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57 lines
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<title>Blue Letter Bible: Text Commentaries</title>
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<p id="Chapter11" align="center">Commentary by A. R. FAUSSET<br>CHAPTER 11
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<p id="Ec11_1"><a onclick="return mV('Ecc',11,'1-10');">Ecc 11:1-10</a>.
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<p><b>1.</b></a><a onclick="return mV('Ecc',11,2);">Ecc 11:2</a> shows that <i>charity</i> is here inculcated.
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<br><br><b>bread</b>—bread corn. As in the Lord's prayer, <i>all things needful for the body and soul.</i> Solomon reverts to the sentiment (<a onclick="return mV('Ecc',9,10);">Ecc 9:10</a>).
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<br><br><b>waters</b>—image from the custom of sowing seed by casting it from boats into the overflowing waters of the Nile, or in any marshy ground. When the waters receded, the grain in the alluvial soil sprang up (<a onclick="return mV('Isa',32,20);">Isa 32:20</a>). "Waters" express <i>multitudes,</i> so <a onclick="return mV('Ecc',11,2);">Ecc 11:2</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Rev',17,15);">Rev 17:15</a>; also the seemingly <i>hopeless</i> character of the recipients of the charity; but it shall prove at last to have been not thrown away (<a onclick="return mV('Isa',49,4);">Isa 49:4</a>).
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<p id="Ec11_2"><b>2. portion</b>—of thy bread.
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<br><br><b>seven</b>—the perfect number.
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<br><br><b>eight</b>—even <i>to more than seven;</i> that is, "to many" (so "waters," <a onclick="return mV('Ecc',11,1);">Ecc 11:1</a>), nay, even to <i>very many</i> in need (<a onclick="return mV('Job',5,19);">Job 5:19</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Mic',5,5);">Mic 5:5</a>).
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<br><br><b>evil</b>—The day may be near, when you will need the help of those whom you have bound to you by kindnesses (<a onclick="return mV('Luk',16,9);">Luk 16:9</a>). The very argument which covetous men use against liberality (namely, that bad times may come), the wise man uses for it.
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<p id="Ec11_3"><b>3. clouds</b>—answering to "evil" (<a onclick="return mV('Ecc',11,2);">Ecc 11:2</a>), meaning, When the times of evil are fully ripe, evil <i>must</i> come; and speculations about it beforehand, so as to prevent one sowing seed of liberality, are vain (<a onclick="return mV('Ecc',11,4);">Ecc 11:4</a>).
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<br><br><b>tree</b>—Once the storm uproots it, it lies either northward or southward, according as it fell. So man's character is unchangeable, whether for hell or heaven, once that death overtakes him (<a onclick="return mV('Rev',22,11,14,15);">Rev 22:11, 14-15</a>). <i>Now</i> is his time for liberality, before the evil days come (<a onclick="return mV('Ecc',12,1);">Ecc 12:1</a>).
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<p id="Ec11_4"><b>4.</b> Therefore sow thy charity in faith, without hesitancy or speculation as to results, because they may not seem promising (<a onclick="return mV('Ecc',9,10);">Ecc 9:10</a>). So in <a onclick="return mV('Ecc',11,1);">Ecc 11:1</a>, man is told to "cast his bread corn" on the seemingly unpromising "waters" (<a onclick="return mV('Psa',126,5,6);">Psa 126:5-6</a>). The farmer would get on badly, who, instead of sowing and reaping, spent his time in watching the wind and clouds.
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<p id="Ec11_5"><b>5. spirit</b>—How the <i>soul</i> animates the body! Thus the transition to the formation of the <i>body</i> "in the womb" is more natural, than if with MAURER we translate it "wind" (<a onclick="return mV('Ecc',1,6);">Ecc 1:6</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Jhn',3,8);">Jhn 3:8</a>).
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<br><br><b>bones...grow</b>— (<a onclick="return mV('Job',10,8,9);">Job 10:8-9</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Psa',139,15,16);">Psa 139:15-16</a>).
