《TreasuryofScriptureKnowledge - Ecclesiastes》(R. A.Torrey)
Commentator
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge was, and still is, a Bible reference work first published around 1830, created by the London publisher Samuel Bagster (1772-1851). It is a set of cross-references. That is, it consists entirely of a book-length listing of cross-references, showing only the chapter and verse citations with no accompanying text. About the size of a complete Bible, the TSK is also organized like a Bible, beginning at Genesis and ending at Revelation. Each verse of the Bible is cross-referenced to several others to enable the reader to gain a true sense of each word and phrase as it is used in the Bible.
- 800,000 cross-references, listing verses that illustrate how words and phrases are used elsewhere in the Bible.
- Helps the reader interpret Scripture with Scripture.
- Brief chapter summaries.
- Dates and other notes.
But the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge is usually described as being the work of R. A. Torrey. Most editions you can buy these days have Torrey's name on the cover, and sometimes in the title: R. A. Torrey's Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. According to commen knowledge, Torrey did not specifically try to claim authorship of the reference book, but he did become one of its chief promoters, and as his own fame rose, his endorsement of the book mattered to more and more people. Inevitably his name ended up on the cover. But if you read his introduction to the book, often printed inside, you see that he describes having first encountered it "some twenty years ago."
Originally printed in a 700+ page book and now enhanced with two-way cross-referencing, this entire reference is available to you on StudyLight.org.
00 Introduction
01 Chapter 1
Introduction
1 / The preacher shews that all human courses are vain;4 / because the creatures are restless in their courses,
9 / they bring forth nothing new, and all old things are forgotten;
12 / and because he has found it so in the studies of wisdom.
Verse 1
The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
the Preacher
12; 7:27; 12:8-10; Nehemiah 6:7; Psalms 40:9; Isaiah 61:1; Jonah 3:2; 2 Peter 2:5
king
12; 1 Kings 11:42,43; 2 Chronicles 9:30; 10:17-19
Verse 2
Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
2:11,15,17,19,21,23,26; 3:19; 4:4,8,16; 5:10; 6:11; 11:8,10; 12:8; Psalms 39:5,6; 62:9,10; 144:4; Romans 8:20
Verse 3
What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?
profit
2:22; 3:9; 5:16; Proverbs 23:4,5; Isaiah 55:2; Habakkuk 2:13,18; Matthew 16:26; Mark 8:36,37; John 6:27
under
2:11,19; 4:3,7; 5:18; 6:12; 7:11; 8:15-17; 9:3,6,13
Verse 4
One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.
One generation
6:12; Genesis 5:3-31; 11:20-32; 36:9-19; 47:9; Exodus 1:6,7; 6:16-27; Psalms 89:47,48; 90:9,10; Zechariah 1:5
but
Psalms 102:24-28; 104:5; 119:90,91; Matthew 24:35; 2 Peter 3:10-13
Verse 5
The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.
sun
Genesis 8:22; Psalms 19:4-6; 89:36,37; 104:19-23; Jeremiah 33:20
hasteth
Heb. panteth.
Joshua 10:13,14; Psalms 42:1; Habakkuk 3:11
Verse 6
The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.
The wind
This verse should be connected with the preceding, and rendered, "The sun also riseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose; going toward the south, and turning about unto the north. The wind whirleth about continually," etc. Alluding, in the former part, to the apparent daily motion of the sun from east to west, and to his annual course through the signs of the zodiac.
Job 37:9,17; Psalms 107:25,29; Jonah 1:4; Matthew 7:24,27; John 3:8; Acts 27:13-15
Verse 7
All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.
the rivers run
Job 38:10,11; Psalms 104:6-9
return again
Heb. return to go.
