Proverbs 21:1

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.

the rivers of water. Hebrew. palgey mayim. the divisions of water [in. garden], from palag, to divide (Genesis 10:25). The name given to the small channels which divide up an Eastern (walled) garden for purposes of irrigation. See note on "rivers", Psalms 1:3. There is an Ellipsis in the second clause, and the verb must be supplied thus: The king's heart [is] in the hand of Jehovah, As the palgey mayim [are in the hand of the gardener]. See App-74.

He turneth, &c. i.e. Jehovah directeth [the king's heart] whithersoever He will [as the gardener directeth the water with his foot] (Deuteronomy 11:10), not needing or deigning to use. tool; so easily is it done. Illustrations: Ahab (1 Kings 18:10. Compare Pro 21:40); Ahasuerus (Esther 6:1); Sennacherib (2 Kings 19:27; 2 Kings 19:28, and Isaiah 10:5); Nebuchadnezzar (Ezekiel 29:16; Jeremiah 43:10); the Jews (Jeremiah 32:28; 2 Kings 24:3); Cyrus (Ezra 1:1.Isaiah 45:1; Isaiah 45:1); Darius (Ezra 6:22); Augustus (Luke 2:1. Compare Micah 5:2).