Ecclesiastes - GA Barton - 1908.pdf

1 84
ECCLESIASTES
rendered/' who makes both," i.e., the way of the wind and the bones
in the womb, cf. critical note on 2 14 .
. 6.
In the morning sow thy seed]. It is clear that the verse is
figurative, but what does the figure mean? Like verse i it has
received widely different interpretations, (i) Graetz, following
a Jewish Midrash and a Talmudic passage (Yebamoth, 62b), takes
it to mean " Beget children in youth and even to old age, whether
in or out of wedlock." Indeed,
it is from this verse that he obtains
the meaning for vs. i noted above. There is no reason, however,
for taking "seed" in this sense in either vs. Qoheleth was not
averse to such pleasures of sense (cf. 2 8
9 9
),
but he never revels
in filth. He is thoroughly healthy-minded. (2) Plumtre takes it
to mean that one is to sow the seed of good and kindly deeds, and
await the harvest which is hidden from him. This, it is true,
would harmonize with the meaning which we have found in vs. i,
but the context indicates that the writer has now passed away
from that topic. (3) Most recent interpreters rightly take it to
mean that from youth till the evening of life, one is manfully to
perform the full round" of life's tasks, that he is not to hesitate because
of the uncertainties which were set forth in vs. 5, and that he
is to take the losses which come in a philosophical spirit. Thou
knowest not which shall succeed]. Try your hand at every right task,
for you cannot tell in advance which will bring success. As Genung
sense and manliness.
observes, the verse is evidence of Q.'s sturdy
7. Light is sweet]. The pessimistic mood of ch. 4', which had
passed away from Qoheleth when he wrote 9*, has not returned.
He recognizes in this verse the primal delight of mere living.
8. If a man live many years and rejoice]. Life is good to behold
the sun is sweet, but Qoheleth is oppressed by its brevity and the
dread of death, as Horace was (cf. Odes, I, 4 1 ; 5
; IV, y 16
).
member], if used of future things, is equivalent to "ponder,"
"reflect upon."- The days of darkness], i.e., the days in Sheol,
which is several times described as the land of darkness, cf. Ps.
88 12
i43 3
Re-
Job io 21 22 . All that is coming is vanity], the whole
future the days in Sheol is an unsubstantial reality. No positive
joy can be counted on there. 9a . Rejoice, O young man, in thy
youth]. As a result of the brevity of life and the darkness of the