The Pulpit Commentary — Proverbs — Section 571

drift, nod the strange spectacle of snow (' Vie Devot.,' iii. 25). So the Church is lying unrnclted for two or three weeks was clothed in fine linen, clean and white, even seen in the hollows on the hillsides. the righteousness which Obrist bestows Thousands of years have wrought no (Rev. xix. 8), and invested in her Lord's change in this aspect of the winter months, royal robe, who hatb made her children for Benaiah, one of David's mighty men, kings and priests unto God (Rev. i. 6; • slew a lion in the midst of a pit in the v. 10). time of snow' (2 Sam. xxiii. 20)." She has Ver. 23.-NuN, Ker husband is known no fears concerning the comfort and health in the gates. Such a woman advances her of her family even in the severest winter. husband's interests, increases his influence For all her household are clothed with and, by attending to his domestic concerns' scarlet; with warm garments. The word enables him to take his share in publi~ used is □•j~ (shanim), deri"rnd from a verb matters, so that his name is in great repute meaning ,;to shine," and denoting a crimson in the popular assemblies at the city gates or deep scarlet colour. This colour was (ver. 31 ; eh. viii. 3). She is indeed "e. supposed, and rightly, to absorb and retain crown to her husband" (eh. xii. 4). When heat, as white to repel it; being made of he sitteth: among the elders of the land. wool, the garments would be warm as well Homer introduces Nausiko.a speaking to her ns statelv in appearance. St. Jerome has father of her duty to see that he is honour- duplicibus (shenaim), "with double gar- ably clad when he goes to the council- ments," i.e. with one over the other. Warm Ka.l Ii~ crol a.,h,; to,,,• µ•-ra 1rprfn-oun11 U11-ra. garments were the more necessary as the only means of heating rooms was the intro- Bov,\<is /Jov,\E{,..,, 1<a./Jr,pa xpot ,1µa.-r' txo11Ta.. duction of portable chafing-dishes containing (' Odyssey,' vi. 60.) burning charcoal ( see J er. xxxvi. 22, etc.). "For our costly robes, The Septuagint bas taken liberties with All sullied now, the cleansing stream re- the text, "Her husband is not anxious con- quire; cerning domestic matters when he tarries And thine especially, when thou appear'st anywhere [xpovl(17, for which Delitzsch In council with the princes of the land, , suggests x•ovl(17], for all her household are Had need be pure." well clothed." Spiritually, the Chnrch (Cowper.) fears not the severity of temptation or the St. Gregory sees here an adumbration of chill of unbelief, when her children take the day of judgment: "For the Redeemer refuge in the blood of Christ. of mankiLd is tue • Husband' of holy Ver. 22.-111:EM. She maketh herself Church, who shows himself • renowned' coverings of tapestry (marbaddim); as eh. (nobilis, Vulgate) in the gates. Who first vii. 16 (where see note). Pillows for beds came in sight in degradation and in mock- or cushions are meant, though the trans- ings, but shell appear on high at the lators are not of one mind on the meaning. entering in of his kingdom; and • he sitteth St. Jerome has, Btragulatam vei;tem; Aquiln. o.mong the elders of the land,' for that he and Theodotion, .,,.,puT'rpwµ,,.-ra.; Syrnma- shall decree sentence of condemnation chus, aµ<f>,.,.a1rovs, "shaggy on both sides; " together with the holy preachers of t!Je.t Septuagint, "She makes for her husband same Church, as himself declares in the double garments (11,crcras x'-a.iva.r)." Her gospel (Matt. xix. 28)" (' 111:oral.,' vi. 9). clothing is Bilk and pnrple. 'ltfr;! (shesh) is not Ver. 24.-SAMECH. She maketh 11.ne linen, "silk," but "white linen" (fJ6crcros, byBsus) and selleth it. The word for "fine linen" of very fine textnre, and costly. Pnrple is sadin, not the same as in ver. 22, but garments were brought from the Phceni- equivalent to crwliw11, and denoting linen cian cities, and were highly esteemed (see garments; Delitzsch calls it "body-linen" Cant. iii. 10; Jer. x. 9). The wife dresses (comp. Judg. xiv. 12, I::; Isa. iii. 23). herself in a way becoming her station, Delivereth girdles unto the merchant; lite- avoiding the extremes of sordid simplicity rally, unto the Canaanite; i.e. the Phamicio.n and ostentatious luxury. "For my own merchant, a generic name for all traders part," says St. Fran1,ois de Sales, quoted (see Isa. xxiii. 8; Zech. xiv. 21). Girdles by Lesetre, "I sLould wish any devout man were necessary articles of attire with the or woman always to be the best-dressed flowing robes of ~astern dress. The common person in the company, but at the bame ldnrl were made of leather, as is the use at time, the least fine and affected, and the present day; but e. more costly article adorned, as it is so.id, with the ornament was of linen curiously worked in gold and of a meek and quiet spirit. St. Louis said silver thread, and studded with jewels and that e\'ery one ought to dress according to gold (see 2 Sam. xviil. 11; Dan. x. 5). his position, so that good and sensible people So Virgil (' .Ai:noid,' ix. 359) speaks of should not be otble to say you are over- "aurea bullis cingula." We reo.d of Queen dressed, nor ihe younger nuder-dressed" Pe.rysatis having certain villages assigned OII, XXXI, 1-31.] THE PROVERBS. 601