A Kohelet Interpretation
Wisdom, the Multifaceted Tool With an Until Death Warranty The son of David, king of Jerusalem, wrote the book Koheles. The book has an overall feeling of life and everything attached to it is futile and nothingness prevails. It is easier for one to understand that material gain is futile for it can be taken away in an instant. Wisdom, on the other hand, is a rare and powerful commodity that serves one well if used. How can wisdom also be vexation and the more one increases their knowledge the more they increase pain. (Chapter 1,verse 18) There are many difficulties understanding exactly in which light Koheles sees wisdom. For after chapter 1 verse 18 comes along chapter 2 verse 14 and states, "the wise man, his eyes are in his head, but the fool walks in darkness." This would seem to be saying that wisdom is important to "living a good life". For walking in darkness doesn't sound like a lot of fun to me. One would probably bang into things left and right. Such as greed or jealousy, not very endearing traits. Though later in the same verse it says, "that the same fate befalls both of them." Meaning in the end all is futile because everyone in the end will die. This is a very depressing thought. Koheles
A truer truth hath never been spoken! Think back on the amount of times you have lost your temper and after having regained control of your emotions regretted your rash words? More benefits of wisdom include chapter 7 verse 19, "Wisdom gives [more] strength to the wise than ten rulers of the city". Also in the same chapter verse 12, "the words of a wise man win favor, but the lips of a fool devour him". Those who are wise realize there is more wisdom to be gained from sitting in a house of mourners as opposed to the fools who live for the minute. The feeling one gets when they reach new levels of understanding is like a drug addiction, one always craves more. I take this in the sense that most people are right handed and it is a metaphor to help the right-handed people understand the concept of wisdom and its importance. Getting back to the verse maybe its meaning lies in the fact that it is easier for the wise to reflect in a house of mourning rather than in a house of feasting, and the fools only go to the house of feasting which does not allow for quiet reflection. This statement alludes to the fact that Koheles also had questions, and did not have the answer to everything. Which does not mean he was not wise or had more wisdom than the rest of us. The words of Koheles concerning wisdom are tricky. To reinforce this idea of the importance of wisdom, chapter 10 verse10 says, "there is more profit in a skill of wisdom". For instance one will guard their way by thinking before they say anything blasphemous or anything else of the like Putting these last two ideas together, maybe wisdom is futile if not used in the service of G-d. From this reader's point of view it is the most important thing for one to have in their front pocket (almost as important as the kitchen sink). Our understanding of the use of wisdom is sketchy, but we do understand it can abandon us in an instant if we let our emotions take over our sanity. As it says in chapter 7 verse 7 "For quarreling makes the wise foolish".
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