Proverbs 5 - Introduction

Discourse 5. Addressed To ‘My Son' (and later ‘Sons'). He Is To Avoid The Enticements Of The Strange Woman Whose Ways Lead To Death, And Rather Be Faithful To His True Wife (Proverbs 4:20 to Proverbs 5:23).

An indication of the unity of this passage is found in the appeals to ‘attend to my words -- attend to my wisdom' (Proverbs 4:20; Proverbs 5:1). At first there might appear to be three opening appeals in the passage, Proverbs 4:20; Proverbs 5:1; Proverbs 5:7, but further consideration confirms that the last two are additional appeals resulting from the serious nature of the matter involved. The passage then ends in a contrast between those whose paths YHWH makes level, and those who are wicked (Proverbs 5:21). The passage may be divided up into three subsections:

1) A general appeal to hear his words and sayings, and instructions with regard to his heart, mouth, eyes and feet (Proverbs 4:20).

2) A warning against the enticements of the strange woman whose ways lead to death including a description of the consequences that will result (Proverbs 5:1).

3) An appeal rather to be faithful to a true wife (Proverbs 5:15).

As there is an epilogue it could be argued that there are four subsections, but such epilogues, where they are not a part of the third subsection (as revealed by the chiasmus), are always minimal. Presumably the writer did not see them as disturbing the pattern.