"I said to myself, "Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good." But that also proved to be meaningless." (2:1)

My Note: Already, I might know what the chapter will be about: to determine if the world is meaningless, Solomon decides to pleasure himself in numerous different ways. However, after experiencing all the pleasures the Earth can offer, Solomon concludes that pleasure is meaningless.

"Laughter," I said, "is madness. And what does pleasure accomplish?" I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was good for people to do under the heavens during the few days of their lives." (2:2-3)

My Note: Why is laughter the equivalent of madness? Perhaps laughter means something different. The rest of these verses reinforce my first assumption.

"I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me. I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired male and female singers, and a harem as well—the delights of a man's heart. I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me." (2:4-9)

My Note: Solomon sought physical and earthly pleasure, yet his wisdom never left him. These verses are expository, specifically detailing the various ways Solomon pleasured himself.

"I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my labor, and this was the reward for all my toil." (2:10)

My Note: Solomon allowed himself to experience any type of pleasure, even if it meant disobeying God. Physically, he was satisfied, but spiritually? I wouldn't think so.

"Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve,
everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun." (2:11)

My Note: That's the catch: You can easily fulfill your physical and earthly desires. Yet you will never truly feel satisfied with what you have done. Your physical acts are ultimately meaningless and will soon be forgotten by the world. Perhaps this is what Solomon thought.

"I saw that wisdom is better than folly, just as light is better than darkness. The wise have eyes in their heads, while the fool walks in the darkness; but I came to realize that the same fate overtakes them both." (2:13-14)

My Note: Even though Solomon believes people should value wisdom over folly, Solomon discusses how both wise men and foolish men eventually die. The same fate indeed overtakes them both.

"Then I said to myself, "The fate of the fool will overtake me also. What then do I gain by being wise?" I said to myself, "This too is meaningless." For the wise, like the fool, will not be long remembered; the days have already come when both have been forgotten. Like the fool, the wise too must die!" (2:15-16)

My Note: Eventually Solomon will die, just like any other person. I originally questioned why Solomon argues how wisdom altogether is meaningless when he recently discussed how wisdom is more meaningful than folly. However, I now know that making your life's purpose "to seek wisdom" is ultimately meaningless. Your wisdom will die with you, and people will soon forget your wisdom.

"I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me. And who knows whether that person will be wise or foolish? Yet they will have control over all the fruit of my toil into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun. This too is meaningless." (2:18-19)

My Note: Solomon pessimistically addresses that the products of all his hard work will be inherited by someone after Solomon dies. This person could be a wise man like Solomon or an utter fool. Regardless of this person's intelligence, Solomon will inevitably forfeit the fruits that he worked and toiled for upon his death. Solomon claims that making hard work your life's purpose is ultimately meaningless.

"So my heart began to despair over all my toilsome labor under the sun. For a person may labor with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then they must leave all they own to another who has not toiled for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune." (2:20-21)

My Note: Solomon regrets leaving his possessions behind, since a lazier and lesser hard-working person will inherit them. Similarly, we will leave our possessions to a generation that will likely not have to work laboriously for them. This fact heavily depresses Solomon and causes him to despair.

"What do people get for all the toil and anxious striving with which they labor under the sun? All their days their work is grief and pain; even at night their minds do not rest. This too is meaningless." (2:22-23)

My Note: Even though I am a student, these verses still apply to me. During the school year, I constantly have to complete school work. Even during summer vacation I have to complete school work. At night I worry about my workload, my grades, and my future career. My school days are often a waste of time, simply a pursuit of money. Honestly, no matter what stage of life we currently experience, we toil, worry, and repeat. So, what do we get for working? Money, which we always need more of, which we work to obtain, which we spend daily. The pursuit of money is an endless cycle, filled with pain and struggle.

"A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind." (2:24-26)

My Note: I'm confused by these verses, yet I will analyze them to the best of my ability. If you have any interpretations you'd like to share, please do so.

On a highly basic level, humans eat, drink, and work. Some people attempt to seek satisfaction from the basic necessities of life. However, God provides us with the food and drink we need to sustain ourselves through our work. Perhaps Solomon argues that our food and our work brings us more satisfaction when we appreciate God for providing for us, rather than when we ignore God. Eventually, those who ignore God on Earth will inevitably forfeit their possessions to God. Therefore, everything we own and everything we work for is meaningless without God.

Conclusion: In this lengthy chapter, Solomon discusses how our wisdom and our works are ultimately meaningless. When we die, our wisdom and worldly accomplishments die with us. We work so hard on Earth only to forfeit all our possessions to another person. We gain nothing from our own worldly wisdom after we die. Solomon begins to discuss how God gives our lives meaning. We cannot find true meaning in this world without God, who provides us with everything we need.

Through this long chapter and short conclusion, I hope you understand Ecclesiastes 2 a little better. Please share your ideas as well. God is always with you!