Section 2. Vanity of striving after pleasure and wealth.
Bible Commentary
Ecclesiastes 2:1-11
The Pulpit Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:1-11
The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain
Recommended reading
More for Ecclesiastes 2:1-11
Continue with other commentaries and DiscipleDeck content connected to this verse, chapter, or topic.
Other commentaries
Matthew Henry on Ecclesiastes 2:1-11Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 · Matthew Henry Concise CommentarySolomon soon found mirth and pleasure to be vanity. What does noisy, flashy mirth towards making a man happy? The manifold devices of men's hearts, to get satisfaction from the world, and their changing from one thing t…Vanity of Worldly PleasureEcclesiastes 2:1-11 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleVANITY OF WORLDLY PLEASURE. Solomon here, in pursuit of the summum bonum—the felicity of man, adjourns out of his study, his library, his elaboratory, his council-chamber, where he had in vain sought for it, into the pa…The Pulpit Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:1-26Ecclesiastes 2:1-26 · The Pulpit CommentaryEXPOSITIONThe Pulpit Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:1Ecclesiastes 2:1 · The Pulpit CommentaryDissatisfied with the result of the pursuit of wisdom, Koheleth embarks on a course of sensual pleasure, if so be this may yield some effect more substantial and permanent. I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove…
commentaryMatthew Henry on Ecclesiastes 2:1-11Solomon soon found mirth and pleasure to be vanity. What does noisy, flashy mirth towards making a man happy? The manifold devices of men's hearts, to get satisfaction from the world, and their changing from one thing t…Matthew HenrycommentaryVanity of Worldly PleasureVANITY OF WORLDLY PLEASURE. Solomon here, in pursuit of the summum bonum—the felicity of man, adjourns out of his study, his library, his elaboratory, his council-chamber, where he had in vain sought for it, into the pa…Matthew HenrycommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:1Dissatisfied with the result of the pursuit of wisdom, Koheleth embarks on a course of sensual pleasure, if so be this may yield some effect more substantial and permanent. I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:1-26EXPOSITIONJoseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:2I said of laughter, It is mad. Laughter and mirth are personified, hence treated as masculine. He uses the term "mad" in reference to the statement in Ecclesiastes 1:17, "I gave my heart to know madness and folly." Sept…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:3I sought in mine heart; literally, I spied out (as Ecclesiastes 1:13) in my heart. Having proved the fruitlessness of some sort of sensual pleasure, he made another experiment in a philosophical spirit. To give myself u…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:4This commences a new experience in the pursuit of his object. Leaving this life of self-indulgence, he takes to art and culture, the details being drawn from the accounts of the historical Solomon. I made me great works…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Ecclesiastes 2:5I made me gardens and orchards. Solomon's love of gardens appears throughout the Canticles (So Song of Solomon 6:2, etc.). He had a king's garden on the slope of the hills south of the city (2 Kings 25:4); and Beth-hacc…Joseph S. Exell and contributors