THE WORDS OF AGUR The simplest way of treating the title is to read as follows: 'The words of Agur, son of Yakeh, of Massa.' Then we may proceed, with RM, 'The man saith, I have wearied myself, O God; I have wearied myself, O God, and am consumed; for I am too stupid to be a man.' Nothing is known... [ Continue Reading ]
Each household slave had an allotted portion of food (Proverbs 31:15): God is here the head of the family, weighing out to me 'the bread of my portion' (RM). 9. When in great distress men often blaspheme (Isaiah 8:21; Revelation 16:9). But the meaning may be that he dishonours the name of his God b... [ Continue Reading ]
The unburied corpse will be devoured by ravens of the wadi and by vultures (RM): EAGLES do not eat corpses. 18, 19. Four mysterious things: cp. Wis 5:10, Wis 5:11.... [ Continue Reading ]
MAID] lit. 'young woman.'... [ Continue Reading ]
This woman is an animal, in whom conscience has never been developed. 21-23. Four intolerable things.... [ Continue Reading ]
The ODIOUS woman is the one who has long been rejected, but she secures a husband at last. A HANDMAID, etc.] Either she inherits from, or she supplants, her mistress: if the latter is meant, cp. Sarah's jealousy of Hagar. 24-28. Four animals, small but wise.... [ Continue Reading ]
The creature improperly called CONEY here and at Leviticus 11:5; Deuteronomy 14:7; Psalms 104:18 is the Syrian 'hyrax,' an animal about the size of a rabbit, which feeds on grass, and lives in companies in the clefts of the rocks.... [ Continue Reading ]
BY BANDS] cp. Joel 2.... [ Continue Reading ]
The 'lizard' (RV) is so small that 'you can grasp it with your hands' (RM). 29-31. Four creatures of stately gait.... [ Continue Reading ]
Instead of greyhound LXX has the 'cock.' The fourth creature can hardly be the KING: the passage is corrupt.... [ Continue Reading ]
Retain the same word throughout: pressing milk, pressing the nose, pressing strife. The 'curd' (not BUTTER), which is a favourite and refreshing drink in the East, is made by shaking the milk about in a vessel of skin.... [ Continue Reading ]