20 Such is the way H1870 of an adulterous H5003 woman; H802 she eateth, H398 and wipeth H4229 her mouth, H6310 and saith, H559 I have done H6466 no wickedness. H205
And the LORD H3068 spake H1696 unto Moses, H4872 saying, H559 Speak H1696 unto the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 and say H559 unto them, If any H376 man's H376 wife H802 go aside, H7847 and commit H4603 a trespass H4604 against him, And a man H376 lie H7901 with her carnally, H7902 H2233 and it be hid H5956 from the eyes H5869 of her husband, H376 and be kept close, H5641 and she be defiled, H2930 and there be no witness H5707 against her, neither she be taken H8610 with the manner; And the spirit H7307 of jealousy H7068 come H5674 upon him, and he be jealous H7065 of his wife, H802 and she be defiled: H2930 or if the spirit H7307 of jealousy H7068 come H5674 upon him, and he be jealous H7065 of his wife, H802 and she be not defiled: H2930 Then shall the man H376 bring H935 his wife H802 unto the priest, H3548 and he shall bring H935 her offering H7133 for her, the tenth H6224 part of an ephah H374 of barley H8184 meal; H7058 he shall pour H3332 no oil H8081 upon it, nor put H5414 frankincense H3828 thereon; for it is an offering H4503 of jealousy, H7068 an offering H4503 of memorial, H2146 bringing H2142 iniquity H5771 to remembrance. H2142 And the priest H3548 shall bring her near, H7126 and set H5975 her before H6440 the LORD: H3068 And the priest H3548 shall take H3947 holy H6918 water H4325 in an earthen H2789 vessel; H3627 and of the dust H6083 that is in the floor H7172 of the tabernacle H4908 the priest H3548 shall take, H3947 and put H5414 it into the water: H4325 And the priest H3548 shall set H5975 the woman H802 before H6440 the LORD, H3068 and uncover H6544 the woman's H802 head, H7218 and put H5414 the offering H4503 of memorial H2146 in her hands, H3709 which is the jealousy H7068 offering: H4503 and the priest H3548 shall have in his hand H3027 the bitter H4751 water H4325 that causeth the curse: H779 And the priest H3548 shall charge her by an oath, H7650 and say H559 unto the woman, H802 If no man H376 have lain H7901 with thee, and if thou hast not gone aside H7847 to uncleanness H2932 with another instead of thy husband, H376 be thou free H5352 from this bitter H4751 water H4325 that causeth the curse: H779 But if thou hast gone aside H7847 to another instead of thy husband, H376 and if thou be defiled, H2930 and some man H376 have H5414 lain H7903 with thee beside H1107 thine husband: H376 Then the priest H3548 shall charge H7650 the woman H802 with an oath H7621 of cursing, H423 and the priest H3548 shall say H559 unto the woman, H802 The LORD H3068 make H5414 thee a curse H423 and an oath H7621 among H8432 thy people, H5971 when the LORD H3068 doth make H5414 thy thigh H3409 to rot, H5307 and thy belly H990 to swell; H6639 And this water H4325 that causeth the curse H779 shall go H935 into thy bowels, H4578 to make thy belly H990 to swell, H6638 and thy thigh H3409 to rot: H5307 And the woman H802 shall say, H559 Amen, H543 amen. H543 And the priest H3548 shall write H3789 these curses H423 in a book, H5612 and he shall blot H4229 them out with the bitter H4751 water: H4325 And he shall cause the woman H802 to drink H8248 the bitter H4751 water H4325 that causeth the curse: H779 and the water H4325 that causeth the curse H779 shall enter H935 into her, and become bitter. H4751 Then the priest H3548 shall take H3947 the jealousy H7068 offering H4503 out of the woman's H802 hand, H3027 and shall wave H5130 the offering H4503 before H6440 the LORD, H3068 and offer H7126 it upon the altar: H4196 And the priest H3548 shall take an handful H7061 of the offering, H4503 even the memorial H234 thereof, and burn H6999 it upon the altar, H4196 and afterward H310 shall cause the woman H802 to drink H8248 the water. H4325 And when he hath made her to drink H8248 the water, H4325 then it shall come to pass, that, if she be defiled, H2930 and have done H4603 trespass H4604 against her husband, H376 that the water H4325 that causeth the curse H779 shall enter H935 into her, and become bitter, H4751 and her belly H990 shall swell, H6638 and her thigh H3409 shall rot: H5307 and the woman H802 shall be a curse H423 among H7130 her people. H5971 And if the woman H802 be not defiled, H2930 but be clean; H2889 then she shall be free, H5352 and shall conceive H2232 seed. H2233 This is the law H8451 of jealousies, H7068 when a wife H802 goeth aside H7847 to another instead of her husband, H376 and is defiled; H2930 Or when the spirit H7307 of jealousy H7068 cometh H5674 upon him, H376 and he be jealous H7065 over his wife, H802 and shall set H5975 the woman H802 before H6440 the LORD, H3068 and the priest H3548 shall execute H6213 upon her all this law. H8451
Lest thou shouldest ponder H6424 the path H734 of life, H2416 her ways H4570 are moveable, H5128 that thou canst not know H3045 them.
