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Text -- Ecclesiastes 8:2 (NET)

Strongs On/Off
Context
8:2 Obey the king’s command, because you took an oath before God to be loyal to him.
Parallel   Cross Reference (TSK)   ITL  

Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics

Dictionary Themes and Topics: Prudence | Oath | ORDER | Loyalty | King | Instruction | Citizenship | more
Table of Contents

Word/Phrase Notes
Wesley , JFB , Clarke , TSK

Word/Phrase Notes
Barnes , Poole , Haydock , Gill

Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes , Geneva Bible

Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis , MHCC , Matthew Henry , Keil-Delitzsch , Constable

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)

Wesley: Ecc 8:2 - -- Because of that oath which thou hast taken to keep all God's laws, whereof this of obedience to superiors is one.

Because of that oath which thou hast taken to keep all God's laws, whereof this of obedience to superiors is one.

JFB: Ecc 8:2 - -- Jehovah, peculiarly the king of Israel in the theocracy; Ecc 8:3-4, prove it is not the earthly king who is meant.

Jehovah, peculiarly the king of Israel in the theocracy; Ecc 8:3-4, prove it is not the earthly king who is meant.

JFB: Ecc 8:2 - -- 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 D...

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).

Clarke: Ecc 8:2 - -- To keep the king’ s commandment - This sentence would be better translated, I keep the mouth of the king; I take good heed not to meddle with s...

To keep the king’ s commandment - This sentence would be better translated, I keep the mouth of the king; I take good heed not to meddle with state secrets; and if I know, to hide them. Or, I am obedient to the commands of the laws; I feel myself bound by whatever the king has decreed

Clarke: Ecc 8:2 - -- In regard of the oath of God - You have sworn obedience to him; keep your oath, for the engagement was made in the presence of God. It appears that ...

In regard of the oath of God - You have sworn obedience to him; keep your oath, for the engagement was made in the presence of God. It appears that the Jewish princes and chiefs took an oath of fidelity to their kings. This appears to have been done to David, 2Sa 5:1-3; to Joash, 2Ki 11:17; and to Solomon, 1Ch 29:24.

TSK: Ecc 8:2 - -- I counsel : Pro 24:21; Rom 13:1-4; Tit 3:1; 1Pe 2:13-17 in regard : 1Ki 2:43; 1Ch 29:24; Eze 17:13-20; Rom 13:5

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)

Barnes: Ecc 8:2 - -- Oath - A reference to the oath of allegiance taken to Solomon at his accession to the throne (the margin of 1Ch 29:24).

Oath - A reference to the oath of allegiance taken to Solomon at his accession to the throne (the margin of 1Ch 29:24).

Poole: Ecc 8:2 - -- I counsel thee which verb is necessarily understood to make the sense full and complete. See the like defects of speech, Psa 120:7 Isa 5:9 , &c. To ...

I counsel thee which verb is necessarily understood to make the sense full and complete. See the like defects of speech, Psa 120:7 Isa 5:9 , &c.

To keep the king’ s commandment observe and obey all his commands; which is not to be understood universally, as if the king should have commanded them to deny or blaspheme God, or to worship idols, in which case every Christian man who reads and believes the Bible must needs confess that the Israelites especially were obliged to obey God rather than man, but only of such commands as are not contrary to the will of God.

In regard of the oath of God either,

1. Because of that oath which thou hast taken to keep all God’ s laws, whereof this of obedience to superiors is one; or,

2. Because of that covenant or oath of fealty and allegiance whereby thou hast engaged thyself to him, of which see 1Ch 11:3 29:24 Eze 17:16,18 . Though this may also be understood, and is by some learned interpreters taken, as a limitation of their obedience to kings, the words being thus rendered, as the Hebrew will very well bear, but according to the word of the oath of God ; obey the king’ s commands, with this caution, that they be agreeable and not contrary to the laws of God, which thou art obliged by thy own and by thy parents’ oaths oft renewed to observe in the first place.

Haydock: Ecc 8:2 - -- I. Protestants add, " counsel thee, to keep, &c. "Obey the king and God." (Haydock) (1 Peter ii. 17.) --- Solomon proposes his own example, or ...

I. Protestants add, " counsel thee, to keep, &c. "Obey the king and God." (Haydock) (1 Peter ii. 17.) ---

Solomon proposes his own example, or speaks in the name of the just. ---

God. The law of Moses, confirmed with an oath, or the engagement to be faithful to the king, 2 Kings vi. 3., and 1 Paralipomenon xxix. 24.

Gill: Ecc 8:2 - -- I counsel thee to keep the king's commandment,.... Or, "to observe the mouth of the king" w; what he says, and do according to it when it is agreeabl...

I counsel thee to keep the king's commandment,.... Or, "to observe the mouth of the king" w; 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 paraphrases it thus,

"I have need, and am prepared, to observe the mouth (or keep the commandment) of the King of the world;''

and so Alshech,

"observe that which goes out of the mouth of the King of the world.''

