Ecclesiastes Chapter 9

“For all this I considered in mine heart, etc.] What goes before, in the latter end of the preceding chapter, concerning the various providences of God, the difficulty of finding out the reasons of them, and the fruitlessness of attempting it; and also what follows, the work of Providence: Solomon gave his mind unto, attended it with great application, and strictly considered and examined it, in order to find it out, but could not; and if he could not, no other man could. And he had a good intention in all; his views were, even to declare all this; for the end of search and inquiry should be, to make known what is…”

“(Ecc. 9:1-18) declare--rather, explore; the result of my exploring is this, that "the righteous, &c., are in the hand of God. No man knoweth either the love or hatred (of God to them) by all that is before them," that is, by what is outwardly seen in His present dealings (Ecc 8:14, Ecc 8:17). However, from the sense of the same words, in Ecc 9:6, "love and hatred" seem to be the feelings of the wicked towards the righteous, whereby they caused to the latter comfort or sorrow. Translate: "Even the love and hatred" (exhibited towards the righteous, are in God's hand) (Psa 76:10; Pro 16:7). "No man knoweth all that…”

“A good man’s trust in God is set forth as a counterpoise to our Ignorance of the ways of Providence. In the hand of God - Under His special protection (Deuteronomy 33:3 ff) as righteous, and under His direction Proverbs 21:1 as people. No man ... - literally, both love and also hatred man knoweth not: all are before them. Love and hatred here mean the ordinary outward tokens of God’s favor or displeasure, i. e., prosperity and adversity. “Man knoweth not” probably means: “man knows not whether to expect prosperity or adversity from God; all his earthly future is in obscurity.” return to 'Top of Page'”

“Their works - All events which befal them are governed by his providence, and therefore although we cannot fully understand the reasons of all, yet we may be assured they are done righteously. No man - No man can judge by their present outward condition, whether God loves or hates them; for whom he loves he chastens, and permits those whom he hates to prosper in the world. Ecclesiastes 9:2”

“9:1 No one knows whether God will show them favor: There is no guarantee that righteousness will be rewarded in this life (cp. 3:17-22; 8:10-15; 12:14).”

“considered in my heart: Heb. gave, or set to my heart, Ecc 1:17, Ecc 7:25, Ecc 8:16, Ecc 12:9, Ecc 12:10 that the: Ecc 8:14; Deu 33:3; Sa1 2:9; Sa2 15:25, Sa2 15:26; Job 5:8; Psa 10:14, Psa 31:5; Psa 37:5, Psa 37:6; Pro 16:3; Isa 26:12, Isa 49:1-4; Jer 1:18, Jer 1:19; Joh 10:27-30; Co1 3:5-15; Ti2 1:12; Pe1 1:5 no man: Ecc 7:15; Psa 73:3, Psa 73:11-13; Mal 3:15-18 Ecclesiastes 9:2”

“"For all this I brought to my consciousness, and all this I sought to make clear to me, that the righteous, and the wise, and their deeds, are in God's hands: neither love nor hatred stands in the knowledge of man, all lies before them." With ki follows the verification of what is said in Ecc 8:17, "is unable to find out," from the fact of men, even the best and the wisest of men, being on all sides conditioned. This conditioning is a fact which he layeth to his heart ( Ecc 7:2), or (since he here presents himself less as a feeling than as a thinking man, and the heart as reflecting) which he has brought to his…”