Ecclesiastes chapter 4

vs 9

Seems pretty reasonable. I don't know about life in ancient times, but I can tell you that living alone these days costs a lot more than two people living together. Food, rent, all that stuff is cheaper when there's a second person to split the cost with. Well, when both are working, anyway.

vs 10

I'm not exactly sure what situation this is referring to. Perhaps falling into a hole? I guess there could have been such situations, although I puzzle to think why people just went around the landscape digging holes (wells, latrine holes, mining holes?). In any case, obviously having someone to help you out is good.

vs 11

I guess you could hug a sheep or something, but then all sorts of connotations will be made.

vs 12

Of course, two can also be overpowered. It depends on the numbers. But I guess that defence is more efficient with two rather than one - back to back, as it were. Less places indefensible.

Then we have this final picture of a cord of three strands. It's the trinity, it's a marriage involving Jesus, it's Mabo, it's the constitution. It's just the vibe. I personally tend to think that proverbs tend to be fairly simple and straightforward pieces of inductive wisdom. Therefore, since the simple is true - a cord made of three strands really is hard to break - you can make more general principles from that. Possibly that even includes the Trinity, and marriage with Christ involved, and stuff.

vs 13

Of course, young brash people don't always know how to heed a warning either. But a young wise one will know. The difference between the two is youth, but also wisdom or lack thereof.

vs 14

Don't think these things never happen - obviously they did, and they are such romantic stories that they make it all over the world. I don't think Israel ever had such a king, but this writer obviously knows the kind of story.

vs 15

There is something attractive about a wise, young leader. In with the new, out with the old. People do like change sometimes. Thankfully, democracy allows this without bloodshed - at least in some countries.

vs 16

Even a wise young ruler becomes a foolish old king - perhaps not even because he is foolish, but he looks foolish in comparison to the next wise, young person. And so the cycle continues. And the cycle of course leads us once again back to foolishness, meaninglessness. Nothing new, nothing special. No meaning.