Proverbs 31 - Introduction
_A.M. 2989. B.C. 1015._ An exhortation to Lemuel, Proverbs 31:1. A description of a good wife, Proverbs 31:10.... [ Continue Reading ]
_A.M. 2989. B.C. 1015._ An exhortation to Lemuel, Proverbs 31:1. A description of a good wife, Proverbs 31:10.... [ Continue Reading ]
_The words of King Lemuel_ Of Solomon, by the general consent both of Jewish and Christian writers: this name signifies one _from God_, or, _belonging to God_, and such a one was Solomon eminently, being given by God to David and Bath-sheba as a pledge of his reconciliation to them after their repen... [ Continue Reading ]
_What, my son_ A short speech, arguing her great passion for him; what words shall I take? What counsels shall I give thee? My heart is full; I must give it vent; but where shall I begin? _What, the son of my womb _ My son, not by adoption, but whom I bare in the womb, and therefore it is my duty to... [ Continue Reading ]
_Give not thy strength unto women_ The vigour of thy mind and body, which is greatly impaired by inordinate lusts, as all physicians agree, and frequent experience shows; _nor thy ways_ Thy conversation or course of life; _to that which destroyeth kings_ The same thing repeated in other words, as is... [ Continue Reading ]
_It is not for kings to drink wine_ Namely, to excess, as the next verse explains it: _Lest they drink and forget the law_ The laws of God, by which they are to govern themselves and their kingdoms; _and pervert the judgment of the afflicted_ Which may be easily done by a drunken judge, because drun... [ Continue Reading ]
_Open thy mouth_ Speak freely and impartially, as becomes a king and a judge to do: _for the dumb_ For such as cannot speak in their own cause, either through ignorance, or because of the dread of their more potent adversaries. _In the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction _ Who, without... [ Continue Reading ]
_Who can find a virtuous woman?_ Here he lays down several qualifications of an excellent wife, which are delivered in alphabetical order, each verse beginning with a several letter of the Hebrew alphabet. It may be proper to observe here, that the versions, in general, agree in reading this, _a str... [ Continue Reading ]
_The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her_ For the prudent and faithful management of all his domestic affairs, which are committed to her care; _so that he shall have no need of spoil_ The sense is, either, 1st, He shall want no necessary provisions for his family, which are sometimes call... [ Continue Reading ]
_She seeketh wool and flax_ That she may find employment for her servants, and not suffer them to spend their time unprofitably. _And worketh willingly with her hands_ She encourages them to work by her example; which was a common practice among princesses in those first ages. Not that it is the dut... [ Continue Reading ]
_She riseth while it is yet night_ “She doth not indulge herself in too much sleep, but is an early riser, before the break of day, to make provision for those who are to go abroad to work in the fields, and to set her maidens their several tasks at home. The reader will observe that the ideas here... [ Continue Reading ]
_She considereth a field_ Whether it be fit for use and of a reasonable price, and how she may purchase it. This excludes the rashness, as the proceeding to buy it excludes the inconstancy, which is often incident to that sex; _with the fruit of her hands_ With the effects of her diligence; _she pla... [ Continue Reading ]
_She girdeth her loins with strength_ She uses great diligence and expedition in her employment; for which end, men in those times used to gird up their long and loose garments about their loins. _And strengtheneth her arms_ Puts forth her utmost strength in her business. _She perceiveth that her me... [ Continue Reading ]
_She layeth her hands to the spindle_ By her own example she provokes her servants to labour. And although in these latter and more delicate times such mean employments are grown out of fashion among great persons, yet they were not so in former ages, neither in other countries, nor in this land; wh... [ Continue Reading ]
_She stretcheth out her hand to the poor_ To relieve their necessities. Her designs are generous and noble; for she labours not only to supply her own and her household's necessities, or to support her own state, much less to feed her pride and luxury; but that she may have wherewith to supply the w... [ Continue Reading ]
_She is not afraid of the snow_ Of any injuries of the weather. _For her household are clothed with scarlet_ She has provided enough, not only for their necessity, and defence against cold and other inconveniences, but also for their delight and ornament. _She maketh coverings of tapestry_ For the f... [ Continue Reading ]
_She openeth her mouth with wisdom_ She is neither sullenly silent, nor full of impertinent talk, but speaks discreetly and piously, as occasion offers. _In her tongue is the law of kindness_ Her speeches are guided by wisdom and grace, and not by inordinate passions. And this practice is called _a... [ Continue Reading ]
_She looketh well to her household_ She diligently observes the management of her domestic business, and the whole carriage of her children and servants. Whereby he also intimates, that she spends not her time in gadding abroad to other people's houses, and in idle discourses about the concerns of o... [ Continue Reading ]
_Her children arise up_ Whose testimony is the more considerable, because they have been constant eye-witnesses of her whole conduct, and, therefore, must have seen her misdemeanours, if there had been any, as well as her virtues; _and call her blessed_ Both for her own excellences, and for many hap... [ Continue Reading ]
_Many daughters have done virtuously_ Daughters of men, that is, women, so called, Genesis 34:1; Ezekiel 30:18; _but thou excellest them all_ Her husband esteems it but just, that his praises should bear proportion to her real and manifold excellences. _Favour_ Comeliness, which commonly gives women... [ Continue Reading ]
_Give her of the fruit of her hands_ It is but just that she should enjoy those praises which her labours deserve. _Let her works praise her_ If men be silent, the lasting effects of her prudence and diligence will trumpet forth her praises. _In the gates_ In the most public and solemn assemblies.... [ Continue Reading ]