The Pulpit Commentary — Proverbs — Section 167

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers. 1-27.-.A tragedy of temptation. This is a fine piece of dramatic moral description, and there is no reason why it should not be made use of, handled with ta.et and delicacy, with an audience of young men. I. 'l'nE PROLOGUE. (Vers. 1-5.) On ver. 1, see eh. i. 8; ii. 1; vi. 20. On ver. 2, see on eh. iv. 4. Here an expression not before used occurs. "Keep my doctrine as thine eye-apple;" literally, "the little man in thine e_ve." It is an Orieuta.l figure for what is a treasured possession (Deut. xxxi.i. 10; P~. xvii. 8). On ver. 3, see ou eh. iii. 3; vi. 21. "Bind them on thy fingers," like costly rings. Let Wisdom be addressed and regarded as "sister," Prudence as "intimate friend" (ver. 4). On ver. 5, see on eh. ii 16; vi. 24. On the prologue as a whole, remark (1) it is intense in feeling, (2) concentrated in purpose, and hence (3) exhaustive in images of that which is precious and desirable before all else. It is an overture which gives the theme of the drama with the deepest impressiveness. II. THE FIRST ACT. (Vers. 6-9.) The teacher looked through a f!:rnted loophole, or eshnab, and saw among the silly fools, the simple ones, who passed by or stood chatting, one simpleton in particular, who attracted his notice. He watched him turn a corner (hesitating, and looking a.round a moment, according to Ewald's explanation), and pass down a street. The Hebrew word finely shows the deliberncy, the measured step, with which he goes; he has made up his mind to rush into sin. It was late in the evening-" dark, dark, dark," says the writer, with tragic and suggestive iteration -dark in every sense. The night is prophetic. III. THE SECOND ACT. (Vers. 10-20.) A woman-" the attire of a harlot" (as if she were nothing but a piece of dress), with a heart full of wiles, meets him. She was excitable, noisy, uncontrollable, gadding-now in the streets, now in tbe markets, now at every corner (vers. 11, 12). Her characteristics have not changed from ancient times, And so with effrontery she seizes and kisses the fool, and sol_icitE him with 1;,razon impudence. Thank offerings had "weighed upon" her in consequence of a vow; but this day the sacrificial animal has been slain, and the meat which, accordin.z to the Law, must be consumed within two days, has beeu prepared for a feast. .A.ncl she invites him to the entertainment, fires his fancy with luxurious descriptions of the variegated tapestries and the neat perfumes of her couch, and the promise of illicit pleasures. She alludes with cool shamelessness to her absent husband, who will not return till the day of the full moon (ver. 20). "This verse glides smoothly, as if we could hear the sweet fluting of the temptress's voice." But it is as the song of birds in a wood before an awful storm. IV. THE TRIRD ACT. (Vers. 21-23.) Her seductive speech, the "fulness of her doctrine," as the writer ironically says, and the smoothness of her lips, overcome tho yielding imagination of her victim. Ver. 22 implies that he had hesitated; but "al I ,it once," passiou getting the better of reflection, he follows her like a bruto uncler tlrn dominion of a foreign will driven to the slaughter-house. He is passive in the power of the temptress, as the fool who has got into the stocks. "'l'ill a dart cleave his Ziver"-the supposed seat of passion. Hastening like a bird into the net, he knows uot that bis life is at stake. V. THE EPILOGUE. (Vars. 24-27.) On ver. 24, soe on eh. v. 7. "Let not thy heart turn nsido to her ways, and go not astrny on her paths." Properly, "reel not"  160 'l'I-IE PilOVERDS. [ou. vm. 1-36,