Mishle
Introduction
The Book of Mishle (Proverbs) says that the fear of Hashem is the beginning of Wisdom (1:7,29; 9:10; 15:33) and “life indeed” (19:23). Moreover, whether to fear Hashem is a choice (1:29) with ethical implications (14:2; 16:6) that are a matter of life and death (21:16). The aim of acquiring wisdom is acquiring more trust in Hashem (22:19) as we seek Him (28:5). The waywardly complacent fool makes the wrong choice (14:16,33; 15:17; 17:16), and the Book of Proverbs strongly exhorts the pursuit of Biblical wisdom as something of incomparable value (16:16; 23:23), asserting that whoever does not tremble at the wise words of Scripture is a doomed fool (19:16), even if he is outwardly religious (15:8; 21:27; 28:9) and generally presumed righteous (20:9; 21:2; 30:12). The Book of Proverbs also deals with practical wisdom, with matters like marrying well and finding a good spouse (see 18:22; 31:10-31). In fact, Wisdom (chochmah) is presented metaphorically as a lady street preacher (1:20-33; 8:1—9:12) and is contrasted with the lethal allure of Dame Folly (Aishet Kesilut “a woman of folly”), presented, in contrast, as an adulterous street walker (2:16-19; 6:24—7:27; 9:13-18; 23:27-28; 30:20). Both women make strong appeals to the passersby in front of their respective houses. The house of one is blessed and the other is cursed (see also 14:1), and all who enter the house of one or the other will share in either the houseʼs blessing or its curse. This poetic teaching against sexual immorality falls within the larger theme of “bad company destroys good morals” (1C 15:33) which includes 1:10-19; 2:12-22; 3:31-35; 4:14-19; 14:7; 22:5,14,24-25; 28:7; 29:3; 31:3 and passages which deal with ethical qualities like envy, greed, covetousness, violence, mercy, generosity, and kindness (11:24-26; 15:27; 21:13,26,31; 22:9,16,22-23; 23:4-6,17; 24:1; 27:4; 28:20,22,25; 28:27; 29:7; 30:14-15). Seen in a feminine image, Wisdom is the most desirable of women and the tree of life (3:13-18; 4:22; 8:35-36 — see also 11:30). Seen in a masculine image, he is the Fatherʼs Son (Prov 30:4), working as the master worker Chochmah, a carpenterʼs assistant used instrumentally to create the world (3:19; 8:22-34). Prov 8:30 “Then I was by Him (at His side), as an artisan (artistic craftsman); and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him.” When the Word became flesh, he became the craftsman at Yosef Ben Dovidʼs side, having already been from all eternity Hashemʼs Amon (Builder) Oman (Artist). The feminine metaphor with which chapter 8 began has changed to a masculine one. Amon is a masculine noun meaning artisan or craftsman. Another possible meaning is foster-child. In any case, as Keil and Delitzsch have shown, at this point in the chapter the feminine determination disappears. See how the word is used in Jer 52:15. To be filled with the Spirit of G-d like Betzalel meant to be filled with wisdom to build creatively as a craftsman — see Ex 31:3. Thus Wisdom is pictured as an artisan with G-d, even as Yn 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with G-d.” In Prov 30:4 more light is thrown on this passage: Wisdom is like a Son, a Son working creatively at his Fatherʼs side. However, Hos 11:1-4 shows that the divine fatherhood is moral and spiritual, in contrast to the sexual or physical ideas of the Ba'al cults, or in contrast to the ignorant scoffers at the Biblical doctrine of G-d and His Messianic saving Chochmah. Hashem has a “Son” according to Prov 30:4 and this text reflects back to Proverbs 8 and especially 8:30. This “Son” is not Israel, which is scarcely mentioned in Proverbs. The figure of a son toiling by the side of his father was a familiar one, and is an arresting metaphor for G-dʼs primordial Wisdom toiling creatively in the beginning with G-d and being sent on a healing redemptive mission (Ps 107:20). Likewise, Ps 2:7; Ps 89:27-28, and Isa 9:6 [5] are passages where the Moshiach is pictured as G-dʼs Son, His firstborn in the sense of His agent and heir coming in divine glory (see Dan 7:13-14 on the Son who comes in the clouds with G-d) to “divide the spoil with the strong” (Isa 53:12) and to rule eternally at His side — see Psa 110; Isa 9:7 [6]. The folly of the Fall (Gn 3:1-24) itself is alluded to in Prov.3:5-7, “Do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the L-rd, and turn away from evil.” See also 11:2; 12:9; 14:12; 15:25,33; 16:5,18-19; 18:12; 19:3; 21:4,24; 25:6-7,27; 26:12; 27:1-2; 28:26; 29:23, which touch on the sin of pride and presumption. The book advocates honoring G-d with the tithe (3:9-10) and remaining docile before Him to hear and obey His Scriptural commands (3:11-12; 10:8,17; 12:1,15; 13:1,13; 15:5,10,12,31-32; 19:20,25; 20:18,30; 21:11; 24:6; 25:12; 27:5-6,17; 28:23; 29:1) lest one backslide (26:11; 28:4). Obeying G-d requires zeal, diligence, and shrewd planning for future needs (6:6-11; 10:4-5,26; 12:11,24,27; 13:4; 14:4,23; 15:19; 16:26; 18:9; 19:15,24; 20:4,13; 21:5,17,25; 22:7,13; 24:27,30-34; 26:13-16; 27:18,25-27; 28:19), as well as self-control (16:32; 19:19; 20:1; 23:19-21,29-35; 25:28; 29:11,22; 31:4-5), straightforwardness and honesty of speech (4:24; 6:12; 10:10-11; 12:17,19,22; 14:5,25; 19:9,28; 21:6,28; 