Proverbs 1:1-31

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 1:7

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge ,.... Here properly the book begins, and this is the first of the proverbs, and an excellent one; it is such an one as is not to be found in all the writings of the Heathens. By "the fear of the Lord" is not meant a servile fear, a fear of punishment, of hell, wrath, and damnation, which is the effect of the first work of the law upon the conscience; but a filial fear, and supposes knowledge of God as a father, of his love and grace in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 1:8

My son, hear the instruction of thy father ,.... This is not to be understood of God the Father of mankind, and of that law which he has given them, as Jarchi and Gersom interpret it, but of Solomon and his son in a literal sense; and of anyone that came to him for instruction, any pupil, hearer, or reader of his; and it is a direction to all children to hearken to the instruction of their parents, and obey their commands; so, next to the fear and worship of God, he exhorts to obedience to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 1:9

For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head ,.... The instructions and laws of parents being attended unto and obeyed by children, render them more lovely and amiable than any beautiful ornament whatever that can be put upon their heads; and chains about thy neck ; be that unto them as chains of gold are to the neck, beautify and adorn them; so good works, done in obedience to God and parents, are ornaments of great price, and preferable to any outward adorning whatever; see ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 1:10

My son, if sinners entice thee ,.... Endeavour to seduce thee from thy parents, and draw thee aside from them, from listening to their instructions, advice, and commands; and make use of all plausible arguments to persuade thee to join with them in the sins they are addicted unto, and are continually employed in: for this is not to be understood of such who are sinners by nature, and through infirmity of the flesh, as all men are; but of notorious sinners, who are guilty of the grossest... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 1:11

If they say, come with us ,.... Leave your father's house, and the business of life in which you are; make one of us, and become a member of our society, and go along with us upon the highway; let us lay wait for blood ; lie in ambush under some hedge or another, waiting till a rich traveller comes up and passes that way, and then rise and shed his blood in order to get his money; and the same word signifies both "blood" and "money", and wait is laid for one for the sake of the other; ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 1:12

Let us swallow them up alive as the grave ,.... The innocent person, and those that are with him, his servants; our gang is so numerous that we can very easily dispatch him and all his attendants, and bury them out of sight at once, as if they were swallowed up alive in a grave, and so no more to be seen or heard of; and consequently we shall be in the utmost safety and security, there being no traces of what is done, nor any left to make a relation of it, or to give any information of us,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 1:13

We shall find all precious substance ,.... Among one or another we meet with; gold and silver and precious stones, everything that is valuable; not considering that hereby they were in danger of losing the more precious substance, their immortal souls; and the most precious substance of all, the enjoyment of God, and happiness with him to all eternity, which is the "more enduring substance": the things of this world, properly speaking, are not substance, though wicked men so judge them; they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 1:14

Cast in thy lot among us ,.... Or "thou shall cause thy lot to fall among us" F21 גורלך תפיל "sortem tuam conjicies", Junius & Tremellius; "projicies", Mercerus, Baynus; "jacies", Cocceius, Michaelis, Schultens. ; though just entered, as soon as any booty is taken thou shalt cast lots with us, and have thy full share with those that have been longer engaged; let us all have one purse ; or "we will all have one purse" F23 יהיה לכלנו "erit nobis omnibus", Pagninus,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 1:15

My son, walk not thou in the way with them ,.... In the same way as they do, which is the broad way that leads unto destruction; set not one foot in it; make no trial of it, whether it will be pleasant and profitable walking in it; the experiment will be dangerous; refrain thy foot from their path ; their manner and course of life; do not follow it, nor join them in it; when there is an inclination or a temptation to it, withstand it; stop in time, do not proceed, but draw back, and go... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 1:16

For their feet run to evil ,.... To the evil of sin, to commit robberies and murder, and all manner of iniquity; they are eager upon it, and in haste and swift to do it, Proverbs 6:18 F24 "Velox ad facinus", Claudian. in Rufin. l. 1. v. 240. ; being carried away with their inordinate affections, which are as feet to the soul; and drawn aside with their lusts, and pushed on by Satan, and, encouraged by one another, and so rush on headlong to the evil of punishment also; and which is a... read more

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