Proverbs 28:2

For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged. FOR THE TRANSGRESSION OF A LAND MANY (ARE) THE PRINCES THEREOF (THERE IS A CONSTANT SUCCESSION OF PRINCES, 1 KINGS 16:21-11 ; 2 KINGS 15:8 ; 2 KINGS 15:30 ): BUT BY A MAN OF UNDERSTANDING (AND) KNOWLEDGE THE STATE (THEREOF) SHALL BE PROLONGED. The Hebrew [ keen (H3651)] hardly bears the sense "the state;" it usually means 'so:' translate 'so (and in no other way, the prince's reign) shall be prol...

Verse Proverbs 28:2. _MANY_ ARE _THE PRINCES_] _Nations_, as nations, cannot be judged in a future world; therefore, God judges them _here_. And where the _people_ are very _wicked_, and the _constitution_ very _bad_, the _succession of princes is frequent_-they are generally taken off by an untimely death. Where the people know that the constitution is in their favour, they seldom disturb the prince, as they consider him the guardian of their privileges. _BUT BY A MAN OF UNDERSTANDING_] Whether he be a _king_, or the king's _prime minister_, the prosperity of the state is advanced by his counsels....

TRANSGRESSION - Better, rebellion. A revolt against a ruler leads to rapid changes of dynasty (the whole history of the kingdom of Israel was a proof of this), but “with men of understanding and knowledge thus shall he (the prince) continue.” True wisdom will lead people to maintain an existing order. The King James Version implies that political disorders may come as the punishment of any national sin. THE STATE - Better, it (the land) shall surely prolong its days in stability....

EXPOSITION This chapter is still part of the Hezekiah collection, and not a new series by another author. It may be regarded as describing the various destinies of the powerful and the weak, the sinner and the righteous. PROVERBS 28:1 THE WICKED FLEE WHEN NO MAN PURSUETH. The unreasoning terror of the sinner arises partly from his uneasy conscience, which will not permit him to transgress without warning of consequences, and partly from the judgment of God, according to the threats denounced in Leviticus 26:36, Leviticus 26:37. A terrible picture of this instinctive fear is drawn in...

FOR THE TRANSGRESSION OF A LAND MANY [ARE] THE PRINCES THEREOF,.... Either together; that is, reigning princes, such as lay claim to the crown, and usurp it; otherwise it is a happiness to a nation to have many princes of the blood, to inherit in succession, to support the crown in their family, and defend a nation, and study the good of it; but it is a judgment to a nation when many rise up as competitors for rule, or do rule, as at Athens, where thirty tyrants sprung up at once; by which factions and parties are made, and which issue in oppression, rapine, and murder: or successively, very quickly, one after another, being dethroned the one by the other: or removed by death, as in the land of Israel, in the times of the judges, and of the kings of Israel and Judah, after the revolt of the ten tribes; which frequent changes produce different administrations, new laws, and fresh taxes, d...

CHAPTER 28 WARNINGS AND INSTRUCTIONS CONTINUED The wicked is a coward; the righteous man, because he trusteth in the Lord and knows the Lord is on his side, is as bold as a lion. It is the conscience which makes a coward of the wicked man. This chapter has many sharp contrasts and important warnings and exhortations. We point out a few. Those who forsake the law, turn their backs upon the revelation of God, refuse obedience to Him, praise the wicked, they make common cause with them. Those who keep the law, obey God's Word, are contenders for the faith Proverbs 28:4. Evil men are blind, but with seeking the Lord comes understanding, the blind eyes are opened Proverbs 28:5. A wise son is he who keepeth the law; such was Solomon till he plunged into apostasy and darkness...

SECOND DIVISION, PROVERBS 28 F. In general character this division resembles Section II., consisting chiefly of antithetic couplets. PROVERBS 28:2 B. The text is uncertain, and various renderings are possible. The translation state is very doubtful. If MT be retained, connect the word for state with the preceding, and translate by men of understanding who know what is right it is prolonged. LXX reads Through the sin of the ungodly disputes arise, but a prudent man quenches them, possibly the original text. Proverbs 28:3. A needy man: so MT, but the thought is not in keeping with the conception of the poor in Pr. or in the OT. We should probably read a wicked man who, etc. (LXX), or possibly a rich man who, etc. The simile seems to be that of a heavy unseasonable rain which flood

MANY: i.e. changes of dynasty in quick succession. A MAN OF UNDERSTANDING, &C. or. man knowing. discerning [man] when he sees him, &c. Compare Pharaoh and Joseph; or Nebuchadnezzar and Daniel. MAN. Hebrew. _'adam._ App-14....

_a man_ This is better taken collectively, and rendered MEN, as in R.V. text. _the state_thereof] i.e. its stability. This rendering is retained in R.V. Others render (taking the word _state_in its more usual sense as an adverb) _so, on that condition_, sc. of its possessing men of understanding and knowledge, _it_(the land) _shall be continued_. But there seems hardly sufficient reason for laying such stress upon the condition, nor is there much force in saying the land shall continue. The proverb is abundantly illustrated by the history of Israel. See, for example, 1 Kings 16:8-28....

FOR THE TRANSGRESSION OF A LAND— _For the sins of a land, the succession of princes is frequent; for men of understanding and justice, the prince shall continue long;_ Houbigant: who renders the next verse, _A powerful man oppressing the poor, is a sweeping shower, by which famine is prepared._ Bishop Saunderson observes upon this third verse, which he understands according to the common translation. That it is in matters of power, as in matters of learning; they who have but a smattering of scholarship, are observed to be the forwardest to make ostentation of the few scraps they have, for fear there should be no notice taken of their learning, if they should not shew it when they can: and yet then they do it so untowardly, that when they think most of all to display their parts, they most of all, by some gross mistake or other, betray their ignorance. Just so it is in the case of power:...