COLLECTION 3:
The Thirty Sayings of the Wise (24.3-24)
…its health-giving properties make a good analogy to wisdom. --Allen Ross in EBC
Frequently the enemies of the pious are described as those who “lurk,” lie in wait for the unsuspecting: Ps 10:9; 59:3; Lam 4:19; Ezr 8:31. --Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament
> But it is venturing upon a haxqrdou course---He that toucheth you, toucheth the apple of mine eye.” (Zech ii.8) “I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest!”—struck the most relentless persecuter “trembling” to the earth. --Charles Bridges in GSC
rise again… …they will rise again; for virtue triumphs in the end. (Whybray, Book of Proverbs) –Allen Ross in EBC
fall… H3782 - shadad: (Niphal) 1b1 to stumble. 1b2 to be tottering, be feeble. --Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon
calamity… 1 bad, evil. 2 evil, distress, misery, injury, calamity. 3 evil, misery, distress, injury. --Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon
> To complete the thought we might add at the end of this saying “and turn it on you.” Gloating over someone else’s misfortune is a practice God disapproves even if the other person is the adversary of the righteous (cf. Matt. 5:44). Fear of God’s displeasure should warn the wise away from this attitude and activity. –Thomas Constable’s Expository Notes
> The Lord finds gloating so morally repulsive that he would rather turn away from his retributive justice than to look at abhorrent gloating. --Waltke in NICOT
> There may be a holy joy in the destruction of God’s enemies, as it tends to the glory of God and the welfare of the church (Ps. 58:10); but in the ruin of our enemies, as such, we must by no means rejoice; on the contrary, we must weep even with them when they weep (as David, Ps. 35:13, 14), and that in sincerity, not so much as letting our hearts be secretly glad at their calamities. --Mathew Henry
enemy… H341 - 'oyeb: The basic meaning of the verb is “to be hostile to,” “to be or treat as an enemy.” --Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament
glad… HH1523 – giyl: Root meaning is “to circle around” from which such ideas as “to circle in joy” are readily derived. The root meaning is more applicable to vigorous, enthusiastic expressions of joy; but, in the ot, it and its derivatives serve as poetic and prophetic terms for various kinds of joy. . --Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament
stumbles… H3782 – kāšal: stumble, totter, stagger (usually from weakness or weariness, or in flight from attackers). --Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament
This implies to not even rejoice when they experience less severe troubles.
18---
displease… H7489 - rāʿaʿ: be bad, evil. (Lit. it be evil in His eyes)
A. Prologue: Saying 1 (22.17-21)
B. Prohibitions about Power, Greed, and Wealth (22.22-23.11) [2-11]
C. Character and Cautions for a Wise Son (23.22-24.2) [12-20]
D. Trying Circumstances (24:3-12/13-22) [#21-30]
1. Strength in Distress
2. Involvement with the Wicked
B. Prohibitions about Power, Greed, and Wealth (22.22-23.11) [2-11]
C. Character and Cautions for a Wise Son (23.22-24.2) [12-20]
D. Trying Circumstances (24:3-12/13-22) [#21-30]
1. Strength in Distress
2. Involvement with the Wicked
SAYING
NUMBER 26: Sweet
Wisdom. (24.13-14)
13 My son, eat honey because it
is good,
And the
honeycomb which is sweet to your taste;
14 So shall the knowledge of
wisdom be to your soul;
[or
Know that wisdom is thus for your soul nasb] all versions imperative beside kjv, nkjv
If you
have found it, there is a prospect,
And your hope
will not be cut off.
honey…
The twenty-sixth saying teaches that one should develop wisdom because it has a
profitable future. The saying draws on the image of honey; its health-giving
properties make a good analogy to wisdom. –-NETBible
Study Notes
good… H2896 towb: good, pleasant, agreeable. – Enhanced Strong’s Dictionary…its health-giving properties make a good analogy to wisdom. --Allen Ross in EBC
What good
does honey do for you?
honeycomb… The
wisdom writer here follows a tradition found in both Psalm 19:10 and Ezekiel
3:3 in which God’s words/laws are equated with wisdom and are therefore to be
desired. In most Old Testament texts honey represents a natural resource,
probably the syrup of the date rather than bees’ honey. … Here the
reference to the honeycomb differentiates the product as bees’ honey. Note also
that honey from the comb would be the freshest and tastiest kind. Akkadian
texts also use honey figuratively as they speak of praise being sweeter than
honey or wine.
