Teks -- Proverbs 7:1-18 (NET)

Admonition to Avoid the Wiles of the Adulteress

7:1 My child, keep my words and treasure up my commands in your own keeping. 7:2 Keep my commands so that you may live, and obey my instruction as your most prized possession. 7:3 Bind them on your forearm; write them on the tablet of your heart. 7:4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call understanding a close relative, 7:5 so that they may keep you from the adulterous woman, from the loose woman who flatters you with her words. 7:6 For at the window of my house through my window lattice I looked out 7:7 and I saw among the naive– I discerned among the youths– a young man who lacked wisdom. 7:8 He was passing by the street near her corner, making his way along the road to her house 7:9 in the twilight, the evening, in the dark of the night. 7:10 Suddenly a woman came out to meet him! She was dressed like a prostitute and with secret intent. 7:11 (She is loud and rebellious, she does not remain at home– 7:12 at one time outside, at another in the wide plazas, and by every corner she lies in wait.) 7:13 So she grabbed him and kissed him, and with a bold expression she said to him, 7:14 “I have fresh meat at home; today I have fulfilled my vows! 7:15 That is why I came out to meet you, to look for you, and I found you! 7:16 I have spread my bed with elegant coverings, with richly colored fabric from Egypt. 7:17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. 7:18 Come, let’s drink deeply of lovemaking until morning, let’s delight ourselves with sexual intercourse.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Wesley: Pro 7:2 - Live

Thou shalt live.

Wesley: Pro 7:2 - Eye

With all possible care and diligence.

Wesley: Pro 7:3 - Bind them

As a ring which is continually in a man's eye.

Wesley: Pro 7:4 - And call

Acquaint and delight thyself with her.

Wesley: Pro 7:8 - Passing

Idle and careless, near the corner of the street in which her house stood.

Wesley: Pro 7:12 - Without

Without the door of her house.

Wesley: Pro 7:12 - Corner

Of the streets, where she might either conceal or discover herself, as she saw fit.

Wesley: Pro 7:14 - Offerings

I have paid my peace-offerings which I had vowed. Whereby she signifies, that she had plentiful provisions at her house for his entertainment. For the peace-offerings were to be of the best flesh, Lev 22:21, and a considerable part of these offerings fell to the offerer's share.

JFB: Pro 7:1-4

The subject continued, by a delineation of the arts of strange women, as a caution to the unwary. (Pro. 7:1-27)

Similar calls (Pro 3:1-3; Pro 4:10, &c.).

JFB: Pro 7:2 - apple . . . eye

Pupil of eye, a custody (Pro 4:23) of special value.

JFB: Pro 7:3 - Bind . . . fingers

As inscriptions on rings.

JFB: Pro 7:5

The design of the teaching (compare Pro 2:16; Pro 6:24).

JFB: Pro 7:6 - For

Or, "Since," introducing an example to illustrate the warning, which, whether a narrative or a parable, is equally pertinent.

JFB: Pro 7:6 - window

Or, "opening"

JFB: Pro 7:6 - looked

Literally, "watched earnestly" (Jdg 5:28).

JFB: Pro 7:6 - casement

Or, "lattice."

JFB: Pro 7:7 - simple

As in Pro 1:4.

JFB: Pro 7:7 - void of, &c.

(Compare Pro 6:32).

JFB: Pro 7:8 - her corner

Where she was usually found.

JFB: Pro 7:8 - went . . . house

Implying, perhaps, confidence in himself by his manner, as denoted in the word

JFB: Pro 7:8 - went

Literally, "tread pompously."

JFB: Pro 7:9

The time, twilight, ending in darkness.

JFB: Pro 7:9 - black . . . night

Literally, "pupil," or, "eye," that is, middle of night.

JFB: Pro 7:10 - attire

That of harlots was sometimes peculiar.

JFB: Pro 7:10 - subtile

Or, "wary," "cunning."

JFB: Pro 7:11-12 - loud

Or, "noisy," "bustling."

JFB: Pro 7:11-12 - stubborn

Not submissive.

JFB: Pro 7:11-12 - without . . . streets, . . . corner

(Compare 1Ti 5:13; Tit 2:5).

JFB: Pro 7:13-15

The preparations for a feast do not necessarily imply peculiar religious professions. The offerer retained part of the victim for a feast (Lev 3:9, &c.). This feast she professes was prepared for him whom she boldly addresses as one sought specially to partake of it.

JFB: Pro 7:16-17 - my bed

Or, "couch," adorned in the costliest manner.

JFB: Pro 7:17 - bed

A place for sleeping.

JFB: Pro 7:18-20

There is no fear of discovery.

Clarke: Pro 7:1 - My son, keep my words

My son, keep my words - See Pro 2:1.

Clarke: Pro 7:2 - As the apple of thine eye

As the apple of thine eye - As the pupil of the eye, which is of such essential necessity to sight, and so easily injured.

Clarke: Pro 7:3 - Bind them upon thy fingers

Bind them upon thy fingers - See on Pro 3:3 (note).

Clarke: Pro 7:4 - Thou art my sister

Thou art my sister - Thou art my dearest friend, and I will treat thee as such.

