Attributed commentary excerpt
John Gill's Exposition on Ecclesiastes 9:11
A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.
Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.
I returned, and saw under the sun, etc.] The wise man returned to his former subject, concerning the same events happening to all sorts of persons, righteous and wicked, wise and unwise, (<211001>Ecclesiastes 10:1,2); and enlarged upon it in his mind; and took notice of various things done under the sun, and made the following remarks: and whereas he had exhorted men to use all their might in doing the duties of their calling while they lived here; he suggests, that they should not depend upon, and promise themselves, anything from their own strength and wisdom; but have a regard to the providence of God, that superintends all affairs, and gives or withholds success as he pleases; since it may be observed, that the race [is] not to the swift; swiftness oftentimes is of no service to a man to escape dangers, as may be seen in the case of Asahel and others, (<100218>2 Samuel 2:18,23 <300214>Amos 2:14,15); so the Targum, “men who are swift as eagles are not helped by running to escape from death in battle.” Or the sense may be, that the swift are not always made use of in running a race; or, if they are, they do not always win the prize, something or other happens to hinder them; they fall, or become lame, when one more slow gets the advantage of them, (<460924>1 Corinthians 9:24); and so in spiritual things, one that is ready to halt, as David says of himself, gets to heaven, and is saved, (<193817>Psalm 38:17 <360319>Zephaniah 3:19); when others, at first starting or setting out in a profession, run well for a while, as the Galatians did, (<480507>Galatians 5:7); but afterwards drop and fall short; for “it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God, that sheweth mercy”, (<450916>Romans 9:16); nor the battle to the strong: as not to the Midianites, nor to Goliath, nor to Abner, in whom Jarchi instances; victory is not always on the side of the mighty and the many, but oftentimes on the side of the weak and few; (see <141409> 2 Chronicles 14:9-15 <193316>Psalm 33:16,17); so in spirituals, such who go forth in their own strength against an enemy, trusting in it, fall; while weak believers, depending on the grace and strength of Christ, wrestle with principalities and powers, and come off victorious; neither yet bread to the wise: the Targum adds, in a time of famine, when their wisdom cannot help them; but the sense rather is, that skilful artificers, in any trade or business, do not always get the best livelihood, yea, sometimes want the necessaries of life, or eat the bread of sorrow, when persons of meaner capacities shall thrive and flourish; and even the wisest of men sometimes have been obliged to others for bread, as was the case of David, (<092103>1 Samuel 21:3 25:8); and even of a wiser than he, our Lord himself, (<420802>Luke 8:2); and as for the wise men of this world, the bread of life, Christ Jesus, is neither enjoyed nor sought after by them; nor yet riches to men of understanding; mention is afterwards made of a wise man that was poor, Jarchi instances in Job; and, on the other hand, sometimes fools are rich, as Nabal and others; and as for the riches of grace, and treasures of spiritual knowledge, they are not usually given to the wise and prudent (<401125>Matthew 11:25); Nor yet favour to men of skill; to men of knowledge and learning, whose genius and abilities might be thought sufficient to recommend them to the favour, affection, and applause of men, and yet oftentimes fall herein; such who have t…
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