-–IVPBBC
14---
know… H3045 – yada: Know
… has its existential sense of experiencing and internalizing wisdom, … as in
the preamble to Proverbs.
--Waltke in NICOT
wisdom… H2451 - chokmah: wisdom
(shrewdness, skill)
…those
who find Christ God’s wisdom (1` Cor. 1:30), find eternal life and the
realization of an eternity of bliss in which they shall not be disappointed…
prospect… (ʾaḥărît) after part, end (of place),
latter part, future (of time). --Theological Wordbook of the
Old Testament
hope… H8615 - (tiqwâ)
1.cord (Josh 2:18, 21, only); 2.hope. This root means to wait or to look for
with eager expectation. …Waiting with steadfast endurance is a great expression
of faith. It means enduring patiently in confident hope that God will
decisively act for the salvation of his people. --Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament
The
motivation is that wisdom will have a long future to it. --Allen Ross in EBC
be cut
off… H3772 - karath: To
cut off; cut down
hcsb—never fade; nlt—cut short
> Those
who find Christ, God’s wisdom (1 Cor. 1:30), find eternal life and the
realization of an eternity of bliss in which they shall not be disappointed.
> In
addition to the literal meaning of this root, “to cut off” (Ex 4:25; I Sam 5:4)
and “to cut down” (I Kgs 5:20; a “woodcutter” in Isa 14:8) there is the
metaphorical meaning to root out, eliminate, remove, excommunicate or destroy
by a violent act of man or nature. It is sometimes difficult in a given context
to know whether the person(s) who is “cut off”’ is to be killed or only
excommunicated.
--Theological
Wordbook of the Old Testament
Pr.
23.17-18
Do not let your heart envy sinners,
But be
zealous for the fear of the LORD all the day;
For surely there is a hereafter,
And your
hope will not be cut off.
Thought / discussion:
How many observations can you make about wisdom from these verses?
- Wisdom is good/sweet like honey.
- We should “eat” wisdom.
- Wisdom is good/sweet to/for your soul.
- Wisdom is found.
- Wisdom gives hope.
- Wisdom’s hope will not be cut off.
Four prohibitions build on his truth and warn against unwise actions
and reactions. –Paul Koptak in NIVAC
SAYING NUMBER 27: Violence (24.15-16)
> This is spoken, not so much by way of counsel to wicked men
(they will not receive instruction, ch. 23:9), but rather in defiance of them,
for the encouragement of good people that are threatened by them.[1] --Matthew Henry
> To make a point the speaker spoke to his son as though he
were addressing a wicked man in this saying. This device gives the warning more
force since the wicked man’s main concern is his own self-interest. –Thomas Constable’s
Expository Notes
> It would be futile and self-defeating to mistreat God’s
people, for they survive—the wicked do not! The warning is against
attacking the righteous; to attack them is to attack God and His program, and
that will fail (see Matt 16:18) --Allen Ross in EBC
And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on
this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail
against it.
15 Do not
Do not
lie in
wait,
plunder
O wicked
man,
against
the dwelling resting place;
of the righteous;
his (out of order)
16 For a righteous man
may fall seven times
And rise
again,
But the
wicked shall fall by calamity.
Hatred to
the righteous is deeply rooted in the wicked man.
lie in
wait…
H693 - 'arab:
to lie in wait, ambush, lurk --BLBFrequently the enemies of the pious are described as those who “lurk,” lie in wait for the unsuspecting: Ps 10:9; 59:3; Lam 4:19; Ezr 8:31. --Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament
> But it is venturing upon a haxqrdou course---He that toucheth you, toucheth the apple of mine eye.” (Zech ii.8) “I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest!”—struck the most relentless persecuter “trembling” to the earth. --Charles Bridges in GSC
dwelling… H5116 - nāweh: 1. pasture,
abode of shepherd, habitation; 2. dwelling, abiding (Ps 68:13, only).
righteous… H6662 - tsaddiyq: just, lawful, righteous
resting
place…
The metaphor his resting place refers literally to the abode of animals.
--Waltke in NICOT
dwelling … resting-place. [Both
nouns have a pastoral association. Unless they are rhetorical choice for
‘house,’ they may suggest that the admonition is addressed to city criminals
who went out to attack righteous men living in agricultural settlements,
because these were not defended.] –-Cohen in Proverbs
by Soncino Books…
plunder… H7703 - shadad: (Piel).