Verse 8
All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
full
2:11,26; Matthew 11:28; Romans 8:22,23
man
4:1-4; 7:24-26
the eye
4:8; 5:10,11; Psalms 63:5; Proverbs 27:20; 30:15,16; Matthew 5:6; Revelation 7:16,17
Verse 9
The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.
that hath
3:15; 7:10; 2 Peter 2:1
and there
Isaiah 43:19; Jeremiah 31:22; Revelation 21:1,5
Verse 10
Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.
it hath
Matthew 5:12; 23:30-32; Luke 17:26-30; Acts 7:51; 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16; 2 Timothy 3:8
Verse 11
There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.
There is
2:16; Psalms 9:6; Isaiah 41:22-26; 42:9
Verse 12
I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
1; 1 Kings 4:1-19
Verse 13
And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.
I gave
17; 7:25; 8:9,16,17; Psalms 111:2; Proverbs 2:2-4; 4:7; 18:1,15; 23:26; 1 Timothy 4:15
this sore
3:10; 4:4; 12:12; Genesis 3:19
to be exercised
or, to afflict them.
Verse 14
I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
17,18; 2:11,17,26; 1 Kings 4:30-32; Psalms 39:5,6
Verse 15
That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.
crooked
3:14; 7:12,13; Job 11:6; 34:29; Isaiah 40:4; Lamentations 3:37; Daniel 4:35; Matthew 6:27
wanting
Heb. defect.
Verse 16
I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.
communed
2 Kings 5:20; Psalms 4:4; 77:6; Isaiah 10:7-14; Jeremiah 22:14; Ezekiel 38:10,11; Daniel 4:30
Lo
2:9; 1 Kings 3:12,13; 4:30; 10:7,23,24; 2 Chronicles 1:10-12; 2:12; 9:22,23
great experience of
Heb. seen much.
Hebrews 5:14
Verse 17
And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.
I gave
13; 2:3,12; 7:23-25; 1 Thessalonians 5:21
I perceived
2:10,11
Verse 18
For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
For in
2:15; 7:16; 12:12,13; Job 28:28; 1 Corinthians 3:18-20; James 3:13-17
02 Chapter 2
Introduction
1 / The vanity of human courses in the works of pleasure.12 / Though the wise be better than the fool, yet both have one event.
18 / The vanity of human labour, in leaving it they know not to whom.
24 / Nothing better than joy in our labour; but that is God's gift.
Verse 1
I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity.
said
15; 1:16,17; 3:17,18; Psalms 10:6; 14:1; 27:8; 30:6,7; Luke 12:19
Go to
Genesis 11:3,4,7; 2 Kings 5:5; Isaiah 5:5; James 4:13; 5:1
I will
8:15; 11:9; Isaiah 50:5,11; Luke 16:19,23; James 5:5; Titus 3:3; Revelation 18:7,8
Verse 2
I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?
I said
Solomon is not speaking here of sober enjoyment of the things of the world, but of intemperate pleasure, whose two attendants, laughter and mirth, are introduced by a beautiful prosopopoeia, as two persons, whom he treats with the utmost contempt.
It is
7:2-6; Proverbs 14:13; Isaiah 22:12,13; Amos 6:3-6; 1 Peter 4:2-4
Verse 3
I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.
sought
1:17; 1 Samuel 25:36
give myself unto wine
Heb. draw my flesh with wine. yet.
Proverbs 20:1; 31:4,5; Ephesians 5:18
and to lay
7:18; Proverbs 20:1; 23:29-35; Matthew 6:24; 2 Corinthians 6:15-17
till
6:12; 12:13
all
Heb. the number of.
Genesis 47:9; Job 14:14; Psalms 90:9-12
Verse 4
I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards:
made
Genesis 11:4; 2 Samuel 18:18; Daniel 4:30
I builded
Deuteronomy 8:12-14; 1 Kings 7:1,2,8-12; 9:1; 15:19; 10:19,20; 2 Chronicles 8:1-6,11; Psalms 49:11
I planted
1 Chronicles 27:27; 2 Chronicles 26:10; Song of Solomon 1:14; 7:12; 8:11,12; Isaiah 5:1
Verse 5
I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits:
me
Song of Solomon 4:12-16; 5:1; 6:2; Jeremiah 39:4
I planted
Genesis 2:8,9; Luke 17:27-29
Verse 6
I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees:
pools
Nehemiah 2:14; Song of Solomon 7:4
to water
Psalms 1:3; Jeremiah 17:8
Verse 7
I got me servants and maidens, and hadservants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me:
servants
1 Kings 9:20-22; Ezra 2:58; Nehemiah 7:57
and had
Genesis 17:12,13
servants born in my house
Heb. sons of my house. also.
