Charles Ellicott Commentary Ecclesiastes 5:8

"If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and the violent taking away of justice and righteousness in a province, marvel not at the matter: for one higher than the high regardeth; and there are higher than they." — Ecclesiastes 5:8 (ASV)

The interpretation of this verse depends on the meaning we give to “marvel.” Some interpret it as simple surprise: “You do not need to think it strange; the instances of oppression that you observe are only parts of a gigantic scheme of mutual wrongdoing, where the oppressors of one are themselves oppressed in turn by their superiors.” But instead of “Do not wonder,” the meaning “do not be dismayed” is preferable. (Job 26:11; Isaiah 13:8; Jeremiah 4:9.) The verse then supplies the answer to the gloomy view of Ecclesiastes 4:4.

I am confirmed in the view that the last clause speaks of the Divine rectification of earthly injustice by observing that the author of this book delights in verbal assonances and constantly links together words similar in sound. An English version might admit the meaning: “Over the high oppressor stands a higher, and over both, those who are higher still.” Even here, however, there is a difficulty: the highest of all are spoken of in the plural. It is a very awkward explanation that the “higher” refers to the king, and that the women and favorites who govern him are the “higher still.” But I cannot help but think that the language of the Hebrew—that over “gebôh” there are “gebôhim,”—is intended to suggest Elohim to the reader’s mind.

On the word “province,” see Note, Ecclesiastes 2:8; and on “matter,”Ecclesiastes 3:1.