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THRU THE BIBLE EXPOSITION
Proverbs: Motivating Teens And Adults To Align With God's Fixed Moral Order
Part IV: Proverbs Of Other Godly Men On God's Fixed Moral Order, Proverbs 22:17-24:34
A. Thirty Proverbs Of Other Godly Men, Proverbs 22:17-24:22
1. Studying Proverbs 22:17-23:3
  1. Introduction
    1. Solomon's Proverbs 10:1-22:16 proverbs are followed by those of other men in Proverbs 22:17-24:34 (Bib. Know. Com., O. T., p. 925, 954), and 30 of them are grouped in Proverbs 22:17-24:22, Ibid, p. 954.
    2. In contrast to Solomon's style, many of these proverbs contain a thought that is presented in more than one verse, and we view the first six proverbs of this group of 30 in Proverbs 22:17-23:3 (as follows):
  2. Studying Proverbs 22:17-23:3.
    1. Just as Solomon introduced his proverbs in Proverbs 10:1-22:6 via Proverbs chs. 1-9, Proverbs 22:17-21 introduces the 30 sayings found in Proverbs 22:22-24:22 with the admonition to heed and apply them in heart, even memorizing them for times of need, Pr. 22:17-18. The goal is to keep one's trust in Jahweh so he can align with God's fixed moral order for His blessing, thus functioning favorably before one's human superior(s) toward being advanced in one's career [as a young prince in court], Proverbs 22:19-21.
    2. Proverbs 22:22-23 presents the first saying, teaching (22) do not rob, plunder (gazal, B. D. B., A Heb.-Eng. Lex. of the O. T., p. 159-160) the low, weak, poor ( dal, Ibid., p. 195) because he (emphatic pron.) is low, weak, poor (dal again), and do not crush (daka', Ibid., p. 193-194) the poor, afflicted, humble ( ani, Ibid., p. 776-777) in the gate (sha'ar, Kittel, Bib. Heb., p. 1181; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 1044-1045; here fig. for a court of law, Z. P. E. B. , v. Two, p. 656), (23) for Jahweh will conduct a lawsuit (rib, the verb, Ibid., B. D. B., p. 936) of their dispute, case (rib the noun, Ibid., Kittel; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 936-937) and rob ( qaba', Ibid., p. 867) of life [shorten the life spans!] of those who rob [the poor]!
    3. Proverbs 22:24-25 presents the second saying, asserting (24) do not make companionship with (ra'ah, Ibid., p. 945; Hithpael = intens. reflex.) one given to (baal , n. of relation, Ibid., p. 127) anger (ap, Ibid., Kittel; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 60), nor go with a nobleman (ish, Ibid., Kittel; Robert B. Girdlestone, Syns. of the O. T., 1973, p. 45-50) of rage (hemah, Ibid., Kittel; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 404-405), (25) lest you learn (alap, Ibid., p. 48) his life's way ( orah, Ibid., p. 73) and take (laqah, Ibid., Kittel, p. 1182; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 542-543) a snare (moqesh, Ibid., p. 430) to your life principle ( nepesh, Ibid., Kittel, p. 1182 and p. 3 to cite Gen. 2:7 where God created man a nepesh with physical, mental, spiritual and emotional life).
    4. Proverbs 22:26-27 presents the third saying, claiming (26) do not be a striker of (taqa', Ibid., Kittel, p. 1182; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 1075) hands [in making a pledge] in becoming collateral for ( arab, Ibid., p. 786) debts (masha'ah, Ibid., p. 673); (27) if you do not have the means to repay (shalem, Ibid., Kittel; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 1022), why should your bed be taken from under you? We must avoid being collateral for debts!
    5. Proverbs 22:28 presents the fourth saying, teaching do not displace, move back (sug, Ibid., Kittel; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 690-691) the ancient (olam, Ibid., Kittel; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 761-763) boundary ( gebul, Ibid., Kittel; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 147-148) that your fathers made (asah, Ibid., Kittel; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 793-795). The older the boundary, the more deeply it affects people who rely upon it, so moving it does great harm.
    6. Proverbs 22:29 presents the fifth saying, asking do you behold (hazah, Ibid., p. 302) a nobleman (ish, cf. Pr. 22:24) skilled (mahir, Ibid., p. 555) in his work ( mela'kah, Ibid., Kittel; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 521-522)? He will station himself [in his career] (yasab, Ibid., p. 426; Hithpael = intens. reflex.) before kings, he will not ( bal, Ibid., Kittel; Ibid., B. D. B., p. 115) station himself [in his career] (yasab in the Hithpael again) before obscure men (hashok, Ibid., p. 365). One's own workmanship determines his career success.
    7. Proverbs 23:1-3 presents the sixth saying, claiming (1) when you sit to dine with a ruler, (lit.) to discern discern ["carefully discern" -- the infinitive absolute bin is used before the finite verb tabin to strengthen it, Ibid., p. 106-107;) what is before you, (2) and put a knife to your throat if you are given to (baal , n. of relation, cf. Pr. 22:24) appetite (ESV); (3) do not lust after (awah, Ibid., p. 16; Hithpael = intens. reflex.) his savory food (mat'am, Ibid., p. 381), for it (emph. pron.) is deceptive (kazab, Ibid., p. 469) food. Rulers often try to manipulate others by pampering them, so be very careful if a ruler pampers you.
Lesson Application: May we align with God's fixed moral order in each of these realms for blessing.