For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about.
Ver. 31. For he was wiser than all men.] Far beyond Socrates, whom Apollo pronounced the wisest of men.
Than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman.] These were famous in their generations for wisdom and learning. Psalms 88:1 ; Psalms 89:1 , titles Of these, haply, it was then held and said, as a modern writer saith of Tacitus and Pliny, Literarum nomina sunt, non hominum, they are rather learning itself than learned.
And his fame was in all nations.] As Aristotle's was in Greece, Varo in Rome, Melanchthon's in Germany, Dr John Reynolds's here, whose learning and memory, saith one, were near to a miracle.
And Chalcol, and Darda.] Who lived, likely, in Solomon's time. Felix proventus sapientum sub aspectu benigno principis sapientissimi. So various learned men flourished in the time of our Henry II, who was for his learning surnamed Beauelerk. a
a Dan 68