Clarke: Pro 7:5 - The strange woman

The strange woman - The prostitute, the adulteress.

Clarke: Pro 7:6 - I looked through my casement

I looked through my casement - The casement is a small aperture in a large window, or a window opening on hinges. Here it means the lattice, for they had no glass windows in the East. And the latticed windows produced a double advantag

1.    Making the apartments sufficiently private; an

2.    Admitting fresh air to keep them cool.

Clarke: Pro 7:7 - Among the simple ones

Among the simple ones - The inexperienced, inconsiderate young men

Clarke: Pro 7:7 - A young man void of understanding

A young man void of understanding - בעל ראשאהץ חסר לב, "destitute of a heart."He had not wisdom to discern the evil intended; nor courage to resist the flatteries of the seducer.

Clarke: Pro 7:8 - He went the way to her house

He went the way to her house - She appears to have had a corner house sufficiently remarkable; and a way from the main street to it.

Clarke: Pro 7:9 - In the twilight, in the evening

In the twilight, in the evening - Some time after sun-setting; before it was quite dark

Clarke: Pro 7:9 - In the black and dark night

In the black and dark night - When there were neither lamps nor moon-shine.

Clarke: Pro 7:10 - A woman with the attire of a harlot

A woman with the attire of a harlot - It appears that sitting in some open place, and covering the face, or having a veil of a peculiar kind on, was the evidence of a harlot, Gen 38:14, Gen 38:15-19. No doubt, in Solomon’ s time, they had other distinctions. In all other countries, and in all times. the show of their countenance did testify against them; they declared their sin as Sodom; they hid it not. However, this does not seem to have been a mere prostitute; for she was, according to her own declaration, a married woman, and kept house, Pro 7:19, if her assertions relative to this were not falsehoods, and calculated the better to render him secure, and prevent the suspicion of endangering himself by cohabiting with a common woman; which I am rather inclined to think was the case, for she was subtle of heart.

Clarke: Pro 7:11 - She is loud and stubborn

She is loud and stubborn - המיה homiyah , she is never at rest, always agitated; busily employed to gain her end, and this is to go into the path of error: סררת sorereth , "turning aside;"preferring any way to the right way. And, therefore, it is added, her feet abide not in her house, she gads abroad; and this disposition probably first led her to this vice.

Clarke: Pro 7:12 - Now is she without

Now is she without - She is continually exposing herself, and showing by her gait and gestures what she is, and what she wants. These two verses are a parenthesis, intended to show the character of the woman.

Clarke: Pro 7:13 - So she caught him

So she caught him - Laid fast hold on him, and kissed him, to show that she was affectionately attached to him

Clarke: Pro 7:13 - And with an impudent face

And with an impudent face - העזה פניה heezzah paneyha , "she strengthened her countenance,"assumed the most confident look she could; endeavored to appear friendly and sincere.

Clarke: Pro 7:14 - I have peace-offerings with me

I have peace-offerings with me - More literally, "the sacrifices of the peace-offerings are with me."Peace-offerings Mymlv shelamim, were offerings the spiritual design of which was to make peace between God and man, to make up the breach between them which sin had occasioned; see the notes on Leviticus 7 (note), where every kind of sacrifice offered under the law is explained. When the blood of these was poured out at the altar, and the fat burnt there, the breast and right shoulder were the priest’ s portion; but the rest of the carcass belonged to the sacrificer, who might carry it home, and make a feast to his friends. See Lev 3:1-11. Much light is cast on this place by the fact that the gods in many parts of the East are actually worshipped in brothels, and fragments of the offerings are divided among the wretches who fall into the snare of the prostitutes - Ward’ s Customs

Clarke: Pro 7:14 - Have I payed my vows

Have I payed my vows - She seems to insinuate that she had made a vow for the health and safety of this young man; and having done so, and prepared the sacrificial banquet, came actually out to seek him, that he might partake of it with her, Pro 7:15. But, as she intended to proceed farther than mere friendship, she was obliged to avail herself of the night season, and the absence of her husband.

Clarke: Pro 7:16 - I have decked my bed

I have decked my bed - ערשי arsi , "my couch or sofa;"distinguished from משכבי mishcabi , "my bed,"Pro 7:17, the place to sleep on, as the other was the place to recline on at meals. The tapestry, מרבדים marbaddim , mentioned here seems to refer to the covering of the sofa; exquisitely woven and figured cloth. חטבות אטון chatuboth etun , the Targum translates painted carpets, such as were manufactured in Egypt; some kind of embroidered or embossed stuff is apparently meant.

Clarke: Pro 7:17 - I have perfumed any bed with Myrrh

I have perfumed any bed with Myrrh - מר mor , "aloes," אהלים ahalim , and "cinnamon," קנמון kinnamon . We have taken our names from the original words; but probably the ahalim may not mean aloes, which is no perfume; but sandal wood, which is very much used in the East. She had used every means to excite the passions she wished to bring into action.