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<br><br><b>knowest not the works of God</b>— (<a onclick="return mV('Ecc',3,11);">Ecc 3:11</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Ecc',8,17);">8:17</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Ecc',9,12);">9:12</a>).
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<p id="Ec11_6"><b>6. morning...evening</b>—early and late; when young and when old; in sunshine and under clouds.
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<br><br><b>seed</b>—of godly works (<a onclick="return mV('Hsa',10,12);">Hsa 10:12</a>; <a onclick="return mV('2Cr',9,10);">2Cr 9:10</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Gal',6,7);">Gal 6:7</a>).
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<br><br><b>prosper</b>— (<a onclick="return mV('Isa',55,10,11);">Isa 55:10-11</a>).
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<br><br><b>both...alike</b>—Both the unpromising and the promising sowing may bear good fruit in <i>others;</i> certainly they shall to the faithful <i>sower.</i>
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<p id="Ec11_7"><b>7. light</b>—of life (<a onclick="return mV('Ecc',7,11);">Ecc 7:11</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Psa',49,19);">Psa 49:19</a>). Life is enjoyable, especially to the godly.
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<p id="Ec11_8"><b>8.</b> But while man thankfully enjoys life, "let him remember" it will not last for ever. The "many days of darkness," that is, the unseen world (<a onclick="return mV('Job',10,21,22);">Job 10:21-22</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Psa',88,12);">Psa 88:12</a>), also days of "evil" in this world (<a onclick="return mV('Ecc',11,2);">Ecc 11:2</a>), are coming; therefore sow the good seed while life and good days last, which are not too long for accomplishing life's duties.
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<br><br><b>All that cometh</b>—that is, All that followeth in the <i>evil</i> and <i>dark days</i> is vain, as far as <i>work for God</i> is concerned (<a onclick="return mV('Ecc',9,10);">Ecc 9:10</a>).
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<p id="Ec11_9"><b>9. Rejoice</b>—not <i>advice,</i> but <i>warning.</i> So <a onclick="return mV('1Ki',22,15);">1Ki 22:15</a>, is irony; if thou dost rejoice (<i>carnally,</i> <a onclick="return mV('Ecc',2,2);">Ecc 2:2</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Ecc', 7 2);">7:2</a>, not <i>moderately,</i> as in <a onclick="return mV('Ecc',5,18);">Ecc 5:18</a>), etc., then "know that...God will bring thee into judgment" (<a onclick="return mV('Ecc',3,17);">Ecc 3:17</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Ecc',12,14);">12:14</a>).
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<br><br><b>youth...youth</b>—distinct <i>Hebrew</i> words, <i>adolescence</i> or <i>boyhood</i> (before <a onclick="return mV('Ecc',12,13);">Ecc 12:13</a>), and full-grown <i>youth.</i> It marks the gradual progress in self-indulgence, to which the young especially are prone; they see the roses, but do not discover the thorns, until pierced by them. Religion will cost self-denial, but the want of it infinitely more (<a onclick="return mV('Luk',14,28);">Luk 14:28</a>).
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<p id="Ec11_10"><b>10. sorrow</b>—that is, <i>the lusts</i> that end in "sorrow," opposed to "rejoice," and "heart cheer thee" (<a onclick="return mV('Ecc',11,9);">Ecc 11:9</a>), <i>Margin,</i> "anger," that is, all "ways of thine heart"; "remove," etc., is thus opposed to "walk in," etc. (<a onclick="return mV('Ecc',11,9);">Ecc 11:9</a>).
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<br><br><b>flesh</b>—the bodily organ by which the sensual <i>thoughts</i> of the "heart" are embodied in <i>acts.</i>
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<br><br><b>childhood</b>—rather, "boyhood"; the same <i>Hebrew</i> word as the first, "youth" in <a onclick="return mV('Ecc',11,9);">Ecc 11:9</a>. A motive for self-restraint; the time is coming when the vigor of youth on which thou reliest, will seem vain, except in so far as it has been given to God (<a onclick="return mV('Ecc',12,1);">Ecc 12:1</a>).
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<br><br><b>youth</b>—literally, <i>the dawn</i> of thy days.
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