Matthew Poole and continuators on Ecclesiastes 11:1

1 CAst thy bread upon the waters ; for thou shalt find it after many days .

Solomon having discovered diverse vanities, and amongst others the vanity of heaping up Riches, he now teacheth us that it is our Interest as well as Duty, not so much to lay them up, as to lay them out in pious and charitable uses; and having taught us the true and best use of worldly things, for our present comfort and benefit, which is to enjoy them with a chearful and contented Mind, he now directs us to the best improvement of them, for our future and greater advantage; and having acquainted us with our duty towards our Superiours, he now directs us in our carriage towards our Inferiours, and especially to such of them as are poor. The sense of these words is either 1. Cast thy seed (which is here called Bread, as it is also Iob 28. 5. Isa. 28. 28. and elsewhere) beside (for so the Hebrew particle, al, is oft used) the waters, i. e. either by the Rivers side, or in moist and waterish grounds, which usually are very fruitful. Or 2. Cast (freely and liberally bestow) thy bread (i. e. thy Money or Provisions, which are oft signified by the name of bread. By saying thy bread, he cautions us that we give away only that which is our own, and not that which is anothers; as they do who give either what they get from others by fraud or power, or what they owe to others, and are unable to pay, and so exercise Charity to the hindrance of Justice, or of the payment of their just debts,) upon the waters, i. e. upon those poor Creatures, upon whom, by reason of their unthankfulness or inability to make any returns to thee, it may seem to be as utterly lost as the seed which a man casts into the Sea or River. This sense agrees much better, 1. With the words; for he doth not barely mention the waters, (for then the particle, al, might have been translated beside) but the face, i. e. the surface or top, of the waters, in which, and such like cases, al, constantly signifies upon. 2. With the design and scope of the place, which is to persuade men to be liberal and charitable, notwithstanding the discouragements which they meet with in so doing, of which see the next clause, and the next verse.

It shall not be lost, as covetous men, or thine own corrupt heart, may suggest, but it shall certainly be restored unto thee, either by God or by Men, and that with great Honour and Advantage. This is added to prevent an objection, and to quicken us to the duty enjoined.

Not immediately, but in due time, and when you least expect it. So you must be content to wait for it with Patience, as the Husbandman doth for the fruits of the Earth.

Marginal references: Heb. upon [illegible: 1 word] face of the [illegible: 1 word].; Deut. 15. 10. [illegible: 1 word]. 19. 17. Mat. 10. 42.