ecclesiastes-11:2-12:1-niv

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Ecclesiastes 11:2

Give a portion; a part of thy estate or provisions. He alludes to the ancient custom, whereby the master of the feast did distribute several parts to each guest, and withal sent portions to the poor; of which custom see 2 Samuel 6:19; Nehemiah 8:10,Nehemiah 8:12; Esther 9:22. To seven, and also to eight; to as many as thou art able; a certain number for an uncertain, as Micah 5:5, and oft elsewhere. Thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth; great calamities may come, whereby thou... read more

Joseph Exell

Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary - Ecclesiastes 11:1-6

CRITICAL NOTES.—Ecclesiastes 11:1. Cast thy bread upon the waters.] “Bread,” rendered in Isaiah 28:28, “bread corn.” It has been supposed that there is an allusion to the manner of sowing the seed-corn of the rice plant during the time of the flooding of the fields. But it is doubtful whether this kind of grain was cultivated in Judea in the times of Solomon. The peculiarity of Egyptian agriculture may have suggested this image, where the seed is sown literally “upon the waters” before the... read more

William Nicoll

Sermon Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 11:1-10

Ecclesiastes 10:10-12:1 I. In chap. xi. Koheleth urges upon us the necessity of diligence. He has come to the conclusion that it is not worth while to have a nicely calculated scheme of life, because at every turn our calculations may be upset by the interference of an arbitrary Providence. But, on the other hand, as he now points out, we must do something, or we shall have no enjoyment at all. We shall never reap if we do not sow. We must be ready even to throw away our labour, to "cast our... read more

Chuck Smith

Chuck Smith Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 11:1-10

Chapter 11Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for you don't know what evil shall be upon the eaRuth ( Ecclesiastes 11:1-2 ).You don't know when you're going to be in trouble, so be generous. Give out a portion to seven or eight people, because there might be a time when you're going to be needing a handout yourself.If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree falls toward the... read more

Joseph Sutcliffe

Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments - Ecclesiastes 11:1-10

Ecclesiastes 11:1 . Cast thy bread upon the waters; for thou shalt find it after many days. The root לחם lechem, designates bread, corn, and all kinds of meat which sustain life. It refers also to what is sown. Psalms 104:14. “That he may bring forth food out of the earth.” In all tropical climates, where the rains are periodical, the husbandman wades into the retiring rivers, where they have overflowed the country, and sows his corn on the waters, which sinks into the muddy depositions... read more

John Trapp

John Trapp Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 11:2

Ecc 11:2 Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth. Ver. 2. Give a portion to seven, and also to eight. ] A portion - i.e., a good deal, a fair proportion - to a good many; as B. Hooper did to his board of beggars, whom he fed every day by course, serving them by four at a mess, with whole and wholesome food. a Or give a portion, i.e., a part, such as thou canst well part with, not stretching beyond the staple, lest ye mar all,... read more

Samuel Bagster

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge - Ecclesiastes 11:2

a portion: Nehemiah 8:10, Esther 9:19, Esther 9:22, Psalms 112:9, Luke 6:30-Habakkuk :, 1 Timothy 6:18, 1 Timothy 6:19 seven: Job 5:19, Proverbs 6:16, Micah 5:5, Matthew 18:22, Luke 17:4 for: Daniel 4:27, Acts 11:28-Amos :, Galatians 6:1, Ephesians 5:16, Hebrews 13:3 Reciprocal: Leviticus 19:25 - General 1 Samuel 25:8 - a good day 1 Samuel 25:11 - give it 2 Samuel 17:29 - The people Psalms 41:1 - Blessed Proverbs 3:10 - General Proverbs 11:24 - that scattereth Proverbs 13:7 - that maketh... read more

John Wesley

Wesley's Explanatory Notes - Ecclesiastes 11:2

Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.Give — A part of thy estate or provisions. He alludes to the ancient custom, whereby the master of the feast distributed several parts to each guest, and withal sent portions to the poor.To eight — To as many as thou art able.For — Great calamities may come whereby thou mayest be brought to poverty, and so disabled from doing good. read more

Daniel Whedon

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 11:2

2. Give a portion That is, of thy bread. To seven, and also to eight Meaning to no limited and selected number, but donating it widely and generously. “Seven” is often used in Scripture to suggest an exclusive number. Of those thus hospitably treated, some will be unthankful, but others will hold their kind treatment in grateful remembrance and in some emergency will repay it. But even where the generous man has reason to hope for nothing again, and even suffers from the sting of... read more