Proverbs 10:15

The rich man's wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty. THE RICH MAN'S WEALTH IS HIS STRONG CITY: THE DESTRUCTION OF THE POOR IS THEIR POVERTY - i:e., in the estimation of the rich and the poor respectively. Though the feelings are distinct, the elated feeling of "the rich," because he has "wealth," and the depressed feeling of the poor, because he has none-yet both alike are guilty of the same error; they overestimate wealth. The rich fancy that their wealth, as their "strong city," will keep them safe from all evil; and the poor are so overwhelmed by poverty as to fear "destruction" by it. But rich and poor forget that "the name of the Lord is" the only "strong tower" (Proverbs 18:10; ;...

1 The comfort of parents much depends on their children; and this suggests to both, motives to their duties. Proverbs 10:2; Proverbs 10:3. Though the righteous may be poor, the Lord will not suffer him to want what is needful for spiritual life. Proverbs 10:4. Those who are fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, are likely to be rich in faith, and rich in good works. Proverbs 10:5. Here is just blame of those who trifle away opportunities, both for here and for hereafter. Proverbs 10:6. Abundance of blessings shall abide on good men; real blessings....

Verse Proverbs 10:15. _THE RICH MAN'S WEALTH_ IS _HIS STRONG CITY_] Behold a mystery in providence; there is not a _rich man_ on earth but becomes such by means of the _poor_! Property comes from the _labour_ of the _poor_, and _the king himself is served of the field_. How unjust, diabolically so, is it to _despise_ or _oppress_ those by whose labour all property is acquired! _THE DESTRUCTION OF THE POOR_ IS _THEIR POVERTY._] A man in abject poverty never arises out of this pit. They have no nucleus about which property may aggregate. The poet spoke well: - Haud facile emergunt, quorum virtutibus obstat Res angusta domi....

DESTRUCTION - That which crushes, throws into ruins. Wealth secures its possessors against many dangers; poverty exposes men to worse evils than itself, meanness, servility, and cowardice. Below the surface there lies, it may be, a grave irony against the rich; see Proverbs 18:11....

EXPOSITION VERSE 1-22:16 PART III. FIRST GREAT COLLECTION (375) OF SOLOMONIC PROVERBS. VERSE 1-12:28 First section. The sections are noted by their commencing usually with the words, "a wise son." PROVERBS 10:1 THE PROVERBS OF SOLOMON. This is the title of the new part of the book; it is omitted in the Septuagint. There is some kind of loose connection in the grouping of these proverbs, but it is difficult to follow. "Ordo frustra quaeritur ubi nullus fuit observatus," says Mart. Geier. Wordsworth considers the present chapter to contain exemplifications of the principles and results of the two ways of life displayed in the preceding nine chapters. The antitheti

THE RICH MAN'S WEALTH [IS] HIS STRONG CITY,.... What a fortified city is to persons in time of war, that is a rich man's wealth to him; by it he can defend himself from the injuries of others, and support himself and family in times of public calamity; for money is a defence, and answers all things, Ecclesiastes 7:12. Or his wealth is so in his own apprehension and conceit; he puts his trust and confidence in it, and thinks himself safe and secure by it; when he is trusting to uncertain riches, which will fail him; these may fly away from him in life, and leave him exposed to distress and danger; and, however, will not secure him at death from the wrath of God and everlasting destruction. Or he is lifted up with his riches, is in high spirits, and despises others; thinking himself safe, as in a strong castle, and fears nothing, distresses, diseases, or death; the des

II. THE PROVERBS OF SOLOMON: CHAPTER S 10--19:19 Beginning with the tenth chapter we have the collection of proverbs given by inspiration through Solomon. In this section the personal address, “My son,” and the personal exhortations are missing. It will be noticed that each verse in this section contains a proverb, consisting each of two lines, mostly of an antithetic character, except Proverbs 19:7, which has three lines instead of two (a tristich). It is impossible to give a detailed analysis of these Chapter s, nor can we take up each proverb separately for meditation. This must be left to each reader. By comparing Scripture with Scripture, and a prayerful study of these terse sayings, the heavenly wisdom given in these Chapter s can readily be found. There is no end to practical application. Yet even in these Chapter s a certain order is maintained. The contrast in each chap

PROVERBS 10:2 (_cf._ Psalms 3:7). RIGHTEOUSNESS: the growth of the conception of righteousness is an important subject. As in the Pss., there is a specific class the righteous opposed to the wicked. The righteous are generally synonymous with the poor and afflicted remnant, sometimes equivalent to the Hasidim of the Greek period. In general the tendency of the conception of righteousness is towards a specific moral character, rather than towards the fulfilment of legal duties. This is important in view of the implied contrast in the Synoptic Gospels between the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, and such a righteousness as our Lord taught to be the condition of entrance into the kingdom of God (_cf._ Matthe

HIS STRONG CITY. Hebrew city of his strength. Figure of speech _Antimereia._ App-6. DESTRUCTION. that which destroys them. Figure of speech _Metonymy_ (of Effect). POOR. weak. Hebrew. _dal._ See note on Proverbs 6:11. POVERTY. _rush._ See note on Proverbs 6:11....

_destruction_ The Heb. word is the same as in Proverbs 10:14. If we take it here, too, to denote a tottering building, ready to fall upon its tenant and bury him beneath its ruins, the parallelism is complete. We have here an instance of the candour and sobriety of the moral teaching of this Book. Wealth _has_its advantages and poverty its drawbacks, and the fact is honestly stated. There is nothing of the unreality which represents poverty as in itself desirable, or wealth as in itself to be avoided. Comp. Proverbs 18:11....