"Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.""Better face a she-bear robbed of her cubs than a stupid man in his folly."[20] This is an impressive warning against conflict with a foolish, wicked man. read more
Proverbs 17:11. An evil man, &c.— Houbigant renders it, A cruel man will seek only for evil; and therefore a most cruel messenger shall be sent to him. read more
Proverbs 17:12. Let a bear robbed, &c.— Bochart observes four things concerning the bear: the first every one knows, that the bear is an exceedingly fierce creature; the second, that the female is more fierce than the male; the third, that she is more fierce than ordinary when she has whelps; and lastly, when she is robbed of them, the is fiercest of all. See 2 Samuel 17:8. Hos 13:8 and Bochart de Animal. Sacr. lib. 3: cap. 9. read more
9. seeketh love—(Compare Margin). The contrast is between the peace-maker and tale-bearer. read more
10. Reproof more affects the wise than severe scourging, fools. read more
11. Such meet just retribution (1 Kings 2:25). a cruel messenger—one to inflict it. read more
12. They are less rational in anger than wild beasts. read more
2. Peacemakers and troublemakers ch. 17 read more
1. Lit. ’the sacrifices of strife.’ There would be no pleasure in the festal meal which followed a sacrifice (Proverbs 7:14) if it was accompanied with a quarrel. ’A little with quiet is the only diet.’2. The Israelite slave was a member of the family (Genesis 24:12; Deuteronomy 5:14, etc.), might become the heir (Genesis 15:2-3) or marry the daughter (1 Chronicles 2:34-35). 4. Naughty] injurious. 7. The proverb writers show no hope of redeeming the lost. Their verdict is, ’He that is filthy... read more
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Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Proverbs 17:11
"An evil man seeketh only rebellion; Therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him."Of course, it is true, as Deane said, that, "An evil man seeks many things that do not exactly fit the term `rebellion'; but from the viewpoint of an Eastern potentate (like Solomon), any prominent crime by a subject would have been considered rebellion."[19] The cruel messenger would be the king's response to it. read more