Clarke: Pro 7:18 - Come, let us take our fill of love

Come, let us take our fill of love - נרוה דדים nirveh dodim , "Let us revel in the breasts;"and then it is added, "Let us solace ourselves with loves," נתעלסה באהבים nithallesah boohabim ; "let us gratify each other with loves, with the utmost delights."This does not half express the original; but I forbear. The speech shows the brazen face of this woman, well translated by the Vulgate, "Veni, inebriemur uberibus; et fruamur cupidinis amplexibus."And the Septuagint has expressed the spirit of it: Ελθε, και απολαυσωμεν φιλιας - δευρο, και εγκυλισθωμεν ερωτι . " Veni, et fruamur amicitia - Veni, et colluctemur cupidine ."Though varied in the words, all the versions have expressed the same thing. In the old MS. Bible, the speech of this woman is as follows: I have arrayed with cordis my litil bed, and spred with peyntid tapetis of Egipt: I have springid my ligginge place with mirre and aloes and calelcum, and be we inwardly drunken with Tetis, and use we the coveytied clippingis to the tyme that the dai wax light. The original itself is too gross to be literally translated; but quite in character as coming from the mouth of an abandoned woman.

Defender: Pro 7:4 - kinswoman

The "kinswoman" here, contrasted with the "strange woman" in the next verse, is a further example of the recurring theme in Proverbs of the conflict between wisdom and folly."

TSK: Pro 7:1 - My son // keep // lay

My son : Pro 1:8, Pro 3:1

keep : Luk 8:15, Luk 11:28; Joh 14:23, Joh 15:20; Rev 1:3, Rev 22:9

lay : Pro 2:1-7, Pro 10:14; Deu 11:28; Job 22:22

TSK: Pro 7:2 - Keep // as the

Keep : Pro 4:13; Lev 18:5; Isa 55:3; Joh 12:49, Joh 12:50, Joh 14:21, Joh 15:14; 1Jo 2:3, 1Jo 2:4; 1Jo 5:1-3; Rev 22:14

as the : As the pupil of the eye, the hole or the opening of the uveous coat, or iris, through which the rays of light pass, and falling upon the retina, there depict every object in its natural colour, as upon a piece of white paper. Now the pupil of the eye being essentially necessary to sight, and easily injured, it is not only, in common with the other parts, deeply entrenched in the skull, ramparted with the forehead and cheek bones, defended by the eyebrows, eyelids, and eyelashes, and placed so as to be best protected by the hands, but, by a wonderful mechanism, is contracted or dilated by the muscular power of the iris, without which an excess of light would cause instant blindness. Deu 32:10; Psa 17:8; Zec 2:8

TSK: Pro 7:3

Pro 3:3, Pro 6:21; Deu 6:8, Deu 6:9, Deu 11:18-20; Isa 30:8; Jer 17:1, Jer 31:33; 2Co 3:3

TSK: Pro 7:4 - Say // Thou

Say : Pro 2:2-4, Pro 4:6-8

Thou : Job 17:14; Son 8:1; Mat 12:49, Mat 12:50; Luk 11:27, Luk 11:28

TSK: Pro 7:5

Pro 2:16, Pro 5:3, Pro 6:24

TSK: Pro 7:6 - at the // casement

at the : Gen 26:8; 2Sa 6:16

casement : Eshnav , rather a lattice, so called from the Arabic shanaba , ""to be cool,""because of its use in keeping the apartments cool.

TSK: Pro 7:7 - the simple // the youths // void

the simple : Pro 1:4, Pro 1:22, Pro 1:32, Pro 8:5, Pro 14:15, Pro 14:18, Pro 19:25, Pro 22:3, Pro 27:12; Psa 19:7, Psa 119:130; Rom 16:18, Rom 16:19

the youths : Heb. the sons

void : Pro 6:32, Pro 9:4, Pro 9:16, Pro 10:13, Pro 12:11, Pro 19:2, Pro 24:30; Jer 4:22; Mat 15:16

TSK: Pro 7:8

Pro 4:14, Pro 4:15, Pro 5:8; Jdg 16:1; 2Sa 11:2, 2Sa 11:3; 1Co 6:18; 2Ti 2:22; Jud 1:23

TSK: Pro 7:9 - the twilight // evening

the twilight : Gen 39:11; Job 24:13-15; Rom 13:12-14; Eph 5:11

evening : Heb. evening of the day, Exo 12:6 *marg.

TSK: Pro 7:10 - the attire // subtle

the attire : Gen 38:14, Gen 38:15; 2Ki 9:22, 2Ki 9:30; Isa 3:16-24, Isa 23:16; Jer 4:30; 1Ti 2:9; Rev 17:3-5

subtle : Gen 3:1; 2Co 11:2, 2Co 11:3

TSK: Pro 7:11 - loud // her feet

loud : Pro 9:13, Pro 25:24, Pro 27:14, Pro 27:15, 31:10-31

her feet : Gen 18:9; 1Ti 5:13, 1Ti 5:14; Tit 2:5

TSK: Pro 7:12

Pro 9:14, Pro 23:28; Jer 2:20, Jer 2:33, Jer 2:36, Jer 3:2; Eze 16:24, Eze 16:25, Eze 16:31; Rev 18:3, Rev 18:23

