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in 1: 16, 2: 3, and 2: 4-10. 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 the desire of Solomon which he desired to
build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and throughout all the land of his dominion"
(II 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 center 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 its meaning. This is the conclusion which Koheleth came to after he had
traversed another field of enquiry.
"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).
What comes after that no one can say. "For who shall bring him to see what shall be
after him?" (3: 22). Yet again in chapter 5: 18, 19:--
"Behold that which I have seen; it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and
to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life,
which God giveth him: FOR IT IS HIS PORTION. Every man also to whom God hath
given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to TAKE HIS
PORTION, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God."
Finally in 9: 9, 10:--
"Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity,
which He hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for THAT IS THY
PORTION in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun. Whatsoever thy
hand findeth to do, do it with thy might: for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge,
nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest."