The Pulpit Commentary — Ecclesiastes — Section 282

elc.; Micah v. 5; Eoclus. xxiii.16; xxvi. 5, 28). endured. And if the tree fell toward the Wordsworth notes that the word for "por• south, etc.; or, it may be, in the south; i.e. tion" (chelek) is that used specially for the let it fall where it will; the particulo.r portion of the Levites (Numb. xviii. 20); and p0sition is of no importance. When the in accor.Jance with his view of the date of the tempest overthrows it, it lies where it ho.s hook. finds here an injunction not to confine fallen. When the evil day comes, we must our's offerings to the Levites of J urlah, but bend to the blow, we are powerless to avert to extend them to the refugee<! who come it; the future can be neither ealoulated nor from Israel. For thou knowest not what controlled. The next verse tells how the evil shall be upon the earth. A time may wise man acts under such circumstances. come when you )"oursrM may need help; tl1e Christian commentators have argued from power of ginng may no longer be yours; this clause concerning the unchangeable 1herefore make friends now who may be state of the departed-that there is no re• ~·our comfort in distre.'!S. So the Lord urges, pentance in the grave ; that what death "Make to yourselves friends by means of the leaves them judgment shall find them. Of mammon of unrighteousness" (Luke xvi. 9). course, no such thought was in Koheleth's It seems a low moti,e on which to base mind ; nor do wo think that the inspiring charita.ble actions; but men act on such Spirit intended such mllO.ning to be wrung seconr1ary motives every day, and the moral• from the passage. Indeed, it may be said ist ra11not ignore tbem. In the Book of that, as it stands, the clause does not bear Pro.erbs secondary and worldly motives are this interpretation. The fallen OJ;_felled tree largely urged as useful in the conduct of is not at once fit for the master's use; it has life (see the Introduction t-0 Proverbs, pp. t-0 be exposed to atmospheric influences, viii., ix.). St. Paul reminds us that we seasoned, tried. It is not left in tile place some day may need a brother's help (Gal. where it lay, nor in the condition in which vi. I). The Fathers have spiritnalized it was; so that, if we reason from this the passage, so as to make it of Christian analogy, we must conceive that there is application, far away indeed from Kohe- some ripening, purifying process in the in- leth's thought. Thus St. Gregory : "By termediate state. St. Gregory speaks thus: the number seven is understood the whole "For when, at the moment of the falling of of this temporal condition . . . this is the human being, either the Holy Spirit or shown more plainly when the uumber eight the evil spirit receives the soul departed is mentioned after it. For when another from the chambers of the flesh, he will keep number besides follows after seven, it is set it with him for ever without change, so that forth by tliis very addition, that this temporal neither, once exalted, shall it be precipitated BtR.te is brought to an end and elosed by into woe, nor, once plunged into eternal woes, eternity. . . . For by the number seven any further arise to take the means of Solomon expressed the present time, which escape" (' Moral.,' viii. 30). is passed by periods of seven days. Dut by Ver. 4.-He that observeth the wind shall the number eight he designated eternal life, not sow. The fact of the uncertainty and which the Lord made known to us by his immutability of tho future ought not to resurrection. For he rose in truth on the make us supine or to crush out all diligence Lord's day, which, as following the seventh and activity. He who wants to anticipate dav, i.e. the sabbath, is found to be the· results, to foresee and provide against a.II eiihth from the creation. But it is well contingencies, to be hie own providence, is sa:id, 'Give portions,' etc. As if it wer~ like a farmer who is always looking to wind plainly eaid, • So cliBpense temporal goods, and weather, and misses the time for sowing as not to forget to desire those that are in this needless caution. The quarter from eternal. For thou onghtest to provide for which the wind blows regulates the downfall the future by well-doing, who knowest not of rain (comp. Prov. xxv. 23). In Palestine what tribulation succeeds from the future the west and north-west winds usually judgment'" (' Moral.,' xx.xv. 17, Oxford brought rain. He that regardeth the oloud( tran.sl.). shall not reap. For the purpose of softening Ver. 3.-Uthe olouda be full ot rain, they the ground to receive the seed, rain was empty themselves upon the earth. This advantageous; but storms in harvest, of verse is closely connected with the pre- course, were pernicious (see 1 8nm. xii. I 7, ceding paragraph. The misfwtune there etc.; Prov. xxvi. 1); and he who was anxi- intimated may fall at any moment; this is ously fearing every indication of such as certain ae the laws of nature, unforeseen, weather, and altering his plans at every u!lcontrollable. When the clouds are over- phase of the sky, might easily put off reap- charged with moisture, they deliver their ing his fields till either the crops were burden upon the earth, according to laws spoiled or U..1e miny season had set in. A which man cannot alter; these are of irre- familiar proverb says," A watched pot never ~istible necessity, 1n1d muel be e]l:pectccl aud botls." So!Ile rlsk~ 11\Ust always ho nm iJ <lit. :lt:I. 1-10.] ECCLEStAS'rES; OR, THE PREACHElt 271