(10.) =There is= (יש, which is so far different from היה that it assumes the existence as a fact, ‘There really are matters which are called new’) =a matter which= one =says= (contracted relative joined to the verb, and giving an emphasis to it, equivalent therefore to our ‘of which it may be _said_, indeed’) =see this new it is= (emphatic) =the present= (כבר occurs eight times, viz., i. 10, ii. 12, 16, iii. 15 twice, iv. 2, vi. 10, and ix. 6, 7――in Ecclesiastes only; it is a technical word used to denote the present state of things, that part of the עלם or ‘age’ which is now in existence. In the later Hebrew and Syriac it is used as an adverb, ‘already,’ but that is not its use here. This remark is the more important because it is one of those so-called Aramaic words, the occurrence of which is supposed to indicate the late period of this book’s composition. A careful observance of its real import will throw considerable light on several very obscure passages. Generally, it may be taken for granted that if Koheleth uses a new word or form not known in other parts of the Scriptures, it is because he desires to indicate a new idea.) =It was to the ages which= (full relative, referring back, therefore, to the whole sentence) =were from before us= (as we have ages in the plural, followed by a singular verb, ‎‏היה, the meaning is some one of the ages). This thing which is said to be new is really one of those forgotten matters which existed in one or other of the eras which were before our time. 11 _There is_ no remembrance │ VIII. There is no remembrance of former _things_; neither │ of former matters; and so also shall there be _any_ │ with regard to subsequent ones remembrance of _things_ that │ which will be, there will be no are to come with _those_ that │ remembrance with those who will shall come after. │ succeed them. (11.) =There is nothing= of =remembrance= (or memorial) =to former= events (or persons) =and in addition to succeeding= events =which will be. There will not be to them= (emphatic) =a remembrance= (the repetition of this word shows it to be the prominent word of the sentence) =amongst those which shall be to= (_i.e._ belonging to) the =last= of all (so the LXX.) We have here the feminine form, אחרנה. Koheleth usually expresses the abstracts by this form, and so here. Thus, then, we find that history always repeats itself: not so, however, that its events can be anticipated, but always so that its teachings may be forgotten.