Proverbs 9

Here the work of grace wrought by our Lord Jesus, who calleth and bringeth his people by his Word and Spirit unto blessed communion and fellowship with him (the Supreme wisdom,) is propounded under the parable and similitude of making a Feast, and inviting of guests, verse 1, &c. With an opposition of the nature and condition of the scorners, and of the wise, 7. And on the contrary the deceitful and destructive work of Satan, under the parable of a foolish woman, (enemy to Supreme Wisdom) who also biddeth and inviteth her guests, but to their everlasting destruction, 13, etc.

1. The Supreme Wisdom [Hebr. Wisdoms. See above chap.1.20.] hath builded her house: [Understand by this house, the Congregation of true believers, whose building is begun here by the Preaching of the Gospel, and the working of the holy Ghost, but shall be finished hereafter by the perfecting and consummating of the children of God. Others understand by this house, their or highest heaven, wherein the elect shall be abundantly filled and satisfied with all manner of good things] she hath hewen out her seven [that is, many. A certain number for an uncertain, see above chap.6.verse 31.] pillars. [by these are understood by many, the Patriarchs, Prophets, Apostles, Evangelists, Pastors, and Teachers. Others understand by these pillars, the stability, and the everlasting duration and continuance of the heavenly house of the Father, into which Christ is gone before us, to prepare a place for us, John 14:2.]

2. She hath killed [To wit, to dress, and then to set before the guests: so Gen.43.16. 1 Sam.25.11.] her slay-cattle, [meaning the Word of God, the true food of the soul, together with all spiritual and soul-saving mercies, which are promised therein, and presented or offered unto us in the sacraments, upon which will follow the perfect joy of the life to come] she hath mingled her wine; [this looks at the custom then in use in hot countries, where they mingled their wine with water, to mitigate and allay the strength thereof, or mingled kit with divers spices, below verse 5. And 23.30. Isa.5.22. and 65.11.] she hath also furnished her table. [to wit, by setting the several messes or dishes upon it in due order. Compare the phrase with Psalms 23:6. and 78.19. Isa.21.5.]

3. She hath sent forth her hand-maids: [Understand by these, the Ministers of the Word of God, who by Christ are sent forth to call and invite men to the communion and fellowship of the Church, and of all spiritual good things, that are therein distributed, 2 Cor.5.19,20.] she inviteth upon the pinnacles, [Hebr. Wings: that is, low walls, or leanings made above upon the flat roofs of high buildings, that those that went upon the roof, might be out of danger of falling down: see Deut.22 on verse 8. And compare above chap.8.2.] of the high places of the City.

4. Who is simple? Let him turn (in) hither: [That is, whosoever is simple, let him turn in to me. They are the words of wisdom: see of the word simple, above ch.1.on verse 4.] to him that is void of understanding, [see above chap.6.on verse 32.] she saith:

5. Come, [To wit, whosoever thou art of those that want understanding] eat of my bread, and drink of the wine, which I have mingled. [spiritual and eternal good things are often compared to corporal and transitory good things, and therefore also represented and signifieth by them: Psalms 23:2,5. Wisdom is here resembled to a King, that keepeth open Court, compare Mat.22.2,3, &c.]

6. Forsake simplicities, [So is the Hebrew word taken above, chap.1.22. Oth. Let the simple ones go: or, forsake the simple ones, or, foolish] and live; [a command, containing in it a promise, that they shall live, see above chap.3.on verse 25.] and tread in the way of understanding. [that is, in the way, whereby men attain to right understanding, and true wisdom, and which men of understanding do walk in. See 1 Kings 8.on ver.36.]

7. Whoso reproveth [The word signifieth here properly to instruct, admonish, and reprove with words, and with sayings onely. So Deut.4.26. Job 4:3. 1 Chron.15.22. elsewhere it signifieth also to chastify and correct with blows, and punishing, as 1 Kings 12:11. Ps.6.2.] the scorner, [see Psalm 1.verse 1.] getteth to himself shame; [to wit, because he doth labour in vain, and is reviled by him, whom he reproveth. Comp. Mat.7.6.] and he that rebuketh the wicked, (getteth) his (own) blemish. [the original word signifieth commonly a blemish of the body, as Lev.28.17. and 22.20. 2 Sam.14.25. but it is also taken for a blemish of the soul, touching faith and manners, or a good name, in respect of the event of a thing, or action, as here, and Deu.32.5. Job 11:15.]

