Clarke's Commentary - Proverbs - Song Of ... - Media Sabda Org

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of hell, that he may burn it seven times, because of its sins. But there is found in it a poor wise man-a good, wise, and holy affection, which prevails over the evil principle, and snatches the body from the judgment of hell, by the strength of its wisdom. Yet, after this deliverance, the man did not remember what the good principle had done for him; but said in his heart, I am innocent," &c. What a wonderful text has this been in the hands of many a modern Targumist; and with what force have the Keachonians preached Christ crucified from it! Such a passage as this receives a fine illustration from the case of Archimedes saving the city of Syracuse from all the Roman forces besieging it by sea ana land. He destroyed their ships by his burning-glasses, lifted up their galleys out of the water by his machines, dashing some to pieces, and sinking others. One man's wisdom here prevailed for a long time against the most powerful exertions of a mighty nation. In this case, wisdom far exceeded strength. But was not Syracuse taken, notwithstanding the exertions of this poor wise man? No. But it was betrayed by the baseness of Mericus, a Spaniard, one of the Syracusan generals. He delivered the whole district he commanded into the hands of Marcellus, the Roman consul, Archimedes having defeated every attempt made by the Romans, either by sea or land: yet he commanded no company of men, made no sorties, but confounded and destroyed them by his machines. This happened about 208 years before Christ, and nearly about the time in which those who do not consider Solomon as the author suppose this book to have been written. This wise man was not remembered; he was slain by a Roman soldier while deeply engaged in demonstrating a new problem, in order to his farther operations against the enemies of his country. See Plutarch, and the historians of this Syracusan war. When Alexander the Great was about to destroy the city Lampsacus, his old master Anaximenes came out to meet him. Alexander, suspecting his design, that he would intercede for the city, being determined to destroy it, swore that he would not grant him any thing he should ask. Then said Anaximenes, "I desire that you will destroy this city." Alexander respected his oath, and the city was spared. Thus, says Valerius Maximus, the narrator, (lib. vii. c. iii., No. 4. Extern.,) by this sudden turn of sagacity, this ancient and noble city was preserved from the destruction by which it was threatened. "Haec velocitas sagacitatis oppidum vetusta nobilitate inclytum exitio, cui destinatum erat, subtraxit." A stratagem of Jaddua, the high priest, was the means of preserving Jerusalem from being destroyed by Alexander, who, incensed because they had assisted the inhabitants of Gaza when he besieged it, as soon as he had reduced it, marched against Jerusalem, with the determination to raze it to the ground; but Jaddua and his priests in their sacerdotal robes, meeting him on the way, he was so struck with their appearance that he not only prostrated himself before the high priest, and spared the city, but also granted it some remarkable privileges. But the case of Archimedes and Syracuse is the most striking and appropriate in all its parts. That of Anaximenes and Lampsacus is also highly illustrative of the maxim of the wise man: "Wisdom is better than strength." Verse 16. The poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.] I cannot help pursuing this illustration a little farther. The soldier who found Archimedes busily employed in drawing figures upon the sand, put to him some impertinent question, withal rudely obtruding
himself on his operations. To whom this wonderful mathematician replied, "Stand off, soldier, and do not spoil my diagram;" on which the bloody savage struck him dead! Verse 17. The words of wise men are heard in quiet] In the tumult of war the words of Archimedes were not heard; and his life was lost. Verse 18. Wisdom is better than weapons of war] So proved in the case of Archimedes. But one sinner] Such as the Roman butcher above mentioned. Destroyeth much good] Such as were the life and skill of the Syracusan mathematician. One sinner has often injured the work of God; one stumbling-block has sometimes destroyed a revival of religion. Sin acts like a ferment; whatever comes in contact with it, it assimilates to itself.
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WESLEYAN HERITAGE Library Commentar
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ON THE DESIGNED AS A HELP TO A BETT
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Those nations with which we are bes
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affection, and piety towards God. T
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Equity] mesharim, rectitude. The pu
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will shall be free; or, rather, tha
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to turn, because he was of the peth
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Verse 9. Then shalt thou understand
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PROVERBS CHAPTER III An exhortation
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Some have rendered the last clause,
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Verse 19. The Lord by wisdom hath f
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PROVERBS CHAPTER IV The preceptor c
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steps are not straitened; he sees h
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in pace producet. "For himself will
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her own husband for the sake of her
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PROVERBS CHAPTER VI Exhortations ag
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Verse 15. Suddenly shall he be brok
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Verse 34. Jealousy is the rage of a
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endangering himself by cohabiting w
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wounded, also signifies soldiers or
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human race. As Jesus Christ tasted
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shophetey tsedek, "righteous judges
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heavens in the course of a single h
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egotten, nor proceeding, more than
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PROVERBS CHAPTER IX Wisdom builds h
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myrrh, mandragora, opium, and such
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PROVERBS CHAPTER X It is impossible
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Think much, speak little, and alway
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PROVERBS CHAPTER XI A parallel of t
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Verse 21. Though hand join in hand]
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times the women in Judea did some o
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Verse 21. There shall no evil happe
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PROVERBS CHAPTER XIII Various moral
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mekor chaiyim, the great aorta whic
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PROVERBS CHAPTER XIV Various moral
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2. He shall be satisfied from himse
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But the righteous hath hope in his
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Verse 13. By sorrow of the heart th
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PROVERBS CHAPTER XVI Man prepares,
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Verse 6. By mercy and truth iniquit
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Verse 27. An ungodly man diggeth up
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PROVERBS CHAPTER XVII Contentment.