26:23-28; 30:8) and foreswearing all treachery, dishonesty, and injustice (3:29; 10:2; 11:1,9,20; 13:5; 16:11; 17:23; 18:5; 20:17,23; 22:28; 24:10-12,24-25; 28:13), remembering that G-d hates the slanderer (10:18), the gossip (11:13; 16:28; 18:8; 20:19; 26:20,22), the sower of discord (6:12-19; 13:10; 26:21), and the one who gloats (24:17) or belittles people (11:12) or is bitterly vengeful (24:29; 25:21-22) or is a mocker (30:17). Part of the task of teaching shrewdness to the simple (1:4) is warning him not to offer property as collateral for his neighborʼs debts or to similarly go into debt himself (6:1-5; 11:15; 17:18; 20:16; 22:26-27; 27:13). Also he must be taught to be sensitive to the reactions of others and how they are perceiving him (25:17; 27:14,23). “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses” (10:12). “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise” (13:20), meaning that we should stay in fellowship with fellow believers and maintain a loving relationship with them (see 17:9). But “the one who is a loner is self-indulgent” (18:1a). “What is desirable in a person is loyalty” (19:22a; 20:6; 25:19; 27:10). Notice that the sage no less than the prophet preaches the Torah and warns about its curses (See 2:22; 10:30; Dt 28:63-68). This book was written “for the wise” (1:5) but it was also written for young people (1:8,10; 19:27; 22:6), who will perish without discipline (13:24; 19:18; 22:15; 23:13-14; 29:15,17). This book reminds us, and we always need reminding, that “a good name is rather to be desired than great riches” (22:1).
1
1 Mishlei Sh'lomo Ben Dovid, Melech Yisroel;
2 To have da'as of chochmah and musar (discipline);
to understand the words of binah;
3 To receive the musar of those with seichel,
tzedek and mishpat, and meisharim (equity, uprightness);
4 To give subtlety to the simple,
to the na'ar, da'as and discretion.
5 A chacham (wise person) will hear, and will increase learning,
and a man of understanding shall acquire wise counsel:
6 To understand a mashal (proverb), and the melitzah (enigma);
the divrei chachamim, and their chidot (riddles).
7 The Yirat Hashem is the reshit da'as,
but fools despise chochmah and musar.
8 Beni (my son), hear the musar Avicha,
and forsake not the Torat Immecha.
9 For they shall be a garland of chen unto thy rosh,
and a chain about thy neck.
10 Beni (my son), if chatt'aim (sinners) entice thee,
consent thou not.
11 If they say, Come with us,
let us lie in wait for dahm,
let us lurk secretly for the naki (innocent, harmless) chinnom (without cause);
12 Let us swallow them up chayyim (alive) like She'ol;
and whole, as those that go down into the bor (pit);
13 We shall find all precious substance,
we shall fill bateinu (our houses) with plunder;
14 Throw in thy goral (lot) among us;
let all of us have kis echad (one pouch, purse).
15 Beni (my son), walk not thou in the derech with them;
refrain thy regel from their path;
16 For their raglayim run to rah,
and make haste for shefach dahm (shedding of blood).
17 Surely in vain the reshet (net) is spread
in the eyes of kol ba'al kanaf (all the birds);*
18 And they lie in wait for their own dahm;
they lurk secretly for their own nafshot.
19 So are the ways of every one that is greedy for betza (ill-gotten gain);
which taketh away the nefesh of the be'alim (owners) thereof.
20 Chochmot crieth out in the street;
she lifts up her voice in the rechovot (city squares);
21 She crieth out in the chief place of concourse,
in the openings of the she'arim (gates);
in the Ir (city) she uttereth her words, saying,
22 Ad mosai, ye simple ones, will ye love being simpletons?
And the scoffers delight in their mockery,
and kesilim (fools) hate da'as?
23 Turn you at my tokhechah (reproof); hinei,
I will pour out my ruach unto you,
I will make known my devarim unto you.
24 Because I have called, and ye refused,
I have stretched out my yad, and no man regarded;
25 But ye have disdained all my etza (counsel),
and would have none of my tokhechah (reproof);
26 I also will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when your pachad (terror) cometh;
27 When your pachad (terror) cometh like a storm,
and your calamity cometh like a whirlwind;
when tzarah (distress) and oppression cometh upon you.
28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer;
they shall look for me diligently, but they shall not find me;
29 For that they hated da'as,
and did not choose the Yirat Hashem;
30 They would have none of my etza (counsel);
they despised all my tokhechah (reproof).
31 Therefore shall they eat of the p'ri (fruit) of their own derech,
and be filled with their own mo'atzot (schemes, devices).
32 For the waywardness of the simple shall slay them,
and the complacent contentment of kesilim (fools) shall destroy them.
33 But the one who payeth heed unto me† shall dwell safely,
and shall be secure from pachad ra'ah (terror of evil).
* 1:17 i.e., lit. master of [the] wing † 1:33 Chochmat Hashem, i.e., the Redemptive Word, not only Hashemʼs creative agent (Ps 33:6; Prov 8:30; 30:4) but the one who comes with a healing mission according to Ps 107:20, though Moshiach has to die in the midst of his healing Mission to accomplish our healing from guilt and punitive dread — Isa 53:5