Proverbs 2:1
II. (c) _Third Discourse:_ — _An Exhortation to follow after Wisdom_ (Proverbs 2). (1) HIDE — _i.e.,_ store up. (Comp. Proverbs 2:4.)... [ Continue Reading ]
II. (c) _Third Discourse:_ — _An Exhortation to follow after Wisdom_ (Proverbs 2). (1) HIDE — _i.e.,_ store up. (Comp. Proverbs 2:4.)... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THOU SEEKEST HER AS SILVER. — That the process of mining was understood long before the time of Solomon, is proved by the remains of copper mines discovered in the peninsula of Sinai, and the gold mines in the Bisháree desert of Egypt. Rock inscriptions have been found near the former, dating fro... [ Continue Reading ]
FIND THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD. — It is the highest of all gifts, even eternal life itself, to know God, the Giver of all good things. It was to bestow this knowledge upon man that Christ came into the world (John 17:3). He promises (Proverbs 14:21) the manifestation of Himself as the reward of obedience... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE LORD GIVETH WISDOM. — As St. James (Proverbs 1:5) expresses it, He gives it to every man “liberally, and upbraideth not:” _i.e.,_ blames him not for asking it.... [ Continue Reading ]
SOUND WISDOM. — Literally, _furtherance, advancement_ (Comp. _“_Whosoever hath, unto him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance,” Matthew 13:12.)... [ Continue Reading ]
HE KEEPETH THE PATHS OF JUDGMENT — i.e., protects those who walk in them. HIS SAINTS. — Or rather, _His ardent worshippers_ (_chasîdîm_)_,_ a term used in the Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 33:8) of the tribe of Levi, for their zeal in God’s service (Exodus 32), and of very frequent occurrence in the Psalt... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN WISDOM... — Rather to be taken as an explanation of the preceding, _For wisdom will enter,_ &c... [ Continue Reading ]
FROWARD THINGS. — (Heb., _tahpûkhôth_)_, i.e.,_ misrepresentations, distortions of the truth.... [ Continue Reading ]
DELIGHT IN THE FROWARDNESS OF THE WICKED. — This positive taking pleasure in evil is mentioned by St. Paul (Romans 1:32) as the last stage of degradation.... [ Continue Reading ]
TO DELIVER THEE FROM THE STRANGE WOMAN. — Another work of wisdom, to save from profligacy. Of the two epithets here used, _“_strange” (_zârah_) and “stranger” (_nokhrîyyah_)_,_ the first implies that she belonged to another family, the second to another nation. It would seem as if the evil example o... [ Continue Reading ]
(16-19) Besides the literal sense of this passage, as given above, commentators have very generally found in it a spiritual meaning, a warning against idolatry and apostasy. The union of Israel to God is so frequently spoken of in the prophets under the figure of a marriage, and their rejection of H... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GUIDE OF HER YOUTH. — Or rather, _friend with whom she has lived in intimacy_: that is, the husband of her youth; in other words, her first love. Jeremiah uses the same phrase (Proverbs 3:4). (Comp. “wife of thy youth,” Proverbs 5:18; Malachi 2:14.) FORGETTETH THE COVENANT OF HER GOD — i.e., th... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HER HOUSE INCLINETH... — Rather, _she sinks down with her house:_ house and all, like Dathan and Abiram. UNTO THE DEAD. — In Hebrew _the Rephâîm._ The word may signify those “at rest” (comp. Job 3:17 : “There the weary are at rest”); or the “weak.” (Comp. Isaiah 14:10 : “Art thou also become we... [ Continue Reading ]
THE UPRIGHT SHALL DWELL IN THE LAND — i.e., of Canaan, according to the old promise made to Abraham, renewed in the fifth commandment, and constantly repeated in the prophets.... [ Continue Reading ]