Proverbs 7:6-10 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Bible Comments

For I looked through my casement Hebrew, בעד אשׁנבי, per fenestellam meam, my little window, or lattice, rather. For “in Palestine they had no glass to their windows: they closed them with lattices or curtains.” This may either be considered as an historical relation, or a parabolical representation of that which frequently happened. I beheld among the simple ones Among the fools; a young man void of understanding חסר לב, destitute of a heart, a body without a mind, one as ignorant and foolish as they; one whose youth, and heat, and strength, made him more subject to those passions which are termed by the apostle youthful lusts, and who wanted both judgment and experience, as well as grace, to keep him from such courses. Passing through the street Sauntering and idle, perhaps in quest of amusement; near her corner The corner of the street where the adulteress lived. And he went the way to her house Walked carelessly on till he came near her house. “It is not said that he intended to visit her, or even that he knew she lived there; but he was loitering about in a place where he had no business, and at an unseasonable hour.” Scott. In the evening When, the day-labour being ended, he was at leisure for any thing; and when such strumpets used, and, alas! still use, to walk abroad for prey; in the black and dark night Hebrew, באישׁון לילה ואפלה, when night and darkness were yet in embryo, or just beginning, as Dr. Waterland interprets the words. And behold, there met him a woman Thus through idleness he was led into temptation. This woman was not a prostitute, for she was a married woman, (Proverbs 7:19,) and, for aught that appears, lived in reputation among her neighbours, not suspected of any such wickedness. She was now, however, dressed in the attire of a harlot And her carriage and conduct were agreeable to her quality and design; and she was subtle of heart As she showed in her following discourse, wherein she proposes all things which might invite him to comply with her desire, and conceals whatsoever might discourage him.

Proverbs 7:6-10

6 For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,

7 And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths,a a young man void of understanding,

8 Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,

9 In the twilight, in the evening,b in the black and dark night:

10 And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.