_AGUR'S CONFESSION OF HIS FAITH. THE TWO POINTS OF HIS PRAYER. THE
MEANEST ARE NOT TO BE WRONGED. FOUR WICKED GENERATIONS. FOUR THINGS
INSATIABLE. PARENTS ARE NOT TO BE DESPISED. FOUR THINGS HARD TO BE
KNOWN. FOUR THINGS INTOLERABLE. FOUR THINGS EXCEEDING WISE. FOUR
THINGS STATELY. WRATH IS TO BE PR... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WORDS OF AGUR, &C.— According to the signification of the
original terms, this might be rendered, _The words of him who has
recollected himself, the son of obedience._ The generality of the
fathers and ancient commentators will have it that Solomon describes
himself under the name of Agur, the s... [ Continue Reading ]
ADD THOU NOT UNTO HIS WORDS— That is, "Do not any thing contrary to
what he commands." See Deuteronomy 4:2, &c.... [ Continue Reading ]
GIVE ME NEITHER POVERTY, &C.— These words are introduced in the form
of an address to God, in answer, perhaps, to some question which the
disciples had proposed to Agur about the duty of prayer. What Agur
prays for is, such a proportion of the good things of this world, as
may best answer the end of... [ Continue Reading ]
ACCUSE NOT A SERVANT UNTO HIS MASTER— Do not abuse any poor slave,
whose condition is wretched enough; and therefore rather excuse than
aggravate his fault to his master, who perhaps is too rigorous; and be
sure never to load him with unjust accusations, lest, being wronged by
thee, and not knowing... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE IS A GENERATION, &C.— These verses seem to contain cautions
against keeping company with certain persons;
1. Those who are ungrateful to their parents;
2 dissembling hypocrites, Proverbs 30:12;
3 supercilious proud men, Proverbs 30:13;
4 cruel and uncompassionate men; tyrants, extortioners... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HORSE-LEACH HATH TWO DAUGHTERS— This passage seems in my
judgment, says Bishop Patrick, to be an answer to some such question
as this (which the scholars had propounded to Agur, after the manner
of enigmatical discourses), _What is most unsatiable?_ which he
chooses to give an account of in this... [ Continue Reading ]
_PROVERBS 30:17_. D_ESPISETH TO OBEY HIS MOTHER_— _Despiseth the old
age of his mother._ "They who are guilty of such enormous ingratitude
to their parents, shall come to an infamous end, and their dead bodies
shall be exposed for a prey to the ravens which frequent the brooks
that run into the vall... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE WAY OF A MAN WITH A MAID— See Isaiah 7:14. I would just
observe upon this passage, that some have understood it as a reference
to the incarnation of the Word in the Virgin Mary. The word עלמה
_almah,_ rendered _maid,_ signifies a _virgin_ strictly speaking; and
גבר _geber,_ rendered _a man,_... [ Continue Reading ]
SUCH IS THE WAY OF AN ADULTEROUS WOMAN— The wise man adds, that this
also is another of the things which he cannot understand. As
_idolatry_ is frequently expressed in Scripture by adultery, some
commentators think that the adulterous woman here means an idolatress,
who, having eaten of the sacrific... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THREE THINGS THE EARTH IS DISQUIETED— We have here an answer to
another enigmatical question, What things are most intolerable? Which
he tells us are, 1. A slave who bears rule; 2. A fool over-fed; 3. A
vicious wife in a family; 4. A servant-maid become mistress of the
house. This is very clear,... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CONIES— _The mountain-mice—the rock-rats._ See Leviticus 11:5.... [ Continue Reading ]
YET GO THEY FORTH ALL OF THEM BY BANDS— _Yet go they forth sharing
all amongst them._ See Boch. tom. 1: Proverbs 15.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SPIDER— _The lizard._ Schultens, &c.... [ Continue Reading ]
A GREYHOUND, &C.— Houbigant renders it, _A cock who erects himself
in his walking; a he-goat, who marches before the flock; a king, who
goeth forth, his retinue attending._ See his note.... [ Continue Reading ]
SURELY, THE CHURNING OF MILK— This verse is connected with that
preceding, and may be thus paraphrased: For from little things there
is an easy progress unto greater; and just as you see milk is first
pressed out of the cow's udder, and then, being agitated in the churn,
is forced into butter; and a... [ Continue Reading ]