_AGUR'S CONFESSION OF HIS FAITH. THE TWO POINTS OF HIS PRAYER. THE MEANEST ARE NOT TO BE WRONGED. FOUR WICKED GENERATIONS. FOUR THINGS INSATIABLE. PARENTS ARE NOT TO BE DESPISED. FOUR THINGS HARD TO BE KNOWN. FOUR THINGS INTOLERABLE. FOUR THINGS EXCEEDING WISE. FOUR THINGS STATELY. WRATH IS TO BE PR... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WORDS OF AGUR, &C.— According to the signification of the original terms, this might be rendered, _The words of him who has recollected himself, the son of obedience._ The generality of the fathers and ancient commentators will have it that Solomon describes himself under the name of Agur, the s... [ Continue Reading ]
ADD THOU NOT UNTO HIS WORDS— That is, "Do not any thing contrary to what he commands." See Deuteronomy 4:2, &c.... [ Continue Reading ]
GIVE ME NEITHER POVERTY, &C.— These words are introduced in the form of an address to God, in answer, perhaps, to some question which the disciples had proposed to Agur about the duty of prayer. What Agur prays for is, such a proportion of the good things of this world, as may best answer the end of... [ Continue Reading ]
ACCUSE NOT A SERVANT UNTO HIS MASTER— Do not abuse any poor slave, whose condition is wretched enough; and therefore rather excuse than aggravate his fault to his master, who perhaps is too rigorous; and be sure never to load him with unjust accusations, lest, being wronged by thee, and not knowing... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE IS A GENERATION, &C.— These verses seem to contain cautions against keeping company with certain persons; 1. Those who are ungrateful to their parents; 2 dissembling hypocrites, Proverbs 30:12; 3 supercilious proud men, Proverbs 30:13; 4 cruel and uncompassionate men; tyrants, extortioners... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HORSE-LEACH HATH TWO DAUGHTERS— This passage seems in my judgment, says Bishop Patrick, to be an answer to some such question as this (which the scholars had propounded to Agur, after the manner of enigmatical discourses), _What is most unsatiable?_ which he chooses to give an account of in this... [ Continue Reading ]
_PROVERBS 30:17_. D_ESPISETH TO OBEY HIS MOTHER_— _Despiseth the old age of his mother._ "They who are guilty of such enormous ingratitude to their parents, shall come to an infamous end, and their dead bodies shall be exposed for a prey to the ravens which frequent the brooks that run into the vall... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE WAY OF A MAN WITH A MAID— See Isaiah 7:14. I would just observe upon this passage, that some have understood it as a reference to the incarnation of the Word in the Virgin Mary. The word עלמה _almah,_ rendered _maid,_ signifies a _virgin_ strictly speaking; and גבר _geber,_ rendered _a man,_... [ Continue Reading ]
SUCH IS THE WAY OF AN ADULTEROUS WOMAN— The wise man adds, that this also is another of the things which he cannot understand. As _idolatry_ is frequently expressed in Scripture by adultery, some commentators think that the adulterous woman here means an idolatress, who, having eaten of the sacrific... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THREE THINGS THE EARTH IS DISQUIETED— We have here an answer to another enigmatical question, What things are most intolerable? Which he tells us are, 1. A slave who bears rule; 2. A fool over-fed; 3. A vicious wife in a family; 4. A servant-maid become mistress of the house. This is very clear,... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CONIES— _The mountain-mice—the rock-rats._ See Leviticus 11:5.... [ Continue Reading ]
YET GO THEY FORTH ALL OF THEM BY BANDS— _Yet go they forth sharing all amongst them._ See Boch. tom. 1: Proverbs 15.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SPIDER— _The lizard._ Schultens, &c.... [ Continue Reading ]
A GREYHOUND, &C.— Houbigant renders it, _A cock who erects himself in his walking; a he-goat, who marches before the flock; a king, who goeth forth, his retinue attending._ See his note.... [ Continue Reading ]
SURELY, THE CHURNING OF MILK— This verse is connected with that preceding, and may be thus paraphrased: For from little things there is an easy progress unto greater; and just as you see milk is first pressed out of the cow's udder, and then, being agitated in the churn, is forced into butter; and a... [ Continue Reading ]