Teks -- Ecclesiastes 2:18 (NET)

Futility of Being a Workaholic

2:18 So I loathed all the fruit of my effort, for which I worked so hard on earth, because I must leave it behind in the hands of my successor.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Wesley: Ecc 2:18 - All my labour

All these riches and buildings, and other fruits of my labour, were aggravations of my misery.

Wesley: Ecc 2:18 - Because

Because I must, and that everlastingly, leave them all behind me.

JFB: Ecc 2:18-19

One hope alone was left to the disappointed worldling, the perpetuation of his name and riches, laboriously gathered, through his successor. For selfishness is mostly at the root of worldly parents' alleged providence for their children. But now the remembrance of how he himself, the piously reared child of David, had disregarded his father's dying charge (1Ch 28:9), suggested the sad misgivings as to what Rehoboam, his son by an idolatrous Ammonitess, Naamah, should prove to be; a foreboding too fully realized (1Ki. 12:1-18; 1Ki 14:21-31).

Clarke: Ecc 2:18 - I hated all my labor

I hated all my labor - Because

1.    It has not answered the end for which it was instituted

2.    I can enjoy the fruits of it but a short time

3.    I must leave it to others, and know not whether a wise man, a knave, or a fool will possess it.

TSK: Ecc 2:18 - I hated // taken // I should

I hated : Ecc 2:4-9, Ecc 1:13, Ecc 4:3, Ecc 5:18, Ecc 9:9

taken : Heb. laboured

I should : Ecc 2:26, Ecc 5:13, Ecc 5:14; 1Ki 11:11-13; Psa 17:14, Psa 39:6, Psa 49:10; Luk 12:20, Luk 16:27, Luk 16:28; Act 20:29, Act 20:30; 1Co 3:10

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Ecc 2:18 - I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun

I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun all these riches and buildings, and other fruits of my labour, were the matter of my repentance, and aggravations of my misery, because I must, and that everlastingly, part with them, and leave them all behind me.

Gill: Ecc 2:18 - Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun // because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me

Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun,.... The great works he made, the houses he built; the vineyards, gardens, and orchards he planted, &c. what he got by his labour, his riches and wealth; and what he also got, not by the labour of his hands, but of his mind. Some understand this of the books he wrote; which were a weariness to his body, and fatigue to his mind; and which he might fear some persons would make an ill use of: Aben Ezra interprets it of his labour in this book. All which he had no great regard unto, since it was to be left to another;

because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me; because he could not enjoy the fruits of his labour himself, at least but a very short time: but must be obliged to leave all to another, his possessions, estates, riches, and treasure; which a man cannot carry with him when he dies, but must leave all behind him, to his heirs and successors ^x. The Targum is,

"because I shall leave it to Rehoboam my son, who shall come after me; and Jeroboam his servant shall come and take ten tribes out of his hands, and possess half the kingdom.''