Proverbs 12:27 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

The slothful man roasteth not, &c.— Schultens thinks this verse parallel to the 4th verse of the 10th chapter; and he renders it, A self-deceiving sloth will not even hunt; but the opulence of a diligent man is great. See his note. The LXX render the last clause, A pure man is a precious acquisition. The author of the Observations remarks, that there is something particular in the word חרךֶ charak, used in this passage of Solomon; which is not the word commonly used for roasting, but signifies rather singeing; as appears from Daniel 3:27. No author, I think, gives us an account what this should mean, understood in this sense. Besides wild boars, antelopes, and hares, which are particularly mentioned by D'Arveaux, when he speaks of the Arabs as diverting themselves with hunting in the Holy Land, Dr. Shaw tells us, all kinds of game are found in great plenty in that country. But I do not remember an account of any thing being prepared for food by singeing, which is taken either in hunting or hawking, except hares; which I have somewhere read of as dressed in the east after this manner. A hole being dug in the ground, and the earth scooped out of it laid all around its edge, the brush-wood with which it is filled is set on fire, the hare is thrown unskinned into the hole, and afterwards covered up with the heated earth which is laid round about it; where it continues till it is thought to be done enough, and then, being brought to table, sprinkled with salt, is found to be agreeable food. See Observations, p. 182 and Miscell. Curios. vol. 3: p. 389. Parkhurst says, that the word חרךֶ charak, which we render roast, signifies "to inclose in lattice-work; to confine in a latticed cage or place, as men do what they take in hunting." He renders it, The deceitful man shall not secure (namely, in lattice-work) his prey.