Ecclesiastes 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.
Original Language Analysis
Historical Context
Solomon's concern proved prophetic. First Kings 12 records that his son Rehoboam foolishly rejected wise counsel, provoking the kingdom's division. Jeroboam's northern rebellion split the united monarchy Solomon built, validating the Preacher's anxiety about incompetent successors squandering hard-won achievements. Ancient Near Eastern kings obsessed over succession—Egyptian pharaohs built pyramids partly to preserve their legacy, and Mesopotamian kings erected monuments ensuring remembrance. Yet countless kingdoms rose and fell, dynasties ended, and monuments crumbled. Only God's kingdom endures eternally (Daniel 2:44). The New Testament redirects labor toward eternal rewards—'lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven' (Matthew 6:20). Church history confirms that earthly empires fade while faithful service to Christ yields eternal fruit. The Reformers emphasized vocation—all legitimate labor, done as unto the Lord, has eternal significance despite earthly transience.
Questions for Reflection
- How does recognizing that death will transfer your life's work to others affect your attitude toward your labor and legacy?
- What labor are you investing in that will transcend death and last for eternity rather than being left to uncertain heirs?
Analysis & Commentary
Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun—the strong Hebrew verb 'sane'' (שָׂנֵא, hated) expresses intense negative emotion, stronger than mere dislike. After comprehensive experimentation (2:4-10), Solomon reaches the bitter conclusion that even his impressive achievements produced not satisfaction but resentment. The reason: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me. The Hebrew 'azav' (עָזַב, leave) means to abandon or forsake. Death forces relinquishing all accumulated wealth, projects, and accomplishments to successors.
This verse articulates a profound frustration: we invest decades building, acquiring, and achieving, only to die and transfer everything to heirs who neither earned it nor may appreciate it. The following verse (2:19) heightens this frustration—the heir may be 'a wise man or a fool,' yet will control everything the builder labored to create. This reality exposes the fundamental futility of labor pursued as an end in itself. Only work done as service to God, whose rewards transcend death, escapes this frustration (1 Corinthians 15:58). Jesus warned: 'Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?' (Luke 12:20).