The Pulpit Commentary — Proverbs — Section 323

CHAPTER XVII. doeth shamefully; i.e. e. son of bis master. (For similar contrast between " wise" and Ver. 1.-(Domp. eh. xv. 16, 17; xvi. 8.) "shameful," comp. eh. x. 5; xiv. 35.) Slaves Better (sweeter) is a dry morsel, and quiet- were often raised to high honour, and might ness therewith. Dry bread was soaked in inherit their master's possessions. Thus wine or water before it was eaten. Thus Abraham's servant, Eliezer of Damascus, Boaz bid Ruth "dip her morsel in the was e.t one time considered the patriarch's vinegar" (Ruth ii. 14); thns Jesus gave heir (Gen. xv. 2, 3); Zibe., Saul's servant, the sop to Judas when he had dipped it obtained the inheritance of his lord Mephi- (John riii. 26). Tbe Septuagint is pleo- boeheth (" the Shameful," 2 Sam. xvi. 4); ne.stic, "Better is e. morsel with joy in Joseph WRB advanced to the highest post in peace." Aben Ezra connects this verse Egypt. Eccfos. x. 25, "Unto the servant with the last two of eh. xvi., confining the that is wise shall they that aro free do application to the patient man; but the service; and' he that is wise will not grudge sentence seems rather to be independent when he is reformed." Septuagint," A wise and general. Than an house full of sacri- household servant shall rule over foolish fices with strife. Of the thank or peace masters." "I have seen," says Ecclesiastes offerings part only was burnt upon the (x. 7), "servants upon horses, and princes altar, the rest was ea.ten by the offerer and walking as servants upon the earth." Shall his family; and as the victims were always have part of the inheritance among the the choicest animals, "e. honse full of sacri- brethren; shall share ou equal terms with fices" would contain the materiala for the sons of the house. This innovntion on sumptuous feasting (see on eh. vii. 14). the usual disposition of property could The joyous family festival often degenerated huppcn only in the case of e.n abnormally into excess, which naturally led to quarrels intelligent and trusted slave. In I Cbron. and strife (see 1 8am. i 5, 6, 13; ii. 13, etc.). ii. 34, etc., mention is made of a case where So the agapie of the early Church were e. master, hnving no son, gnve bis daughter desecrated by licence and selfishness (I Cor. in mnrriage to a slave, ancJ adopted him xi. 20, etc.). Septuagint," than a house full into the family. Delitzsch understnnds the of many good things and unrighteous vic- clause to menn that the slave shnll have tims with contention." With this verse the office of dividing his master's inheri- compare the Spanish proverb, "Mas vale tance e.rnoug the heirs, shall be the executor un pedazo de pan con amor, que gallinas of his deceased master's will; but this ex- con dolor." planation hardly seems to do justice to the Ver. 2.-A wise servant shall have rule merits of the "wise servant," and trikes no over e. son that canseth she.me. Here is account of the idea involved in" shameful intimated the supremacy of wisdom over son." Dut the Septuagint appears tci folly an,! vice. The contrast is better em- countenance this view, rendering, "and plutBized by translating, A servant that among the brethren he shall dhide tho dealeth ioiBely shall have role oi·er a son that portions." ott. XV!l. 1-28.] THE PROVERBS. 331