5There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:
Linguistic Insight
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Cross-References
From the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.
This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.
Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun.
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men:
So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.
Commentary
Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary on the Bible (1710)
(vv. 4-11)The scope of these verses is to keep subjects loyal and dutiful to the government. In Solomon’s reign the people were very rich, and lived in prosperity, which perhaps made them proud and petulant, and when the taxes were high, though they had enough to pay them with, it is probable that many conducted themselves insolently towards the government and threatened to rebel. To such Solomon here gives…
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