1C1 to assault. 1C2 to devastate. --Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon
resting
place… H7258 – rebets: resting or
dwelling place, place of lying down --Enhanced Strong’s
Lexicon
16-----
For signals the connection between
the admonition (v. 15) and its validation (v. 16). --Waltke in NICOT
fall… naphal (naw·fal):
v. A primitive root; 1 to fall, lie, be cast down, fail. 1A (Qal). 1A1 to
fall. 1A2 to fall (of violent death).
>The intensification shows clearly
that the life of the righteous does not pass
without unmerited suffering (see I:
107). --Waltke in NICOT
> Since
the righteous rise after a violent and final fall, his recovering points to his
resurrection from the death. --Waltke in NICOT
seven
times… an idiom for ‘often.’
(Ibn Ezra). –-Cohen
in Proverbs by Soncino Books…rise again… …they will rise again; for virtue triumphs in the end. (Whybray, Book of Proverbs) –Allen Ross in EBC
fall… H3782 - shadad: (Niphal) 1b1 to stumble. 1b2 to be tottering, be feeble. --Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon
calamity… 1 bad, evil. 2 evil, distress, misery, injury, calamity. 3 evil, misery, distress, injury. --Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon
Discussion / thought:
- What consolation or hope does this Proverb give us if we are attacked and oppressed.
- Can you think of a Bible story that illustrates this saying? ( Daniel 6:1-12)
> To complete the thought we might add at the end of this saying “and turn it on you.” Gloating over someone else’s misfortune is a practice God disapproves even if the other person is the adversary of the righteous (cf. Matt. 5:44). Fear of God’s displeasure should warn the wise away from this attitude and activity. –Thomas Constable’s Expository Notes
> The Lord finds gloating so morally repulsive that he would rather turn away from his retributive justice than to look at abhorrent gloating. --Waltke in NICOT
What makes gloating such a grievous offense?
> The proverb censures the
pollution of justice and the thwarting of it by another sin. --Waltke in
NICO
17
And
Do not rejoice
do
not let your heart be glad
when your
enemy when he
falls,
stumbles;
18 Lest the Lord see it, and
it displease Him,
And He turn
away His wrath from him.
17 Synonymous parallel
rejoice…
H8055 – sâmach (saw-makh'): a primitive root; probably to brighten up,
i.e. (figuratively) be (causatively, make) blithe or gleesome --BLB> There may be a holy joy in the destruction of God’s enemies, as it tends to the glory of God and the welfare of the church (Ps. 58:10); but in the ruin of our enemies, as such, we must by no means rejoice; on the contrary, we must weep even with them when they weep (as David, Ps. 35:13, 14), and that in sincerity, not so much as letting our hearts be secretly glad at their calamities. --Mathew Henry
enemy… H341 - 'oyeb: The basic meaning of the verb is “to be hostile to,” “to be or treat as an enemy.” --Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament
glad… HH1523 – giyl: Root meaning is “to circle around” from which such ideas as “to circle in joy” are readily derived. The root meaning is more applicable to vigorous, enthusiastic expressions of joy; but, in the ot, it and its derivatives serve as poetic and prophetic terms for various kinds of joy. . --Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament
stumbles… H3782 – kāšal: stumble, totter, stagger (usually from weakness or weariness, or in flight from attackers). --Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament
This implies to not even rejoice when they experience less severe troubles.
18---
displease… H7489 - rāʿaʿ: be bad, evil. (Lit. it be evil in His eyes)
turn away… H7725 - shuwb: to return, turn back
turn away His wrath from him.
And turn
it upon thee (Metsudath David, Ralbag, Ibn Ezra). Saadia Gaon proceeds to
expound on this point that it is impossible to explain the verse in its simple
sense, viz. that one should not rejoice at the misfortune in order that his
enemy should not be released from this trouble or raised from his downfall, for
then the command would be to see that the enemy remain with his
punishment. The intention is that God will see your cruelty and your
vengeance and weigh your deeds against the deeds of your enemy. In this
way, He will declare you more wicked than he, and visit his retribution upon
you (Malbim). Alshich explains that the Lord will see whether the
person rejoices because of the downfall of the wicked man who rebels against
Him or because his personal enemy has fallen. –-Cohen in Proverbs by Soncino
Books…
> To
complete the thought we might add at the end of this saying “and turn it on
you.” Gloating over someone else’s misfortune is a practice God disapproves
even if the other person is the adversary of the righteous (cf. Matt. 5:44). Fear of God’s displeasure
should warn the wise away from this attitude and activity. –Thomas
Constable’s Expository Notes
wrath… ʾap:
nostril, face, anger. The double pe in the plural shows its derivation from ʾānēp.
