Chapter 7

1 Solomon persuadeth to a sincere and kind familiarity with wisdom. 6 In an example of his own experience, he sheweth 10 the cunning of an whore, 22and the desperate simplicity of a young wanton. 24 He dehorteth from such wickedness.

1. Keep my words. That is, obey me.

2. Apple of thine eye. Literally, “the pupil of thine eye.” A figure of extreme preciousness.

The LXX has the following introduction to v.: 2: “My son, honour the Lord, and thou shalt be strong; and fear none but him.”

3. Upon thy fingers. Hence always within view and serving as a constant reminder (see Deut. 6:8; 11:18).

4. My sister. A symbol of intimate association. “Kinswoman” may also imply obligation (see Ruth 2:1; 3:2).

5. They may keep. LXX, “she [wisdom] may keep.”

Strange woman. See on ch. 2:16; cf. ch. 6:24.

6. I looked. The LXX represents the woman as looking through the window of her house, scanning the passers-by for a likely victim. However, from the context it seems more natural to retain the reading of the Hebrew.

The writer chooses to use a concrete illustration rather than to speak in abstract generalities, and thus adds to the force of his instruction. He may have reported an actual case or related a parable.

Casement. The windows of ancient Oriental houses were not covered with glass, as those of our modern houses are, but with a latticework or trelliswork of wood that enabled the occupant of the house to see outside, while the vision from the outside was obscured. The arrangement worked somewhat like our Venetian blinds; it shut out the sunlight but permitted the breezes to pass through.

9. Black and dark night. Literally, “in the pupil [of the eye] of night and darkness.” The pupil is the dark, central part of the eye. The pupil of the night evidently refers to the period of total darkness between the evening twilight and the dawn of day.

The young man erred when he thus placed himself in the way of temptation. He may have had no deliberate intention of sinning, but he took pleasure in venturing on the borders of transgression. His case is typical of that of many moral offenders today, who, while permitting indiscreet associations, have no intention of selling their soul to base lust. Suddenly they find themselves in a snare from which they seem powerless to extricate themselves. They should have positively repulsed the first prompting of evil. “Touch not; taste not; handle not” (Col. 2:21) is the only safe course to pursue in these matters. “Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor. 10:12).

10. There met him. The fact that the woman was abroad at this time of the night gives an indication of her character. In the East females of good repute were kept secluded and would not normally leave the confines of a home at night, certainly not unattended.

11. She is loud. Verses 11 and 12 describe the character of the woman in general, not necessarily her conduct on this occasion. She was not one of the “keepers at home” that Paul commended (Titus 2:5).

14. Peace offerings. In this kind of offering the animal offered was divided between the priest and the offerer (see Lev. 7:11–19). The woman claims to have paid her vows that day and now to be celebrating a feast in her home to which she invites the foolish youth.

15. Seek thy face. She is attempting to convince her dupe that she was particularly looking for him and esteemed him highly.

19. The goodman. Literally, “the man.” The husband is meant. “Goodman” is an archaic word meaning “master of the house,” or “husband” (see Matt. 20:11).

Not at home. A strong element of temptation is introduced—the idea of safety from discovery. Without the restraint imposed by fear of detection and punishment, the condition of society would be much worse than it is. Few in these days are restrained by the working of the Holy Spirit upon the heart (see Gen. 6:5). In this degenerate age, when man is weak and sin is strong, the people of God must make wisdom and understanding their close companions and draw so near to the Saviour that the very thought of sin will be quickly expelled from the mind (2 Cor. 10:5).

However, sin that is avoided merely through fear of detection still pollutes the soul (see on Matt. 5:28). In this statement from the Sermon on the Mount Jesus does not mean to imply that temptation itself is sin. But if the condition of the soul is such that the tempted one would indulge in the sin if he had the opportunity, that condition itself is sin. Sin is lack of conformity with the law of God, whether in act, disposition, or state. Someone has aptly remarked that character may be evaluated by what a man would do if he knew that he would never be found out.

21. Much fair speech. Literally, “abundant instruction.” The adulteress evidently used a carefully planned line of argument.

22. To the slaughter. Frequently oxen walk contentedly to the slaughterhouse and are stupidly undisturbed in the face of death.

As a fool. The complete clause reads literally, “as fetters to the correction of a fool” (although there is no certainty that “fetters” is the correct translation of Фekes). ФEkes is found elsewhere only in Isa. 3:18, where it is translated “tinkling ornaments.” It is difficult to ascertain the meaning of the Hebrew of this verse. The translation of the KJV is obtained by a transposition of two nouns. The ancient versions disagree with the Hebrew and do not all agree among themselves. The LXX for this and the first clause of the following verse reads, “and as a dog to bonds, or as a hart shot in the liver with an arrow.” The Vulgate has, “As a frisking lamb, and not knowing that as a fool he is being dragged to bondage.”

25. To her ways. The only safe course is promptly to repel the first insinuations of evil and to avoid placing oneself in the way of temptation (see Gen. 39:13; 1 Cor. 6:18). One who finds himself already entangled should immediately set about to break free from the cords that bind him. All must guard against undue familiarity (5T 591–603).

Ellen G. White comments

1    Ed 179

2     Ev 240, 244; LS 96; 5T 353; 6T 225

22   5T 602

26   PP 457