Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.
Ver. 18. Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat, &c.] Of the continually renewed fruits thereof; for when the ripe figs are pulled off others shortly come in their place. The Egyptian fig tree is reported by Solinus to bear fruit seven times in a year: such as is good both for meat and medicine, as Galen observeth, and after him Dioscorides.
So he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.] That is, Liberally maintained, and highly promoted, as Joseph was wherever he served. The heathens were very cruel to their servants; putting an engine about their necks, called παυσικοπη, and it reached down to their hands, that they might not so much as lick off the meal when they were sifting it. These poor servants were in worse case than the Jews' oxen. 1Co 9:9 But such as are faithful and serviceable, however their masters deal with them - they should deal well with them Deu 15:12-14 - God will bestow upon them a child's part, even "the reward of inheritance." Col 3:22-24 Their masters also, if faithful and beloved, as "they partake of the benefit," a viz., of their good service, so they will be beneficial to them. Beneficentiae recompensatores, as Bullinger, after Theophilact, renders that text, 1 Timothy 6:2 .
a οι της ευεργησιας αντιλαμβανομενοι .