Discussion / thought:
- What is an enemy in this context?
- What sins are the roots from which gloating grows?
- Does this saying have any applications for our children’s sports leagues or competitions?
SAYING
NUMBER 29: Fretting.
(24.19-20)
> “If 24:17-18 tell us not to rejoice at
the misfortunes of the wicked, these tell us not to worry when they
succeed.” --Koptak in NIVAC
> It is foolish to envy the
wicked, because they are doomed (see 3:31; 23:17-18; 24:1-2) --Allen Ross in EBC
> …linked to the preceding
two by the catchwords “wicked” (pl., vv. 16b, 20b) and “calamity/evil (vv. 18a,
20a) and by… --Waltke in NICOT
19 Do not fret
Nor be envious
because
of of
evildoers,
the wicked;
20 For there will
be no prospect for the evil man;
The lamp
of the wicked will be put out.
cf. Ps. xxxvii.1
fret… Fret” (Heb. tithar) means to burn up emotionally. The sage again addressed the problem of envying wicked people who enjoy temporary prosperity (cf. 23:17; 24:1). –NETBible Translation Notes
fret… Fret” (Heb. tithar) means to burn up emotionally. The sage again addressed the problem of envying wicked people who enjoy temporary prosperity (cf. 23:17; 24:1). –NETBible Translation Notes
> …the anger is not directed against
anyone but is felt as an internal agitation, a fretting, connected with envy
that maight occasion choosing evil to satify one’s passions (see 3:31). --Waltke in NICOT
envious… H7065 - qana':
(Piel) to be jealous of, envious of, zealous for, to excite to jealous anger
prospect… H319 - 'achariyth:
after part, end
lamp… H5216 - niyr:
The words nēr and nîr refer to the small bowl like objects
which contained oil and a wick to be lit to provide light --Theological
Wordbook of the Old Testament
Will be
put out…
(Qal) to go out, be extinguished
…be put
out in the darkness of Seol (Job 18:5-6; 22:177). Why fret at or be
envious of anyone with such a bleak future..
SAYING NUMBER 30: Rebellion. (24.21-22)
> The reverse of this fear is not
courage but foolhardy rebellion. --Koptak in NIVAC
21 My son, fear the Lord
and the king;
Do not
associate with those given to change;
22 For their calamity
will rise suddenly,
And who
knows the ruin those two can bring?
fear… H3372 - yare': to
fear, be afraid; to stand in awe of, be awed; to fear, reverence, honour,
respect --BLB
> In this discussion, biblical usages of yārēʾ are
divided into five general categories:1) the emotion of fear, 2) the
intellectual anticipation of evil without emphasis upon the emotional reaction,
3) reverence or awe, 4) righteous behaviour or piety, and 5) formal
religious worship. Major OT synonyms include pāḥad, ḥātat, and ḥārad as well as several words
referring to shaking or quaking as a result of fear.
> There are many examples of the third usage listed
above. Such reverence is due to one’s parents (Lev 19:3), holy places
(Lev 26:2), God (Ps 112:1), and God’s name (Ps 86:11).[3]
--Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament
associate… ʿārab: to be; become surety, mortgage,
engage, occupy, undertake for; give pledges (Hithpael).
nasb, nkjv, nlt—associate with; esv, niv—join with:
given to
change… (šānâ; lit, “people
who change,” i.e. political agitators; see notes)
The verb šānâ is sometimes used to
describe a change in character or way or life. --Theological Wordbook of the Old
Testament
calamity… H343 - 'eyd: 1
distress, burden, calamity. 1A burden (of the righteous). 1B calamity (of
nation). 1C disaster (of wicked). 1D day of calamity. --Enhanced
Strong’s Lexicon
suddenly… H6597 - pith'owm:
suddenly, surprisingly, in a moment
…”suddenly,” which connotes
unexpectedly. --Waltke in NICOT
ruin… H6365 - piyd:
misfortune, distress, calamity, i.e., a state or causation that causes trouble
and hardship (Job 12:5; 30:24; 31:29; Pr 24:22+) --Dictionary
of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains
those two… The pronoun “their” and “the two
of them” in v. 22b look back to “the Lord and the king… --Waltke
in NICOT
