Ecclesiastes 4, Together is Better than Alone

The Teacher continues describing the frailty of human life. He argues that there are no good reasons for seeking change.

Ecclesiastes 4:1-3, Life is evil and meaningless

Again I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun: I saw the tears of the oppressed‑‑ and they have no comforter; power was on the side of their oppressors‑‑ and they have no comforter.  And I declared that the dead, who had already died, are happier than the living, who are still alive. But better than both is he who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun.

Life, says the Teacher, is not just meaningless, but there is evil -- people are oppressed by those with power and have no one to comfort them. The existence of evil adds to the meaninglessness of life.

Davidson sees this paragraph as a continuation of the ideas expressed in the previous chapter. Indeed, this appears to summarize Ecclesiastes 3:16-22.

The repetitive structure of  the dead, who had already died, ... the living, who are still alive is a poetic emphasis on these two positions. 

As Alter points out, the Teacher makes no reference to God here. As in much of the book, the Teacher is pointing out what one observes, without leaping to some type of metaphysical belief.

Ecclesiastes 4:4, Jealousy

And I saw that all labor and all achievement spring from man's envy of his neighbor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

Much of one's labor and careers is driven by envy and jealousy, says the Teacher.

Ecclesiastes 4:5-6, Work or tranquility?

The fool folds his hands and ruins himself.

Better one handful with tranquillity than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.

Here we have two conflicting proverbs, one about the lazy fool and another that says tranquility is worth much more than hard work (and thus, herding the wind.) Is the Teacher deliberately first quoting a traditional proverb (see Proverbs 6:10-11) so that he can challenge it in the next line? Davidson suggests that the Teacher is suggesting a "middle way", one in which the frailty of one's work is recognized.

Ecclesiastes 4:7-8, One is a lonely number

Again I saw something meaningless under the sun: There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. "For whom am I toiling," he asked, "and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?" 

This too is meaningless‑‑ a miserable business!

Another example of the emptiness of life -- the lonely man with no descendants, who has no one to receive his goods and hard work.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, Two is better than one

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! 

Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? 

Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. 

A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

This string of proverbs emphasize the importance of two or more people working together. Alter notes that these proverbs first play a with the value of 2 over 1, before rising to the number 3 on the last line.

Ecclesiastes 4:13-16, A sequence of kings

Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take warning.

The youth may have come from prison to the kingship, or he may have been born in poverty within his kingdom.

I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed the youth, the king's successor.

There was no end to all the people who were before them. But those who came later were not pleased with the successor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

There are some advantages to youth. But... just because one is old does not prevent them from being a fool! Commentators struggle to explain this passage. It is possible that there is a succession of kings here, one after the other, each dismissing the value of the one before him.