Genesis 13:2; 2 Kings 3:4; 1 Chronicles 27:29-31; 2 Chronicles 26:10; 32:27-29; Job 1:3; 42:12
Verse 8
I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts.
silver
1 Kings 9:14,28; 10:10; 14:21,22,27; 2 Chronicles 9:11,15-21
men singers
2 Samuel 19:35; Ezra 2:65
musical instruments, etc
Heb. musical instrument and instruments.
1 Chronicles 25:1,6; Job 21:11,12; Psalms 150:3-5; Daniel 3:5,7,15; Amos 6:5; The difficult words {shiddah weshiddoth} are variously rendered. The LXX. have [oinocoon kai oinochoas] "male and female cup-bearers," with which the Syriac and Arabic and Parkhurst agree; Aquila, [kulikon kai kulikia] "a cup and smaller cups;" Jerome, {scyphos et urceolos, (Vulg. {urceos,}) "goblets and pots;" Targum, "warm and cold baths;" others, as M. Desvoeux, "male and female captives;" others, "cooks and confectioners;" others, "a species of musical compositions," derived from Sido, a celebrated Phoenician woman, to whom Sanchoniatho attributes the invention of music; but others, with more probability, "wives and concubines;" and {siddoth} may be in this sense synonymous with the Arabic {seedat, domina, conjux} from {sada,} in {Conj. V. conjugium inivit.} Of the former, Solomon had three hundred, and of the latter, seven hundred; and if they are not mentioned here they are not mentioned at all, which is wholly unaccountable.
Verse 9
So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.
1:16; 1 Kings 3:12; 10:7,23; 1 Chronicles 29:25; 2 Chronicles 1:1; 9:22,23
Verse 10
And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.
whatsoever
3:22; 6:9; 11:9; Genesis 3:6; 6:2; Judges 14:2; Job 31:1; Psalms 119:37; Proverbs 23:5; 1 John 2:16
my heart rejoiced
22; 5:18; 9:9; Psalms 128:2
Verse 11
Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.
I looked
1:14; Genesis 1:31; Exodus 39:43; 1 John 2:16,17
behold
17-23; 1:3,14; Habakkuk 2:13; 1 Timothy 6:6
Verse 12
And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done.
I turned
1:17; 7:25
even that which hath already been done
or, in those things which have been already done.
Verse 13
Then I sawthat wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.
I saw
7:11,12; 9:16; Proverbs 4:5-7; 16:16; Malachi 3:18; 4:1,2
that wisdom excelleth folly
Heb. that there is an excellency in wisdom more than in folly, etc. light.
11:7; Psalms 119:105,130; Proverbs 4:18,19; Matthew 6:23; Luke 11:34,35; Ephesians 5:8
Verse 14
The wise man's eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all.
wise
8:1; 10:2,3; Proverbs 14:8; 17:24; 1 John 2:11
one
9:1-3,11,16; Psalms 19:10; 49:10
Verse 15
Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity.
even to me
Heb. to me, even to me. and why.
1:16,18; 1 Kings 3:12
Then I
1; 1:2,14
Verse 16
For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool.
there is
1:11; Exodus 1:6,8; Psalms 88:12; 103:16; Malachi 3:16
how
6:8; 2 Samuel 3:33; Psalms 49:10; Hebrews 9:27
Verse 17
Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
I hated
Numbers 11:15; 1 Kings 19:4; Job 3:20-22; 7:15,16; 14:13; Jeremiah 20:14-18; Jonah 4:3,8; Philippians 1:23-25
work
1:14; 3:16; Ezekiel 3:14; Habakkuk 1:3
for
11,22; 6:9; Psalms 89:47
Verse 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.
