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Revised Standard Version
Ecclesiastes 4:15
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I saw all the living who move about under the sun, along with that youth who was to stand in the king's place.
I behelde all the liuing, which walke vnder the sunne, with the second childe, which shall stand vp in his place.
I saw all the living, who move about under the sun, follow a second youth who succeeds him.
I saw all the living who walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the other, who succeeded him.
But I have watched people in this life, and I know this: People will follow that young man. He will become the new king.
I have seen all the living under the sun join with the second youth (the king's acknowledged successor) who replaces him.
I saw all the living that walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the second, that stood up in his stead.
I once saw everyone in the world follow a young leader who came to power after the king was gone.
I observed that all who live and walk under the sun took the side of the youth mentioned first who would rule in place of the king,
I saw all the living that walk under the sun, that they were with the child, the second, that was to stand up in his stead.
I considered all the liuing which walke vnder the sunne, with the second child that shall stand vp in his stead.
I beheld all the living who were walking under the sun, with the second youth who shall stand up in each one’s place.
I saw all the living which walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the second, that stood up in his stead.
I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed this second child, who succeeded the king.
I saw all the living who move about under the sun with the youth; the second who will stand in his place.
I saw all the living who walk about under the sun, with the second child who shall stand up in his place.
I watched all the people who live on earth follow him and make him their king.
I considered all the living who walk on earth, as well as the successor who would arise in his place.
I saw all the living who walk under the sun; They were with the second youth who stands in his place.
But then everyone rushes to the side of yet another youth who replaces him.
I have seen all the living under the sun gather to the side of the boy who becomes king in his place.
I saw all the living who, moving about under the sun, follow that youth who replaced the king;
I saw all the living, who were going hither and thither under the sun, - that they were with the boy who was to be the second, who was to stand in the other's place: -
I saw all men living, that walk under the sun with the second young man, who shall rise up in his place.
I considered all the living who walk under the sun, with the young men, who shall rise up in their place.
I thought about all the people who live in this world, and I realized that somewhere among them there is a young man who will take the king's place.
I have seen all those living under the sun move to the side of the second youth who replaces him.
I considered all the living which walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.
And I perceaued that all men lyuyng vnder the sunne, go with the seconde childe that shall stande vp in the steade of the other.
I saw all the living that walk under the sun, with the child, the second, that should stand up in his stead.
I siy alle men lyuynge that goen vndur the sunne, with the secounde yong wexynge man, that schal rise for hym.
I have seen all the living, who are walking under the sun, with the second youth who doth stand in his place;
I saw all the living who walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the other, who succeeded him.
I saw all the living that walk under the sun, that they were with the youth, the second, that stood up in his stead.
I considered all the living who walk under the sun, with the second child that shall stand up in his stead.
I saw all the living under the sun round the young man who was to be ruler in place of the king.
And I perceaued, yt all men lyuynge vnder the Sonne, go wt the seconde childe, that commeth vp in the steade of the other.
I have seen all the living under the sun throng to the side of the second lad who replaces him.
I have seen all the living who walk about under the sun go along with the second lad who stands in place of him.
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
child: 2 Samuel 15:6
Cross-References
If Cain is avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy-sevenfold."
And if in spite of this you will not hearken to me, then I will chastise you again sevenfold for your sins,
"Then if you walk contrary to me, and will not hearken to me, I will bring more plagues upon you, sevenfold as many as your sins.
then I also will walk contrary to you, and I myself will smite you sevenfold for your sins.
then I will walk contrary to you in fury, and chastise you myself sevenfold for your sins.
Moreover the word of the LORD came by the prophet Jehu the son of Hana'ni against Ba'asha and his house, both because of all the evil that he did in the sight of the LORD, provoking him to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the house of Jerobo'am, and also because he destroyed it.
Slay them not, lest my people forget; make them totter by thy power, and bring them down, O Lord, our shield!
Return sevenfold into the bosom of our neighbors the taunts with which they have taunted thee, O Lord!
And if he is caught, he will pay sevenfold; he will give all the goods of his house.
And the LORD said to him, "Go through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark upon the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it."
