Ecclesiastes 8:16

When I applied mine heart to know wisdom,.... The nature and causes of things; the wisdom of God in his providence, and the grounds and reasons of his various dispensations towards the children of

When I applied mine heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth: (for also there is that neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes:) When I applied mine heart to

I applied mine heart to know wisdom: this he seems to add as the reason of that judgment which he had now passed, , because he had diligently studied wherein man’ s wisdom did consist, and had observed the restlessness of men’ s minds and bodies in other courses. To see the business; either, 1. To find out the work of God, as the next verse may seem to explain it, and all the mysteries of God’ s providence in the government of this present and lower world. Or, 2. To observe men’ s various designs and employments, and their toilsome and unwearied businesses or labours about worldly things; which sense seems best to agree, both with the use of this Hebrew word, which is constantly used in this sense in all the places of Scripture where it is, which are 2:23,26 3:10 4:8 5:3,14 8:16, and never concerning the works of God; and with the foregoing and following words, as we shall see. There is that neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes: the sense of the words thus translated and pointed seems to be this, There is a certain man, whom it is needless to name, (which is a modest designation of himself, like that of St. Paul, , I knew a man in Christ, &c.,) who studied those matters day and night, and therefore is very capable of passing a judgment about them. But, with submission, there seems to be no need of a parenthesis to cut off these words from the former, with whom they have a fit connexion. For having now mentioned the business which is done, or which man doeth, upon earth, he further adds, as an evidence of man’ s eagerness in pursuing his business, for even by day and by night he (to wit, the busy man, which is easily understood from the foregoing clause) seeth not sleep with his eyes, i.e. he grudgeth himself even necessary refreshments, and disquiets himself with endless cares and labours, the fruit whereof he doth but little enjoy; and therefore it is better to eat and drink, &c., as I now said, . As for the phrase of seeing sleep, it is a figurative expression used in other authors, and is like that of seeing death, .

Ecclesiastes 8:16 When I applied mine heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done upon the earth: (for also [there is that] neither day nor night seeth sleep with his eyes:)Ver. 16. When I applied mine heart to know wisdom,] i.e., The wisdom and other excellencies of God shining plainly and plentifully in ruling the affairs, and ordering the disorders of the world to his own glory. For also there is that neither day nor night seeth, &c., ] i.e., Perdius et pernox, by day and by night I busied myself in this search, so that a little sleep served my turn all the while. Nullus mihi per otium exiit dies, partem etiam noctium studiis vindico, saith Seneca; I studied day and night, and followed it with all possible eagerness. Thuanus tells of a countryman of his, whom he called Franciscus Vieta Fontenejus, a very learned man, that he was so set upon his study, that for three days together sometimes he would sit close at it, sine cibo et somno, nisi quem cubito innixus, nec se loco movens, capiebat, without meat or sleep, more than what for mere necessity of nature he took leaning upon his elbow. Solomon seems by this text to have been as sharp set for the finding out of the way of divine administration, and the true reason of divine dispensations. But he got little further than to see that it far exceeded all human capacity and apprehension. Maiores maiora noverunt, et Deus det vobis plus sapere quam dico, saith a father, when he said what he could to some one of God’ s works of wonder - i.e., They who are more learned know, and God grant you may understand more than I say.

(16) It would have been better if the new chapter had been made to begin here. The sentiment is that already expressed in Ecclesiastes 3:11. Seeth sleep with his eyes.—Psalms 132:4; Proverbs 6:4; Genesis 31:40. The identical expression occurs in Terence, Heaut III. 1:82, “Somnum hercle ego hae nocte oculis non vidi meis.”

Verse 16. When I applied mine heart to know wisdom] This is the reply of the wise man: "I have also considered these seeming contradictions. God governs the world; but we cannot see the reasons of his conduct, nor know why he does this, omits that, or permits a third thing. We may study night and day, and deprive ourselves of rest and sleep, but we shall never fathom the depths that are in the Divine government; but all is right and just. This is the state of probation; and in it neither can the wicked be punished, nor the righteous rewarded. But eternity is at hand; and then shall every man receive according to his works. He that spends his life in the eat, drink, and play, will find in that day that he has lost the time in which he could have prepared for eternity.

16. When I applied mine heart to know wisdom] The opening formula has met us before in ch. Ecclesiastes 1:13. The parenthetical clause expresses, with a familiar imagery, the sleepless meditation that had sought in vain the solution of the problem which the order and disorder of the world presented. So Cicero (ad Fam. vii. 30) says “Fuit mirificâ vigilantiâ qui toto suo consulatu somnum non vidit.”

These verses supplement Ecclesiastes 8:15 with the reflection that the man who goes beyond that limited sphere within which he can labor and be contented, and investigates the whole work of God, will

16. I applied mine heart — A summary is now given of the results of all the investigations made up to this time to find the real good by pleasure, wealth-getting, and wealth-using — by business and by prudence.