TSK: Pro 7:13 - she // with an impudent face said

she : Gen 39:7, Gen 39:12; Num 25:1, Num 25:6-8, Num 31:16; Eze 16:33; Rev 2:20

with an impudent face said : Heb. she strengthened her face and said, Isa 50:7; Eze 2:4, Eze 2:6, Eze 3:7-9

TSK: Pro 7:14 - I have peace offerings with me // this

I have peace offerings with me : Heb. Peace-offerings are upon me, Pro 15:8, Pro 17:1, Pro 21:27; Lev 7:15; Deu 12:6, Deu 12:7

this : 2Sa 15:7-9; 1Ki 21:9, 1Ki 21:10; Joh 18:28

TSK: Pro 7:16 - decked // fine

decked : Son 1:16, Son 3:7-10; Rev 2:22

fine : 1Ki 10:28; Isa 19:9; Eze 27:7

TSK: Pro 7:17 - perfumed // with

perfumed : Son 3:6; Isa 57:7-9

with : Psa 45:8; Son 4:13, Son 4:14

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Pro 7:2 - And live // As the apple of thine eye

And live i.e. thou shalt live. A promise in the form of a command, as Pro 3:25 .

As the apple of thine eye with all possible care and diligence, as men guard that part from all dangers, yea, even from the least mote. The eye is a most noble and necessary, and therefore highly esteemed and beloved, part of the body, and the apple thereof is the most honourable, and beautiful, and useful part of that part, and it is a most tender part, easily hurt, or destroyed, and therefore needs to be diligently watched.

Poole: Pro 7:3 - Bind them upon thy fingers // Write them upon the table of thine heart

Bind them upon thy fingers as a ring which is put upon them, and is continually in a man’ s eye. Constantly remember them, and meditate upon them.

Write them upon the table of thine heart fix them in thy mind and affection. See Poole "Pro 3:3" .

Poole: Pro 7:4 - kinswomen

When other foolish young men seek wanton mistresses, whom they frequently call

sisters or

kinswomen let wisdom be thy mistress; acquaint and delight thyself with her, and let her have the command of thy heart, and the conduct of thy life.

Poole: Pro 7:5

This privilege Solomon doth so oft inculcate, either because he found in himself the great power and besotting nature of lustful inclinations: or because he observed these vices to abound more in his time, in which peace and prosperity made way for luxury and uncleanness.

Poole: Pro 7:6

This is either an historical relation, or rather a parabolical representation of that which frequently happened.

Poole: Pro 7:7

Whose strength and heat made him most subject to lustful impressions, and who wanted judgment and experience as well as grace to keep him from such courses.

Poole: Pro 7:8 - Passing through the street // Near her corner // He went the way to her house

Passing through the street idle and careless.

Near her corner near the corner of the street in which her house stood; such places being most convenient for that wicked purpose, as giving opportunity either for the discovery of passengers in several streets, or for the escape of such as might be in danger of being taken in her house. Compare Pro 7:12 .

He went the way to her house not with intention to act gross filthiness with her, as may be gathered from the following passages, but to gratify his curiosity, and to understand the manner of such persons, and to please himself with the sight of her, or discourse of her.

Poole: Pro 7:9 - In the evening // In the black and dark night

In the evening when the day labour being ended, he was at leisure for any thing; and when such strumpets used to walk abroad for prey.

In the black and dark night when it begun to be black and dark.

Poole: Pro 7:10 - With the attire of an harlot // Subtle

With the attire of an harlot with a habit and carriage agreeable to her quality and design.

Subtle or wary , or reserved , as she showed in her following discourse; wherein she proposeth all things which might invite him, and conceals whatsoever might discourage him.

Poole: Pro 7:11 - Loud // Stubborn // Her feet abide not in her house

Loud or clamorous , or full of talk, which served her design.

Stubborn rebellious against God, and against her husband, and incorrigible by all admonitions of ministers or friends.

Her feet abide not in her house she minds not her business, which lies at home, but gives up herself wholly to idleness and pleasure, which she seeks abroad with other men.

Poole: Pro 7:12 - Without // In the streets // At every corner

Without standing or waiting without or nigh the door of her house.

In the streets in places of resort.

At every corner at the corners of the streets, where she might either conceal or discover herself, as she saw fit.

Poole: Pro 7:14

I have paid my peace-offerings which I had vowed; whereby she signifies, either,

1. That she was no common harlot, but one of good repute for religion. Or rather,

2. That she had plentiful and excellent provisions at her house for his entertainment. For the peace-offerings were to be of the best flesh, Lev 22:21 , and a considerable part of these offerings fell to the offerers’ share, wherewith they used to feast themselves and their friends; see Lev 2:3 , &c.; Lev 7:31 , &c.; Lev 19:6 , &c.; Lev 22:30 , &c.; whereas the burnt-offerings where wholly consumed, and the flesh of the sin-offerings and trespass-offerings belonged to the priest.

Poole: Pro 7:15 - Diligently to seek thy face // I have found thee

Diligently to seek thy face as not being able to take any pleasure in my feast without thy company.

I have found thee by a happy providence of God complying with my desires.

Poole: Pro 7:16

She designs to inflame his lust by the mention of the bed, and by its ornaments and perfumes.

