THE MOTHER OF LEMUEL. THE EXCELLENT WOMAN 1-9. An exhortation addressed to king Lemuel by his mother, urging him to avoid women and wine. The latter leads to slackness and unfairness in the administration of justice. '1. Read the title thus: 'The words of Lemuel, king of Massa, which his mother ta... [ Continue Reading ]
The repeated WHAT? appears to point to an inclination towards these excesses. SON OF MY VOWS] see 1 Samuel 1:11.... [ Continue Reading ]
Read, 'Give not thy love to those who destroy kings.'... [ Continue Reading ]
'More are drowned in the wine-cup than in the ocean.'... [ Continue Reading ]
OF HEAVY HEARTS] read, 'the bitter in soul.' The Talmud treats this verse as the foundation of the pious custom of the Jerusalem ladies, who provided medicated wine to dull the pain of those condemned to death (Mark 15:23). 10-31. A complete alphabetical poem, each of its 22 vv. beginning with a le... [ Continue Reading ]
SPOIL here means gain.... [ Continue Reading ]
Read, 'worketh at that which her hands delight in.'... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PORTION is either the proper quantity of food or the allotted quantity of material for work.... [ Continue Reading ]
SCARLET dye being costly, the garments would be of good material, thick and warm.... [ Continue Reading ]
Read, 'She maketh for herself coverings' (Proverbs 7:16). There is no justification for the addition, 'of tapestry.'... [ Continue Reading ]
'She laugheth at the time to come' (RV), because she is prepared for anything.... [ Continue Reading ]
On an Egyptian tombstone is the inscription: 'Peace was in the words which came from his mouth, and the book of the wise Thoth' (the divine scribe of the gods) 'was on his tongue.' A later Jerusalem proverb was: 'Gentleness is the salt which preserves wealth from corruption.'... [ Continue Reading ]
FAVOUR] i.e. charm and attractiveness.... [ Continue Reading ]