Ecclesiastes 2:8 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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Ecclesiastes 2:8

Comments

In taking many wives and in multiplying silver and gold, Solomon directly transgressed the clear command of the Lord given through Moses to the future kings of Israel – ‘Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold’ (Deuteronomy 17:17) – and even though this was part of search for wisdom, he was brought into a state of backsliding from which he was only recovered with extreme difficulty. Kings of course had the opportunity to do things that were denied to ordinary citizens, but not every opportunity is to be followed; some come to us for our hearts to be tested by the Lord. We must pray to God when temptation approaches to resist it, knowing that it has carried away better and stronger men than us who were overpowered by it. The mere acquisition of this world’s riches cannot bring happiness as Solomon proves later in the book. Here he tells us all the areas he explored. Later he examines these attempts to search for fulfilment in more detail. He explored the realm of music, possibly having skills in this area as his father, David, did. Perhaps he composed and directed an orchestra. He tried to fill his soul with the beauty of melody and harmony, and experimented with the stirring of the emotions with different moods of music, but this too proved to be an elusive quest for true contentment. Was there something wrong with his approach? There is no indication of that. He had resources; he put his entire being into his search; he began as an optimist who expected to succeed; he had natural skills inherited from his father; he had time and opportunity; and he had God given wisdom accorded to him at the start of his reign.

Application

How many people think they have found the secret of happiness! They devote themselves to some area of human interest and live as if this is all that they need. It might be music, or architecture, or design and engineering; it might be the pleasures of the palate, or promiscuity, or fame and power and significant achievement. Solomon tried them all, and we need to listen when he concludes: all is vanity and vexation of spirit. Those who devote themselves to something in this world and leave their Creator out of the reckoning cut themselves off from life.

Questions

The meaning of the final two words, a singular and plural of the same word is not certain. It either means a musical instrument, in which case the singular and plural indicate a variety of different kinds or it means a concubine. Scripture testifies elsewhere to the vast number of wives and concubines that Solomon acquired – ‘And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines’ (1 Kings 11:3) – and how they turned his heart away from the Lord, and unless this word refers to these women, there is no reference to what was certainly a significant part of Solomon’s search for pleasure in this list. The Authorised Version however prefers to link back to earlier in the verse and to continue the theme of ‘singers’.

Outline

Purpose

Introduction

Ecclesiastes 2:8 Commentary and Bible Study