The harlot adulteress of an Eastern city is contrasted with the true feminine ideal of the Wisdom who is to be the “sister” and “kinswoman” Proverbs 7:4 of the young man as he goes on his way through life. See Proverbs 8 in the introduction.... [ Continue Reading ]
CASEMENT - The latticed opening of an Eastern house, overlooking the street (compare Judges 5:28).... [ Continue Reading ]
SIMPLE - In the bad sense of the word (Proverbs 1:22 note); “open” to all impressions of evil, empty-headed and empty-hearted; lounging near the house of ill-repute, not as yet deliberately purposing to sin, but placing himself in the way of it at a time when the pure in heart would seek their home.... [ Continue Reading ]
LOUD AND STUBBORN - Both words describe the half-animal signs of a vicious nature. Compare Hosea 4:16.... [ Continue Reading ]
This pretence of a religious feast gives us an insight into some strange features of popular religion under the monarchy of Judah. The harlot uses the technical word Leviticus 3:1 for the “peace-offerings,” and makes them the starting-point for her sin. They have to be eaten on the same day that the... [ Continue Reading ]
The words point to the art and commerce which flourished under Solomon. CARVED WORKS - Most commentators take the original as meaning “striped coverlets of linen of Egypt.”... [ Continue Reading ]
The love of perfumes is here, as in Isaiah 3:24, a sign of luxurious vice. CINNAMON - The Hebrew word is identical with the English. The spice imported by the Phoenician traders from the further East, probably from Ceylon, has kept its name through all changes of language.... [ Continue Reading ]
The reference to the husband is probably a blind. The use of the word “goodman” is due to the wish of the English translators to give a colloquial character to this part of their Version. The Hebrew is merely “the man.” A touch of scorn may be noticed in the form of speech: not “my husband,” but sim... [ Continue Reading ]
FAIR SPEECH - The Hebrew word is usually translated “doctrine,” or “learning” Proverbs 1:5; Proverbs 4:2; Proverbs 9:9; possibly it is used here in keen irony.... [ Continue Reading ]
AS A FOOL ... - literally, “As a fetter to the correction of a fool,” the order of which is inverted in the King James Version The Septuagint, followed by the Syriac Version, has another reading, and interprets the clause: “As a dog, enticed by food, goes to the chain that is to bind him, so does th... [ Continue Reading ]
The first clause does not connect itself very clearly with the foregoing, and is probably affected by the corrupt text which makes it perplexing.... [ Continue Reading ]
The house of the harlot is now likened to a field of battle strewn with the corpses of the many slain.... [ Continue Reading ]