`Till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of

their life'.

We must now examine the process of investigation more thoroughly.

In these studies we are seeking principles. The limitations of space and time prevent us from a closer

consideration of connecting details other than a brief survey. Such a survey must be given now of the subject matter

of chapter 2:4-11. The pursuit of the enquiry as to what was `that good for the sons of men which they should do

under the heaven all the days of their life' was not conducted as a theoretical speculation, but as a practical

experiment. Koheleth's attention is first described as that which from the days of the flood till the present time had

been a summary of human activity: `I builded, I planted'.  Here we see the laying out and equipping of a great

establishment. Matthew Henry in his commentary writes:

`Solomon here, in pursuit of the summum bonum, the felicity of man, adjourns out of his study, his library, his

laboratory, his council chamber, where he had in vain sought for it, into the park and play house, his garden and

his summer house, exchanging the company of philosophers and grave senators for that of the wits and gallants,

and the beaux esprits of his court, to try if he could find true satisfaction and happiness among them. Here he

takes a great step downward from the noble pleasures of intellect to the brutal ones of sense; yet, if he resolve to

make a thorough trial, he must knock at this door because here a great part of mankind imagine they have found

that which he was in quest for'.

The turning from pure wisdom and its abstractions to the concrete erection of buildings and planting of gardens

is founded upon the two phases indicated in 1:16; 2:3-10. The books of Kings and Chronicles give some idea of

Solomon's activities as a builder.

`He built Tadmor in the wilderness, and all the store cities, which he built in Hamath. Also he built Beth-horon

the upper, and Beth-horon the nether, fenced cities, with walls, gates, and bars; and Baalath, and all the store

cities that Solomon had, and all the chariot cities, and the cities of the horsemen, and all that Solomon desired to

build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and throughout all the land of his dominion' (2 Chron. 8:4-6).

Koheleth not only built and planted, but he gathered a great retinue of servants and maidens. His possessions in

cattle were greater than all that had been before him in Jerusalem. Silver and gold and the peculiar treasure of kings

and of the provinces were gathered without stint. Singers, both male and female, and musical instruments of all

sorts were not omitted. Here was one who had unlimited scope and unlimited power.

`And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy' (Eccles. 2:10).

Here all men may see ambition and desire gratified and indulged to the utmost bound, and from the record may

learn the vanity of their own puny graspings. Here is one who was not an envious spectator of a distant pleasure,

nor who merely had a share with others of the good things of this life; here was one who was pivot and centre of all

the beauty, luxury, refinement and greatness of kingly estate and gratified ambition. While the scheme was in

process, Solomon's whole heart had been engaged and satisfied.

`For my heart rejoiced in all my labour: AND THIS WAS MY PORTION' (Eccles. 2:10).

Here we leave details for principles again, and here we must stop to weigh and consider their bearing. This is the

conclusion which Koheleth came to after he had traversed another field of inquiry.

`Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; FOR THAT IS

HIS PORTION' (Eccles. 3:22).