Haydock: Pro 7:1 - Words

Words. As dangerous temptations always threaten, the same instructions are frequently inculcated. (Worthington)

Haydock: Pro 7:5 - Thine

Thine. But another's, ver. 19. Give thy heart to wisdom, that it may be guarded against impure love.

Haydock: Pro 7:6 - Lattice

Lattice. No glass was used, on account of the great heat. (Calmet)

Haydock: Pro 7:7 - Ones

Ones. Not in age, but prudence. (Menochius)

Haydock: Pro 7:10 - Attire // Prepared

Attire. Covered with a veil, (Genesis xxxviii. 15.) though different from that of honest women. (Calmet) ---

The wanton are commonly the most gaudy; nullarum fere pretiosior cultus est quam quarum pudor vilis est. (St. Cyprian, de Habitu.) ---

Prepared, &c. Hebrew, "guarded," (Calmet) or "subtle of heart." (Protestants) "who makes the hearts of youths take flight." (Septuagint) (Canticle of Canticles vi. 4.) (Haydock)

Haydock: Pro 7:11 - Not....quiet

Not....quiet. Is not in Hebrew. (Calmet) ---

"She is loud and stubborn, her feet abide not in her house." (Protestants) (Haydock) ---

Chaste women are guarded in their speech, and keep at home. (Menochius)

Haydock: Pro 7:14 - Prosperity // Vows

Prosperity. Or thy welfare, (Cornelius a Lapide; Tirinus) so great is my love for thee. (Menochius) ---

Vows. And therefore I have a feast prepared. People might carry home the greatest part of the victim to eat, if they were clean, Leviticus vii. 29. (Calmet)

Haydock: Pro 7:16 - Cords

Cords. For greater ease, instead of boards, (Menochius) or the curtains are hung with precious cords from Egypt. (Calmet)

Haydock: Pro 7:17 - Aloes

Aloes. Of Syria, (John xix. 39.) different from ours, Numbers xxxiv. 6. (Calmet)

Haydock: Pro 7:18 - Inebriated

Inebriated. Protestants, "take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves." (Haydock) ---

This passion is a sort of intoxication. (Menochius)

Gill: Pro 7:1 - My son, keep my words // and lay up my commandments with thee

My son, keep my words,.... Doctrines and instructions; which, as a father to a son, or a master to his scholars, he had delivered; these he would have him observe and attend to;

and lay up my commandments with thee: as a treasure in his heart, to be brought out upon occasion; to be kept as valuable, and made use of as an antidote against and a preservative from sinning; see Psa 119:11. The Septuagint and Arabic versions add, what is not in the Hebrew text,

"son, honour the Lord, and thou shalt be strong;''

the Arabic adds,

"and he shall strengthen thee; and fear none besides him.''

Gill: Pro 7:2 - Keep my commandments and live // and my law as the apple of thine eye

Keep my commandments and live,.... Not the commandments of the law only, but the commandments of Christ; and even the doctrines of Christ are so called, as faith in him, and love to the saints, 1Jo 3:23; which is the way to live comfortably, peaceably, pleasantly, and honourably;

and my law as the apple of thine eye; the doctrine of Christ, the law of the Lord, that goes out of Zion; which should be as dear to men as the apple of their eye, and as carefully preserved, that the least injury is not done to it; it should be kept inviolate.

Gill: Pro 7:3 - Bind them upon thy fingers // write them upon the table of thine heart

Bind them upon thy fingers,.... Let the above words and doctrines be as ready and familiar as if they were at the fingers' ends; or let them be always fresh in memory, as a piece of thread is tied about the fingers, to put in mind of anything to be done; or let them be as rings upon the fingers, both memorial and ornamental: or put into practice the things taught and commanded; the fingers being the instruments of action, and especially of doing things nicely and accurately;

write them upon the table of thine heart; that they may be strong in the memory, deep in the affection, and abiding in the understanding and will; see Pro 3:3.

Gill: Pro 7:4 - Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister // and call understanding thy kinswoman

Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister,.... Intimately acquainted, greatly beloved, and highly delighted in: this may be understood both of the Gospel, the wisdom of God in a mystery, which men should be conversant with, be strongly affected to, and take delight and pleasure in; and of Christ, the essential Wisdom of God, and who stands in the relation of a brother to his people, and should be respected as such;

and call understanding thy kinswoman; or "kinsman" ^a; such Christ is in our nature, our "goel", our near kinsman, partaker of the same flesh and blood, and therefore is not ashamed to call us brethren, nor should we be ashamed to call him kinsman: moreover, his Word and Gospel, and the understanding of it, should be familiar to us; it should be well "known" ^b by us, as the word used signifies, and dwell richly in us.

Gill: Pro 7:5 - That they may keep thee from the strange woman // from the stranger which flattereth with her words

That they may keep thee from the strange woman,.... Nothing has a greater tendency than Christ and his Gospel, and an intimate acquaintance with them, and a retention of them, to keep from all sin, from all fleshly lusts, from the sin of uncleanness; and also from all the errors, heresies, idolatry, superstition, and will worship, of the whore of Rome; a stranger to God and true godliness, to Christ and his truths, the Spirit and his operations;

from the stranger which flattereth with her words; See Gill on Pro 2:16; see Gill on Pro 5:3, and see Gill on Pro 6:24.

