Mere Cognition

In Proverbs, we often see the comparison of wisdom and folly interspersed throughout. Here, in chapter 9, it is explicit, with the first six lines describing an invitation from wisdom and the last six describing an invitation from folly, with a linking 6 line stanza that contrasts the wise and the scoffer. The Reformation Study Bible outline of Proverbs labels this chapter "The Choice of Two Ways" and it is apparent why.

1 Wisdom has built her house;
she has hewn her seven pillars.
2 She has slaughtered her beasts; she has mixed her wine;
she has also set her table.
3 She has sent out her young women to call
from the highest places in the town,
4 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
To him who lacks sense she says,
5 “Come, eat of my bread
and drink of the wine I have mixed.
6 Leave your simple ways, and live,
and walk in the way of insight.”

The number seven is seen repeated often in scripture, and it's often meant to show sufficiency or completeness. We see that wisdom has set out a banquet and calls all to fill themselves with the insight from her table. The similitude of a banquet not only alludes to the abundance of nourishment in wisdom but also how it may bless us and others. Verse 6 is of somewhat special significance as well. It is a simple exhortation to walk in the way of wisdom, but it also sort of alludes to the saving faith in Christ, which could be paraphrased as Jesus saying, "leave your old self behind, take up the cross, follow me, and live".

13 The woman Folly is loud;
she is seductive and knows nothing.
14 She sits at the door of her house;
she takes a seat on the highest places of the town,
15 calling to those who pass by,
who are going straight on their way,
16 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
And to him who lacks sense she says,
17 “Stolen water is sweet,
and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
18 But he does not know that the dead are there,
that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.

This invitation from folly contrasts with v1-6 significantly. The invitation is coming from a hostess that is obviously immoral. Not only do we get the foolishness of being loud and calling seductively which hearkens back to 7:11-12, we also see that she exhorts how things stolen seem more sweet and pleasant because of the risk taken to acquire them. Verse 18 gives us a bit of an interpretive challenge, as "the dead" is a translation used for the Hebrew rephaim, which is a word used in the Bible to refer to the spirits of the departed, all in Hebrew poetry. The word Sheol can also be somewhat challenging.

I conclude this short study on chapter 9 with one of the most oft-quoted verses, simply because it is, in itself, very powerful:

10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

As always, may the Lord bless you and keep you.