V. Fourth Collection of Proverbs. Chaps. 25 29 1. The Title. See Introd., ch. iii. p. 24. This Title is interesting as affording a proof that a revival of literary activity accompanied the revival of religion and of national prosperity which marked the reign of Hezekiah. Hezekiah himself was a poe... [ Continue Reading ]
_conceal … search out_ "To God it brings glory and admiration, that in governing the universe He follows out His own, and that a secret, counsel. To kings it is a source of glory to search out by their sagacity the difficult questions which belong to their office as kings, especially to the administ... [ Continue Reading ]
Besides his glory in contrast, the king has a glory in resemblance to Almighty God, whose vicegerent he is. He too has something to conceal.... [ Continue Reading ]
_a vessel for the finer_ Such pure metal as the refiner, who has with that very object taken away the dross, can make into a goodly vessel or vase. Egredietur vas purissimum, Vulg.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Put not forth thyself_ Better, PUT NOT THYSELF FORWARD, R.V.; Heb., _Glorify not thyself_; μὴ ἀλαζονεύου, LXX.; ne gloriosus appareas, Vulg.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Come up hither_ Comp. Luke 14:8-10, and Introd. p. 33. _whom thine eyes have seen_ This aggravates the disgrace: you have pressed presumptuously into the inner circle, so as to stand face to face with the prince, and there "in his presence" shalt thou be humiliated.... [ Continue Reading ]
thou know not] These words are also inserted in R.V. text, with the alternative in the margin, _Lest_it be said _in the end thereof, What wilt thou do? when_&c. The Heb. as it stands is forcible in its abruptness: LEST WHAT WILT THOU DO IN THE END THEREOF? &c.... [ Continue Reading ]
The admonition in these verses is general: Be not of a contentious spirit; plunge not hastily into quarrels (comp. the use of the same word "strive," Genesis 26:20; Exodus 21:18; Deuteronomy 33:8). But there is a special and perhaps primary reference to _going to law_(obs. _thy cause, Proverbs 25:9_... [ Continue Reading ]
_a secret_to] Rather, THE SECRET OF, A.V. marg. and R.V. The warning would seem to be against being betrayed by a litigious spirit into dishonourable conduct, and incurring the indelible shame of betraying confidence through eagerness to win your suit.... [ Continue Reading ]
_put thee to shame_ Or, _revile thee_, R.V.; ὀνειδίσῃ, LXX.; insultet, Vulg.... [ Continue Reading ]
_fitly_ Lit. UPON ITS WHEELS, i.e. smoothly and without hesitation. Others render, _at its_(proper) _times_, i.e. _seasonably_, perhaps from the idea of times or seasons "revolving," or "rolling round." In tempore suo, Vulg. Comp. Proverbs 15:23. _apples of gold_ Either golden-coloured fruit, such... [ Continue Reading ]
_earring_ Or, _nose-ring_, R.V. marg. See Proverbs 11:22, note.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the cold of snow_ Rosenmuller, quoted and approved by Maurer, explains this, not of snow falling in harvest, which would be rather an emblem of disaster (Proverbs 26:1), but of snow mixed with wine or other beverage to cool it. He refers to Xenophon (_Mem_. ii. 1. 30), and Pliny (_H. N_. 19. 4) in... [ Continue Reading ]
Lit., CLOUDS AND WIND AND NO RAIN; A MAN WHO BOASTS HIMSELF OF A GIFT OF FALSEHOOD. The rising wind and gathering clouds (1 Kings 18:45) which, un-accompanied by rain, disappoint the expectation of the thirsty earth are an apt emblem of a man who promises much and performs nothing. The Vulg. i... [ Continue Reading ]
We have an illustration of this proverb in the effect of the "long forbearing" of David during his persecution by Saul, and of his "soft tongue" at Engedi (1 Samuel 24), and in the wilderness of Ziph (_Ib_. Proverbs 26:7 ff.): "And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words... [ Continue Reading ]
_Withdraw thy foot_ So Vulg., subtrahe pedem tuum. Lit. MAKE RARE THY FOOT. The R.V. adopts the marginal reading of A.V., LET THY FOOT BE SELDOM IN. σπάνιον εἴσαγε σὸν πόδα πρὸς σεαυτοῦ φίλον, LXX.... [ Continue Reading ]
_a maul_ "i.e. a hammer, a variation of mall, from _malleus_… The Hebrew and English alike occur in Proverbs 25:18 only. But a derivative from the same root, and differing only slightly in form, is found in Jeremiah 51:20, and is there translated by -battle-axe" (or _maul_, R.V. marg.) how incorrect... [ Continue Reading ]
_taketh away_ Better, TAKETH OFF. _nitre_ The Heb. word _nether_, occurs only here and in Jeremiah 2:22, where see note in this Series. The substance meant is not saltpetre, which is now what we understand by nitre, but native carbonate of soda, which was found, as Pliny tells us, in the Soda Lakes... [ Continue Reading ]
_heap coals of fire upon his head_ i.e. _take the most effectual vengeance upon him_. It is best to take the expression both here, and in the Epistle to the Romans, where it is quoted, in the simplest sense of taking vengeance, expressed by a familiar figure (Psalms 120:4; Psalms 140:10), without ca... [ Continue Reading ]
_driveth away_ Rather, BRINGETH FORTH, A.V. marg., R.V. text. The rendering of A.V. text follows the Vulg., dissipat pluvias, and is apparently supported by Job 37:22: "Fair weather," or "golden brightness, cometh out of the north," a phenomenon which is there attributed to the action of the wind bl... [ Continue Reading ]
See Proverbs 21:9, and note.... [ Continue Reading ]
As _cold waters_, &c. Comp. "quale per æstum Dulcis aquæ saliente sitim restinguere rivo." Virg. _Ecl_. 25:46, 47. _good news_, &c. Comp. Proverbs 15:30, and for illustration, "The heart of Jacob their father revived," when he heard the good news from a far country, "Joseph is yet alive." Genesi... [ Continue Reading ]
_falling down_ Better, with R.V., THAT GIVETH WAY, or (marg.) IS MOVED. To see a righteous man moved from his stedfastness through fear or favour in the presence of the wicked is as disheartening, as to find the stream turbid and defiled, at which you were longing to quench your thirst. Lord Bacon,... [ Continue Reading ]
is not _glory_ The words _is not_are not in the Heb., but are supplied both in A.V. and R.V. text. The R.V. marg. has, "_But_for men _to search out their own glory is glory_. The Hebrew text is obscure." It would seem as though the author of the proverb threw down in the second clause the terms of... [ Continue Reading ]
In this verse again, both A.V. and R.V. change without apparent reason the order of the clauses in the Hebrew.... [ Continue Reading ]