Gill: Pro 7:6 - For at the window of my house // I looked through my casement

For at the window of my house,.... This is either an historical account of a matter of fact known to Solomon, or a parable made by him, setting forth the cunning artifices of an harlot, the folly and weakness of a young man ensnared, and the ruin he is brought into by her. As Solomon was a public magistrate, he is here represented as a private observer of the behaviour of his subjects, as sitting in his palace at a window, at the small windows of it, as the Targum, where he could see and not be seen himself; near to which was an harlot's house; for they generally get about the courts of princes, where they make their prey;

I looked through my casement; or "lattice" ^c; the Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic versions: understand this of the harlot looking out of the window of her house and through the casement, when she spied a young man, as follows; but this agrees not with the Hebrew text, which carries it to Solomon; though a greater than he may be designed, the omniscient God, who looks through the windows and lattice of heaven, and beholds all the actions of the children of men; those that are most private, and done in the dark; and Christ the Son of God, whose "eyes are like unto aflame of fire", to look through all the darkness of Popery, represented by the Thyatirian church state; into all the intrigues of the Romish harlot, and behold all the follies of those that commit fornication with her, Rev 2:18.

Gill: Pro 7:7 - And beheld among the simple ones // I discerned among the youths // a young man void of understanding

And beheld among the simple ones,.... Such as are easily persuaded and drawn into sin; simple and foolish in things moral and spiritual, and not arrived to any ripeness of understanding in things natural and civil; have seen but little of the world, and know less of religion, and are easily imposed upon and carried away with the company they keep; such simple foolish creatures are the followers of antichrist; see 2Ti 3:6;

I discerned among the youths; or "children" ^d; at least in understanding, the children Jezebel, Rev 2:23;

a young man void of understanding; or "wanting a heart" ^e; to know and fear the Lord, and not in the way to learn and improve; but in company like himself, and so in a fair way to continue foolish and simple, and destitute of the true understanding of things, and exposed to the snares delusions of such that lie in wait to deceive.

Gill: Pro 7:8 - Passing through the street near her corner // and he went the way to her house

Passing through the street near her corner,.... The house of the harlot that stood in a corner to take in persons that came both ways; to come near which is dangerous; this was putting himself in the way of temptation; or the corner of the street where she stood to pick up young men; it could be with no good design to walk the streets in the night, and to go where harlots haunt, and where they dwell or stand; or, however, it was exposing himself to danger, and, had he took the wise man's advice, would not have done it, Pro 5:8; we should abstain from all appearance of evil, and from everything that leads to sin; and as to immorality and uncleanness, so to false doctrine and false worship; the synagogues of Satan and Popish chapels should be avoided;

and he went the way to her house; that led directly to her house, which shows a bad intention; and if his design was not to commit fornication, yet to gratify his lusts by looks, dalliances, and impure discourse with her; and hither he went in a set, stately manner, as the word ^f signifies; with an air pleasing to the harlot, as a beau and fop of the town; and by which air and gait he was known by her to be a proper person to attack.

Gill: Pro 7:9 - In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night.

In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night. Which is the usual time adulterers take to commit their works of darkness in, by which they think to conceal them; they being such as they themselves do not care should be seen and known, Job 24:15; their works will not bear the sun and daylight, therefore they take the twilight and when the sun is set; and choose the night, and not light nights neither, but the blackest and darkest nights, as fittest for their purpose; most likely to meet with harlots, and less liable to be seen by their neighbours; but always to be seen by the omniscient God, with whom the darkness and the light are both alike. Perhaps these several words may express the time from the young man's first setting out to his drawing nigh to the harlot's house, and his being attacked and ensnared by her; when he first set out from his own or his father's house, it was "twilight", the sun was declining; by that time he had got good part of his way the sun set, and then it was "evening"; and when he came near the harlot's house it was "black and dark night": and this may represent the gradual and progressive growth of Popery; there was first a "twilight", a decline of the purity of Gospel light and knowledge, and then the sun of the Gospel set, which brought on an "evening", and issued in the gross "darkness" of Popery, represented by the Thyatirian church state, as before observed; since that, the "morning star" of the Reformation has appeared, but this is become obscure, we are in a twilight again; it is neither day nor night with us as yet, but a dark black night is hastening on; and it is easy to observe how many, like this foolish young man, are marching on in a stately manner to the harlot's house, or are verging to Popery, whether they design it or not.

