“If you see in a province
The oppression of the poor
If you see
The violation of justice,
The violation of rights,
Do not be amazed at the matter.
The high official
Is watched by a higher.
There are yet higher ones
Over them.
But all things considered,
There is an advantage
To a land
To have a king
For a plowed field.”
In a strange sort of remark, Qoheleth says to watch out for oppression. However, he does not seem to ask for any kind of action. If someone is oppressed and there is injustice, just don’t be amazed. Someone is in charge. They have to report to someone else even higher up. It is good to have a bureaucracy. They will take care of things like that. After all, there is an advantage in having a king to rule over cultivated or plowed fields. You can avoid the minor skirmishes that take place.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 