Posted by Jeff Short on November 21, 2016 · 1 Comment
Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.
– Proverbs 7:23
An arrow to the liver is a mortal wound. Life is in the balance. It could be more immediately or ultimately. The way of fornication and adultery is a way that only ends in death. The last image is the bird going for the bait in the snare unknowing the snare means its life. Again the thought conveyed is that the young man doesn’t really comprehend what he is doing, nor the great cost associated with it.
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Posted by Jeff Short on November 20, 2016 · 1 Comment
He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;
– Proverbs 7:22
Verses 22-23 paint the results with different images. Straightway refers to the sudden turn once his heart and mind are overcome. His yielding is full. The ox is witless in going to the slaughter and so the young man in going with the strange woman. He hasn’t fully comprehended the cost he will have to pay.
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Posted by Jeff Short on November 19, 2016 · 1 Comment
With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.
– Proverbs 7:21
The flattering of her lips and her fair speech were the most effective in her temptation. We see good reason for the repeated admonitions to hear and heed wise words. Doing so insulates and protects from being taken by the lips of the strange woman. To yield is to bend and indicates that his initial resistance was overcome. To force is to drive or impel. She pushed him over the edge and he had no strength to withstand her.
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Posted by Jeff Short on November 18, 2016 · 1 Comment
He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.
– Proverbs 7:20
The husband has money and business to conduct, so will not return soon. The day appointed refers to the full moon, so he will not return soon. All provision has been made and all obstacles removed.
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Posted by Jeff Short on November 17, 2016 · 1 Comment
For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey:
– Proverbs 7:19
The last step of her seduction is to remove a final obstacle or objection in the youth’s mind. Fear of encountering an irate husband is a strong deterrent to the young man. She soothingly assures him that he is gone and not soon to return. She has appealed to his baser instincts, not persuading of the moral goodness but rather of the enjoyment and security of getting away with it. These verses provide a good primer on the way temptation comes to us and not just in this instance.
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Posted by Jeff Short on November 16, 2016 · 1 Comment
Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.
– Proverbs 7:18
She here uses the most direct appeal. Taking their fill refers to becoming drunk as with wine or strong drink. She is speaking to the young man of a complete satisfaction of all his appetites. Solace points to joy or rejoicing. She certainly hints at excitement and thrills promised. Until the morning suggests a long time without interruption. All these things are a part of her much fair speech that sways her quarry to follow.
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Posted by Jeff Short on November 15, 2016 · Leave a Comment
I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
– Proverbs 7:17
She continues her appeal describing the luxurious delight of her bed. She has sprinkled it with spices designed to enhance mood and delight the senses. John Trapp commented that the young man would have been better served to think on how those spices are also used to put upon the bodies of the dead. He wrote, “serious thought of death will prove death to fleshly lusts.” It was want of this sober mindedness that brought Jerusalem to open and unrestrained sinfulness (Lamentations 1:9).
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Posted by Jeff Short on November 14, 2016 · 1 Comment
I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.
– Proverbs 7:16
Coverings, carved works, and fine linen from Egypt are expensive and lavish items. She is a woman of means and has made preparations, while not subtle, likely to impress and overwhelm the young man. The naïve young man will probably interpret these measures as indicative of something more long lasting than is intended.
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Posted by Jeff Short on November 13, 2016 · 1 Comment
Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.
– Proverbs 7:15
She claims to seek him urgently. It is already night and the peace offering must be eaten soon. We discover another angle she uses is urgency. She doesn’t want him to take time to consider, and again she has him thinking on the peace offering meal more immediately. She also flatters him as though he were the particular one she sought. This is an ancient deception but works so well as it appeals to pride. Everyone thinks they are unique and special. To have someone else acknowledge this flatters us irresistibly.
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Proverbs 7:23
Posted by Jeff Short on November 21, 2016 · 1 Comment
Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.
An arrow to the liver is a mortal wound. Life is in the balance. It could be more immediately or ultimately. The way of fornication and adultery is a way that only ends in death. The last image is the bird going for the bait in the snare unknowing the snare means its life. Again the thought conveyed is that the young man doesn’t really comprehend what he is doing, nor the great cost associated with it.– Proverbs 7:23
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Filed under 7, Proverbs, Short Comments · Tagged with Adultery, Commentary, Folly, Proverbs