ECCLESIASTES

ECCLESIASTES

Ecclesiastes 3 and ^[p. 294] Ecclesiastes 7

Ecclesiastes 3 I have not the means yet of clearing up particularly the force of Olam(see footnote), verse 11. But the force of verse 2 is stronger than I supposed, “Who knoweth the spirit of a man?” It, which ascends upward, and the spirit of a beast, it, which descends downward to the earth? It is a sad ignorance no doubt, but it affirms very distinctly that man’s spirit goes up — the beast’s descends downwards to the earth, is lost in the material creation in a way unknown to us. He does not know what becomes of man’s spirit neither, but it does go up to what is out of, and above the earth. Ya-da (knew) — acquainted with — the knowledge we have in ourselves — I know — I have the knowledge of the thing in my mind; there is also na-char (recognised); compare chapter 12: 7.

Ecclesiastes 7 — 11. “Wisdom is good as an inheritance” (even as can be compared with) “and it is excellent for those who see the sun”.

— 12. “Wisdom is a protection, money is a protection: but knowledge is excellent”. “Wisdom causes to live, those who possess it”.