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Movement of the Ten Tribes of Israel.
The Book of Proverbs
Brit-Am Commentary (BAC)
Chapter Two.
Contents:
2:1-9 Seek Understanding and the Right Path.
2:10-22 Be Careful!
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Proverbs 2:1-9 Seek Understanding and the Right Path.
[Proverbs 2:1] My son, if you receive my words, And treasure my commands within you,
Treasure up words of wisdom and exhortations. They can save your life.
[Proverbs 2:2] So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding;
God wants us to try and understand HIS ways as best we can.
[Proverbs 2:3] Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding,
We must pray for knowledge and understanding (Rabbeinu Yonah). We have to try to understand as much as we can.
This is your life.
[Proverbs 2:4] If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures;
Knowledge and true understanding are to be valued. Sometimes we need to expend something of ourselves and of our finances to achieve them. In the same way as it is obvious that we have to do whatever we can to make a livelihood so to should we seek to know what needs to be known. Further than that, the situation is similar to that as if one had a chance to legitimately make a great sum of money for not a great effort. It is obvious that in such a case one would gladly take advantage. So too, when one has the chance of increasing understanding of the way of God should it be taken up.
[Proverbs 2:5] Then you will understand the fear of the LORD, And find the knowledge of God.
The fear of heaven and religious insight depends upon understanding and knowledge. Brit-Am knowledge may not always at first glance appear to be a source of moral edification. Nevertheless it explains our understanding of and trust in Divine Providence. It should help one understand the Will of the Almighty.
[Proverbs 2:6] For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;
In the end true wisdom comes from the Almighty who gives it as a free gift to those who labor after it. The Bible is the source of wisdom and understanding. All knowledge should be viewed in light of the Bible.
We must try to understand things and know the ways of the Almighty.
It is not enough to be just pious and have a positive attitude though these too are very important. We must try and learn what God wants. We should strive to understand HIS way with the world, to open our eyes and hearts. Solomon is saying that we should endeavor to search after this knowledge. It we search it will be given unto us as a gift since our endeavors by themselves would not be enough.
[Proverbs 2:7] He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly;
# WISDOM #. The usual Hebrew word for "wisdom" is "Chockmah". Here the word used is "Toshiah" which means "enterprise, initiative, resourcefulness". God gives to those who are upright the wherewithal to do what must be done. The Almighty does not only protect us. HE gives us the wherewithal to look after ourselves successfully.
SHIELD: Hebrew "magan" meaning "protection, shield". God protects us both indirectly through His Divine Providence and also by enabling us to be in contact with our inner instincts that guide us through life.
[Proverbs 2:8] He guards the paths of justice, And preserves the way of His saints.
PATHS: Hebrew "orchot" meaning "pathways" or "patterns of behavior". If we try to do what is right God will teach us how to go about it. HE will look after us even if we make mistaken decisions.
[Proverbs 2:9] Then you will understand righteousness and justice, Equity and every good path.
You will know what the right thing should be. You will also be enabled to apply it. The benefits will be yours.
Proverbs 2:10-22 Be Careful!
[Proverbs 2:10] When wisdom enters your heart, And knowledge is pleasant to your soul,
Seek knowledge and the truth. Take delight in new understandings. Do not follow deceptions and misconceptions.
When you learn something you will have prepared yourself to learn something more of the same.
May important concepts follow similar patterns.
Sometimes learning goes slowly.
As long as you believe in its efficacy keep at it.
[Proverbs 2:11] Discretion will preserve you; Understanding will keep you,
The word translated here as discretion in Hebrew is "mizima". This has a double meaning.
(a) Mizima" from the root "Yazma" i.e. initiative, forethought.
Giving attention and discretion to what you about will help keep you from harm.
(b) As the GRA (Eliyahu of Vilna) understood it should be read as "Me-Zima".
"Me" meaning "from" and "Zima" connoting lewdness and evil intentions.
According this the wisdom that enters your heart and the knowledge that is pleasant to your soul
in verse 2:10 will (2:11) preserve you from thinking things (Zima) you should not.
Both interpretations seem to be possible and both are valid.
Often when we come across varying possibilities such as these an examination of the structure will show that both intentions may indeed be what was intended.
[Proverbs 2:12] To deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks perverse things,
We should keep away from the wrong track. Try and do good. Beware of people who mislead you.
There are those who speak with an air of certainty and confidence but they tell lies. Many academics and academic claims are false. Some of them blatantly so. Bible consciousness will enable you to see this.
Actually it is obvious but because we naturally want to do what others do and accept what is accepted we are liable to allow ourselves to be led astray.
[Proverbs 2:13] From those who leave the paths of uprightness To walk in the ways of darkness;
[Proverbs 2:14] Who rejoice in doing evil, And delight in the perversity of the wicked;
Wicked is wickedness. It is not fun. It is bad for you and for others. You do not really want it.
[Proverbs 2:15] Whose ways are crooked, And who are devious in their paths;
[Proverbs 2:16] To deliver you from the immoral woman, From the seductress who flatters with her words,
This picture of the evil lady its actual at its simple literal level. It is also an allegory for other things.
[Proverbs 2:17] Who forsakes the companion of her youth, And forgets the covenant of her God.
When someone gets married they make a compact not only with their spouse but also with the Almighty. This especially applies to the female.
[Proverbs 2:18] For her house leads down to death, And her paths to the dead;
Bad women are to be avoided. Physical sickness and/or psychological failings sometimes result from illicit encounters.
[Proverbs 2:19] None who go to her return, Nor do they regain the paths of life?
There is always a price to pay of some kind or other.
Life does not go forward in a logical sequence.
A person needs a certain degree of intuition, of Divine assistance, of instinctive awareness.
Someone who follows the Bible especially the Book of Proverbs will attain this.
If we turn away from God when it seems advantageous then Divine Guidance is liable to depart from us when we need it.
[Proverbs 2:20] So you may walk in the way of goodness, And keep to the paths of righteousness.
[Proverbs 2:21] For the upright will dwell in the land, And the blameless will remain in it;
If you keep to the straight and narrow you will gain everything.
[Proverbs 2:22] But the wicked will be cut off from the earth, And the unfaithful will be uprooted from it.
We need not to be wicked. We should also keep faith with the Bible.