So she caught H2388 him, and kissed H5401 him, and with an impudent H5810 face H6440 said H559 unto him, I have peace H8002 offerings H2077 with me; this day H3117 have I payed H7999 my vows. H5088 Therefore came I forth H3318 to meet H7125 thee, diligently to seek H7836 thy face, H6440 and I have found H4672 thee. I have decked H7234 my bed H6210 with coverings H4765 of tapestry, with carved H2405 works, with fine linen H330 of Egypt. H4714 I have perfumed H5130 my bed H4904 with myrrh, H4753 aloes, H174 and cinnamon. H7076 Come, H3212 let us take our fill H7301 of love H1730 until the morning: H1242 let us solace H5965 ourselves with loves. H159 For the goodman H376 is not at home, H1004 he is gone H1980 a long H7350 journey: H1870 He hath taken H3947 a bag H6872 of money H3701 with him, H3027 and will come H935 home H1004 at the day H3117 appointed. H3677 With her much H7230 fair speech H3948 she caused him to yield, H5186 with the flattering H2506 of her lips H8193 she forced H5080 him. He goeth H1980 after H310 her straightway, H6597 as an ox H7794 goeth H935 to the slaughter, H2874 or as a fool H191 to the correction H4148 of the stocks; H5914 Till a dart H2671 strike H6398 through his liver; H3516 as a bird H6833 hasteth H4116 to the snare, H6341 and knoweth H3045 not that it is for his life. H5315
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Proverbs 30
Commentary on Proverbs 30 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 30
Pr 30:1-33.
1. This is the title of this chapter (see Introduction).
the prophecy—literally, "the burden" (compare Isa 13:1; Zec 9:1), used for any divine instruction; not necessarily a prediction, which was only a kind of prophecy (1Ch 15:27, "a song"). Prophets were inspired men, who spoke for God to man, or for man to God (Ge 20:7; Ex 7:14, 15, 16). Such, also, were the New Testament prophets. In a general sense, Gad, Nathan, and others were such, who were divine teachers, though we do not learn that they ever predicted.
the man spake—literally, "the saying of the man"; an expression used to denote any solemn and important announcement (compare 2Sa 23:1; Ps 36:1; 110:1; Isa 1:24, &c.). Ithiel and Ucal were perhaps pupils.
2-4. brutish—stupid, a strong term to denote his lowly self-estimation; or he may speak of such as his natural condition, as contrasted with God's all-seeing comprehensive knowledge and almighty power. The questions of this clause emphatically deny the attributes mentioned to be those of any creature, thus impressively strengthening the implied reference of the former to God (compare De 30:12-14; Isa 40:12; Eph 4:8).
5. (Compare Ps 12:6; 119:140).
6. Add … words—implying that his sole reliance was on God's all-sufficient teaching.
reprove thee—or, "convict thee"—and so the falsehood will appear.
7-9. A prayer for exemption from wickedness, and the extremes of poverty and riches, the two things mentioned. Contentment is implied as desired.
8. vanity—all sorts of sinful acts (Job 11:11; Isa 5:18).
9. be full … deny—that is, puffed up by the pride of prosperity.
take the name … vain—This is not (Hebrew) the form (compare Ex 20:7), but "take" rather denotes laying violent hold on any thing; that is, lest I assail God's name or attributes, as justice, mercy, &c., which the poor are tempted to do.
10. Accuse not—Slander not (Ps 10:7).
curse … guilty—lest, however lowly, he be exasperated to turn on thee, and your guilt be made to appear.
11-14. Four kinds of hateful persons—(1) graceless children, (2) hypocrites, (3) the proud, (4) cruel oppressors (compare on Pr 30:14; Ps 14:4; 52:2)—are now illustrated; (1) Pr 30:15, 16, the insatiability of prodigal children and their fate; (2) Pr 30:17, hypocrisy, or the concealment of real character; (3 and 4) Pr 30:18-20, various examples of pride and oppression.
15, 16. horse leech—supposed by some to be the vampire (a fabulous creature), as being literally insatiable; but the other subjects mentioned must be taken as this, comparatively insatiable. The use of a fabulous creature agreeably to popular notions is not inconsistent with inspiration.
There are three … yea, four—(Compare Pr 6:16).
17. The eye—for the person, with reference to the use of the organ to express mockery and contempt, and also as that by which punishment is received.
the ravens … eagles … eat—either as dying unnaturally, or being left unburied, or both.
18-20. Hypocrisy is illustrated by four examples of the concealment of all methods or traces of action, and a pertinent example of double dealing in actual vice is added, that is, the adulterous woman.
20. she eateth … mouth—that is, she hides the evidences of her shame and professes innocence.
21-23. Pride and cruelty, the undue exaltation of those unfit to hold power, produce those vices which disquiet society (compare Pr 19:10; 28:3).
23. heir … mistress—that is, takes her place as a wife (Ge 16:4).
24-31. These verses provide two classes of apt illustrations of various aspects of the moral world, which the reader is left to apply. By the first (Pr 30:25-28), diligence and providence are commended; the success of these insignificant animals being due to their instinctive sagacity and activity, rather than strength. The other class (Pr 30:30, 31) provides similes for whatever is majestic or comely, uniting efficiency with gracefulness.
26. conies—mountain mice, or rabbits.
28. spider—tolerated, even in palaces, to destroy flies.
taketh … hands—or, uses with activity the limbs provided for taking prey.
32. As none can hope, successfully, to resist such a king, suppress even the thought of an attempt.
lay … hand upon thy mouth—"lay" is well supplied (Jud 18:19; Job 29:9; 40:4).
33. That is, strife—or other ills, as surely arise from devising evil as natural effects from natural causes.