18 Every purpose H4284 is established H3559 by counsel: H6098 and with good advice H8458 make H6213 war. H4421
Without counsel H5475 purposes H4284 are disappointed: H6565 but in the multitude H7230 of counsellors H3289 they are established. H6965
For by wise counsel H8458 thou shalt make H6213 thy war: H4421 and in multitude H7230 of counsellors H3289 there is safety. H8668
Or G2228 what G5101 king, G935 going G4198 to make G4820 war G4171 against G1519 another G2087 king, G935 sitteth G2523 not G3780 down G2523 first, G4412 and consulteth G1011 whether G1487 he be G2076 able G1415 with G1722 ten G1176 thousand G5505 to meet G528 him that cometh G2064 against G1909 him G846 with G3326 twenty G1501 thousand? G5505
Where no counsel H8458 is, the people H5971 fall: H5307 but in the multitude H7230 of counsellors H3289 there is safety. H8668
Now after H310 the death H4194 of Joshua H3091 it came to pass, that the children H1121 of Israel H3478 asked H7592 the LORD, H3068 saying, H559 Who shall go up H5927 for us against the Canaanites H3669 first, H8462 to fight H3898 against them? And the LORD H3068 said, H559 Judah H3063 shall go up: H5927 behold, I have delivered H5414 the land H776 into his hand. H3027
Behold, ye are all children H1121 of Israel; H3478 give H3051 here H1988 your advice H1697 and counsel. H6098
And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 arose, H6965 and went up H5927 to the house H1004 of God, H430 H1008 and asked H7592 counsel of God, H430 and said, H559 Which H4310 of us shall go up H5927 first H8462 to the battle H4421 against the children H1121 of Benjamin? H1144 And the LORD H3068 said, H559 Judah H3063 shall go up first. H8462
(And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 went up H5927 and wept H1058 before H6440 the LORD H3068 until even, H6153 and asked H7592 counsel of the LORD, H3068 saying, H559 Shall I go up H5066 again H3254 to battle H4421 against the children H1121 of Benjamin H1144 my brother? H251 And the LORD H3068 said, H559 Go up H5927 against him.)
Then all the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 and all the people, H5971 went up, H5927 and came H935 unto the house H1004 of God, H430 H1008 and wept, H1058 and sat H3427 there before H6440 the LORD, H3068 and fasted H6684 that day H3117 until even, H6153 and offered H5927 burnt offerings H5930 and peace offerings H8002 before H6440 the LORD. H3068 And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 enquired H7592 of the LORD, H3068 (for the ark H727 of the covenant H1285 of God H430 was there in those days, H3117 And Phinehas, H6372 the son H1121 of Eleazar, H499 the son H1121 of Aaron, H175 stood H5975 before H6440 it in those days,) H3117 saying, H559 Shall I yet again H3254 go out H3318 to battle H4421 against the children H1121 of Benjamin H1144 my brother, H251 or shall I cease? H2308 And the LORD H3068 said, H559 Go up; H5927 for to morrow H4279 I will deliver H5414 them into thine hand. H3027
Then Abner H74 called H7121 to Joab, H3097 and said, H559 Shall the sword H2719 devour H398 for ever? H5331 knowest H3045 thou not that it will be bitterness H4751 in the latter end? H314 how long shall it be then, ere thou bid H559 the people H5971 return H7725 from following H310 their brethren? H251 And Joab H3097 said, H559 As God H430 liveth, H2416 unless H3884 thou hadst spoken, H1696 surely then in the morning H1242 the people H5971 had gone up H5927 every one H376 from following H310 his brother. H251
Then Amaziah H558 king H4428 of Judah H3063 took advice, H3289 and sent H7971 to Joash, H3101 the son H1121 of Jehoahaz, H3059 the son H1121 of Jehu, H3058 king H4428 of Israel, H3478 saying, H559 Come, H3212 let us see one another H7200 in the face. H6440 And Joash H3101 king H4428 of Israel H3478 sent H7971 to Amaziah H558 king H4428 of Judah, H3063 saying, H559 The thistle H2336 that was in Lebanon H3844 sent H7971 to the cedar H730 that was in Lebanon, H3844 saying, H559 Give H5414 thy daughter H1323 to my son H1121 to wife: H802 and there passed by H5674 a wild H7704 beast H2416 that was in Lebanon, H3844 and trode down H7429 the thistle. H2336 Thou sayest, H559 Lo, thou hast smitten H5221 the Edomites; H123 and thine heart H3820 lifteth thee up H5375 to boast: H3513 abide H3427 now at home; H1004 why shouldest thou meddle H1624 to thine hurt, H7451 that thou shouldest fall, H5307 even thou, and Judah H3063 with thee? But Amaziah H558 would not hear; H8085 for it came of God, H430 that he might deliver H5414 them into the hand H3027 of their enemies, because they sought H1875 after the gods H430 of Edom. H123 So Joash H3101 the king H4428 of Israel H3478 went up; H5927 and they saw one another H7200 in the face, H6440 both he and Amaziah H558 king H4428 of Judah, H3063 at Bethshemesh, H1053 which belongeth to Judah. H3063 And Judah H3063 was put to the worse H5062 before H6440 Israel, H3478 and they fled H5127 every man H376 to his tent. H168 And Joash H3101 the king H4428 of Israel H3478 took H8610 Amaziah H558 king H4428 of Judah, H3063 the son H1121 of Joash, H3101 the son H1121 of Jehoahaz, H3059 at Bethshemesh, H1053 and brought H935 him to Jerusalem, H3389 and brake down H6555 the wall H2346 of Jerusalem H3389 from the gate H8179 of Ephraim H669 to the corner H6437 gate, H8179 four H702 hundred H3967 cubits. H520
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Proverbs 20
Commentary on Proverbs 20 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 20
Pr 20:1-30.
