Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 17:14
Proverbs 17:14. The beginning of strife, &c. “Those who begin a quarrel are like those who make a breach in a bank, and give an opening to the waters of a rapid river; which they can never be sure to stop before it produces the most fatal and calamitous events. This painting admirably represents the effects of lying and false reports, and supplies us with an excellent lesson to avoid the contagion, and prevent the beginnings of contentions:” see Calmet. read more
Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Proverbs 17:12
Proverbs 17:12. Let a bear robbed of her whelps When she is most cruel and fierce; meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly That is, in the heat of his lust or passion, because the danger is greater, all things considered, and more unavoidable. A man may more easily stop, escape from, or guard against, an enraged bear than an outrageous man. It is observed by Bochart, ( de Animal Sacr., lib. 3. cap. 9,) that the female bear is more fierce than the male; that she is more fierce than... read more