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Ecclesiastes 11:1 (KJV)

“Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.” I have been thinking about this passage of Scripture and how it relates to giving. Several interpretations exist for what Solomon meant by casting bread upon the waters. One I find particularly interesting connects it to maritime commerce in the ancient world.

Maritime Commerce During Solomon’s Reign

During Solomon’s reign, Israel was involved in international trade. In 1 Kings 9:26–28, we read that Solomon established a fleet of ships at Ezion-geber on the Red Sea. King Hiram of Tyre provided experienced sailors, and the ships traveled to Ophir, returning with 420 talents of gold.

In those days, maritime commerce required considerable