Proverbs 26:21

As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife. (AS) COALS (ARE) TO BURNING COALS, AND WOOD TO FIRE; SO (IS) A CONTENTIOUS MAN TO KINDLE STRIFE (; )....

COALS - Charcoal....

EXPOSITION PROVERBS 26:1 Certain proverbs concerning the fool (_kesil_),_ _with the exception, perhaps, of Proverbs 26:2 (see on Proverbs 1:22). PROVERBS 26:1 AS SNOW IN SUMMER, AND AS RAIN IN HARVEST. Snow in summer would be quite unnatural and unheard of (see on Proverbs 25:13). Rain falls in the usual course of things only at stated times; whence arose the phrase of "the early and of latter rains" (see on...

AS COALS [ARE] TO BURNING COALS, AND WOOD TO FIRE,.... As brands, wood half burnt, or dead coals put to live and burning ones, soon take fire and become like them, and fit and proper fuel for them, and add to their heat: SO [IS] A CONTENTIOUS MAN TO KINDLE STRIFE; or "a man of contentions" k; who is given to it, is full of it; it is agreeable to his natural temper and disposition; he is in his element when at it; such a man is as fuel to the fire, as a dead coal to a living one, which increases the heat of it; so does he, he kindles and spreads the flame of contention and strife. k איש מדונים "vir contentionum", Montanus, Baynus, Piscator, Gejerus....

CHAPTER 26 CONCERNING THE FOOL AND THE SLUGGARD Eleven times we meet the word fool in this chapter. Three different words are used in the Hebrew for fool. The first is “avil” which signifies weakness. The second word “kesil” occurs nearly fifty times, means fat or dense. The third word is the Hebrew “nabal,” which is derived from the verb to fade, or to wither; it means a vulgar, bad man who has given himself over to wickedness. The natural man in his condition, his darkened mind, his sinfulness answers to much that is said about the fool in this book. As snow in summer and rain at harvest time are quiteimpossible in Palestine, so is honor for a fool. A fool may utter a curse, as they often do, and wish something evil, but being causeless, it will not be fulfilled. The fool needs correction, the stripes for his back, he deserves no answer, and if he is answered it must be according to hi...

THE BOOK OF FOOLS. A section containing a series of synthetic couplets dealing with folly (except Proverbs 26:2). The text is unusually corrupt and defective. PROVERBS 26:1. For the opposite use of snow in harvest _cf._ Proverbs 25:13 *. Proverbs 26:2. Directed against the superstitious belief in the magical value of a curse. The simile refers to the aimless wandering of a bird, and is not to be compared with the flying roll of curses in Zechariah 5:1....

_kindle_ Better, INFLAME, R.V....

TEXT Proverbs 26:20-28 20. For lack of wood the fire goeth out; And where there is no whisperer, contention ceaseth. 21. As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to inflame strife. 22. The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts. 23. Fervent lips and a wicked heart Are like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross. 24. He that hateth dissembleth with his lips; But he layeth up deceit within him: 25. When he speaketh fair, believe him not; For there are seven abominations in his heart: 26. Though his hatred cover itself with guile, His wickedness shall be openly showed before the assembly. 27. Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein; And he that rolleth a stone,

FOOLS. SLUGGARDS. TALKERS 1-12. The vv. refer chiefly to fools....

LESSONS ABOUT WISDOM PROVERBS _KEITH SIMONS_ CHAPTER 26 V1 Snow should not fall in summer. Rain should not fall during the harvest. And a fool should not receive honour. V2 A bird does not stop as it flies. And the effects of an insult do not pause. Instead, the insult continues to cause trouble....