The Pulpit Commentary — Proverbs — Section 480

EXPOSITION. CHAPTER XXVI. die?" "'.['ho dog barks-still the oo.rnvan passes: will the barking of the dog reach Vers. 1-12.-Certain proverbs concern- the skies?" (Lane). Instead of 11', "not'' ing the fool (7,Nil), with the exception, per- the Keri reads \',, "to him." Thi~ mak~ llaps, of ver. 2 (sec on eh. i. 22), the proverb say that the unprovoked curse Ver. 1.-As snow in summer, and as rain shall return upon him who uttered it But in harvest. Snow in summer would be quite this re~ding is not to be accepted, as it does unnatural and unbeard of (see on eh. xxv. not smL the terms of comparison thouah it 13). Rain falls in the usual cour,e of seems to have ueen used by St. J~romc~who things only at stated times; whence arose ~ra.nslates,. Sic maledictum frustra prol(l.tum tile phrase of "the early and of latter rains" in quempwm superveniet. 'fhis retribu- (see on eh. xvi. 15). From spring to Octo- tive justice is often alluderl to elsewhere; ber or November was the dry season, and a ~-f/· ve_r. 27 (where see note). So we find storm at harvest-time was regarded, not ID vanous languages proverbs to the snme merely as destructive or inconvenient, but effect. 'l'hns in English, "Harm watch as portentous and even supernatural (see harm catch;" Spanish, " Who sows thorns' 1 Sam. xii. 17, etc.). The two cases are let him not walk barefoot;" 'furkis~ types of all that is incongruous and unsuit- "Curses, like ohickens, al ways come home able. The LXX., apparently regarding ~o roost;". Yoruba, "Ashes al ways fly back their experience in Egypt rather than the rn the face of ,1,im that throws them·" actual text, translate, "As dew in harvest, (Trench). and as rain in summer." So honour is not Ver. 3.-A whip for the horse, a bridle seemly for a fool (ver. 8; eh. xix. 10). It is for the ass. We should be inclined to quite out of place to show respect to a invert the words, and say a bridle for tho stupid and ungodly man, or to raise him to horse, and a vhip for the ass; hut it must a post of dignity; such conduct will only be remembered that in early times the confirm him in his folly, give others a wron..,. horse was not ridden, but only driven. The impression concerning him, ancl afford hi~ animals •used in riding were the ass and increased power of mischief. The Greeks mule, and sometimes the camel. The had a proverb about giving honour to un- Eastern ~~s is really a fine animnl, larger, suitable objects: they called it washing an more spmted, and more active than the ass's head with nitre. poor creature which we are wont to see. Or Ver. 2.-As the bird by wandering, as the whip and bridle may be intended to the swallow by 11.ying. "Bird" (tsiz,por) apply to both animals, though divided be- is the sparrow, which is found tbroughnut tween the two for rhythmical or antithetical Palestine; "swallow" (deror), the free flier. reasons (see on eh. x. 1). A rod for the fool's Tue Authorized Version hardly gives the back. Sharp correction is both nseful and sense. The line should be rendered, as the necessary for the fool (so eh. x. rn; xix. 29). sparrow in (in respect of) its wandering, as Similar treatment Sirucides acl viscs to bo the swal/.o,o in its flying. 'fhe point of com- employed in the cnso of an idlo acrv11nt parison is the vagueness and aimlessness of (Ecclus. xxx. 24-28). Septuagint, "As e. the ui.rds' flight, or the uselessness of trying whip for a horse and a goad for an o.ss, so is to cat.eh them in their course. So the curse a rod for a lawless nation." caiu:eleSB shall not come. It shall, e.s it were. Ver. 4.-Answer not a 'fool according to spend its force in the air, ancl fall not on the his folly. Do not lower yourself to tho head on which it was invoked. A canseless fool's level by answering his silly questions curse is that which is uttered against one or arguing with him as if he wero a sensible who has done nothing to deserve such man; Lest thou also be like unto him; denunciation. Septuagint, ".AB birds and lest you be led to utter folly yourself or to sparrows fly, so a causeless (µ,a-rala) curse &ide with him in his opinions and practices, shall come upon no one" (comp. 1 Sam, Our blessed Saviour never responded to xvii. 43; Nell. xiii. 2.) Bailey,' Feetus •- foolish and c11plious questions in the way that the questioner hoped and desired. He .. Blessings star forth for over; bnt a curse put them by or gave an unexpected turn to Is like a cloud-it passes." them which silenced the adversary. In- Closely connected with the superstition that stances may be soe11 in Matt. xxi. 23, otc. ; dreads a cur-se is that which hi nlarmed Ly xxii. 21, 22; Luke xiii. 2:J, eto.; John xxi. oruens. A:,;ainst this i1wtional feo.r we 21, etc. find wme Eastern proverbs directed; e.r,. Ver. 5.-Answor a. fool according to his "The jackal howls: will my old buffalo foll7. This m11xiiu at firijt sigl1t soou1s OIi, X~VI. 1-28.] THE PROVERBS. 499