THE QUESTION `WHAT IS THAT GOOD?'
13
First of all let us notice the repeated detailed confirmation of the opening utterance by observing in what
connections the preacher remarks, `this also is vanity'; for these mark progressive examinations with their
conclusions.
`I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure' (Eccles. 2:1).
Prove. - This word in the same grammatical form is mostly rendered `tempt', and specially in the connection of
tempting God. In slightly different forms it is rendered `prove' in such cases as Deuteronomy 8:2,16. The
underlying idea is that of trial by means of some ordeal.
Enjoy. - The Hebrew word thus translated means, literally `to see', as in chapter 1, verse 14; and in the form of
the verb used in chapter 2, verse 1, it occurs seven times, translated `see', `consider' `behold' `lo' `enjoy' and
`joyfully' (Eccl. 1:10; 2:1; 7:13,14,27,29; 9:9).
It will be seen that the `enjoyment' advocated is a considered joy, not the reckless dissipation of a fool.
Pleasure. - This is translated in the third verse `good' and recurs constantly throughout the book. It is the word
which comes in 7:11, where the highest meaning must attach to it. Instead therefore of accusing Koheleth of taking
a mad plunge into pleasure, we must credit him with a sober and sane investigation of mirth in order to notice its
effect upon himself, and particularly upon his heart. The real thought seems to be that Koheleth in his search for
what was `that good' tested himself with mirth, looking carefully concerning `that good' which is the reason for all
these trials and experiments.
We translate `concerning good', and rightly so. The Hebrew beth is usually rendered `in', sometimes `to',
`against', `with', and sometimes, as Leviticus 6:2 illustrates, it bears the thought of `concerning'. Here therefore was
a properly planned, and carefully conducted test. What was the result? `This also is vanity'.
`I said of laughter, IT IS MAD: and of mirth, WHAT DOETH IT?' (Eccles. 2:2).
This question `what doeth it?' is echoed in verse 3 - `what they should do' - and shows that we have here a very
real and careful investigation. Koheleth is after something. Shame on those misinterpreters who load their
commentaries with their attempt to show superior knowledge. He is still consistently pursuing his theme when he
confesses that whatsoever God doeth it is for the olam (age) (3:14). So also when he pities the poor mortal, whose
vain life he spends, or `does' as a shadow (6:12). The word appears again immediately in the next verse. `I
greatened my works' (lit.) (2:4), and all these `doings' are pronounced at the close `vanity' (11). We must not pursue
this interesting theme now, it will form a separate study later.
The next case in which the writer pronounces the judgment `this also is vanity' is that of wisdom and folly:
`And I turned myself (same word "looked" in verse 11) in order to look (not the usual word, it means "consider")
at wisdom, and madness, and folly; for what can the man do that cometh after the king?' (that is to say, he had as
many advantages as, if not more than, any successor was likely to have) `even that which hath been already done'
(2:12 Author's translation).
This is a continual refrain:
`Is there anything whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.
There is no remembrance' (1:10,11).
`For there is no remembrance of the wise more than the fool for the age; seeing that which is already, in the days
to come shall be forgotten' (2:16 Author's translation). (So again 3:15).
There is something baffling which Koheleth experiences, and which he clearly records, as we shall see. Here he
refers to it. Concerning his consideration of wisdom and folly, he saw clearly that wisdom excelled folly as light
darkness, yet at the end was that ONE EVENT which wrote its dread Ichabod. `Then said I in my heart, that this also
is vanity'. In verses 18 and 19 another phase of this same thought appears. Koheleth was to leave all his labours to
another. But said he: