Ecclesiastes Chapter One, Credentials

Ecclesiastes 1:16 I communed with my heart, saying, “Look, I have attained greatness and have gained more wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My heart has understood great wisdom and knowledge.”

The preacher introspects, considering the credentials he has for scrutinizing the monumental task set before him. He is mustering confidence by attributing to himself greatness. He extols his efforts, counseling himself to “look,” on what he is and has accomplished. If there was a man under Heaven that could unravel this cosmic mystery and shed light on human purpose under the sun, it is feasible that he is such a man.

The preacher says of himself, that he has attained greatness. While the NKJV, the LXX and the ESV all suggest a certain universality to the preacher’s mention of all that preceded him, the Tanakh intimates a contrast with rulers that reigned over the city prior to him. The NASB clarifies the verse as well, saying, “I have magnified and increased wisdom more than all who were over Jerusalem before me.” Since the NASB strives for literalness in its translation, the language does seem to suggest that the preacher is not referring to all people, but to the rulers of the people that preceded him.

We know that Jerusalem was governed by David for 33 years before Solomon began to reign. We further know that the holy city was ruled by Jebusites prior to Israel conquering the land, going back as far as the time of Joshua. We read, “As for the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah to this day,” Joshua 15:63. The writer of Judges adds, “Now the children of Judah fought against Jerusalem and took it; they struck it with the edge of the sword and set the city on fire,” Judges 1:8. Many kings reigned in Canaan prior to David’s conquest over the city. It would appear that despite Judah setting the city ablaze it was rebuilt and governed by the Jebusites that would not be driven out of their land.

Going further back still, some put forth the argument that Salem, the city of Melchizedek from Genesis chapter 14 is one and the same city as modern Jerusalem. That being said, Salem or Jerusalem easily stands as one of the oldest cities in existence beside Babylon and Nineveh. The preacher attests that his wisdom (a wisdom gifted to him by God Himself) was greater than all who preceded him. In 1 Kings it is chronicled in God’s own words to Solomon regarding this wisdom, “behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you,” 1 Kings 3:12. The preacher repeated only what God already stated was true: that he was the wisest man alive, and none would ever surpass him in wisdom. While the preacher localized his incredible fame, contrasting it to former kings that dwelt within Jerusalem, God expanded upon it initially, testifying that no ruler ANYWHERE would surpass him in terms of wise and prudent judgment.

He says for himself that his heart, the seat of his understanding, intelligence and wisdom, understood great wisdom and knowledge. To understand simply means to comprehend, to become familiar with some concept in terms of utility or receptivity. Knowledge expands our awareness of topics. Wisdom is the engine that drives the effective use of knowledge. Knowledge applied manufactures wisdom, because wisdom is a culmination of applied knowledge through experience and time. Someone truly wise not only experiences a thing, but learns from that experience, internalizes it, and is capable of relating it to others by means of edification. Wisdom is the opposite of wealth. In order to become truly wealthy one retains money. In order to become truly wise one dispenses knowledge earned from experience coupled with contemplation. Someone that hordes money is sometimes called a miser. I postulate that someone that hordes wisdom is called a fool. The very (or only) purpose of wisdom is to dispense it in the service of others. Wisdom imparted enriches both the speaker and hearer. The preacher does not withhold his wisdom, and advocates that he is a competent advocate to explore this avenue of man’s burden by virtue of his great wisdom.

In verse 14 he notes that he has seen the works of mankind. He has observed the folly of human achievement under the sun. Having bore witness (and partaken of it, since he too is human), he communed with his heart and commended himself to the task of unraveling this mystery in verse 16. He made his initial assessment at the beginning of the book that all life under the sun is vanity, Ecclesiastes 1:2. Now he endeavors to demonstrate his hypothesis using various trials to achieve results, measure those and calculate what the answer is. That is why we read that he sets his heart to this monumental task in verse 17, which we will explore next.