Ecclesiastes 2
King Solomon ordered the work of grand palaces and many things to make Jerusalem a fine city. Some of the things may still be seen, as, the great pools, or reservoirs, to supply water to the city; they are several miles outside, and are partly cut out in the rocks, and partly made from cement; one is so large that it could hold a big ship; water still flows underground from these, to the city’s fountains and pools.
Some of the great stones of the present city walls are thought to have been placed in Solomon’s time. He built a porch with great pillars which seems to have been a very special work, with an ivory throne and steps of gold, before which the people came for him to decide matters. His own palaces and porches must have been very grand, being built with cedar wood and large cut rocks with years of labor by his men. Solomon said of these things,
“I made me great works; builded me houses; I planted me vineyards; I made me gardens and orchards, and planted trees in them of all fruits: I made me pools of water, to water therewith.”
You see he seems to have had all possible good things done, and with great skill. Men now do not understand how the great stones could have been put in place. These works were done about 1,000 years before Christ, and were used when He was on earth. No doubt much of the work would still be there if armies had not destroyed them.
But Solomon did not have happiness from all his great works, because he knew he must die and others would have the things, who would not value or keep them he said,
“I looked on all the work my hands had wrought,... behold, all was vanity.... there was no profit under the sun” (or on earth).
The work which Solomon did for the building of the Temple of God, is not spoken of in this writing. He had that built just as the Lord had directed, so we are certain he was satisfied in that; for to obey the Lord, always gives true joy. But the other works were done to please himself, and did not make him happy.
Many people since this king have done great works for cities and people, but not to honor God, and they too have been disippointed. The Word of God teaches that he wants His people to work as is needed and for good uses and to help others; and to be thankful to God for what they have; but their hope is for a better city than any here, one in heaven, where all will last forever.
Solomon’s houses are told of in 1 Kings 7:1-121But Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished all his house. 2He built also the house of the forest of Lebanon; the length thereof was an hundred cubits, and the breadth thereof fifty cubits, and the height thereof thirty cubits, upon four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams upon the pillars. 3And it was covered with cedar above upon the beams, that lay on forty five pillars, fifteen in a row. 4And there were windows in three rows, and light was against light in three ranks. 5And all the doors and posts were square, with the windows: and light was against light in three ranks. 6And he made a porch of pillars; the length thereof was fifty cubits, and the breadth thereof thirty cubits: and the porch was before them: and the other pillars and the thick beam were before them. 7Then he made a porch for the throne where he might judge, even the porch of judgment: and it was covered with cedar from one side of the floor to the other. 8And his house where he dwelt had another court within the porch, which was of the like work. Solomon made also an house for Pharaoh's daughter, whom he had taken to wife, like unto this porch. 9All these were of costly stones, according to the measures of hewed stones, sawed with saws, within and without, even from the foundation unto the coping, and so on the outside toward the great court. 10And the foundation was of costly stones, even great stones, stones of ten cubits, and stones of eight cubits. 11And above were costly stones, after the measures of hewed stones, and cedars. 12And the great court round about was with three rows of hewed stones, and a row of cedar beams, both for the inner court of the house of the Lord, and for the porch of the house. (1 Kings 7:1‑12),
What were a surprise to a queen? (Kings 10:4,5).
How much better is wisdom than folly? (Ecc. 2:13).
ML 05/15/1941