Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, [and] look well to thy herds.
Ver. 23. Be thou diligent to know the state, &c.] Heb., Knowing thou shalt know the face of thy flocks; alluding, belike, to those shepherds that know their sheep asunder by their visages, and can call them by name, as John 10:3
And look well to thy herds.] Heb., Set thy heart to them - that is, be very inquisitive and solicitous of their welfare. Leave not all to servants, though never so faithful; but supervise and oversee business, as Boaz did. His eyes were in every corner - on the servants, on the reapers, on the gleaners. He lodged in the midst of his husbandry, he was not to learn that the master's eye feeds the horse, and the master's foot soils the land, a and that Procul a villa sua dissitus, iacturae vicinus, as Columella b hath it: He that is far from his husbandry is not far from poverty. And unless the master be present, saith the same author, it will be as in an army where the general is absent, cuncta officia cessant, all business will be hindered. He must be as the great wheel to set all awork, or little will be done.
“ Eις εστι δουλος οικιας ο δεσποτης .”
a Arist. Oecon., lib i. cap. 6.
b Lib. i. cap. 1.