_A.M. 3004. B.C. 1000._ Chastity is a virtue of so much consequence, and impurity such a bane to youth, that the wise man thought he could not too often make mention of the danger of the one, to move men carefully to preserve the other. Therefore he repeats, with renewed importunities, what he had... [ Continue Reading ]
_Keep my commandments, and live_ That is, thou shalt live. It is a promise in the form of a command, as Proverbs 3:25. _And my law as the apple of thine eye_ With all possible care and diligence, as men guard that most noble and necessary, and therefore highly-esteemed and beloved part of the body f... [ Continue Reading ]
_That they may keep thee from the strange woman_ One reason why Solomon so often cautions his disciple in this manner, and inculcates upon him the important duty of shunning all acquaintance with lewd women, probably was because he observed those vices to abound more than they had formerly done in h... [ Continue Reading ]
_For I looked through my casement_ Hebrew, בעד אשׁנבי, _per fenestellam meam, my little window_, or _lattice_, rather. For “in Palestine they had no glass to their windows: they closed them with lattices or curtains.” This may either be considered as an historical relation, or a parabolical represen... [ Continue Reading ]
_She is loud_, &c. Here the wise man draws her character. המיה היא וסררת, _She is clamorous and obstinate_, or _refractory._ She is full of talk, self-willed, disobedient to her husband, rebellious against God, and incorrigible by any admonitions of ministers or friends. _Her feet abide not in her h... [ Continue Reading ]
_I have peace-offerings with me_ “I am a woman happy in many blessings, which God hath bestowed upon me, and for which I have given him solemn thanks this very day; and, as religion and custom bind me, I have provided as good a feast as those sacrifices, which I formerly vowed, and have now paid, wo... [ Continue Reading ]
_Therefore came I forth to meet thee_ As not being able to take any pleasure in my feast without thy company; _and I have found thee _ By a happy providence of God complying with my desires, to my great joy, I have found thee speedily and most opportunely. Thus this wicked woman pretended that she c... [ Continue Reading ]
_With her much fair speech_ Which implies that her alluring words were more effectual with him than her impudent kisses, which possibly had a little alienated his mind from her; _she caused him to yield_ By this expression Solomon signifies that no provocation to sin is a sufficient excuse for it. _... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hearken unto me now therefore_ “This is a true representation, my dear children, of the folly and danger of these lewd courses, in which youth is prone to be engaged; and therefore do not look upon it as an idle speculation, but give diligent heed unto it, and be ruled by my advice.” _Let not thy h... [ Continue Reading ]