Pengkhotbah 2:12
Konteks2:12 Next, I decided to consider 1 wisdom, as well as foolish behavior and ideas. 2
For what more can the king’s successor do than what the king 3 has already done?
Pengkhotbah 8:16
Konteks8:16 When I tried 4 to gain 5 wisdom
and to observe the activity 6 on earth –
even though it prevents anyone from sleeping day or night 7 –
[2:12] 1 tn Heb “and I turned to see.”
[2:12] 2 sn See 1:17 for the same expression. Throughout 2:1-11, Qoheleth evaluated the merits of merrymaking (2:1-3), accomplishing grand things (2:4-6), amassing great wealth (2:7-8), and secular acquisitions and accomplishments (2:9-10). Now, he reflects on the benefit in life in living wisely and not giving oneself over to frivolous self-indulgence.
[2:12] 3 tc The Hebrew text reads עָשׂוּהוּ (’asuhu, “they have done it”; Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural from עָשַׂה [’asah] + 3rd person masculine singular suffix). However, many medieval Hebrew
[8:16] 4 tn Heb “I applied my heart.”
[8:16] 6 tn Heb “and to see the business which is done.”
[8:16] 7 tn Heb “for no one sees sleep with their eyes either day or night.” The construction גַם …כִּי (ki… gam) expresses a concessive sense: “even though” (e.g., Ps 23:4; Prov 22:6; Eccl 4:14; Isa 1:15; Lam 3:8; Hos 8:10; 9:16); cf. HALOT 196 s.v. גַּם 9; BDB 169 s.v. גַּם 6; 473 s.v. כִּי 2.c.