Proverbs 5

Chap. V. Ver. 1—23. Cautions against lewdness and adultery. —The picture of a harlot here drawn is so true to nature that it answers in every age and country. ‘Her lips drop (with sweetness) as a honey-comb with honey, and though her moral taste is disordered, her words are smoother than oil.’ This is, however, at the commencement of her acquaintance: the issue is a perfect contrast. “Her end,” whether we refer to the misery entailed upon herself or her lovers, ‘is bitter as wormwood;” and her oiled words become “sharper than a two-edged sword.” Often does the language of enticement end in re- See (Psalms 140:3).), so that [they] penetrate the heart as a dagger or a sword. As a remedy for lewdness, Solomon recommends marriage and a domestic life, under images the most delicate and impressive. It was necessary (if possible) for every house to have its own well, or cistern, as common sense dictated the propriety of drawing their water thence, instead of going to their neighbour’s well. This he applies to domestic enjoyments. “Draw water from thine own cistern.” Look at home for happiness, and prefer the affections of a virtuous wife to the embraces of many harlots. Thus shall thy streams be pure and uncontaminated: that is, thy offspring shall be numerous, certain, and legitimate; and far more likely to be virtuous than the produce of harlots, supposing they should not be barren. Another image is introduced. The attachments of a modest woman are compared to those of the most shy and beautiful of the animal creation, the antelope or gazelle: a favourite image with Solomon, as we know by its repeated introduction into the book of Canticles.

Here the young man is allowed at once to indulge his affections, and to enjoy those sweets, which indeed can here only be found without a sting. But the stings of an illicit intercourse are many. A man who spends his strength and property upon a harlot, at the same time incurs disgrace with men, and [also] with God, ‘‘who pondereth all his goings;” and though such an one may stifle the remonstrances of his conscience for a time, when he comes to the couch of sickness and to death, he will find it full of stings, and “a wounded spirit who can bear?” Sheol, which may be taken in its double sense; for it is true that debauchery

Notes on the verses

Chap. V. Ver. 3. Her mouth—Heb., palate as smoother [than oil]. It leads both to the grave, and to the punishments of another world. Ver. 6. Her ways are ‘moveable’—that is, she is continually shifting her temptations, and changing her means of enticement.—Thou canst not know them—i.e. canst not be aware of her arts and subterfuges. Ver. 11. And thou mourn.—Hodgson, ** Roar 2 i.e. with distress and agony. It is translated roar, (Proverbs 19:12). 5 XX. 2, &c.— Thy flesh and thy body—that is, “the flesh of thy body.” Holden. Ver. 14. I was almost in all evil, &c.—Perhaps riotous and disorderly, both in religious and civil meetings; but Dr. Hodgson understands it as being brought before them as a criminal.

Ver. 19. The loving hind and pleasant roe.—Yaalah, rather the female ibex or rock goat, (see on (Psalms 104:18).) which is one third less than the male, and not so corpulent; colour less tawny; horns very small, and not above eight inches long; has two teats, like the tame she-goat; never has a beard except, perhaps, in advanced age; and is particularly celebrated for tender affection to her young, whose safety she watches over with incessant vigilance, and for ardent attachment and fidelity to her mate. Hence Solomon here compares a faithful wife to the hind, or female deer, accompanying its “water” thee. The Asiatics have no idea of any thing more delightful and refreshing than water. See (Proverbs 25:25).