The Pulpit Commentary — Proverbs — Section 186

of the inner court ore meant, which sup- Word refreshes us when we are wearierl and ported the gallery of the first story. Four come to him away from the buruen" of the of these were in the corners, three in the world, and by its effect of refresldn"' middle of three sides, while the entrance to strengthens as against our adversaries 7• the court was through the fourth side of the (' Moral.,' xvii. 43, Oxford transl.). square. The number seven generally denotes Ver. 3.-She he.th sent forth her maidens, perfection ; it is the covenant number, ex- e.e in Matt. xxii. 3, to call them that were pressive of harmony and unity generally, bidden to the feast. The Septuagint has the signature of holiness and blessing, com- .-ol,s fovT;j, 606;1.ovs, "her servants,'' bnt the pleteness and rest. So in the Apocalypse Authorized Version is correct, and feminino the whole Church is represented by the attendants are in strict harmonv with the number of seven Churches (Rev. i. 4, etc.; rest of the apologue. By them· are repre- see on eh. xxvi. 16). Wisdom's house is said sented the apostles and preachers and to be thus fonnded because of its perfectiun ministers, who go forth to win souls for and adaptability to all states of men. But CbrLtt. St. Gregory se s in their bc,ing deubtless there is a referenee to the seven- called "maidend" an intimation that they fold gift~ of the Holy Spirit, which rested are in themselves weak and abjPct, and are upon the Christ (lsa. xi. 2, etc.), and whfoh only nseful and honoured as heing the a.re the support ancl str~ngth of the Church, mouthpiece of their Lord (' Moral.,' xxxiii, being symbolized by the seven-branched 311). She crieth upon the highest places of candlestick in the temple. the city, where her voice coul<l beat be heard, Ver. 2.-She hath killed her beasts. So as in eh. viii. 2; Matt. x. 27. She is not in the parable of the marrit1ge of the king"s satisfied with delegating her message to son (Matt. xxii., which is parallel to the others; she deli verd it herself. Septuagint, present), the king sends his servants to "calling with a loud proclamation to t1,e cup notify the guests that the oxen and fatlin~s {11rl ,cpaTriP");" Vulgat,·, ,llisit ancillas ,uaa a.re killed, and all things are ready. Wis- ut vocarent ad arcem et ad mamia civilatit, dom has stores of nourishment for under- "She has sent her handmaids to invite to standing and affection ; and Christ has the citadel, and to the walls of the town." offered himse If as a Victim in our behalf, On which rendering St. Gregory comments, and now makes bounteous offers of grace, "In that while they tell of the interior life, and especially has ordained the sacrament they lift us up to the high walls of the city of the Lord's Supper for the strengthening above, which same walls, surely, except any and refreshing of the soul. She hath mingled be humble, they do not ascend" (' Moral.,' her wine; Septuagint, "She hath mixed x:vii. 43). (i,dpa.uw) her wine in e. bowl." The wi.ue which, untempered, was too luscious or too Vers. 4-12.-Here follows the invitation fiery to drink, was marle palatable by a of Wisdom, urging the atteudauce of guests certain admixture of water. It was always at the sumptuous banquet which she has so mixed at the Passover; and the ancient prepared (comp. liev. xix. 9). Christian Liturgies direct the mixtnre in the celebration ot' the Holy Eucharist, doubt- Ver. 4.-Whoso is simple, let him turn in less from traditional use. Some, however, hither. This is e. direct address to the im- think that allusion is here me.de to the cus- prudent and inexperienced (see on eh. vii. tom of adding drugs to wine in order to 7), calling them to tnrn aside from the way increase its potency. Among the Greeks, on which they ure going, and to come to her. 1i1tpa..-os0Tvosmeant" wine without water,'' and Vulgate, ai qu.is est parrrulus veniat ad me, in Rev. xiv. 10 we have 1i1tpa.To111<<1<<pauµ.lvov, which reminds one of Christ's tender words, "undiluted wine mixed." And probably in "It is not the will of your l!'atber which is the text the notion is that the fluid for the in heaven, that one of these little ones sliould guests' delectation is properly prepared, that perish" (Matt. xviii. 14). As for him that there me.y be no trouble when they arrive(see we.nteth nnderstanding, she saith to him on oh. x:xiii. 30). She hath also furnished what follows (so ver. 16). Wisdom's ow11 her table, by arranging the dishes, etc., speech is interrupted, and the writer himself thereon (Pa. xxiii. 5, "Thou preparest a introduces this little clause. She calls on table before me,'' where the same verb, arak, the simple and the unwise. both as necessarily is used; comp. Isa. xxi. 5). Momlizing on needing her teaching, and not yet inveterate this passage, St. Gregory says, "The Lord in evil, nor wilfully opposed to better guid- • killed the sacrifices' by offering himself on ance. "The world by wisdom knew not our behalf. Ho 'mingled the wiue,' blend- God," and he II hath chosen the foolish things ing together the cup of his precepts from of the Wt>rld to confoun,1 the wise, and the the historical narration and the spiritual weak things of the worhl to confound the signification. And he 'set forth his table,' thing~ that are mighty, and baso things of ,.e, Holy Writ, which with the hrelld of the the world, and tbing,i which are dc~pisc..1 1 182 THE PROVERBS. [err. IX. 1-18.