1. mocker—scorner. Such men are made by wine.
strong drink—made by spicing wine (compare Isa 5:11, 22); and it may include wine.
raging—or boisterous as a drunkard.
deceived—literally, "erring," or reeling.
2. (Compare Pr 19:12). Men who resist authority injure themselves (Ro 13:2).
3. to cease from strife—or, better, "to dwell from or without strife," denoting the habit of life.
fool … meddling—(Pr 17:14).
4. shall … beg—literally, "ask" (in this sense, Ps 109:10).
5. Counsel … water—that is, deeply hidden (Pr 18:4; Ps 13:2). The wise can discern well.
6. Boasters are unreliable.
goodness—or, "kind disposition."
7. The conduct of good men proclaims their sound principles. God's covenant and their good example secure blessing to their children (Pr 4:26; Ps 112:1, 2).
8. As in Pr 14:35; 16:10, 15, this is the character of a good king, not of all kings.
9. The interrogation in the affirmative strengthens the implied negation (compare Job 15:14; Ec 7:20).
10. Various measures, implying that some are wrong (compare Pr 11:1; 16:11).
11. The conduct of children even is the best test of principle (compare Mt 7:16).
12. Hence, of course, God will know all you do (Ps 94:9).
13. Activity and diligence contrasted with sloth (Pr 6:9; 10:11).
lest … poverty—literally, "be deprived of inheritance."
14. when … his way—implying that he goes about boasting of his bargains.
15. The contrast denotes the greater value of knowledge (compare Pr 3:14-16).
16. Take his garment—implies severe exaction, justified by the surety's rashness.
a strange woman—by some readings "strangers," but the former here, and in Pr 27:13, is allowable, and strengthens the sense. The debauchee is less reliable than the merely careless.
17. Bread … sweet—either as unlawfully (Pr 9:17) or easily obtained.
mouth … gravel—well expresses the pain and grief given at last.
18. (Compare Pr 15:22). Be careful and considerate in important plans.
19. Those who love to tell news will hardly keep secrets.
flattereth … lips—(compare Margin; Pr 1:10).
meddle … him—literally, "join," or "associate with."
20. his lamp—(Compare Pr 13:9; 24:20).
21. gotten hastily—contrary to God's providence (Pr 28:20), implying its unjust or easy attainment; hence the man is punished, or spends freely what he got easily (compare Pr 20:17).
22. (Compare Ps 27:14; Ro 12:17-19).
23. (Compare Pr 20:10; 11:1).
24. Man's goings—literally, "Stately steppings of a strong man."
a man—any common man.
understand—or, "perceive."
25. devoureth … holy—or, better, "who rashly speaks promises," or "devotes what is holy," consecrating any thing. This suits better the last clause, which expresses a similar view of the results of rashly vowing.
26. (Compare Pr 20:8).
bringeth … over them—The wheel was used for threshing grain. The figure denotes severity (compare Am 1:3).
27. The spirit … Lord—Men's minds are God's gifts, and thus able to search one another (compare Pr 20:5; Pr 18:8, 17; 1Co 2:11).
28. (Compare Pr 3:3; 16:6, 12).
29. The glory of young men … the beauty of old men—Each age has its peculiar excellence (Pr 16:31).
30. blueness—literally, "joining," the process of uniting the edges of a wound throws off purulent matter.
stripes … belly—So punishment provides healing of soul (Pr 18:8), by deterring from evil courses.