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#7.
Sore travail and its exercise (1: 12-15).
pp. 53 - 56
After surveying the course of nature and seeing impressed upon the whole of creation
the endless circle of objectless activity, Koheleth proceeds to a further detailed
investigation. We observed that the opening of verse 3 gave the key to the direction of
the search, What profit? We shall now observe that verses 12 and 13, which commence a
sub-section, likewise provide the key to the matter of the search:--
"I, Koheleth, was King over Israel in Jerusalem. And I gave my heart to seek and
search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail
hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith" (Eccles. 1: 12, 13).
The search was to be conducted "by wisdom" and it is essential to our appreciation
both of the method and of the results of the enquiry, that Koheleth retained that
God-given wisdom throughout the investigation. Wisdom is the emphatic word of this
section, e.g.:--
"To seek and search out by wisdom" (13).
"I have gotten more wisdom.......my heart had great experience of wisdom and
knowledge" (16).
"I gave my heart to know wisdom" (17).
"In much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow"
(18).
In 2: 3, even in the apparent plunge, "giving myself unto wine", Koheleth still could
say, "Yet acquainting my heart with wisdom". Further, in 2: 9, the writer asserts, "My
wisdom remained with me". We travel as far as 7: 25 still to hear the words:--
"I applied my heart to know and to search, and to seek out wisdom and the reason of
things."
In the conclusion of the book, the wisdom of Koheleth is mentioned:--
"Moreover because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge" (12: 9).
Whatever we may think of the personal participation of the writer in the objects of his
search, we must not ourselves forget the scriptural emphasis upon the searcher's wisdom.
Moreover, he declares also for our benefit that at the time he pursued this enquiry, he was
King. These investigations were not carried out by an inexperienced minor, but one who
for the purposes of his kingly office had received a special grant of wisdom. Further, in a
king of such wealth, magnificence and sway as that of Solomon, we see one who was
able to the fullest extent to sound the depths and scale the heights in his research.
Returning to verse 13, we observe that Solomon gave his heart "to seek and search".
The word "search" (tur) is the word used so frequently of the spies in Num. 13:, 14: It
indicates a thorough survey according to the charge given by Moses to the spies
(Num. 13: 18-20) both of the nature of the land itself, its crops and its inhabitants. So
Solomon's search was thorough, it was "by wisdom" and it was the occupation of his