Ecclesiastes 9:12. For man also knoweth not his time Namely, the time of his death, or of some other sore distress, which God is bringing upon him; as fishes are taken in an evil net While they are sporting and feeding themselves, are suddenly and unexpectedly ensnared to their ruin; so are the sons of men snared When they are most careless and secure. read more
Life’s opportunities (9:1-12)A person may believe that life is under the control of God, but still not know whether the experiences one meets in life are a sign of God’s pleasure or a sign of his anger. The same fate, death, comes to all (9:1-3). Good people have no advantage over the bad. The only advantage is that of the living over the dead. The living can still do things, but the dead are useless and forgotten (4-6).Therefore, people should enjoy life to the full while they have the... read more
men. Hebrew. gibbor. App-14 . chance = occurrence. Hebrew. phega' : i.e. "time[of misfortune]". Occurs only here and 1 Kings 5:4 , where it is associated with "evil" (or calamity). happeneth = meeteth, or befalleth. read more
For man, &c. Connect this sentence with Ecclesiastes 9:11 . man . . . men. Hebrew. 'adam (with Art.) App-14 . read more
THE RACE IS NOT TO THE SWIFT; NOR THE BATTLE TO THE STRONG"I returned and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all. For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare, even so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth... read more
Ecclesiastes 9:11. I returned, and saw under the sun— I considered again, and I observed under the sun. read more
Ecclesiastes 9:12. When it falleth suddenly upon them— By sudden accidents. The third proof, in support of the third proposition, is taken from those wrong judgments which are known to be such only by the event; but which must have appeared very probable before. These are brought under two heads. I. In Ecc 9:11-12 it is highly probable that the end will be attained by using such means as are the best adapted to it. Yet experience testifies that this is not always the case: success generally... read more
11. This verse qualifies the sentiment, Ecclesiastes 9:7-9. Earthly "enjoyments," however lawful in their place ( :-), are to give way when any work to be done for God requires it. Reverting to the sentiment ( :-), we ought, therefore, not only to work God's work "with might" (Ecclesiastes 9:10), but also with the feeling that the event is wholly "in God's hand" (Ecclesiastes 9:1). race . . . not to the swift— (2 Samuel 18:23); spiritually (Zephaniah 3:19; Romans 9:16). nor . . . battle to . .... read more
12. his time—namely, of death (Ecclesiastes 7:15; Isaiah 13:22). Hence the danger of delay in doing the work of God, as one knows not when his opportunity will end (Isaiah 13:22- :). evil net—fatal to them. The unexpected suddenness of the capture is the point of comparison. So the second coming of Jesus Christ, "as a snare" (Isaiah 13:22- :). evil time—as an "evil net," fatal to them. read more
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Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ecclesiastes 9:11
Ecclesiastes 9:11. I returned and saw This may have some respect to the foregoing verse: for having urged men to labour with all their might, he now adds, by way of caution, that yet they must not be confident of their own strength, as if they were sure of success by it, but must look up to God for his blessing, without which all their endeavours would be in vain. But it seems chiefly to be added, either, as another instance of the liberty and power of God’s providence, in the disposing of... read more