be brought low - that is, Sound faintly in the ears of old age.

High - The powerful and the proud, such persons as an old man in his timidity might shrink from opposing or meeting: or, high ground which old men would avoid ascending.

Fears ... in the way - Compare to Proverbs 26:13.

The almond tree - The type of old age. Many modern critics translate, “The almond shall be despised,” that is, pleasant food shall no longer be relished.

The grasshopper - Rather: “the locust.” The clause means that heaviness and stiffness shall take the place of that active motion for which the locust is conspicuous.

Desire - Literally, the caper-berry; which, eaten as a provocative to appetite, shall fail to take effect on a man whose powers are exhausted.

Long home - Literally, “eternal (see Ecclesiastes 1:4 note) house”; man’s place in the next world.

Without attributing to the author of Ecclesiastes that deep insight into the future life which is shown by the writer of the Epistles to the Corinthians, we may observe that He, by whom both writers were inspired, sanctions in both books (see 2 Corinthians 5:1–6) the use of the same expression, “eternal house.”

In 2 Corinthians, it means that spiritual body which shall be hereafter; and it is placed, as it is here , in contrast with that earthly, dissolving house which clothes the spirit of man in this world.

Mourners - The singing women who attend funerals for hire .