Proverbs 9:1 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Wisdom hath builded her house— This is a most splendid allegory, says Schultens, in which Wisdom is conceived as a queen, sitting in her royal palace, and inviting mortals to a banquet, plentifully furnished with the richest dainties, that they may be fed with celestial delights for a blessed immortality. This parable gains great light from that of the nuptial feast, delivered by our Saviour, Matthew 22. Many of the ancient fathers applied this to the church, and to our Saviour's human nature, who himself styles his body a holy house, or temple; perhaps in allusion to this fine allegory. See John 2:19. Various have been the endeavours of commentators to apply every circumstance in this description; but it has been well observed, that whoever would do so will find themselves in a great error, and quite ignorant of the nature of parabolical writings; for parables may be compared to historical paintings, which are intended to convey a general idea, which is to be gathered from the collective body of images, not from any particular figure: the minute circumstances are to be considered only as heightenings of the piece; but the conclusion, or general maxim, is to be drawn from the scope, and assemblage of the whole. This is a continuance of the parable begun in the former chapter, says Calmet; where Wisdom is represented to us as a venerable woman, whose real beauties and solid promises are opposed to the delusions of Pleasure; who in the 7th chapter is painted under the idea of a debauched and impudent woman. She, to entice young persons to her snares, gives a description of the perfumes, the bed, the feast, which she has prepared for them. Wisdom, to engage disciples, does the same thing; but, instead of debauchery, false pleasures, and vice, which Voluptuousness promises them, Wisdom offers to her guests a solid and magnificent dwelling of sweet but chaste delights, of salutary instructions, and a happy life.