The Pulpit Commentary — Proverbs — Section 462

tions, o.nd watch o.gainet possible do.ngers. with it was well known (Pa. xii. 6: Ezek. The contro.st between the glory of God o.nd xxii. 20, etc. ; see on eh. l!. vii. 3). And that of the king lies in this-thnt whereas there shall oome forth a vessel for the finer both God o.ntl the king desire man's welfare, (tsaraph); the goldsmith. The pure silver the former promotes this by making him is ready for the artist's work, who from this feel his igooranoe o.od littleoess and entire material can make a beautiful vessel. dependence upon this mysterious Being Septuagint, "Beat untested silver, an,l all whose nature and designs mortals cannot shall be made entirely pure," where the understand ; the latter advances the good allusion is to the process of reducinJ mine- of his subjects by giving them confidence in rals by lamination. his zeal o.nd power to discover truth, and Ver. 5.-Take away the wicked from nsiog hie knowledge for their benefit. before the king. Let the wicked be removed Beptuagiot, " The glory of God concea.leth from the presence of the king, e.s dross is e. word (,\6-yov): but the glory of e. king separated from the pure silver (see the honoureth matters (-,rprf:yµ,a.Ta.).'' same metapllor, Isa. i. 25 ; J er. vi. 2\J, etc.). Ver. 3.-This proverb is connected with And his throne shall be established in the p1·eoeding by the idea of "senrching" righteousness (eh. xvi. 12: xxix. H). The (cliakar) common to both. Such emblematic king detects the evil and punishes them; proverbs a.re common in this second collec- and this confirms his rule and secures the tion (see ver.11). Three subjects are stated, continuance of his dynasty. Thu~ righteous- of which is predicated the term 1ll1Searchable, ness triumphs, and wickedness is properly viz. The heaven for height, and the earth dealt with. Septuagint, "Slay the ungodly for depth, o.nd the heart of kings. As you from the face of the king, and his throne can never rise to the illimitable height of shall prosper in righteousness." the heavens, as you crm never penetrate Vers. 6, 7.-Another proverb (a pente.- to tbo immeasurable depth of the earth, so you can never fathom the heart of a king, stich) connected with kings and great men. can never find ont whnt he really thinks o.n,I Ver. 6.-Pat not forth thyself in the intends (comp. Job xi. 8). It may be tbnt presence of the king. Do not make display tacitly a warning is intended against flatter- of yourself as though vying with the king ing one's self that one knows and can reckon in outward circumsto.nces. Septuagint, on the favour of a king; his good disposi- •• Boast not thyself (µ,'I, ciAa(ov<6ov) in the tion towards you may be only seeming, or presence of o. king." Stand not in the place may o.ny moment become cho.nged. Tho of great men. Do not pretend to be the Septuagint has for " unseo.rchnble" (I'~ equu.J. of those who occupy high places in ,pp) ""•t•A•-y1<Tos, "unquestionable." The the kin!!,'dom (eh. xviii. 16). Septuagint, "And tako not your stand ( ~</Jlrrnrro) in the commentators refer to e. passage in Tacitus plnoes of chieftains." Says " Lo.tin gnome, (' Ann ..' vi. 8), where M. Terentius defends "Qui oum fortune. convenit, dives est;" o.nd himself for being e. friend of Sejanus by Ovid wrote well(' Trist.,' iii. 4. 25, etc.)- the fact of the impossibility of investigating a great mo.n's real sentiments. "To us," he " Crede mihi : bene qui Intuit, bone vixit; says to Tiberius, "it appertains not to judgti et intrB whom you exnlt above all others and for Fortunmn debet quisquomanero sunm ... what reason you do so. Facts which o.re Tu quoqne formida nimium sublimiB sem- obvious we nil notice. We seo who is the per; man upon whom you heap wealth e.nd Propositique memor contmhe vein tni." honours, who it is that has the chief power Ver. 7.-Yor better it is that it be said of dispensing rewards and punishments; unto thee, Come np hither. It is better for that these were poBBessed by Sejo.nus no one the prince to select you for elevation to e. can deny. But to pry into the hidden high post; to oall you up uear his throne. thoughts of a prince, o.nd the designs which The reference is not necessarily to position ho merlito.tes in secret, is unlawful and at a royal b11uquet, though tho mtt!:iw lends hazardous ; nor would the attempt succeed." itself readily to such applicatiou. This Vera. 4, 5.-A tetrastich in an emblc- we.ruing ago.inst arrogo.nco and presumption woe used by our blessed Lord in enforcing matical form. a lesson of humility and self-disciplino Ver. 4.-Take awo.y the droBB from the (Luke xiv. 7, etc.). Septuagint," For it is silver. Sil vor w11s most extensively used better for thee tho.t it should be so.id, Come by th0 Hebrews (see • Dictionary of the up unto me (civcl,Baw• .,,.pbs /L,)" (1rporravc£,B718, Dible,' sub voc.), whether obtained from civwT,pov, Luke xiv. 7). Th11.n that thou native mines or imported from foreign shouldest be put lower in the presence of eountries ; aud the process of eepurating the prince whom thine eyes have seen. 'fhe ihe ora from the extraneous matters mixed l11St words have been vuriously interpreted :  480 THE PROVERBS. [OH. XXV, 1-28,