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Verse 26. Nor to strike princes for
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Verse 4. The words of a man's mouth
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Verse 20. With the fruit of his mou
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PROVERBS CHAPTER XIX The worth of a
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Verse 26. He that wasteth his fathe
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Verse 9. Who can say, I have made m
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And after vows to make inquiry.] Th
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Verse 9. In a corner of the houseto
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PROVERBS CHAPTER XXII A good reputa
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"The docile colt is form'd with gen
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4. They must not only be heard, but
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Verse 23. For the Lord will plead t
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PROVERBS CHAPTER XXIII Sobriety in
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Verse 27. For a whore is a deep dit
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Thy strength is small.] tsar cochac
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Verse 18. And he turn away his wrat
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paid no attention to it. He alone w
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Verse 3. The heaven for height] The
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Verse 15. A soft tongue breaketh th
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PROVERBS CHAPTER XXVI Honour is not
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Verse 20. Where no wood is, there t
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danger. So is the man who leaves hi
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Verse 25. The hay appeareth] Take c
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Verse 5. They that seek the Lord un
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PROVERBS CHAPTER XXIX We must not d
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To this verse the VULGATE adds the
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Agur seems to have been a public te
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Lest he reprove thee] Lest he try t
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The word alukah, which we here tran
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confidential slaves, that no regime
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PROVERBS CHAPTER XXXI The words and
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3. She is an unspotted wife. The he
Page 149 and 150: 11. She is truly charitable. She kn
Page 151 and 152: Verse 27. She looketh well to the w
Page 153 and 154: INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF ECCLESI
Page 155 and 156: PROPOSITION III Men known not what
Page 157 and 158: PRACTICAL INFERENCES Chap. Ver. XI.
Page 159 and 160: highest to the lowest station; the
Page 161 and 162: produce a real and lasting advantag
Page 163 and 164: The royal preacher loud proclaims,
Page 165 and 166: own discoveries, which have been wr
Page 167 and 168: ECCLESIASTES CHAPTER II The vanity
Page 169 and 170: If, after all this, I may add one c
Page 171 and 172: Verse 23. His days are sorrows] Wha
Page 173 and 174: Verse 3. A time to kill,—heal,—
Page 175 and 176: and anxieties, submit to God; make
Page 177 and 178: Verse 20. All go unto one place]
Page 179 and 180: ECCLESIASTES CHAPTER IV The vanity
Page 181 and 182: Rushn Achter signifies a bright or
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Page 185 and 186: Verse 18. Behold that which I have
Page 187 and 188: mehaloch nephesh, is the travelling
Page 189 and 190: Verse 6. For as the crackling of th
Page 191 and 192: exalted, while living wickedly. The
Page 193 and 194: influence with her ascendancy; his
Page 195 and 196: is power-influence, authority, and
Page 197 and 198: ECCLESIASTES CHAPTER IX No men know
Page 199: of help; and, 4. No wisdom—restor
Page 203 and 204: solicitude must naturally be to enr
Page 205 and 206: But money answereth all] This sayin
Page 207 and 208: are themselves generally good for n
Page 209 and 210: III. Remember him in thy YOUTH, in
Page 211 and 212: 11. Fears shall be in the way] They
Page 213 and 214: author of this book: the fountains,
Page 215 and 216: Verse 14. For God shall bring every
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Page 219 and 220: I had for a long time hesitated whe
Page 221 and 222: and forsaken, &c.; and that the Cor
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Page 225 and 226: IDYL V Scene, a Chiosk or Pavilion
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Page 229 and 230: We will run after thee] Speaking in
Page 231 and 232: principal ornaments of their faces.
Page 233 and 234: Meantime the lofty rooms the prince
Page 235 and 236: eating the grapes. They abounded in
Page 237 and 238: The bottom thereof of gold] This ma
Page 239 and 240: Within thy locks.] See on #So 4:1,
Page 241 and 242: Now buskin'd like the virgin huntre
Page 243 and 244: passage has been proposed by Mr. Ha
Page 245 and 246: Verse 4. My beloved put in his hand
Page 247 and 248: SONG OF SOLOMON CHAPTER VI The comp
Page 249 and 250: With this chapter the fifth night i
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did not project from the mountain a
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SONG OF SOLOMON CHAPTER VIII The lo
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As soon then as my sister is in my
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