Ecclesiastes 1:16

“I communed with my own heart, etc.] That is, looked into it, examined it, and considered what a stock and fund of knowledge he had in it, after all his researches into it; what happiness accrued to him by it, and what judgment upon the whole was to be formed upon it; and he spoke within himself after this manner: saying, lo, I am come to great estate; or become a great man; famous for wisdom, arrived to a very great pitch of it; greatly increased in it, through a diligent application to it; and have gotten more wisdom than all [they] that have been before me in Jerusalem; or, “that before me were over Jerusalem”f41; governors of it, or in it; not only than the Jebusites, but than Saul, the…”

“communed with . . . heart-- (Gen 24:45). come to great estate--Rather, "I have magnified and gotten" (literally, "added," increased), &c. all . . . before me in Jerusalem--namely, the priests, judges, and two kings that preceded Solomon. His wisdom exceeded that of all before Jesus Christ, the antitypical Koheleth, or "Gatherer of men," (Luk 13:34), and "Wisdom" incarnate (Mat 11:19; Mat 12:42). had . . . experience--literally, "had seen" (Jer 2:31). Contrast with this glorying in worldly wisdom (Jer 9:23-24).”

“I am come ... - Rather, I have accumulated (literally “enlarged and added”) wisdom more than etc. They that have been ... - The reference is probably to the line of Canaanite kings who lived in Jerusalem before David took it, such as Melchizedek Genesis 14:18, Adonizedek Joshua 10:1, and Araunah 2 Samuel 24:23; or, it may be, to Solomon’s contemporaries of his own country 1 Kings 4:31 and of other countries who visited him 1 Kings 4:34; 1 Kings 10:24. for “in” Jerusalem render over. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Communed - I considered within myself. Great - In wisdom. Have gotten - As I had a large stock of wisdom infused into me by God, so I have greatly improved it by conversation, and study, and experience. Than all - Whether governors, or priests, or private persons. In Jerusalem - Which was then the most eminent place in the world for wisdom. Ecclesiastes 1:17”

“communed: Kg2 5:20; Psa 4:4, Psa 77:6; Isa 10:7-14; Jer 22:14; Eze 38:10, Eze 38:11; Dan 4:30 Lo: Ecc 2:9; Kg1 3:12, Kg1 3:13, Kg1 4:30, Kg1 10:7, Kg1 10:23, Kg1 10:24; Ch2 1:10-12, Ch2 2:12, Ch2 9:22, Ch2 9:23 great experience of: Heb. seen much, Heb 5:14 Ecclesiastes 1:17”

“"I have communed with mine own heart, saying: Lo, I have gained great and always greater wisdom above all who were before me over Jerusalem; and my heart hath seen wisdom and knowledge in fulness. And I gave my heart to know what was in wisdom and knowledge, madness and folly - I have perceived that this also is a grasping after the wind." The evidence in which he bears witness to himself that striving after wisdom and knowledge brings with it no true satisfaction, reaches down to the close of Ecc 1:17; ידעתּי is the conclusion which is aimed at. The manner of expression is certainly so far involved, as he speaks of his heart to his heart what it had experienced, and to what he had purposely…”