Clarke's Commentary - Proverbs - Song Of ... - Media Sabda Org
Clarke's Commentary - Proverbs - Song Of ... - Media Sabda Org Clarke's Commentary - Proverbs - Song Of ... - Media Sabda Org
"But let me sharpen others, as the hone Gives edge to razors, though itself have none." FRANCIS. Verse 19. As in water face answereth to face] All men's hearts are pretty nearly alike; water is not more like to water, than one heart is to another. Or, as a man sees his face perfectly reflected by the water, when looking into it; so the wise and penetrating man sees generally what is in the heart of another by considering the general tenor of his words and actions. "Surely, if each man saw another's heart There would be no commerce; All would disperse, And live apart." HERBERT. Verse 20. Hell and destruction are never full] How hideous must the soul of a covetous man be, when God compares it to hell and perdition! The eyes of man are never satisfied.] As the grave can never be filled up with bodies, nor perdition with souls; so the restless desire, the lust of power, riches, and splendour, is never satisfied. Out of this ever unsatisfied desire spring all the changing fashions, the varied amusements, and the endless modes of getting money, prevalent in every age, and in every country. Verse 21. As the fining pot for silver] As silver and gold are tried by the art of the refiner, so is a man's heart by the praise he receives. If he feel it not, he deserves it; if he be puffed up by it, he is worthless. Verse 22. Though thou shouldest bray a fool] Leaving all other conjectures, of which commentators are full, I would propose, that this is a metaphor taken from pounding metallic ores in very large mortars, such as are still common in the East, in order that, when subjected to the action of the fire, the metal may be the more easily separated from the ore. However you may try, by precept or example, or both, to instruct a stupid man, your labour is lost; his foolishness cannot be separated from him. You may purge metals of all their dross; but you cannot purge the fool of his folly. Verse 23. The state of thy flocks] The directions to the end of the chapter refer chiefly to pastoral and agricultural affairs. Do not trust thy flocks to the shepherd merely; number them thyself; look into their condition; see how they are tended; and when, and with what, and in what proportion, they are fed. Verse 24. For riches are not for ever] All other kinds of property are very transitory. Money and the highest civil honours are but for a short season. Flocks and herds, properly attended to, may be multiplied and continued from generation to generation. The crown itself is not naturally so permanent.
Verse 25. The hay appeareth] Take care that this be timeously mown, carefully dried, and safely ricked or housed. And when the tender grass and the proper herbs appear in the mountains in the spring, then send forth the lambs, the young of the flock, that they may get suitable pasturage, without too much impoverishing the home fields; for by the sale of the lambs and goats, the price of the field is paid-all the landlord's demands are discharged. Either a certain number of lambs, goats, and other cattle, was given to the landlord; or so much money as so many lambs, &c., were then worth. Verse 26. The lambs are for thy clothing] So many fleeces are given in some places as rent to the landlord. Verse 27. Goats' milk enough for thy food] lelachmecha, "to thy bread;" for they ate the bread and supped the milk to assist mastication, and help deglutition. And it seems that bread, with goats' milk, was the general article of food for the master and his family; and for the servant maids who assisted in the household work, and performed the operations required in the dairy. The reader who wishes to see these maxims detailed and illustrated at large, may consult the writers De Re Rustica, where he will find much curious information.
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- Page 113 and 114: Thy strength is small.] tsar cochac
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- Page 121 and 122: Verse 15. A soft tongue breaketh th
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- Page 127: danger. So is the man who leaves hi
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- Page 149 and 150: 11. She is truly charitable. She kn
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- Page 153 and 154: INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF ECCLESI
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Verse 25. The hay appeareth] Take care that this be timeously mown, carefully dried, and safely<br />
ricked or housed. And when the tender grass and the proper herbs appear in the mountains in the<br />
spring, then send forth the lambs, the young of the flock, that they may get suitable pasturage,<br />
without too much impoverishing the home fields; for by the sale of the lambs and goats, the price<br />
of the field is paid-all the landlord's demands are discharged. Either a certain number of lambs, goats,<br />
and other cattle, was given to the landlord; or so much money as so many lambs, &c., were then<br />
worth.<br />
Verse 26. The lambs are for thy clothing] So many fleeces are given in some places as rent to<br />
the landlord.<br />
Verse 27. Goats' milk enough for thy food] lelachmecha, "to thy bread;" for they ate<br />
the bread and supped the milk to assist mastication, and help deglutition. And it seems that bread,<br />
with goats' milk, was the general article of food for the master and his family; and for the servant<br />
maids who assisted in the household work, and performed the operations required in the dairy.<br />
The reader who wishes to see these maxims detailed and illustrated at large, may consult the<br />
writers De Re Rustica, where he will find much curious information.
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