Proverbs 24:30

I went by the field of the slothful,.... This very probably was a real matter of fact; King Solomon's way lay at a certain time by the field of a slothful man, who never went into it himself, there

I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; Folly of the sluggard.

Proverbs 24:30 I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;Ver. 30. I went by the field of the slothful.] Not purposely to spy faults - for Nemo curiosus quin malevolus - but my business lay that way, and I was willing to make the best of everything that came before me. By the vineyard of the man void of understanding.] Heb., That had no heart; that is, that made no use of it - that was not egregie cordatus homo, as one describes a wise man.

(30) I went by the field of the slothful . . .—The parable of the vineyard let out to husbandmen for them to render the fruits in due season (Matthew 21:33), and of the thorns which choked the word (ibid., Proverbs 13:7), suggest a spiritual meaning for this passage. It warns us not to allow the weeds of evil habits to spring up in the garden of the soul through sloth, nor to suffer God’s protecting care (the wall) to be withdrawn from us because we have not sought it constantly in prayer.

Verse 30. I went by the field of the slothful] This is a most instructive parable; is exemplified every day in a variety of forms; and is powerfully descriptive of the state of many a blackslider and trifler in religion. Calmet has an excellent note on this passage. I shall give the substance of it. Solomon often recommends diligence and economy to his disciples. In those primitive times when agriculture was honourable, no man was respected who neglected to cultivate his grounds, who sunk into poverty, contracted debt, or engaged in ruinous securities. With great propriety, a principal part of wisdom was considered by them as consisting in the knowledge of properly conducting one's domestic affairs, and duly cultivating the inheritances derived from their ancestors. Moses had made a law to prevent the rich from utterly depressing the poor, by obliging them to return their farms to them on the Sabbatic year, and to remit all debts at the year of jubilee. In the civil state of the Hebrews, we never see those enormous and suddenly raised fortunes, which never subsist but in the ruin of numberless families. One of the principal solicitudes of this legislator was to produce, as far as possible in a monarchical state, an equality of property and condition. The ancient Romans held agriculture in the same estimation, and highly respected those who had applied themselves to it with success. When they spoke in praise of a man, they considered themselves as giving no mean commendation when they called him a good husbandman, an excellent labourer. From such men they formed their most valiant generals and intrepid soldiers. CATO De Re Rustica, cap. 1. The property which is acquired by these means is most innocent, most solid, and exposes its possessor less to envy than property acquired in any other way. See CICERO De Officiis, lib. 1. In Britain the merchant is all in all; and yet the waves of the sea are not more uncertain, nor more tumultuous, than the property acquired in this way, or than the agitated life of the speculative merchant. But let us look more particularly into this very instructive parable:- I. The owner is described. 1. He was איש עצל ish atsel, the loitering, sluggish, slothful man. 2. He was אדם חסר לב adam chasar leb, a man that wanted heart; destitute of courage, alacrity, and decision of mind. II. His circumstances. This man had, 1st, שדה sadeh, a sowed field, arable ground. This was the character of his estate. It was meadow and corn land. 2. He had כרם kerem, a vineyard, what we would call perhaps garden and orchard, where he might employ his skill to great advantage in raising various kinds of fruits and culinary herbs for the support of his family. III. The state of this heritage: 1. "It was grown over with thorns." It had been long neglected, so that even brambles were permitted to grow in the fields: 2.

30–34. The Sluggard’s Vineyard. Comp. Proverbs 6:6-11, and notes.

The chapter ends with an apologue, which may be taken as a parable of something yet deeper. The field and the vineyard are more than the man’s earthly possessions.

30-34. This is a most instructive parable, and needs little explication, though much might be said in amplification. A few notes must suffice. I went by — Not casually and carelessly, but as a diligent observer.