This Book is so called, because it treats of the excellence of WISDOM, the means to obtain it, and the happy fruits it produces. It is written in the person of Solomon, and contains his sentiments. But it is uncertain who was the writer. It abounds with instructions and exhortations to kings and all magistrates to minister justice in the commonwealth, teaching all kinds of virtues under the general names of justice and wisdom. It contains also many prophecies of Christ's coming, passion, resurrection, and other Christian mysteries. The whole may be divided into three parts. In the first six chapters, the author admonishes all superiors to love and exercise justice and wisdom. In the next three, he teacheth that wisdom proceedeth only from God, and is procured by prayer and a good life. In the other ten chapters, he sheweth the excellent effects and utility of wisdom and justice.

 

 

 

 

 

[3] The unjust: Cain.

[4] For whose cause: Viz., for the wickedness of the race of Cain.-- Ibid. The just ... Noe.

[5] She knew the just: She found out and approved Abraham. Ibid.

[5] And kept him strong: Gave him strength to stand firm against the efforts of his natural tenderness, when he was ordered to sacrifice his son.

 

[6] The just man: Lot.-- Ibid.

[6] Pentapolis: The land of the five cities, Sodom, Gomorrha, etc.

[10] The just: Jacob.

 

[12] Conflict: Viz., with the angel.

[13] The just when he was sold: Viz., Joseph.

 

[16] The servant of God: Viz., Moses.

 

 

 

 

[1] The holy prophet: Moses.

[3] Their enemies: The Amalecites.

[5] By what things: The meaning is, that God, who wrought a miracle to punish the Egyptians by thirst, when he turned all their waters into blood, (at which time the Israelites, who were exempt from those plagues, had plenty of water,) wrought another miracle in favour of his own people in their thirst, by giving them water out of the rock.

 

[14] By their punishments: That is, that the Israelites had been benefited and miraculously favoured in the same kind, in which they had been punished.

 

[16] Dumb beasts: Viz., frogs, sciniphs, flies, and locusts.

 

 

 

 

[5] From the midst of thy consecration: Literally, sacrament. That is, the land sacred to thee, in which thy temple was to be established, and man's redemption to be wrought.

 

 

 

 

[3] They indeed desiring food: He means the Egyptians; who were restrained even from that food which was necessary, by the frogs and the flies that were sent amongst them, and spoiled all their meats.-- Ibid.

[3] But these: Viz., the Israelites.

 

[6] Sign of salvation: The brazen serpent, an emblem of Christ our Saviour.

 

[17] The fire had more force: Viz., when the fire and hail mingled together laid waste the land of Egypt. Ex. 9.

 

 

 

 

[3] A harmless sun: A light that should not hurt or molest them; but that should be an agreeable guest to them.

[5] One child: Viz., Moses.

 

[9] Of good men: Viz., of the patriarchs. Their children, the Israelites, offered in private the sacrifice of the paschal lamb; and were regulating what they were to do in their journey, when that last and most dreadful plague was coming upon their enemies.

 

 

 

 

[17] Elements are changed: The meaning is, that whatever changes God wrought in the elements by miracles in favour of his people, they still kept their harmony by obeying his will.

[20] That good food: The manna.