Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible · Proverbs Capitolo 9

Proverbs 9:1. Wisdom hath builded her house— This is a most splendid allegory, says Schultens, in which Wisdom is conceived as a queen, sitting in her royal palace, and inviting mortals to a banquet, plentifully furnished with the richest dainties, that they may be fed with celestial delights for a blessed immortality. This parable gains great light from that of the nuptial feast, delivered by our Saviour, Matthew 22:0. Many of the ancient fathers applied this to the church, and to our Saviour's human nature, who himself styles his body a holy house, or temple; perhaps in allusion to this fine allegory. See John 2:19. Various have been the endeavours of commentators to apply every circumstance in this description; but it has been well observed, that whoever would do so will find themselves in a great error, and quite ignorant of the nature of parabolical writings; for parables may be compared to historical paintings, which are intended to convey a general idea, which is to be gathered from the collective body of images, not from any particular figure: the minute circumstances are to be considered only as heightenings of the piece; but the conclusion, or general maxim, is to be drawn from the scope, and assemblage of the whole. This is a continuance of the parable begun in the former chapter, says Calmet; where Wisdom is represented to us as a venerable woman, whose real beauties and solid promises are opposed to the delusions of Pleasure; who in the 7th chapter is painted under the idea of a debauched and impudent woman. She, to entice young persons to her snares, gives a description of the perfumes, the bed, the feast, which she has prepared for them. Wisdom, to engage disciples, does the same thing; but, instead of debauchery, false pleasures, and vice, which Voluptuousness promises them, Wisdom offers to her guests a solid and magnificent dwelling of sweet but chaste delights, of salutary instructions, and a happy life.

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Proverbs 9:3. She hath sent forth her maidens— The maidens of Wisdom, says Calmet, are the apostles and first preachers of the gospel, who invite all people to the study of wisdom, to the faith of Jesus Christ, and to the practice of holiness and virtue. Upon the highest places of the city, we may read, Upon the tops of the highest places, &c. Calmet supposes, that the sacred writer refers here to the tops of the houses, conformably to what our Saviour says, Matthew 10:27. What ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the house-tops.

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Proverbs 9:4. Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither— Wisdom invites the simple, the ignorant, those who have the innocence and simplicity of children. See 1 Corinthians 14:20.

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Proverbs 9:5. Eat of my bread, &c.— That is, "Attend to, receive, and practise my precepts." Our blessed Lord may be understood in this sense, John 6:53.

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Proverbs 9:7. He that reproveth a scorner— This and the following verse supply us with a reason for the conduct of Wisdom in addressing herself only to the simple. She invites not the pretendedly wise, those who think they are ignorant of nothing: to invite them to the feast of wisdom, would be to expose herself to their insults and censures. They think they have nothing to do with it. They would receive the invitation with disdain; they would despise the lessons of Wisdom; they would reject with disgust her wine and her viands. These scorners admirably represent the genius of libertines and professed infidels. The words, Getteth himself a blot, mean, "Instead of convincing or reforming such a one by his reproofs, he will find himself accused of the same crimes by the person whom he endeavours to amend." When a man instructs a scorner, his time which he thus employs is thrown away; others deride his pains as a labour ill-placed; and the scorner himself also despises the knowledge which he is taught: Thus a man is put to shame.

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Proverbs 9:10. Understanding— Schultens, Calmet, and many others, render this Prudence; Christian prudence, true prudence, which consists in discerning what is more or less advantageous in all matters, and in choosing the means proper for execution, is undoubtedly the knowledge of the Holy; for it is by this that they are conducted through divine grace in the right way to heaven, and avoid the dangers which destroy so many thoughtless and imprudent persons. Some understand the text differently; The knowledge of holy things is the true prudence. Others translate the whole verse thus; The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord, and the beginning of prudence is the knowledge of holy things; as the law of God, his worship, &c.

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Proverbs 9:13. A foolish woman, &c.— We have here another allegorical picture, describing Folly under the person of a harlot, who fascinates with her enticements, and offers also her dainties to her guests; but dainties tainted with the most subtil poison. The Hebrew, rendered a foolish woman, is more strong; the woman of folly כסילות אשׁת eisheth keisiluth, folly herself bearing the character of a harlot. You have the image of concupiscence, and pleasure, whom all the philosophers have represented under this idea. Her characters, expressed to the life, are, 1. That she is obstreperous, tumultuous, in a perpetual heat and restlessness of passion. 2. That she is פויות petaiuth, madness itself; mere dissoluteness and deception; and 3. She cares not whatever happens. It is an aposiopesis, which expresses the highest degree of atrociousness. Schultens. Dr. Grey would render it, A woman of folly is clamorous, and knoweth not shame.

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Proverbs 9:16. Whoso is simple— This is a most specious and artful detortion of the address of Wisdom; by which she would insult the friends of religion, truth, and holiness.

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