I hated
4-9; 1:13; 4:3; 5:18; 9:9
taken
Heb. laboured. I should.
26; 5:13,14; 1 Kings 11:11-13; Psalms 17:14; 39:6; 49:10; Luke 12:20; 16:27,28; Acts 20:29,30; 1 Corinthians 3:10
Verse 19
And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.
who knoweth
3:22; 1 Kings 12:14-20; 14:25-28; 2 Chronicles 10:13-16; 12:9,10
wise under
9:13; Luke 16:8; James 1:17; 3:17
Verse 20
Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.
Genesis 43:14; Job 17:11-15; Psalms 39:6,7; 1 Corinthians 15:19; 2 Corinthians 1:8-10; 1 Thessalonians 3:3,4
Verse 21
For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.
whose
17,18; 9:18; 2 Chronicles 31:20,21; 33:2-9; 34:2; 35:18; 36:5-10; Jeremiah 22:15,17
leave
Heb. give.
Verse 22
For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?
hath man
1:3; 3:9; 5:10,11,17; 6:7,8; 8:15; Proverbs 16:26; 1 Timothy 6:8
and of the
4:6,8; Psalms 127:2; Matthew 6:11,25,34; 16:26; Luke 12:22,29; Philippians 4:6; 1 Peter 5:7
Verse 23
For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.
all
Genesis 47:9; Job 5:7; 14:1; Psalms 90:7-10,15; 127:2
his heart
5:12; Esther 6:1; Job 7:13,14; Psalms 6:6,7; 32:4; 77:2-4; Daniel 6:18; Acts 14:22
Verse 24
There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.
nothing
3:12,13,22; 5:18; 8:15; 9:7-9; 11:9,10; Deuteronomy 12:12,18; Nehemiah 8:10; Acts 14:17; 1 Timothy 6:17
make his soul enjoy good
or, delight his senses. that it.
3:13; 5:19; 6:2; Malachi 2:2; Luke 12:19,20
Verse 25
For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I?
who can
1-12; 1 Kings 4:21-24
Verse 26
For God giveth to a man that is good in his sightwisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
in his sight
Heb. before him.
Genesis 7:1; Luke 1:6
wisdom
2 Chronicles 31:20,21; Proverbs 3:13-18; Isaiah 3:10,11; John 16:24; Romans 14:17,18; 1 Corinthians 1:30,31; Galatians 5:22,23; Colossians 1:9-12; 3:16,17; James 3:17
to the sinner
Job 27:16,17; Proverbs 13:22; 28:8
03 Chapter 3
Introduction
1 / By the necessary change of times, vanity is added to human travail.11 / There is an excellency in God's works.
16 / But as for man, God shall judge his works hereafter, though here he be like a beast.
Verse 1
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
every thing
17; 7:14; 8:5,6; 2 Kings 5:26; 2 Chronicles 33:12; Proverbs 15:23; Matthew 16:3
under
1:13; 2:3,17
Verse 2
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
time to be born
Heb. time to bear.
