A man, &c., striketh hands In token of his becoming surety; of which phrase, and the thing intended by it, see notes on Proverbs 6:1; Proverbs 11:15. This proverb is fitly placed after that in Proverbs 17:17, to intimate that although the laws of friendship oblige us to love and help our friends in trouble as far as we are able, yet they do not oblige us to become surety for them rashly, and above what we are able to pay, for by that means we should make ourselves unable to do good, either to them, or to others, or to ourselves.
Related Commentaries of Proverbs 17:18
Proverbs 17:18
18 A man void of understandingg striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.