Proverbs

Proverbs treats of this world and God’s government: “Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Gal. 6:77Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (Galatians 6:7)). This is as true today as it was in Solomon’s day. The book may be divided into four parts, with chapters one through nine forming the first division. Introduced as the proverbs of Solomon, the first six verses of chapter one form a preface, while the seventh verse gives us our starting point: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge”. In these chapters we see wisdom contrasted with the alluring charms of the “strange woman”—two paths, one unto life, and the other unto death. “Whoso findeth me [wisdom] findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD” (Prov. 8:3535For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favor of the Lord. (Proverbs 8:35)). “For her [the strange woman’s] house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead. None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life” (Prov. 2:18-1918For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead. 19None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life. (Proverbs 2:18‑19)). Wisdom is seen, not as the faculty of man, but as something to be diligently sought after. Frequently personified, we see this very distinctly brought out in the eighth chapter, with Christ introduced in verse 22 as the wisdom of God.
Chapters 10 through 24 are “the proverbs of Solomon” (Prov. 10:11The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother. (Proverbs 10:1)). For the one that listens, they provide a path to follow. These are the proverbs according to the principles of the first nine chapters—“The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein” (Prov. 22:1414The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the Lord shall fall therein. (Proverbs 22:14)).
Chapters 25 through 29 form a supplement to what has gone before. “These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out” (Prov. 25:11These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out. (Proverbs 25:1)). In chapter 30 we have “the words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal” (Prov. 30:11The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal, (Proverbs 30:1)). The final chapter, chapter 31, concludes with the words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him (Prov. 31:11The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him. (Proverbs 31:1)). The first nine verses consist of advice from a mother to her son the king, while the remaining verses present the “virtuous woman”—“Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised” (Prov. 31:3030Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. (Proverbs 31:30)). Of Agur we know nothing beyond our chapter. Some have speculated that Agur is another name for Solomon, but “the son of Jakeh” would suggest otherwise. It has likewise been suggested that king Lemuel is Solomon, and though we cannot say with any certainty, it remains a possibility.