Jacob specifies only “ bread to eat and raiment to put on” (Gen. xxviii. 20); but the Son of Sirach 15 more indulgent to the natural man (Ecclus. xxix. 21, xxxix. 26, 27).
ἀρκεσθησόμεθα: This future is impera- tival, or authoritative, as Alf. calls it He cites in illustration, Matt. v. 48, ἔσεσθε οὖν ὑμεῖς τέλειοι. From this point of view, the R.V., We shall be therewith content, cf. reff., is preferable to his rendering (which is equivalent to R.V. m.), With these we shall be suffi- ciently provided (cf. Matt. xxv. 9; John νι 2. Cor.) κ. ο).
Ver. 9. οἱ δὲ βουλόμενοι: St. Chry sostom calls attention to the fact that St. Paul does not say, They that are rich, but They that desire to be rich (R.V.), they that make the acquisition of riches their aim. The warning applies to all grades of wealth: all come under it whose ambition is to have more money than that which satisfies their accustomed needs. We are also to note that what is here condemned is not an ambition to excel in some lawful department of human activity, which though it may bring an increase in riches, develops character, but the having a single eye to the ac- cumulation of money by any means. This distinction is drawn in Prov. xxviii. 20: “A faithful man shall abound with blessings: But he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be unpunished ”.
ἐμπίπτουσιν. Wetstein notes the close parallel in the words of Seneca: “Dum divitias consequi volumus in mala
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κ Matt. vii. © ἀπώλειαν. 13, Acts Vili. 20, Rom. Ix.
22, Heb. “ περιέπειραν " ὀδύναις πολλαῖς.
x. 39, Rev. Xvil. 8, 11 (all with eis). ΧΙ. 22. o Here only, not 2 Tim. ili. 10, 14, iv. 5, Tit. ii. 1.