Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents

4:4-6 The Preacher observes that much of what is achieved by skillful human labor stems from a man's envy of his neighbor. The term translated "envy" (Hb. qin'ah) can have either negative or positive moral connotations, depending on the context (much like English "jealousy" and "zeal"). Here the Preacher focuses on the vanity that comes to those who make such striving their ultimate good, rather than a desire to serve the Lord (cf. Col. 3:24). If a man folds his hands--i.e., refuses to work--he only ruins himself. Finally, the Preacher adds a word of caution against excessive striving: instead of two hands full of toil and striving after wind (something fleeting; see Eccles. 4:8), one should learn to be content with less (one single handful of quietness).

4:7-11 The Preacher makes a sharp contrast in these verses. On the one hand there is one person who continues in endless toil, yet who is never satisfied even though he acquires great riches for himself (he has no other). This, the Preacher says, is vanity and an unhappy business. On the other hand the Preacher affirms how much better two are . . . than one. Thus the wise person will work side-by-side with another, enjoying a good reward and finding help in times of need.

4:9 Two . . . have a good reward for their toil. The wise person will pursue cooperative ventures rather than give in to jealous striving to be first (contrast vv. 8, 10, 11), a striving that isolates him from others.

4:12 A threefold cord stands for the great value of "plurality" (more than one or even two) as opposed to being alone (vv. 7-11).