Genesis 17:21; 21:1,2; 1 Samuel 2:5; 1 Kings 13:2; 2 Kings 4:16; Psalms 113:9; Isaiah 54:1; Luke 1:13,20,36; John 16:21; Acts 7:17,20; Galatians 4:4
and a time
Genesis 47:29; Numbers 20:24-28; 27:12-14; Deuteronomy 3:23-26; 34:5; Job 7:1; 14:5,14; Isaiah 38:1,5; John 7:30; Hebrews 9:27
a time to plant
Psalms 52:5; Isaiah 5:2-5; Jeremiah 1:10; 18:7-10; 45:4; Matthew 13:28,29,41; 15:13
Verse 3
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
time to kill
Deuteronomy 32:39; 1 Samuel 2:6,25; Hosea 6:1,2
a time to heal
Numbers 26:6-9; Isaiah 38:5-20; Jeremiah 33:6; Luke 9:54-56; Acts 5:15,16
a time to break
Isaiah 5:5,6; 44:26; Jeremiah 31:28; 45:4; Ezekiel 13:14; Daniel 9:25-27; Zechariah 1:12
Verse 4
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
time to weep
Nehemiah 8:9-12; 9:1-38; Psalms 30:5; 126:1,2,5,6; Isaiah 22:12,13; Matthew 9:15; Matthew 11:17; John 16:20-22; Romans 12:15; 2 Corinthians 7:10; James 4:9
a time to laugh
Genesis 21:6; Luke 1:13,14,58; 6:21-25
to dance
Exodus 15:20; 2 Samuel 6:16
Verse 5
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
to cast
Joshua 4:3-9; 10:27; 2 Samuel 18:17,18; 2 Kings 3:25
a time to embrace
Exodus 19:15; 1 Samuel 21:4,5; Song of Solomon 2:6,7; Joel 2:16; 1 Corinthians 7:5
refrain from
Heb. be far from.
Verse 6
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
time to get
or, time to seek.
Genesis 30:30-43; 31:18; Exodus 12:35,36; Deuteronomy 8:17,18; 2 Kings 5:26; 8:9
an a time to lose
Matthew 16:25,26; 19:29; Mark 8:35-37; 10:28-30; Luke 9:24,25
and a time to cast
11:1; 2 Kings 7:15; Psalms 112:9; Isaiah 2:20; Jonah 1:5; Acts 27:19,38; Philippians 3:7,8; Hebrews 10:34,35
Verse 7
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
time to rend
Genesis 37:29,34; 2 Samuel 1:11; 3:31; 1 Kings 21:27; 2 Kings 5:7; 6:30; Jeremiah 36:24; Joel 2:13; Acts 9:39
time to keep
Job 2:13; Psalms 39:2; Isaiah 36:21; Jeremiah 8:14; Lamentations 3:28; Amos 5:13; 8:3; Micah 7:5
and a time to speak
Genesis 44:18,34; 1 Samuel 19:4,5; 25:24-44; Esther 4:13,14; 7:4; Job 32:4-37; Proverbs 24:11,12; 31:8,9; Luke 19:37-40; Acts 4:20
Verse 8
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
time to love
Ezekiel 16:8; Psalms 139:21; Ephesians 3:19; 5:25,28,29; Titus 2:4
a time to hate
2 Chronicles 19:2; Luke 14:26; Revelation 2:2
a time of war
Genesis 14:14-17; Joshua 8:1-29; 11:23; 2 Samuel 10:6-19; 1 Kings 5:4; 2 Chronicles 20:1-29,30
Verse 9
What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?
1:3; 2:11,22,23; 5:16; Proverbs 14:23; Matthew 16:26
Verse 10
I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.
1:13,14; 2:26; Genesis 3:19; 1 Thessalonians 2:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:8
Verse 11
He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.
hath made
7:29; Genesis 1:31; Deuteronomy 32:4; Mark 7:37
also
Matthew 13:22; Romans 1:19,20,28
so
8:17; Job 11:7; 37:23; Psalms 104:24; Matthew 11:27; Romans 11:33
Verse 12
I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.
but
22; 9:7-9; Deuteronomy 28:63; Psalms 37:3; Isaiah 64:5; Luke 11:41; Acts 20:35; Philippians 4:4-9; 1 Thessalonians 5:15,16; 1 Timothy 6:18
Verse 13
And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.
2:24; 5:18-20; 6:2; 9:7; Deuteronomy 28:30,31,47,48; Judges 6:3-6; Psalms 128:2; Isaiah 65:21-23
Verse 14
I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.
whatsoever
Psalms 33:11; 119:90,91; Isaiah 46:10; Daniel 4:34,35; Acts 2:23; 4:28; Romans 11:36; Ephesians 3:11; Titus 1:2; James 1:17