Proverbs 31

Here are the words of Bathsheba, the mother of Solomon; taught him likely when he was young, against the time wherein he should be King; And when he was King, recorded here, and registred by him. He is called here Lemuel, verse 1. And by his mother Lemoel, verse 4. as tender mothers do often use to make loving changes in their childrens names. And here she warnes him chiefly against women, though he made ill use of this warning; And against wine. And from the tenth verse, to the end, she elegantly describes the vertues of a worthy wife; as a patterne for his choise; beginning every verse thereof with a several letter of the Hebrew Alphabet in order.

Proverbs 31:1

Lemuel] Verse 4. Lemoel. It seemes to signifie, of God. God had owned him, 2 Sam. VII. 14. and chosen him for King before any of his elder brethren. His mother thus stiles him; as mothers many times do frame affectionate titles with some smal variations, to insinuate with their children; she breaks off the first letter of his name, and adds in the end the name of God.

his mother taught him.] Lemuels lesson; taught him by Bathsheba; and if taught him haply being King; then upon his beginning to warp and wander. He was taught likewise by his father, ch. IV. 3, 4. Ps. CXXVII. and LXXII. Both which heighten his after-fall, as well as that 1 Kings XI. 9. These words and Prophetical documents may seeme to be penned down by Lemuel himself afterwards.

Proverbs 31:2

What my sonne] Passionate, and affectionate words; a sweet schooling out of a fear and jealousie conceived, and a care had to prevent his miscarrying.

Proverbs 31:3

Thy strength to women] Chap. V. 9. Deut. XVII. 17.

Proverbs 31:4

to drink wine] Chap. XXIII. 29, 30. Ephes. V. 18. Hos. VII. 5. Esay V. 11. Hab. II. 15, 16. Eccles. X. 16, 17.

Proverbs 31:5

Lest] One, amongst many, of the mischiefs of drunkennesse, in Kings and Princes, chap. XXIII. 29,—35.

Proverbs 31:6

and wine to those] Jer. XVI. 7. Good things well used. Hence, as some conceive, arose the custome of giving wine to such as were condemned to die; as Mark XV. 23. Whereunto some apply that of Amos II. 8.

Proverbs 31:7

and forget] Judg. IX. 13. Psal. CIV. 15.

Proverbs 31:8

for the dumb] Chap. XXIV. 11, 12. such as may not, or cannot speak for themselves, Iob XXIX. 15, 16. Ier. XXXVIII. 8, 9.

Proverbs 31:9

and plead] Levit. XIX. 15. Deut. I. 17. Psal. LXXII. 4.

Proverbs 31:10

a vertuous woman] Chap. XII. 4. 1 Cor. XI. 7. Her praise is set forth all along to the end of this Chapter. And that methodicaly, beginning every verse with a letter of the Hebrew Alphabet, as it stands in order. Such a woman as this is the female glorie, the wonder of woman-kinde; amiable, and admirable, as the paragon of the world. A faire patterne for Solomons choise in a wife. But a lesson ill learned by him, a worse practised. In this large Description, the whole Text needs not any Glosse.