Explanation: Ecclesiastes 2 contains the last part of Solomon's introduction to the book; and the main part of the book begins in verse twelve. The chapter contains three main points: pleasure, wisdom, and labor are all vain, meaningless, empty, and vexatious to the spirit. All of these ideas and more are symbolized in today's painting. Click the link in the title for more information.

1. Narrator's Introduction - The Vanity of Everything                (   1:1   -  1:11  ) - 946 B.C. Israel
2. Teacher's Introduction  - The Vanity of Everything                (   1:12 -  2:11  ) - 946 B.C. Israel
3. Teacher's Word's         - Coping With Vanity                       (   2:12 - 11:9   ) - 946 B.C. Israel
4. Teacher's Conclusion    - Overcome Vanity by Serving God ( 11:10 - 12:7   ) - 946 B.C. Israel
5. Narrator's Conclusion   - Overcome Vanity by Serving God ( 12:8   - 12:14 ) - 946 B.C. Israel

          [ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: Ecclesiastes 1. ]

          [ CHRONOLOGY: GENERAL. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]

          [ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]

          [ COMMENTARIES, ETC: GENERAL: Bible Study Tools; Bible Hub: Study Light; Blue Letter Bible // PSALMS: Monergism: Precept Austin: The Treasury of David; John Gill; John Calvin - Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

          [ MUSIC: GENERAL: The Cyber Hymnal // PSALMS: Genevan Psalter (Instrumental). VARIOUS ARTISTS: Book of Ecclesiastes Dramatized. Ecclesiastes 2 - #1. Ecclesiastes 2 - #2. ]

     Solomon decided to test his heart with mirth and pleasure, but he found them to be vanity (1). He concluded that laughter was mad and that mirth accomplished nothing (2). He experimented with wine, but retained his wisdom. He took hold of folly to see what good there was for the sons of men to do under heaven all the days of their life (3). He made great works, houses, vineyards, gardens, orchards, fruit trees of all kinds, and pools of water to water his trees (4-6). He acquired male and slaves, and had slaves born in his house. He also had great herds and flocks, more than any who had been before him in Jerusalem (7). He gathered silver, gold, and treasure from kings and provinces. He got men and women singers, and many concubines who were delightful (8). So he became great and surpassed all who had been before him in Jerusalem. But he also kept his wisdom (9). He took all that his eves desired. He kept his heart from no pleasure, because his heart took pleasure in all of his toil; and this was his reward for his toil (10). Then he considered all that he had done and the effort he expended in doing it; and behold it was vanity and striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun (11).
     So he turned to consider wisdom, and madness, and folly. No man who came after him could do more -- only what had already been done (12). Then he saw that there is more gain in wisdom than in folly, as there is more gain in light than in darkness (13). The wise person has eyes in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. Nevertheless, the same event happens to all of them (14). He realized that the thing which happens to the fool would happen to him. So he wondered why he had been so very wise. This too was vanity (15). No one remembers the wise or the fool. Everything and everyone will be long forgotten. The wise man dies just like the fool (16). So he hated life, because that which is done under the sun was grievous to him, because all is vanity and a striving after wind (17).
     He hated his labor because he had to leave its fruits to the man who shall come after him, and who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will be the master of all of the results of his labor. This is also vanity (18-19). So he turned and gave his heart over to despair concerning his labors, because sometimes a person who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave everything to be enjoyed by someone who did not labor for it. This also is vanity and a great evil (20-21). What does a man have from all his toil and striving of heart with which he toils beneath the sun? All his days are full of sorrow, and his work is a vexation. Even at night the heart does not rest. This is also vanity (22-23). There is nothing better for a person than to eat and drink and to find enjoyment in his toil. This is from the hand of God, for apart from God who can eat of who can have enjoyment? For when one pleases God he gives him wisdom and knowledge and joy; but to the sinner he has given the task of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind (24-26).