Gill's Notes on the Bible
I considered all the living which walk under the sun,.... All men that were then alive, who were capable of walking upon the earth; even all of them that were under the heavens, in every land and nation, under whatsoever dominion or government: these, and their manners, Solomon had particularly observed, and made his remarks upon, by which it appeared how fickle the minds of the populace were under every government, and how precarious and uncertain were the honour and dignity of princes;
with the second child that shall stand up in his stead: the heir and successor or every prince, that shall rise up and take the throne of his father or predecessor, and reign in his stead. The wise man observed how the people commonly behaved towards him; how that they generally stood best affected to him, than to the reigning prince; worshipped the rising sun, courted his favour and friendship, soothed and flattered him; expressing their wishes to see him on the throne, and treated with neglect and contempt their lawful sovereign. Some, contrary to the accents, connect this with the word "walk" h; that walk with the second child, join themselves to him, converse with him, and show him great respect and honour: and there are others that, by this second child, understand the poor and wise child, that succeeds the old and foolish king, whom yet, in time, the people grow weary of; such is the levity and inconstancy of people, that they are not long pleased with princes, old or young, wise or foolish. The Targum interprets this of the foresight Solomon had, by a spirit of prophecy, of those that rebelled against his son Rehoboam, and of those that cleaved unto him, who was his second, and reigned in his stead. Noldius i thinks Solomon refers to the history of his friend Hiram, king of Tyre, whose kingdom, in his and in his son's time, was very large, flourishing, and opulent, but in a following reign not so; and he renders and paraphrases the words thus,
""I saw all the works under the sun; [with] Baleazarus, the son of a friend" (Hiram, for שני, rendered "second", is the same as חבר, "a friend"), "who shall stand" or "reign after him: there is no end of all the people",'' c.
the kingdom in those two reigns being flourishing yet posterity shall not rejoice in him, in Abdastratus, the grandson of Hiram, destroyed by the four sons of his nurse k.
h So the Tigurine version, Vatablus, Cocceius, Gejerus. i Concord. Part. Ebr. No. 1023. k Meander apud Joseph. Contr. Apion. l. 1. s. 18.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
These verses set forth the vanity of earthly prosperity even on a throne. Opinion as to their application is chiefly divided between considering them a parable or fiction like that of the childless man in Ecclesiastes 4:8 : or as setting forth first the vicissitudes of royal life in two proverbial sayings Ecclesiastes 4:13-14, and then Ecclesiastes 4:15-16, the vicissitudes or procession of the whole human race, one generation giving place to another, Which in its turn will be forgotten by its successor. On the whole, the first appears to have the better claim.
Ecclesiastes 4:13
Child - Rather, young man.
Ecclesiastes 4:14
Rather: For out of the house of bondage he goes forth to be a king; although he was born poor in his kingdom, i. e., in the country over which he became king.
Ecclesiastes 4:15
I considered ... - literally, I saw “all the population of the young man’s kingdom.”
The second child - This second youth is generally understood to be identical with the one mentioned in Ecclesiastes 4:13.
Ecclesiastes 4:16
There is - Rather: There was.
That have been before them - Rather, before whom he was, i. e., at the head of whom the young king was. Compare Micah 2:13.
They also that ... him - i. e., The next generation shall forget this chosen king.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse 15. With the second child that shall stand up — The Targum applies this to the case of Jeroboam and Rehoboam. History affords many instances of mean persons raised to sovereign authority, and of kings being reduced to the meanest offices, and to a morsel of bread. Agrippa himself ascended the throne of Israel after having been long in prison. See Josephus, Ant. lib. xviii. c. 8. This the heathens attributed to fortune.
Si fortuna volet, fies de rhetore consul;
Si volet haec eadem, fies de consule rhetor.
JUV. Sat. vii., ver. 197.
Though I have given what the Jews suppose to be the allusion in these verses, yet the reader may doubt whether the reference be correct. There is a case implied, whether from fact or assumption I cannot say; but it seems to be this:
A king who had abused the authority vested in him by oppressing the people, had a son whose prudent conduct promised much comfort to the nation, when he should come to the throne. The father, seeing the popular wish, and becoming jealous of his son, shut him up in prison. In the interim the old king either dies or is deposed, and the son is brought out of prison, and placed on the throne. Then (Ecclesiastes 4:15-16) multitudes of the people flock to him, and begin to walk under the sun; i.e., the prosperous state to which the nation is raised by its redemption from the former tyranny. However, the wise man insinuates that this sunshine will not last long. The young king, feeling the reins in his own hands, and being surrounded by those whose interest it was to flatter in order to obtain and continue in court favour, he also becomes corrupted so that those who come after shall have no cause of rejoicing in him. This appears to be the case; and similar cases have frequently occurred, not only in Asiatic, but also in European history, I have, in another place, referred to the case of Rushn Achter, who was brought out of prison and set upon the throne of Hindoostan. This is expressed in the following elegant Persian couplet, where his fortune is represented as similar to that of the patriarch Joseph: -
[Persian]
[Persian]
"The bright star is now become a moon:
Joseph is taken out of prison, and become a king." Rushn Achter signifies a bright or splendid star.