Gill: Pro 7:10 - And, behold, there met him a woman // with the attire of a harlot // and subtle of heart

And, behold, there met him a woman,.... A married woman, and an adulteress, as the following account of her shows; as soon as ever she discerned the young man before described, who she knew, by his air, walk, and dress, was a fit person for her turn, she at once set out from her house, or the corner where she stood, and met him; she did not wait till he came up and made his suit to her, but she went out, and first attacked him; wherefore the word "behold" is prefixed as a note of admiration at the impudence of the woman, and as a note of attention to observe the consequence of this affair. This woman represents the woman on a scarlet-coloured beast, the mother of harlots, who, though she pretends to be the spouse of Christ, is an arrant whore, Rev 17:3;

with the attire of a harlot; not with her face veiled, as Tamar was, Gen 38:14; for though that might be the sign of a harlot in the daytime, yet not in the night, as this was; rather with showy gaudy garments, such as the Athenian whores wore, or short ones, as the Romans; the word signifies one fitted to her body, neat and well shaped, to recommend her: so the woman, the whore of Rome, is said to be arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls; signifying the outward pomp and splendour of the Romish religion, designed to captivate weak and unwary minds; see Gill on Rev 17:4;

and subtle of heart; mistress of all artful and intriguing methods to seduce and ensnare ^g; or, "reserved of heart" ^h, cautious and wary what she said, told everything that was encouraging, but kept back what was discouraging; or she kept her own heart to herself, while she stole the hearts of others; so the Targum renders it,

"which takes away the hearts of young men;''

and to the same purpose are the versions of the Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic: the subtlety of the popes, priests, jesuits, and other emissaries of Rome, to deceive the hearts of the simple, is well known; the coming of antichrist was after the working of Satan, with all deceivableness of unrighteousness, 2Th 2:9.

Gill: Pro 7:11 - She is loud and stubborn // her feet abide not in her house

She is loud and stubborn,.... "Loud"; not that her voice may be heard, and so be found by those that seek her in the dark, as Aben Ezra interprets it; but rather clamorous, noisy, and talkative, when she has got her gallant with her; pouring out foolish and unchaste words to allure and entice him; unless it is to be understood of her bawling and scolding, when within doors, at her husband, in order to get him out, and be rid of him; to whom she is "stubborn" or "rebellious", as the Targum, breaking covenant with him, and disobeying his commands; and departing from him, declining out of the way, as Jarchi; speaking rebellion, as Aben Ezra: all which agree with the whore of Rome, who is rebellious against Christ, whose spouse she professes to be; is perfidious to him, disobedient to his commandments; is gone out of the way of his truths and ordinances, and publishes and encourages everything that is contrary thereunto; as well as has a mouth speaking blasphemies, Rev 13:5;

her feet abide not in her house; to attend the business of it; but site is gadding abroad to seek her lovers, and bring them in; it is the character of good women that they are keepers at home, but it is the sign of a harlot to gad abroad, which is enlarged upon in Pro 7:11.

Gill: Pro 7:12 - Now is she without // now in the streets // and lieth in wait at every corner

Now is she without,.... The word for whore is sometimes rendered in the Targum ⁱ one that goes abroad, or without her house; sitting or standing at the door of it, in an idle posture, and in order to invite her lovers in; and if she can get none this way, or quickly, grows impatient: she is

now in the streets; takes her walks abroad in the streets of the city, to see who she can light of, to pick up and bring home;

and lieth in wait at every corner; of the street, where more ways meet, sometimes at one corner, and sometimes at another, that she may take all that comes; sometimes she is "without" in the fields, and in the country, to see what she can meet with there; and sometimes in the "streets" of the city, and in the populous places of it, in the markets, and courts, and in every private corner, trying all ways to gain lovers, and satisfy her lust ^k: all which may represent the diligence and industry, art and cunning, of the Romish emissaries to gain proselytes to their idolatrous worship, who everywhere lie in wait to deceive.

Gill: Pro 7:13 - So she caught him, and kissed him // and with an impudent face // said unto him

So she caught him, and kissed him,.... The young man that went near her corner where she was plying, or in the way to her house, where she was sitting, or standing, waiting and watching for such an opportunity, for such a person, as a prey to fasten on; and no sooner she saw him, and come up to him, but, without any ceremony or address, she laid hold upon him, as the word ^l signifies, threw her arms about his neck, and embraced him in them; and, what is unusual for women to do, kissed him, in order to stir up wanton affections and impure desires in him;

and with an impudent face; or, "and she strengthened her face" ^m; rubbed her forehead, put on a brasen face, a whore's front; see Jer 3:3. And

said unto him; accosted him in the following manner, without shame or blushing.

Gill: Pro 7:14 - I have peace offerings with me // this day have I paid my vows

I have peace offerings with me,.... Meaning at her house. These peace offerings were of the eucharistic kind; they were offered by way of thanksgiving for favours received; the greatest part of which, all excepting the fat on the kidneys, the rump of the sheep, the breast and right shoulder, which were the priest's, were returned to the offerers to feast upon with their friends, and were to be eaten the same day, Lev 7:11. This she said to show that she was no common strumpet, or that prostituted herself for gain; that she was a sufficient housewife, had a considerable affluence of life, her substance greatly increased, for which she had made her thank offering that day; that she wanted nothing of him but his company, and the enjoyment of him; and that she had good cheer to regale him with. She was properly קדשה, "a holy" religious harlot, as the word sometimes signifies; and such is the church of Rome, which makes great pretensions to devotion and religion, yet is the mother of harlots, and abominations of the earth, Rev 17:5;

this day have I paid my vows; not on account of the young man, and for his health, and for meeting with him; for those vows were not now made to be paid, but were made and paid already: but her vows of peace offerings and thanksgivings, which, as she had promised, she had performed. Under this point may be reckoned the vows of virginity and celibacy, through a show of which the most shocking iniquities are committed by the members of the church of Rome.

