Ecclesiastes 11:2

Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth. PORTION - of thy bread. TO SEVEN - the perfect number. TO EIGHT - even to more than seven; i:e., to many (so "waters," ), nay, even to very many in need (). FOR THOU KNOWEST NOT WHAT EVIL - the day may be near when you will need the help of those whom you have bound to you by kindnesses (). The very argument which covetous men use against liberality-namely, that bad times may come-the wise man uses for it. The only gain which you can ensure to yourself in the prospect of bad times, which may rob you of all your earthly goods, is that heavenly...

1-6 Solomon presses the rich to do good to others. Give freely, though it may seem thrown away and lost. Give to many. Excuse not thyself with the good thou hast done, from the good thou hast further to do. It is not lost, but well laid out. We have reason to expect evil, for we are born to trouble; it is wisdom to do good in the day of prosperity. Riches cannot profit us, if we do not benefit others. Every man must labour to be a blessing to that place where the providence of God casts him. Wherever we are, we may find good work to do, if we have but hearts to do it. If we magnify every little difficulty, start objections, and fancy hardships, we shall never go on, much less go through with our work. Winds and clouds of tribulation are, in God's hands, designed to try us. God's work shall agree with his word, whether we see it or not. And we may well trust God to provide for us, withou...

Verse Ecclesiastes 11:2. _GIVE A PORTION TO SEVEN_] Never cease giving while thou seest a person in distress, and hast wherewithal to relieve him. _THOU KNOWEST NOT WHAT EVIL_] Such may be the change of times, that thou mayest yet stand in need of similar help thyself. _Do as_ _thou wouldst be done by_....

The verse means: “Let your hospitality and your alms be extensive: for you know not what reverses may befall either that person who by your liberality will be strengthened to meet them, or yourself who may come to need grateful friends.” Compare Luke 16:9. SEVEN, AND ALSO TO EIGHT - A definite number for an indefinite (compare marginal reference)....

EXPOSITION Approaching the end of his treatise, Koheleth, in view of apparent anomalies in God's moral government, and the difficulties that meet man in his social and political relations, proceeds to give his remedies for this state of things. These remedies are (1) beneficence and active life (Ecclesiastes 11:1); (2) joyful light-heartedness (Ecclesiastes 11:7); (3) piety (Ecclesiastes 11:10-Ecclesiastes 12:7)....

GIVE A PORTION TO SEVEN, AND ALSO TO EIGHT,.... Or, a "part" q; not the whole of a man's substance, for he must have to support himself and his family; he that does not take care of that is worse than an infidel; a man may bestow all his goods on the poor, and not have charity; though no doubt there was true charity, or love, in the poor widow that threw in all her substance into the treasury, which was an extraordinary case, 1 Timothy 5:8; but a man is to give of such things that he has, ordinarily, and not all that he has, Luke 11:41; he is to give according to his ability, and what he can spare from the service of himself and family; and this is to be distributed, and given in parts to the poor, according to their necessities; not all to one, but something to everyone, "to seven, and also to eight": if seven

Ecclesiastes 11:1. _Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days._ Hoard not thy bread; for if thou dost, it will mildew, it will be of no use to thee. Cast it on the waters; scatter it abroad; give it to the unworthy men if need be. Some here have seen an allusion to the casting of seed into the Nile when it overflowed its banks. When the waters subsided, the corn would grow, and be gathered in «after many days.» Ecclesiastes 11:2. _Give a portion to seven,_ And if that be a perfect number, give beyond it, Ecclesiastes 11:2. _And also to eight;_ Give to more than thou canst afford to give to. Help

CHAPTER 11 _ 1. Proverbs concerning man's work(Ecclesiastes 11:1)_ 2. The vanity of life (Ecclesiastes 11:7) Ecclesiastes 11:1. These continued proverbs concern the work of man and begin with exhortations to charity and are followed by the wise acknowledgement that no one knows the works of God, who is the maker of all. All this knowledge is within the compass of the natural man. Ecclesiastes 11:7. After these philosophic proverbs he comes back to his former finding--vanity. So to speak he sums up life in one verse, “Truly the light is sweet and a pleasant thing i

ECCLESIASTES 11:1 TO ECCLESIASTES 12:8. CLOSING COUNSELS. It is well to do and to get all one can, in the way of industry and pleasure, before old age draws on. Ecclesiastes 11:1 and Ecclesiastes 11:2 are best taken as referring either to merchandise or generosity, though bread has also been interpreted as seed sown on irrigated land (_cf._ Ecclesiastes 11:4 and Ecclesiastes 11:6) or even as human semen, and...

GIVE: i.e. in charity. A PORTION: i.e.. portion of the bread of Ecclesiastes 11:1. SEVEN... EIGHT. An idiomatic phrase denoting several or many, like the idiom "once... twice". several times (Job 33:14.Psalms 62:11; Psalms 62:11); "twice... thrice". often (Job 33:29; Isaiah 17:6); "three and four". frequently, or many (Exodus 20:5;...