Charles Ellicott Commentary Ecclesiastes 8

This verse in praise of wisdom can be connected either with what precedes or what follows. (See Hosea 14:9.)

Interpretation. —The word occurs elsewhere in the Chaldee parts of Daniel.

Boldness. —Impudence is removed from the countenance. See Proverbs 7:13; Proverbs 21:29; Sirach 13:25.

The unconnected “I” with which this verse begins indicates that some word has early dropped out of the text. The italics with which our translators fill the gap no doubt give the right sense.

It may be mentioned that Ecclesiastes is characterised by a superfluous use of the pronoun “I” after the verb, just as if in Latin we constantly had, instead of “dixi,” “dixi ego.” The counsels given here and Ecclesiastes 10:4 are not what we should expect from Solomon, but rather from one who had himself lived under a despotism.

Regarding. —The words so translated are found again Ecclesiastes 3:18; Ecclesiastes 7:14; see also Psalm 45:5; Psalms 79:9; Psalms 110:4.

The oath of God. —Unsuccessful attempts have been made to find in these words a definite historic reference. It is idle to quote the fact recorded by Josephus that Ptolemy Lagus secured the allegiance of his Jewish subjects by exacting an oath from them.

This book has no connection with Egypt, and we need not look beyond the Bible for proof that an oath of vassalage was imposed on the Jews by their foreign masters, and that the breach of such an oath was regarded by the prophets as sin (2 Chronicles 36:13; Ezekiel 17:13; Ezekiel 17:16; Ezekiel 17:18).

And there is reason to think that similar pledges had been given to native kings (1 Samuel 10:3; 1 Chronicles 29:24; 2 Chronicles 23:3).

Of God.— 2 Samuel 21:7; 1 Kings 2:43.

I believe the rendering of our version to be correct, though some have taken it as, Be not hasty: go out of his sight. The best commentary on this verse is Ecclesiastes 10:4, which gives the meaning: When censured by the king, do not abandon the hope of retaining his favour, nor obstinately persist in what he condemns. I do not find adequate proof of the assertion of some commentators, that go out of his sight can mean 'withdraw allegiance from him,' and consequently that the evil thing means a rebellious conspiracy. The advice, Be not hasty to rebel, instead of "do not rebel," is inconsistent with the context.

Power. —The word used here and Ecclesiastes 5:8, only occurs again in the Aramaic part of Daniel. In the latter part of the Hebrew verse is one of the many reminiscences of the work of Job (Job 9:12; see also Wisdom of Solomon 12:12).

The connecting particles here present difficulties that have not been satisfactorily solved; and it has even been conjectured that some words may have dropped out of the text. The first half of the verse repeats Ecclesiastes 3:1; the second, Ecclesiastes 6:1 almost word for word; for this reason, our translation “misery” is preferable to “wickedness,” as some render it.