The Pulpit Commentary — Proverbs — Section 424

EXPOSITION. CHAPTER XXIII. such entertainment is not offered for friend- ship's sake, but for some sinister purpose-to Vers. 1-3.-A hexastich closely con• mak~ a mo.n expose himself, to get at a nected with the last verse of the preceding man s ree.l character or secrets. l<'ar from obe.ptcr, as if the wo.rniug we.s e.ddressed to being a sigu of favour and good will, the the man of fkill whom his to.lents he.d me.do seeming honour is deceptive anti dangerous. ,ve all know Horace'd lines, • Ara Poet.,' the guest of kings. 434, etc.- Ver. 1.-When thou sittest to eat with a " Reges dicuntur multis urgere culullis ruler. This, of course, would be a great Et torq uere roero, quem perspexisse lo.- honour to a man of lowly birth, or to oue of borant, the mid<lle de.ss, to whom the manners of An sit amicitio. dignus." courts nnd palaces were practicnllyunkuown. Consider diligently what is before thee. Hitzig quotes the Eastern proverb, "He So the Yulgate, Qua, apposila suntantefaciem who cats of the aulte.n's soup burns his lips, foam; and the Septuo.gint, Ta. 7rapan6lµwd. even though it be e.fter a length of time." ao~ Take heed lest tbc unusual dainties on We have too the ludiau se.ying, "An epicure the table tempt thee to exce,s, which may digs bis grave witl, his teeth," which is true lead not only to unseemly beho.viour, but in more senses tbo.n one. "Keep thee far from also to unruly speech, revealing of secrets, the man that bath power to kill," Pays Sira- etc. Ilut tl,e latt<er words rnav e.lso be ren- citle.i (Ecclus. ix. l!l); "EO shalt thou not dered," him that is," or," uho is before thee." be troubled with fear of death: and if thou And this giYes a very appropriate sense. como unto him, commit no fault, lest he The guest is enjoined to fix his attention, presently takeaway thy life; remember that not on the delicate food, but on the host, thou goeet in the midst of sne.res, and that who is his superior, and able to exalt e.nd to thou walkest upon the bo.ttlements of tho destroy him ( corn pare the ce.utious maxims in city." '.fhen for the reasons which induce a Ecclns. :xiii. 2, 6, 7, 11, etc.). ruler to ply a guest with wine, we have, Ver. 2.-Alld put a knife to thy throe.t, if " In vino verito.s. Quad est in corde sobrii, thou be a man given to appetite. "Stab est in ore ebrii." Theognis writes- thy gluttony," Wordsworth. Restrain thy- 'Ev ,rupl µ~v x,puu-611 'TE 1<al l!.pyupov YBp1Et self by the strongest measures, convince /l.v6pES thyself that thou art in the utmost peril, if r,-y11ei\u1<011u', &.v6pbr 3' oTvos (6 .. ~• v,fov, thou arl a glutton or wine-bibber (Ecclns. Kal µ&.71.a ,r•p ,r11111'Toii, Tbv {,,rip µfrpov 1/pa'To :xxxiv. [xui.J 12). The LXX. gives a dif- 1rlvw11, ferent turn to the iojunction, "Aod apply q!l.<T'TE 1<a'Ta1ux,iiva1 1<al ,rplv l,J,,,,.,. uoq,611. (brltla.U•) thy hand, knowing that it behoves thee to prepare such things." This is like The Septue.gint corn bines the ending of ver. 2, the warning of Siracides, in the chapter "But if thou art more insatiable, desire not quoted above, where the disciple is admon- his victunls, for these appertain to (lx,•"Ta1) ished not to e.tten<l the be.nquets of rich a false life." men, Jest he should be tempted to vie with Vere. 4, 5.-These form a pente.stich. them, and thllil ruin himself by attempting to return their civilities in the same lavish Ver. 4.-Labour not-weo.ry not thyself me.nnel'. The earlier commentators ho.ve -to be rioh. John vi. 27, "Le.hour not used the above verses e.s o. lesson concerning for the meat tho.t perishetb," where the the due and reverent partaking of the Holy warning is a.go.inst th!\t absorbing eagerness Communion, thus: " When you appronch for wealth which leads to evil-doing and the table of Christ, consider diligently what neglect of all higher interests. Cease from is represented by the elements before you, thine own wisdom. The wisdom (binah, eh. and have discernment and faith, lest you C'at iii. 5) is that which is necessary for making and drink unworthily; and after communi- a.nu keeping wealth. Vulgate, JJrudentiw cating walk warily, mortify all evil desires, tutll pone modum. This is not the highest live as in the presence of the Lord J eeus, form of wisdom (chochmah), but rather the the Giver of the feast." faculty of distinguishing one thing from Ver. 3.-Be not dceirou of hie dainties. another, mere dii,cernment, which mo.y exist (For "dainties," see on ver. 6.) Ile nut too without any religious or keen moral sense greedy of the bounties of the royal table, so (see note on ell. xti. 16, where possibly the e.s to forget discretion, and be led to say and contra.at is expressed). Talmud, "He wllo do things whit:h are inexpedient or unseemly. augments his riches augments his c11res.'' ~or they are deceitful meat. Oftentime1 Erasmus, 'Adag.,' quotes or writes- ttt. nut. 1--35.] 'I'HE PROVERBS. 441