Gill: Pro 7:15 - Therefore came I forth to meet thee // diligently to seek thy face // and I have found thee

Therefore came I forth to meet thee,.... Having so much good cheer at home, and none to eat of it with her; and having so fond and affectionate a regard to this young man, as she pretended; he being the only person in her thoughts, whom she hoped to meet with, and whose company she desired, and his only; though, had she met any other, she would have said the same things to them. Aben Ezra, upon Pro 7:14, says, she told him lies; probably that might be true; but this was no doubt a lie; and it is no unusual thing for the whore of Rome to speak lies in hypocrisy, 1Ti 4:2;

diligently to seek thy face; which of all faces she desired to see, being most lovely to her; with the comeliness of which she was exceedingly taken and ravished, and got up betimes in the morning, as the word ⁿ signifies, even before day, to seek for him;

and I have found thee; which she speaks with a rapture and ecstasy of joy; blessing herself on this happy occasion, that she should come out so opportunely, and find him so quickly; intimating, that it was a kind providence, and that the thing was of God: so conversions to the antichristian church, which are the artifice of hell, are ascribed to the divine Being.

Gill: Pro 7:16 - I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry // with carved works // with fine linen of Egypt

I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry,.... Made use of by the ancients ^o for bed clothes: beautiful ornaments, as Gersom; and precious garments, as Jarchi. She had adorned her bed with curtains and clothes, very delightful to the eye, and inviting; and had well corded it, as some interpret it, with cords of fine linen, and all to allure her lovers; she soon discovered her lustful inclinations, what her heart was upon, and says this, and more, to fire the young man's lust, and cause him to follow her: so the church of Rome adorns her places of worship in the most pompous manner; which are the beds in which she commits adultery, Rev 2:22; and also her images to strike the minds of people, and draw them into her idolatrous worship;

with carved works; perhaps the bed's head, tester, and posts, were all carved, and cut out of cedar wood and others, as Gersom observes; though some think: this refers to the variety of work in tapestry, which look like incisions and carvings, or the network, and agnet holes made therein: this may be very well applied to the carved work, and carved images, set up in the Romish churches;

with fine linen of Egypt; the sheets, pillows, and bolsters, made thereof, and so soft to lie upon; which was reckoned the best and finest, though not the strongest. Pliny says ^p, of the linen of Egypt, that it had less strength and firmness in it (it being so fine); but bore the best price, and was the most gainful and profitable. The word used is not what is elsewhere met with, even when the linen of Egypt is mentioned, and indeed is nowhere else used: the Targum renders it, an Egyptian covering; and so most of the Oriental versions interpret it of bed coverings of tapestry painted, brought out of Egypt. The word is used in the Chaldee language for cords; and may here signify threads of linen twisted together, or linen cords, with which the harlot's bed was corded, and looked beautiful. Pliny ^q says, there were four sorts of linen in Egypt; Tanitic, Pelusiac, Butic, and Tenterytic; so called from the names and provinces where they were cultivated; and perhaps the Etun of Egypt may be the Tanitic: the fine linen, called "byssus", was brought out of India into Egypt; and is said to grow upon a tree as high as the poplar, and its leaves like a willow ^r. Egypt is very properly made mention of in this account; it being one of the names of the city of Rome, of the great city, which is spiritually called Sodom and Egypt, and equal to both for lust and luxury, Rev 11:8.

Gill: Pro 7:17 - I have perfumed my bed // with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon

I have perfumed my bed,.... As she had made it entertaining to the senses of seeing and feeling, it being showy and gaudy, soft and easy; so to the sense of smelling; and all to provoke lust, and draw into her embraces; by censing it with incense, as Donesh in Jarchi; or by sprinkling ^s a liquor, made of the following spices, on the head, posts, and sides of the bed, to remove all ill scents, and make it more acceptable; so the Targum, Vulgate Latin, Septuagint, and all the Oriental versions, render it, "I sprinkled my bed": or, it may be, by suffumigation, which women are said to use with their garments and bed clothes ^t. Even this the harlot did,

with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon; all odorous, and of a sweet smell: Horace ^u speaks of the anointed beds of such persons; and of the above spices ointments were made, with which the harlot's bed might be perfumed. Cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, are reckoned among the wares of Babylon, or the church of Rome, Rev 18:13.

Gill: Pro 7:18 - Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning // let us solace ourselves with loves

Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning,.... Taking him by the hand, and pulling him along, she says, "come"; let us not stand here in the streets, but let us go within, and after supper to bed; and there enjoy ourselves, till "inebriated" with love, as the word ^w signifies: so the poet ^x speaks of "ebrios ocellos", "eyes drunk", that is, with love; and so continue till the morning light, the night being the fittest season for those works of darkness: this expresses the insatiableness of her lust;

let us solace ourselves with loves; mutual love, not lawful, but criminal; more properly lusts; denoting the abundance of it, and the pleasure promised in it, which is very short lived, and bitterness in the end.