And indeed, to understand it, not of an earthly king, but of the King of kings, as it is understood by other interpreters also, suits better with what is said of this King in the following verses; whose commandments, which are not grievous, but to be loved above fine gold, should be kept from a principle of love, without mercenary and selfish views, as they are delivered out by him, and to his glory; and such a charge as this should be attended to, and such counsel be received;

and that in regard of the oath of God; who has swore, that if his children forsake his law, and walk not in his statutes, he will visit their transgressions with a rod, and their iniquities with stripes; and therefore should be careful to keep his commandments, Psa 89:30. Those who interpret this of an earthly king, by the oath of God understand the oath of allegiance and fidelity to him, taken in the name and presence of God, and therefore for conscience's sake should obey him: or render it, "but so that thou observest the manner of the oath of God" x; or takest care to obey him; or do nothing in obedience to kings, which is contrary to the will of God; for God is to be obeyed rather than men, Act 4:19; especially, and above all things, that is to be regarded.

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Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Ecc 8:2 The words “to be loyal to him” do not appear in the Hebrew text, but are supplied in the translation for clarification.

Geneva Bible: Ecc 8:2 I [counsel thee] to keep the king's ( c ) commandment, and [that] in regard of the oath of God. ( c ) That is, that you obey the king and keep the oa...

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Commentary -- Verse Range Notes

TSK Synopsis: Ecc 8:1-17 - --1 True wisdom is modest.2 Kings are to be respected.6 Divine providence is to be observed.12 It is better with the godly in adversity, than with the w...

MHCC: Ecc 8:1-5 - --None of the rich, the powerful, the honourable, or the accomplished of the sons of men, are so excellent, useful, or happy, as the wise man. Who else ...

Matthew Henry: Ecc 8:1-5 - -- Here is, I. An encomium of wisdom (Ecc 8:1), that is, of true piety, guided in all its exercises by prudence and discretion. The wise man is the g...

Keil-Delitzsch: Ecc 8:2 - -- 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 ...

Constable: Ecc 6:10--11:7 - --III. THE LIMITATIONS OF WISDOM 6:10--11:6 Clues in the text indicate the value and purpose of 6:10-11:6. The phr...

Constable: Ecc 7:1--8:17 - --B. God's Inscrutable Plan chs. 7-8 Solomon proceeded in this section to focus on the plan of God, His de...

Constable: Ecc 8:1-17 - --3. The value and limitations of wisdom ch. 8 This chapter begins by lauding wisdom (v. 1), and i...

Constable: Ecc 8:1-9 - --The value of wisdom 8:1-9 In Solomon's day the king had far-reaching power over his subjects. Therefore it became imperative to avoid his wrath. We mu...

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Introduction / Outline

JFB: Ecclesiastes (Book Introduction) The Hebrew title is Koheleth, which the speaker in it applies to himself (Ecc 1:12), "I, Koheleth, was king over Israel." It means an Assembler or Con...

JFB: Ecclesiastes (Outline) INTRODUCTION. (Ecc. 1:1-18)

TSK: Ecclesiastes 8 (Chapter Introduction) Overview Ecc 8:1, True wisdom is modest; Ecc 8:2, Kings are to be respected; Ecc 8:6, Divine providence is to be observed; Ecc 8:12, It is better ...

Poole: Ecclesiastes 8 (Chapter Introduction) CHAPTER 8 Kings to be greatly respected, Ecc 8:1-5 . Our times uncertain; death not to be resisted, Ecc 8:6-8 . An evil magistrate buried and forgo...

MHCC: Ecclesiastes (Book Introduction) The name of this book signifies " The Preacher." The wisdom of God here preaches to us, speaking by Solomon, who it is evident was the author. At the...

MHCC: Ecclesiastes 8 (Chapter Introduction) (Ecc 8:1-5) Commendations of wisdom. (Ecc 8:6-8) To prepare for sudden evils and death. (Ecc 8:9-13) It shall be well with the righteous, and ill wi...

Matthew Henry: Ecclesiastes (Book Introduction) An Exposition, with Practical Observations, of The Book of Ecclesiastes We are still among Solomon's happy men, his happy servants, that stood contin...

Matthew Henry: Ecclesiastes 8 (Chapter Introduction) Solomon, in this chapter, comes to recommend wisdom to us as the most powerful antidote against both the temptations and vexations that arise from ...

Constable: Ecclesiastes (Book Introduction) Introduction Title The title of this book in the Hebrew text is all of verse 1. The Se...

Constable: Ecclesiastes (Outline)

Constable: Ecclesiastes Ecclesiastes Bibliography Archer, Gleason L., Jr. "The Linguistic Evidence for the Date of Ecclesiastes'." Jour...

Haydock: Ecclesiastes (Book Introduction) ECCLESIASTES. INTRODUCTION. This Book is called Ecclesiastes, or the preacher, (in Hebrew, Coheleth ) because in it Solomon, as an excelle...

Gill: Ecclesiastes (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO ECCLESIASTES This book has been universally received into the canon of the Scriptures, by Jews and Christians. The former, indeed, ...

Gill: Ecclesiastes 8 (Chapter Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO ECCLESIASTES 8 The preacher begins this chapter with the praise of wisdom, from its excellency and usefulness, Ecc 8:1; and advises...

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