Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:
Proverbs 9:1-18.-Wisdom's preparations of her house and her banquet for the quests whom she invites by her maidens (Proverbs 9:1-3). To whom she gives invitation, and to what (Proverbs 9:4-5). Necessary preliminary to accepting it-namely, forsake the foolish, lest ye become scorners, seeing that reproof is thrown away upon a scorner, and is laid out to good account by the wise alone (Proverbs 9:6-9). Wisdom's first principle is the fear of the Lord, which issues in life for the benefit of the wise; while the fool's scorning shall fall on himself (Proverbs 9:10-12). Folly, too, gives her clamorous invitation in the high places, tempting passers by with the sweets of stolen waters, but not letting them know that the issue is death and hell (Proverbs 9:13-18).
Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars. As the latter part of Proverbs 8:1-36 refers to Wisdom's work in the creation of the world, so this chapter refers to her work in restoring it. Solomon here reverts to the invitation of wisdom at the beginning of Proverbs 8:1-36. The Hebrew is plural, Wisdoms, (Proverbs 1:20, margin.) The plural expresses her excellence and dignity-having also an allusion to the plural form of the name of God, 'Elohiym (H430). Her "house" stands in contrast to the house of the harlot (Proverbs 7:8). The spiritual and everlasting Church is her house (1 Timothy 3:15; Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 2:20-22; 1 Peter 2:5). Solomon's temple, with its pillars (1 Kings 6:1-38 and
7) was a type of it. Now the body of true believers, having the Holy Spirit in their hearts, constitute her house (1 Corinthians 3:17). The "house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens," is the consummation (2 Corinthians 5:1). In its banquet (Proverbs 9:2) is laid out for all who will come (Psalms 23:5; Psalms 36:8; Isaiah 25:6; Isaiah 55:1-2). "Her seven pillars," in the Hebrew are the pillars, not of her house, but of herself. Seven is the number for perfection. They are the manifold and complete stays whereon Wisdom rests; especially the seven-fold grace of the Holy Spirit, which is in Messiah without measure, and whereby He establishes forever His Church (Isaiah 11:2-3; Revelation 1:4). In so far as He imparts his seven-fold Spirit to the ministers of His Church, in that degree they become "pillars" (Galatians 2:9).