8. Reprove not the scorner, left he hate thee: [Compare Mat.7.6.] reprove the wise [that is, he that loveth wisdom, is godly and honest. So in the next verse] and he will love thee.

9. Teach [Hebr. Give: to wit, wholesome instruction] the wise, so he will be yet wiser: instruct the righteous, so he will increase in learning [so above chap.1.5. see the annot.]

10. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: [Compare Job 28:28. Psalms 111:10. above ch.1.7.] and the knowledge of the holy (ones, or Saints) [that is, the knowledge werewith the saints are endowed, and which they shew forth and represent unto others. Understand by holy ones or saints true believers; so they are called, Psalms 16:3. and 34.10. and 89.6,8. Below chap.30.3. Hos.12.verse 1.1. Cor.1.2. see the reason, 1 Cor.6.11. Oth. Understand here by holy (ones, or Saints) kin the plural number, because he is threefold in persons] is understanding.

11. For by me shall thy days be multiplied: [See ab.chap.3.2. and the annotations, and below chap.10.27. and understand by me, the supreme wisdom, who here produceth a reason of her former exhortations] and years of life shall be added unto thee. [Hebr. Shall they add unto thee; that is, shall be added; to wit, by him, that addeth, or multiplieth them, which is God; see of this phrase, Job 4.on verse 19.]

12. If thou art wise, thou art wise for thy self: [That is, for thine own benefits, and advantage. God hath no benefit or profit by it, Psalms 16:2.] and (if) thou art a scorner, thou alone shalt bear it. [that is, thy self alone shall have the shame and blame of it; not God, nor his eternal wisdom.]

13. A foolish woman [Heb. Woman of folly, or, foolishness. This woman is propounded, and set forth in this chapter, as the chiefest adversary and enemy to true wisdom, inviting all men unto her, as wisdom before did. Understand by the foolish woman, whatsoever crosseth truth or soundness of doctrine, and integrity of life. Others conceive that here properly an adulteress is described, and that then by her the forementioned foolish woman is represented] is clamorous, [see above chap.7.on verse 11.] simplicity (it self); [that is, which is very simple, full of folly, and bad senses] and knoweth nothing at all. [to wit, to instruct a man, what he should believe, and how he ought to live.]

14. And she [To wit, the forementioned foolish woman: that is, folly, who is here described by her boldness, pride, and manifold practises to seduce and deceive men] sitteth at the door of her house on a seat, (on) the high places of the City.

15. To call those, that pass by (on) the way, that make their paths right, [That is, that go right on their way, without looking back after the foolish woman. Comp.ab.ch.3.6.] (saying;)

16. Who is simple? Let him turn (in) hither: [Compare these words with the words of wisdom, above verse 4. Which folly here desires to counterfeit and imitate, that by open reviling and contemning of wisdoms instruction, she might draw men off unto her self] to him that wanteth understanding, she saith;

17. Stolen waters are sweet, and hidden bread is pleasant. [Understand hereby, false doctrine, vain and empty riches, and transitory pleasures, which folly imparteth unto her ministers and servants. They are called stolen waters, and hidden, or secret bread, because they are compared to the secret carnal copulation of those, that live in adultery. For as this is practised with much craft and secrecy, and also is far more pleasing and delightful unto corrupt flesh, then the pure and undefiled coming together of man and wife in the state of wedlock. So in false doctrine, there is nothing but crafty deceit, and in fading and transitory riches, which folly promiseth, a greater delight for the flesh in this world. Compare below chap.20.17. and 30.20. and the Annotations. By hidden, or, secret bread, in this place, is meant riches that are ill gotten, and as ill spent; to wit, gotten by secret, false, and crafty underminings, and spent wasted by useless, shameful, and immoderate actions, which are ashamed of the light. Bread is put for all manner of temporal goods: see above chap.4.on verse 17.]

18. But he [To wit, the passenger, whom the foolish woman inviteth home to her house] knoweth not, [the former words were spoken and uttered by folly, but these the dead [see above chap.2.on verse 18.] are there, [to wit, in the house of the foolish woman] (and that) her guests are in the depths of bell. [to wit, of death temporal, and eternal.]