Proverbs 21:20

There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up. THERE IS TREASURE TO BE DESIRED (VALUABLE STORE), AND OIL (a leading article of wealth in Judea, ; ) in the dwelling (literally, the cottage) of the wise. Though the godly wise may have but a cottage, yet they have ample store for their need, and they use it with prudent economy. BUT A FOOLISH MAN SPENDETH (SWALLOWETH) IT UP - wastes in extravagance what he ought to store up for future use....

SPENDETH IT UP - literally, swalloweth it. The wise man keeps a store in reserve. He gains uprightly, spends moderately, never exhausts himself. But the proverb may have also a higher application. The wise man stores up all “treasure to be desired” of wisdom, all “oil” of divine influence, which strengthens and refreshes, and so is ready at all times for the work to which the Master calls him. Compare Matthew 25:1....

EXPOSITION PROVERBS 21:1 THE KING'S HEART IS IN THE HAND OF THE LORD, AS THE RIVERS OF WATER. We are to think of the little channels used for irrigation. As these are altogether under the gardener's control, so the heart of the king, who might seem to have no superior, is directed by God. HE TURNETH IT WHITHERSOEVER HE WILL. By hidden influences and providential arrangements God disposes the monarch to order his government so as to carry out his designs, to spread around joy and plenty. The system of irrigation signified in this passage is still to be seen in Eastern lands. "Flower beds and gardens of herbs are always made at a little lower level than the surrounding ground, and are divided into small squares, a slight edging of earth banking the whole round on each side. Water is then let in, and floods the entire sur

[THERE IS] A TREASURE TO BE DESIRED,.... Gold, silver, jewels, and precious stones; all sorts food, as Aben Ezra explains it, and rich and costly, raiment; all which may be lawfully desired and sought after, and, when obtained, laid up for future use; which may be spared for their own service and that of posterity: but there are riches of grace, a pearl of great price and treasure in heaven, more desirable than these, Matthew 6:19; AND OIL IN THE DWELLING OF THE WISE; which is particularly mentioned, because a principal blessing of the land of Canaan; much used for food, and was for delight and refreshment: and something of this was in the house of every wise, provident, and industrious man, for the use of him and his family; even though he lived but in a "cottage", as the word f signifies this is an emblem of the grace of God, which is sometimes compared to oil; which a w

CHAPTER 21 PERSONAL INSTRUCTIONS AS TO LIFE AND CONDUCT In the proverbs of this chapter the Lord is mentioned five times. “The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: He turneth it whithersoever He will” Proverbs 21:1). The rivers of water are “water-courses,” the irrigation system known to the ancients, opening and shutting sluices directed the flow of the waters. Thus the Lord governs the king's heart as He directs the affairs of men. The Lord pondereth the hearts Proverbs 21:2). The same truth is stated in Proverbs 16:2; self-justification suits the natural man but the Lord testeth all hearts. How well it is to remember in all our conduct, that truth, so comforting to the believer, expr

PROVERBS 21:1. WATERCOURSES: not the natural brooks and wadys of Palestine, but the artificial irrigation canals of Egypt or Babylonia, which could be diverted in any direction at will. Proverbs 21:4. Apparently two unconnected lines belonging to different couplets. A connexion can be established only by forced exegesis. The Heb. is lit. lofty of look and arrogant of heart, the tillage of the wicked is sin. RV lamp for tillage depends on a different pointing, but does not improve the sense. Proverbs 21:6. Lit. The getting of treasures by a lying tongue (is) a driven breath, seekers of death. RV clearly inserts more than the text warrants to make sense of...

FOOLISH. Hebrew. _kesil._ See note on Proverbs 1:7. SPENDETH IT UP. swalloweth it up....

_spendeth_ Lit. SWALLOWETH, R.V. So LXX. καταπίονται; but Vulg. _dissipabit_....

THERE IS A TREASURE, &C.— _Desirable treasure and oil are in the dwelling,_ &c. Houbigant renders the last clause, _But a foolish man will dissipate these:_ and Schultens, _But a foolish man,_ or a man given to luxury or extravagance, _absorbs it; i.e_. all that desirable treasure and opulence which his wise and careful father had abundantly laid up....

TEXT Proverbs 21:11-20 11. When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise; And when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge. 12. The righteous man considereth the house of the wicked, How the wicked are overthrown to their ruin. 13. Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, He also shall cry, but shall not be heard. 14. A gift in secret pacifieth anger; And a present in the bosom, strong wrath. 15. It is joy to the righteous to do justice; But it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity. 16. The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding Shall rest in the assembly of the dead. 17. He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: He that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich. 18. The wicked is a ransom for the righteo