Ecclesiastes Chapter Two, Pursuing Pleasure

Ecclesiastes 2:1 I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure”; but surely, this also was vanity.

The Hebrew term for “mirth” is “simchah,” and means, “blithesomeness or glee.” Furthermore it is explained that the term is both an external expression for joy, and the representation of the abstract feeling or concept of joy. Synonyms for joy include happiness, delight, or pleasure.

The Hebrew term for “Pleasure” in this verse, “towb.”  is rather involved. It is a very sweeping term that involves the masculine and feminine forms of the word, as well as the singular or plural version of the word. It is employed 559 times in the Old Testament most commonly translated, “good.” Quoting Strong’s Concordance, it says of “towb,” “When applied to the heart, it describes well being rather than ethical status.” Additionally, it states, “It indicates that a given word, act or circumstance contributes positively to a situation. Often this judgment does not mean the thing is actually good, only that it is so evaluated.”

The modern saying, “if it feels good, do it,” applies adequately here. The preacher seeks to delight in pleasure but pleasure that is not morally or ethically good, just what gratifies by the action. This we will see more graphically depicted as the chapter unfolds, God willing.

For the time being, the preacher is internally monologuing. The heart is the seat of his wisdom, see Ecclesiastes 1:13, 16, 17. He uses the heart as a barometer for how hot or cold his search is, employing his vaunted wisdom to test the variety of methods man has adduced for giving life meaning. So one might say that this verse is a soliloquy that segues into his first test: pleasure. As we have seen from the definition of the Hebrew language, this pleasure is not necessarily moral or ethical. Pleasure outside of what is good in moral terms is simply pleasant to the senses, or carnal. I don’t mean carnal in a strictly evil or vulgar way, but those definitions may certainly fall into this camp.

The preacher begins his journey in what seems to be no particular order, choosing mirth and pleasure first, perhaps because it was the easiest pursuit to indulge. Whatever the senses seize on, yoke it for the “good” it offers. As per the language of the verse, this good is evaluated so primarily or entirely because it enhances one’s enjoyment of whatever has seized their time and attention, be they thoughts, conversation, or actions.

Before the search was concluded or seemingly before it even began, the preacher asserts that this pursuit was vanity. Perhaps this is simply the wisdom of the preacher as he doles out his findings after concluding this venture. Indeed, he is about to regale his readership with an abundance of excess that would make most anyone blush for shame as the reader basks in the splendor and wild variety of avenues the preacher travels in his effort to discern the benefit or value of pleasure. It’s value is null, and its benefit does not even count as a contribution toward a viable solution for man’s plight, Ecclesiastes 1:15.