Matthew Henry on Proverbs 9:13–end
We have heard what Christ has to say, to engage our affections to God and godliness, and one would think the whole world should go after him; but here we are told how industrious the tempter is to seduce unwary souls into the paths of sin, and with the most he gains his point, and Wisdom's courtship is not effectual. Now observe,
I. Who is the tempter - a foolish woman, Folly herself, in opposition to Wisdom. Carnal sensual pleasure I take to be especially meant by this foolish woman (Pro 9:13); for that is the great enemy to virtue and inlet to vice; that defiles and debauches the mind, stupefies conscience, and puts out the sparks of conviction, more than any thing else. This tempter is he…
Read the whole note in the consoleJamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 9:14
on a seat--literally, "throne," takes a prominent place, impudently and haughtily.
John Gill on Proverbs 9:14
For she sitteth at the door of her house, Idle and inactive, looking out for her prey; not active and laborious, as Wisdom, building her house, killing her beasts, furnishing her table, and sending out her maidens to call in her guests; but exposing herself in the most public manner, and being at the utmost ease, sitting as a queen; see Revelation 18:7; and as it follows,
on a seat, or "throne" (p); the same seat, or throne, power, and authority, which the dragon gave to the beast, or antichrist, placed at Rome, where this woman reigns; see Revelation 13:2;
in the high places of the city; the city of Rome, and its jurisdiction, the high places of which are their temples, or churches; wher…
Read the whole note in the consoleKeil & Delitzsch on Proverbs 9:13-15
The poet now brings before us another figure, for he personifies Folly working in opposition to Wisdom, and gives her a feminine name, as the contrast to Wisdom required, and thereby to indicate that the seduction, as the 13th proverbial discourse (chap. 7) has shown, appears especially in the form of degraded womanhood:
13 The woman Folly [Frau Thorheit] conducts herself boisterously,
Wantonness, and not knowing anything at all;
14 And hath seated herself at the door of her house,
On a seat high up in the city,
15 To call to those who walk in the way,
Who go straight on their path.
The connection of אשת כּסילוּת is genitival, and the genitive is not, as in אשׁת רע, Pro 6:24, specifying, but…
