25 A provocation to his father `is' a foolish son, And bitterness to her that bare him.
And it cometh to pass afterwards that Absalom son of David hath a fair sister, and her name `is' Tamar, and Amnon son of David loveth her. And Amnon hath distress -- even to become sick, because of Tamar his sister, for she `is' a virgin, and it is hard in the eyes of Amnon to do anything to her. And Amnon hath a friend, and his name `is' Jonadab, son of Shimeah, David's brother, and Jonadab `is' a very wise man, and saith to him, `Wherefore `art' thou thus lean, O king's son, morning by morning? dost thou not declare to me?' And Amnon saith to him, `Tamar -- sister of Absalom my brother -- I am loving.' And Jonadab saith to him, `Lie down on thy couch, and feign thyself sick, and thy father hath come in to see thee, and thou hast said unto him, `Let, I pray thee, Tamar my sister come in and give me bread to eat; and she hath made the food before mine eyes so that I see `it', and have eaten from her hand.' And Amnon lieth down, and feigneth himself sick, and the king cometh in to see him, and Amnon saith unto the king, `Let, I pray thee, Tamar my sister come, and she maketh before mine eyes two cakes, and I eat from her hand.' And David sendeth unto Tamar, to the house, saying, `Go, I pray thee, to the house of Amnon thy brother, and make for him food.' And Tamar goeth to the house of Amnon her brother, and he is lying down, and she taketh the dough, and kneadeth, and maketh cakes before his eyes, and cooketh the cakes, and taketh the frying-pan, and poureth out before him, and he refuseth to eat, and Amnon saith, `Take ye out every one from me;' and they go out every one from him. And Amnon saith unto Tamar, `Bring the food into the inner chamber, and I eat from thy hand;' and Tamar taketh the cakes that she hath made, and bringeth in to Amnon her brother, into the inner chamber, and she bringeth nigh unto him to eat, and he layeth hold on her, and saith to her, `Come, lie with me, my sister.' And she saith to him, `Nay, my brother, do not humble me, for it is not done so in Israel; do not this folly. And I -- whither do I cause my reproach to go? and thou -- thou art as one of the fools in Israel; and now, speak, I pray thee, unto the king; for he doth not withhold me from thee.' And he hath not been willing to hearken to her voice, and is stronger than she, and humbleth her, and lieth with her. And Amnon hateth her -- a very great hatred -- that greater `is' the hatred with which he hath hated her than the love with which he loved her, and Amnon saith to her, `Rise, go.' And she saith to him, `Because of the circumstances this evil is greater than the other that thou hast done with me -- to send me away;' and he hath not been willing to hearken to her, and calleth his young man, his servant, and saith, `Send away, I pray thee, this one from me without, and bolt the door after her;' -- and upon her `is' a long coat, for such upper robes do daughters of the king who `are' virgins put on, -- and his servant taketh her out without, and hath bolted the door after her. And Tamar taketh ashes for her head, and the long coat that `is' on her she hath rent, and putteth her hand on her head, and goeth, going on and crying; and Absalom her brother saith unto her, `Hath Amnon thy brother been with thee? and now, my sister, keep silent, he `is' thy brother; set not thy heart to this thing;' and Tamar dwelleth -- but desolate -- in the house of Absalom her brother. And king David hath heard all these things, and it is very displeasing to him; and Absalom hath not spoken with Amnon either evil or good, for Absalom is hating Amnon, because that he humbled Tamar his sister.
And I have hated all my labour that I labour at under the sun, because I leave it to a man who is after me. And who knoweth whether he is wise or foolish? yet he doth rule over all my labour that I have laboured at, and that I have done wisely under the sun! this also `is' vanity.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Proverbs 17
Commentary on Proverbs 17 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 17
Pro 17:1
These words recommend family-love and peace, as conducing very much to the comfort of human life.
Pro 17:2
Note,
Pro 17:3
Note,
Pro 17:4
Note,
Pro 17:5
See here,
Pro 17:6
They are so, that is, they should be so, and, if they conduct themselves worthily, they are so.
Pro 17:7
Two things are here represented as very absurd:
Pro 17:8
The design of this observation is to show,
Pro 17:9
Note,
Pro 17:10
Note,
Pro 17:11
Here is the sin and punishment of an evil man.
Pro 17:12
Note,
Pro 17:13
A malicious mischievous man is here represented,
Pro 17:14
Here is,
Pro 17:15
This shows what an offence it is to God,
Pro 17:16
Two things are here spoken of with astonishment:-
Pro 17:17
This intimates the strength of those bonds by which we are bound to each other and which we ought to be sensible of.
Pro 17:18
Though Solomon had commended friendship in adversity (v. 17), yet let not any, under pretence of being generous to their friends, be unjust to their families and wrong them; one part of our duty must be made to consist with another. Note,
Pro 17:19
Note,
Pro 17:20
Note,
Pro 17:21
This expresses that very emphatically which many wise and good men feel very sensibly, what a grievous vexatious thing it is to have a foolish wicked child. See here,
Pro 17:22
Note,
Pro 17:23
See here,
Pro 17:24
Note,
Pro 17:25
Observe,
Pro 17:26
In differences that happen between magistrates and subjects, and such differences often arise,
Pro 17:27-28
Two ways a man may show himself to be a wise man:-