Matthew Poole and continuators on Ecclesiastes 12:2

2 While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars be not darkned , nor the clouds return after the rain :

Heb. While the sun, and the light, and the moon, &c. That clause, and the light, seems to be added to signifie that he speaks of the darkning of the Sun, and Moon, and Stars, not in themselves, or in their own Bodies, but only in respect of that light which they afford to men. And therefore the same clause which is expressed after the Sun, is to be understood after the Moon and Stars, as is very usual in Scripture in like cases. And those Expressions are to be understood either 1. Literally, of the dimsightedness of old men, by reason whereof the light of the Sun, &c. seems dark to them. Which seems not to agree with the Context, partly because the dimness of their sight is expressed in the next verse, and partly because both this and the following verses are wholly Allegorical. Or rather 2. Figuratively, and that either 1. Of the outward parts of the Body, and especially of the Face, the Beauty of the Countenance, the lightsom and pleasant complexion of the Cheeks, the liveliness of the Eyes, which are compared to the Sun, and Moon, and Stars, and which are obscured in Old-age, as the Chaldee Paraphrast understands it. Or 2. Of the inward parts of the mind, the Understanding, Phancy, Memory, which may not unfitly be resembled to the Sun, and Moon, and Stars, and all which are sensibly decayed in most old Men. For it may seem improbable, that Solomon in his description of the infirmities of Old-age should omit the decays of the most noble part of Man, which are commonly incident to Old▪age. And yet, with submission to those worthy persons who think otherwise, it seems not necessary that he should here speak of those inward decays, partly because they are not so general in old Men as the decays of the Body are; partly because he here directeth his Speech to sensual men who are more affected with corporal than with intellectual maladies; and partly because both the foregoing and following passages concern the state of Mens Bodies and their outward condition. Or rather 3. Of external things, and of the great change of their joy and prosperity, which they had in their youthful time, into sorrow, and manifold calamities, which are usually the companions of Old-age: For this interpretation seems best to agree both with the foregoing verse, in which he describes the miseries of Old-age, and with the following clause, which is added to explain and determine those otherwise ambiguous Expressions; and with the Scripture use of this Phrase, which is the best key for the understanding of Scripture; for a state of Comfort and Happiness is oft described by the Light of the Sun. &c. as Iudg. 5. 31. 2 Sam. 23. 4. Isa. 30. 26. & 60. 20. and a time and state of great trouble is set forth by the darkning of the Light of the Sun, &c. as Isa. 13. 9, &c. & 24. 23. Ioel 2. 10. & 3. 15. Mat. 24. 29. and oft elsewhere.

This Phrase notes a perpetual Succession, and Reciprocation of Rain, and Clouds bringing Rain, and then Rain and Clouds again, and so without end. Whereby he expresseth either 1. The Rheums or Defluxions which do abundantly and incessantly flow in and from old Men, for want of natural heat and strength to prevent or remove them. Or rather 2. The continual vicissitude of Infirmities, Diseases, and Grie[illegible: 1+ letters]s, in old Men, one deep calling upon another, and one Affliction beginning at the end of another; whereas in young Men after Rain the Clouds are dispersed, and fair weather succeeds.