Ecclesiastes Chp 1: All is Vanity

It is important to establish who wrote the book of Ecclesiastes for this book is all about man on this earth, and ends with the duty of the whole matter, and that is to fear God and to keep his commandments. The writer identifies himself as the son of David, king in Jerusalem. It is further shown to be Solomon by V13 and 16, "I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven...Lo, I am come to great estate and have gotten more wisdom that all they that have been before me in Jerusalem."  1 Kings 3:9-12 is Solomon asking God for wisdom and God's response: "Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad..and the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.  And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee."

Chapter 1:2-3 "Vanity of vanities saith the preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.  What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under sun?  One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth forever." 

What is vanity?  According to Websters 1828 dictionary, vanity is emptiness; want of substance to satisfy desire; uncertainty.   Man in his fallen state is full of desires but nothing he can gather or buy can truly satisfy him for he is lost.  Even though an unsaved person might deny that this is true, they know in their heart that it is true for they desire more and more.

The Mothers Who Came to King Solomon: His Wise Decision

1 Kings 3:5-28

Some background is necessary regarding how king Solomon came to have such great wisdom.  After the death of King David, when Solomon was made King, God appeared to him in a dream one night, and said "Ask what I shall give thee." (1 Kings 3:5) We know that our God is omniscient, and knows the hearts of men, and knew what Solomon's answer would be, still  Solomon's answer was a true blessing.  "..O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in....give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people." (V7-9)

So much here, Solomon refers to the LORD MY God, this is a personal relationship Solomon has with the LORD.  He is humble, referring to himself as "A little child" in need of guidance and wisdom.  He asks not for silver or gold or great riches, but "an understanding heart" to judge "thy people" not his (Solomon's) people.  Truly Solomon is devoted to the LORD.  And so  the LORD is pleased and answers "I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart: so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee......" (V12)  What a wonderful gift that would be, I wonder how many of us would ask for wisdom rather than riches?

And so this is the background to the two mothers that soon come to Solomon. The bible calls them harlots, but they are not denied an audience with the king whom they stand before and begin to tell him the reason for their appearing before him.

They both live in the same house, and they both bore children, indeed three days apart they had their children, and there was no one with them, they were alone in the house.  (V17-18) And then a very sad occurrence, one mother speaks "this woman's child died in the night because she overlaid it. And she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while thine handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom.  And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold it was dead: but when I had considered it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, which I did bear. "(V19-21)