Ecclesiastes 8:2

“I [counsel thee] to keep the king’s commandment, etc.] Or, “to observe the mouth of the king”f192; what he says, and do according to it when it is agreeably to the law of God, and according to the laws of the kingdom, by which he is to govern; for kings are to be honoured, obeyed, and submitted to, in the lawful discharge of their office: and such counsel and advice as this is wholesome; and, being taken, contributes much, as to the honour of kings, so to the good of kingdoms and states, and to a man’s own peace and comfort. Aben Ezra supplies it, “I command thee, or I admonish thee;” for it may be either a charge, or art advice, respecting this and what follows. Jarchi supplies and…”

“the king's--Jehovah, peculiarly the king of Israel in the theocracy; Ecc 8:3-4, prove it is not the earthly king who is meant. the oath of God--the covenant which God made with Abraham and renewed with David; Solomon remembered Psa 89:35, "I have sworn," &c. (Psa 89:36), and the penalties if David's children should forsake it (Psa 89:30-32); inflicted on Solomon himself; yet God not "utterly" forsaking him (Psa 89:33-34).”

“Oath - A reference to the oath of allegiance taken to Solomon at his accession to the throne (the margin of 1 Chronicles 29:24). return to 'Top of Page'”

“The oath - Because of that oath which thou hast taken to keep all God's laws, whereof this of obedience to superiors is one. Ecclesiastes 8:3”

“8:2 since you vowed to God that you would: Cp. 5:2-6; 1 Kgs 2:41-43.”

“I counsel: Pro 24:21; Rom 13:1-4; Tit 3:1; Pe1 2:13-17 in regard: Kg1 2:43; Ch1 29:24; Eze 17:13-20; Rom 13:5 Ecclesiastes 8:3”

“The faithfulness of subjects, Koheleth says, is a religious duty: "I say: Observe well the kings' command, and that because of the oath of God." The author cannot have written Ecc 8:2 as it here stands; אני hovers in the air. Hitzig reads, with Jerome, שׁמר, and hears in Ecc 8:2-4 a servile person speaking who veils himself in the cloak of religion; in Ecc 8:5-8 follows the censura of this corrupt theory. but we have already remarked that Ecc 8:2 accords with Rom 13:5, and is thus not a corrupt theory; besides, this distribution of the expressions of the Book of Koheleth between different speakers is throughout an expedient resting on a delusion. Luther translates: I keep the word of the…”