The Pulpit Commentary — Proverbs — Section 568

whatever is unable to plead his own co.use ; eh. xii. 4 (where see note). MvJ,ie,.em /err• he mny be of tender nge, or of lowly ste.tiou, tem, St. Jerome terms her; -yvv11i1C11 rlv6pr /11v or iguore.ut, timid, and boorish ; 11,nd the is the rendering of the LXX., which places prince is enjoined to plead for him e.ud de- this section e.e the end of the whole Book fend him (comp. Job xxix. 15). In the of Proverbs. The expression combines the co.use of all such e.s a.re appointed to de- ideas of more.I goodness e.nd bodily vigour atruotion; literally, the sons of passing and e.ctivity. It is useless to try to fix the away (Isa. ii. 18); i.e. not orphans, children character upon e.ny pnrticule.r person. The whose parents he.ve vanished from the representation is that of e.n ideal wome.n- earth, nor strangers from e. foreign country, the perfect housewife, tbe chaste helpmate nor, generally, morte.ls, subjects of frail of her husbe.nd, upright, God-fearing, eco- human ne.ture (e.11 of which exple.na.tions nomical, wise. See an anticipation of this he.ve been given), but persons who e.re in character (eh. xvi ii. 22; xix. 14); and e. imminent danger of perishing, carte.in, if very different view (Eccles. vii. 26). It is left nne.ided, to come to ruin (comp. Job very remarkable to meet with such n de- :nix. 12). Septuagint, "Open thy month lineation of woman in the Ee.et, where the for the Word of God, e.nd judge all men female generally occupies e. most degraded soundly ( vy,ws)." position, e.nd is cut of!' from all sphere of Ver. 9.-Plead the oause; re.tber, minister e.ctivity e.nd administration. To pe.int such judgment, or do right; act in yonr official 11, portrait needed inspiration of some sort. cape.city so that the effect shall be sub- Such e. one is hard to find. Her price is far ste.ntie.l justice (comp. Zech. viii. 16). above rubies; or, peaTls (see on eh. :u:. 15 Vera. 10-Sl.-Part IX. TRmD APPEN- nnd iii. 15). Septuagint," Such e. one is more value.hie the.n precious stones." There me.y DIX TO THE SECOND COLLEOTION. "This be allusion to the custom of ghing tree.sure section contains e.n ode •in praise of the in exchange for a wife, purchasing her, as virtuous woman, derived from e. different it were, from her friends ( comp. Hos. iii. source from the.t of the words of Agur, and 2). At any rate, few only are privileged to belonging to e. different e.ge (see Introduc- meet with this excellent wife, e.nd her worth cannot be estimated by any material object, tion). It is e.n acrostic; that is, each verse however costly. St. Jerome, with e. eligh t begins with one of the twenty-two letters of difference in the reading, has, Procu.l, et d11 the Hebrew e.lphe.bet, e.rre.nged in the usual ultimis finibus pretiu.m eju.•. You may go order. We me.y oompe.re this mashal with to the ends of the earth to find her equoJ the elphabetice.l psalms," Pse.lmi e.bcedarii," in value. Ver. 11.-BETH. The heart of her husband which a.re, more or Iese, of similar structure, doth ee.fely trust in her. The husbe.nd of but of wt.ioh one only, the hundred e.nd such e. wife goes forth to his daily occupa• nineteenth, is so marked in the English ver- tions, having full confidence in her whom sions, Other examples are Pa. ix., x., xxv., he leaves o.t home, tho.t she will act dis- xxxiv., xxxvii., oxi., cxii., cxlv.; e.leo Lam. creetly, and promote his interests whilo he is o.bsent (see the contrast in eh. vii. 20). i., ii., and iii. One object of this artificial So that he shall have no need of spoil; co11struction was to render the matter easier rather, he shall not lack gain (shala'). The to commit to memory. The epiritue.l ex- wife m11nuges domestic concerns so well that positors see in this description of the vir- her husband finds his honest go.ins increuse, tuous wome.n e. prophetic representation of 11nd sees hie confidence profitably rewe.rdetl. Septuagint, "Such e. woman shall want not the Church of Christ in her truth and fair spuils." It is obvious to see in this o.n purity and influence. Thus Bede: "Hio adumbration of the Church winning souls eupientiesimus regum Salomon le.udce from the power of the enemy, especiully as sanctie Ecoleeim versibus pe.ucis sed ple- shalal is used for an enemy's spoils (Ps. 1 nissima veritate depingit. . . . Cujue ( ce.r- lxviii. 12; Lm. !iii. 12; e.nd olsewhore). Ver. 12.-GWEL. She will do him good minis) ordiue perfectissimo e.lphe.beti typice and not evil (comp. Ecclus. xxvi. 1-3). She innuitur, quam pleniseime hio vel animm is consistent in her conduct towards her , cujusque fidelis, vel totius sanotie Eccleeim, husband, 11,lwo.ys pursuing his best interests.' qum ex omnibus electis e.nime.bue une. per- All the days of hor life ; in good times or fioitur Ce.tholice., virtutes e.o prm1nie. bod, in tho early spring-limo of young e.ffec- tiop, and in the wo.ning years of declining deecribantur." age. Her love, based on high principles, Ver. 10.-ALEPH. Who oan find a vir- knows no change or diminution. The olcl tuous woman 1 The expre88iou, isltsltah commento.tor refers to tl,o conduct of St. 1Jl1a11il, '' womnn of force," has occurred io Monioe. to her unbelieving and unfe.ithful 598 THE PROVERBS. toII. xin. 1--81,