Children's children [are] the crown of old men; and the glory of children [are] their fathers.
Ver. 6. Children's children are the crown of old men.] That is, if they be not children those who "cause shame," as Proverbs 17:2, and who disgrace their ancestors - stain their blood; if they obey their parents' counsel and follow their good example; for otherwise they prove not crowns, but corrosives, to their aged sires, as did Esau, Absalom, Andronicus, and others.
And the glory of children are their parents.] If those children so well descended do not degenerate, as Jonathan the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh - or rather of Moses, as the Hebrews read it with a nun suspensum Jdg 18:31 - and as Eli's, Samuel's, and some of David's sons did. Heroum filii noxae. Manasseh had a good father, but he degenerated into his grandfather Ahaz, as if there had been no intervention of a Hezekiah. So we have seen the kernel of a well-fruited plant degenerate into that crab or willow that gave the original to his stock. But what an honour was it to Jacob that he could swear "by the fear of his father Isaac!" - to David, that he could, in a real and heavenly compliment, say to his Maker, "Truly, Lord, I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thy handmaid!" Psa 116:16 - to Timothy, that the same faith that was in him had dwelt first "in his grandmother Lois, and his mother Eunice!" 2Ti 1:5 - to the children of the elect lady! &c. - to Mark, that he was Barnabas's sister's son! - to Alexander and Rufus, men mentioned only, Mark 15:21, but famously known in the Church to be the sons of Simon of Cyrene! - to the sons of Constantine the Great, to come of such a father, whom they did wholly put on, saith Eusebius, a and exactly resemble! - to be descended of those glorious martyrs and confessors that suffered here in Queen Mary's days!
a ολον ενεδυσαντο το Kονσταντιν. - Euseb.