Africa Bible Commentary: A One-Volume Commentary Written by 70 African Scholars

Author:Tokunboh Adeyemo
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Religion, Biblical Commentary, General
ISBN: 9780310871286
Publisher: Zondervan
Published: 2006-05-30T20:00:00+00:00

14:1-35

The chapter opens with a contrast between the wise woman and the foolish one (14:1) (although the original Hebrew reads ‘wise women’, using the plural). The former builds her house – like the wise woman par excellence in chapter 31 – but the latter tears hers down, and that with her own hands. We are reminded of the words in 9:1: ‘Wisdom has built her house’.

14:2 contrasts a man whose walk is upright and he whose ways are devious in terms of their attitude towards the Lord: one fears him, the other despises him.

14:3 states that a fool’s talk brings a rod to his back but the lips of the wise protect them. In the Hebrew, the phrase translated ‘a rod to his back’ is actually ‘a rod of pride’. Some vernacular versions reflect this Hebrew original. The meaning may be that the proud talk of a fool brings punishment on him.

The message of 14:4 is also not immediately clear. The absence of oxen and the empty manger of the first line may indicate a farmer who does not have to take the trouble to feed or care for animals. But the second line reminds him that from the strength of an ox comes an abundant harvest. The message to the farmer is that it is worth taking the trouble to maintain animals if they are to maintain him and his family.

The next group of proverbs all refer to knowledge in some way. The contrast of true and false witnesses in 14:5 echoes 12:17. One who is only interested in mocking seeks wisdom and finds none, but those who exercise discernment will find that knowledge comes easily (14:6). Readers are advised to stay away from a foolish man for you will not find knowledge on his lips (14:7) in a synthetic proverb, which interrupts the string of antithetical proverbs by giving a reason for the advice in the first line. The theme of knowledge and discernment also underlies the contrast in 14:8. Whereas the wisdom of the prudent enables them to reflect seriously on their ways – that is, on their conduct or behaviour – the folly of fools is deception, ‘not merely falling short of the truth but side-stepping it’ (TOT). The next verse develops this idea: Fools mock at making amends for sin, but goodwill is found among the upright (14:9). Not only are fools incorrigible, they even mock at the very thought of acknowledging that they were wrong, whereas the upright are always open to correction.

Ross cogently articulates the message of 14:10: ‘There are joys and sorrows that cannot be shared’ (EBC). Only those who experience the deep emotions of bitterness or joy can truly understand those feelings.

The message regarding the destruction of the house of the wicked and the flourishing of that of the upright (14:11) is repeated again and again in this section of the book. So is the message of 14:12, which is often quoted and preached on (see also 16:25). It puts the

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