Ecclesiastes 11:2

Matthew Henry on Ecclesiastes 11:1-6

Solomon had often, in this book, pressed it upon rich people to take the comfort of their riches themselves; here he presses it upon them to do good to others with them and to abound in liberality to the poor, which will, another day, abound to their account. Observe, I. How the duty itself is recommended to us, Ecc 11:1. 1. Cast thy bread upon the waters, thy bread-corn upon the low places (so some understand it), alluding to the husbandman, who goes forth, bearing precious seed, sparing bread-corn from his family for the seedness, knowing that without that he can have no harvest another year; thus the charitable man takes from his bread-corn for seed-corn, abridges himself to supply the po…

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ecclesiastes 11:2

portion--of thy bread. seven--the perfect number. eight--even to more than seven; that is, "to many" (so "waters," Ecc 11:1), nay, even to very many in need (Job 5:19; Mic 5:5). evil--The day may be near, when you will need the help of those whom you have bound to you by kindnesses (Luk 16:9). The very argument which covetous men use against liberality (namely, that bad times may come), the wise man uses for it.

John Gill on Ecclesiastes 11:2

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…

Keil & Delitzsch