1. rivers—irrigating channels (Psalms 1:3), whose course was easily turned (compare Deuteronomy 11:10). God disposes even kings as He pleases (Proverbs 16:9; Psalms 33:15). read more
1. The ’watercourses’ (RV) are the artificial irrigation channels of Egypt and Babylon (Isaiah 58:11). 4. There is no connexion between the two halves of the v. RM ’The tillage of the wicked is sin,’ i.e. the result of his labour is sin. 5. One who is in a hurry to be rich hastens to want. 6. By a very slight alteration of the Hebrew text we get the greatly improved rendering of RM, ’Is a vapour driven to and fro; they are snares of death.’9. A small room is often built on the flat roof of an... read more
XXI.(1) As the rivers of water.—Channels for irrigation (comp. Psalms 1:3). He turns the heart of the king, whose favour is as the latter rain (Proverbs 16:15) and dew (Proverbs 19:12), now towards one suppliant and now towards another, as He thinks fit, for “the hearts of kings are in His rule and governance.” read more
CHAPTER 22WINE"He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: He that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich."- Proverbs 21:17THE Septuagint translation has an interesting addition to the proverb in Proverbs 12:2. After "He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread, but he that followeth after vain persons is void of understanding," it adds, "He who is sweet in pastimes of wine-drinking shall have dishonor in his strongholds." Drinking is the natural opposite of hard and honest work. When... read more
CHAPTER 21 Personal Instructions as to Life and Conduct In the proverbs of this chapter the Lord is mentioned five times. “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: He turneth it whithersoever He will” Proverbs 21:1 ). The rivers of water are “water-courses,” the irrigation system known to the ancients, opening and shutting sluices directed the flow of the waters. Thus the Lord governs the king’s heart as He directs the affairs of men. The Lord pondereth the hearts... read more
21:1 The {a} king’s heart [is] in the hand of the LORD, [as] the rivers of water: he turneth it wherever he will.(a) Though kings seem to have all things at commandment, they are not able to bring their own purposes to pass unless God has appointed: much less are the inferiors able. read more
In these chapters we have a series of exhortations to a life of godliness expressed in general terms about as follows: 1. Confidence in God as a wise ruler (chap. 16) 2. A disposition of peacefulness and contentment (chap. 17) 3. The virtues of affability, fidelity, and others of a social nature (chap. 18) 4. Humility and meekness (chap. 19) 5. Sobriety, diligence and kindness (chap. 21) 6. Justice, patience, submission (chap. 21) 7. The attainment and preservation of a good name (chap. 22) 8.... read more
The Plowing of the Wicked, Etc. Proverbs 21:0 By "the plowing of the wicked" we are to understand the whole scope of their work; all that the wicked man does is sinful. Here we see an operation of the law of cause and effect. Sometimes it is supposed that a man may be very bad, and yet may do good deeds; we say a man is a drunkard, and yet he is most generous to the poor; we say that a man is cruel, and yet that he is disposed to take a charitable view of certain actions; we say that a man is... read more
The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. There can be no question but that all hearts, and all the ways of men are, like the current of waters, subject to divine direction; and they that are made kings and priests to God and the Father, find sweet comfort in the conviction of this undoubted truth. Even Jesus in his human nature had all the blessedness of this promise of the Father. From the union of the human nature with his... read more
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Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Proverbs 21:1
Proverbs 21:1. The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord— The author of the Observations informs us, that in Judea their watering canals are artificially divided into several small streams, which render the country exceedingly fruitful. To these canals, and the fertility produced by them, says he, I imagine Solomon refers in this verse, The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord; as the rivers of water, or as watering canals; he turneth it whithersoever he will. Commentators suppose, that... read more