*H Honour the physician for the need thou hast of him: for the most High hath created him.
Ver. 1. Honour and pay. Prov. viii. 9. C. — Gr. adds, "with his fees." H. — The health of body and soul must be regarded. W.
*H For all healing is from God, and he shall receive gifts of the king.
Ver. 2. King. Physicians were formerly kept at the king's expense. Pliny xxix. 1.
*H The most High hath created medicines out of the earth, and a wise man will not abhor them.
Ver. 4. Them, as he will all superstitious remedies. C. — "A crowd of physicians killed Cæsar," said Adrian, on his death-bed. They often try experiments, and kill with impunity. Pliny xxix. 1. — Yet we must not condemn the prudent use of medicine. C.
*H Was not bitter water made sweet with wood?
Ver. 5. Wood, of various sorts. Grot. — Many suppose that he alludes to the miracle of Moses, (Ex. xv. 25.) who thus was supernaturally informed (C.) of the effects of a certain wood. T. M. S. Aug. q. lvii. in Ex.
* Footnote * Exodus 15 : 25
But he cried to the Lord, and he shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, they were turned into sweetness. There he appointed him ordinances, and judgments, and there he proved him,*H The virtue of these things is come to the knowledge of men, and the most High hath given knowledge to men, that he may be honoured in his wonders.
Ver. 6. The. Gr. "that his or its virtue might be known by man."
*H By these he shall cure and shall allay their pains, and of these the apothecary shall make sweet confections, and shall make up ointments of health, and of his works there shall be no end.
Ver. 7. These plants. — And of. Gr. "Of these the maker of ointments shall compose a mixture and his works are not yet finished, when peace (health) from him appears on the face of the earth." H. — Diseases flee before him; so powerful are his medicines, that the very smell effects a cure.
*H My son, in thy sickness neglect not thyself, but pray to the Lord, and he shall heal thee.
Ver. 9. Thee. We must neither trust too much in physicians, (2 Par. xvi. 12.) nor despise them, as this would be tempting God.
* Footnote * Isaias 38 : 3
And said: I beseech thee, O Lord, remember how I have walked before thee in truth, and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Ezechias wept with great weeping.*H Turn away from sin and order thy hands aright, and cleanse thy heart from all offence.
Ver. 10. Sin. All diseases are in consequence of original sin, and many are inflicted for actual transgressions. Jo. ix. 2. and 1 Cor. xi. 30. Num. xii. 10. C.
*H Give a sweet savour, and a memorial of fine flour, and make a fat offering, and then give place to the physician.
Ver. 11. Then. Gr. "as being no longer. Yet give," &c. H. — Be converted and offer sacrifice, as if there were no hopes of life. Still do not despair. C.
*H For there is a time when thou must fall into their hands:
Ver. 13. Thou. Gr. "a sweet smell (success) shall be in their hands." H.
*H He that sinneth in the sight of his Maker, shall fall into the hands of the physician.
Ver. 15. Physician. This state is very troublesome, and a punishment of sin. v. 10.
*H My son, shed tears over the dead, and begin to lament as if thou hadst suffered some great harm, and according to judgment cover his body, and neglect not his burial.
Ver. 16. Burial. Thus we must shew our respect for the deceased. The Jews also prayed for them. 2 Mac. xii. 42. C. — "The care...and pomp of funerals are rather the consolations of survivors than of service to the dead." S. Aug. cura 2.
*H And for fear of being ill spoken of weep bitterly for a day, and then comfort thyself in thy sadness.
Ver. 17. For. Gr. "and shed burning tears of mourning, (18) and lament for," &c. H. — Sorrow would be unsuitable for the saints, and useless for the damned, who being rebellious to God do not deserve our lamentations. Yet nature dictates, and people expect we should allow something to the first emotions of sorrow, (C.) for a day or two; and we may receive the consolatory visits of our friends, during the seven days of mourning. C. xxii. 13. Jo. xi. 19. S. Paulin. ad Pam. — To avoid the evil reports of men, we must shew ourselves to be really sorry; yet we must not suffer grief to hurt our health. W.
*H For of sadness cometh death, and it overwhelmeth the strength, and the sorrow of the heart boweth down the neck.
Ver. 19. And the, &c. is not in Greek. Excessive sorrow brings on sickness, and renders us unfit for any thing.
* Footnote * Proverbs 15 : 13
A glad heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by grief of mind the spirit is cast down.* Footnote * Proverbs 17 : 22
A joyful mind maketh age flourishing: a sorrowful spirit drieth up the bones.*H In withdrawing aside sorrow remaineth: and the substance of the poor is according to his heart.
Ver. 20. Aside, in solitude. — Substance; or what the poor has to live on, will seem sweet or bitter according as he is affected with joy or grief.
*H Give not up thy heart to sadness, but drive it from thee: and remember the latter end.
Ver. 21. End. This is the chief utility derived from attending funerals.
*H Remember my judgment: for thine also shall be so: yesterday for me, and to day for thee.
Ver. 23. Thee. A man on his death-bed, or already dead, is introduced speaking. C.
*H When the dead is at rest, let his remembrance rest, and comfort him in the departing of his spirit.
Ver. 24. Him. Gr. "thyself." He is at rest, we hope; (H.) be thou so too. C.
* Footnote * 2_Kings 12 : 21
And his servants said to him: What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive, but when the child was dead, thou didst rise up, and eat bread.*H The wisdom of a scribe cometh by his time of leisure: and he that is less in action, shall receive wisdom.
Ver. 25. A scribe; that is, a doctor of the law, or a learned man. Ch. — Sorrow (H.) and too much employment, are injurious to learning. C. — Sapientiæ otia negotia sunt. S. Bern. ser. 85. Cant. — When pastors have leisure, they would do well to write, in imitation of S. Paul, &c. W.
*H So every craftsman and workmaster that laboureth night and day, he who maketh graven seals, and by his continual diligence varieth the figure: he shall give his mind to the resemblance of the picture, and by his watching shall finish the work.
Ver. 28. Work: engraving on gold, or silver, or on precious stones.
*H So doth the smith sitting by the anvil and considering the iron work. The vapour of the fire wasteth his flesh, and he fighteth with the heat of the furnace.
Ver. 29. Sitting. Such was the ancient custom of smiths, (C.) who carried all their implements with them, and laboured with much pain. Chardin.
*H He shall give his mind to finish the glazing, and his watching to make clean the furnace.
Ver. 34. Glazing. The earthen vessel would otherwise spoil all but oil and water. C.
*H And they shall not dwell, nor walk about therein, and they shall not go up into the assembly.
Ver. 37. Dwell. Gr. "travel," to get a livelihood, (Grot.) or to acquire wisdom, (C. xxxiv. 9. and xxxix. 5.) and walk about like the ancient philosophers. They shall not be chosen magistrates. C.
*H Upon the judges' seat they shall not sit, and the ordinance of judgment they shall not understand, neither shall they declare discipline and judgment, and they shall not be found where parables are spoken:
Ver. 38. Spoken. They have not leisure to attend the lectures of sages; (H.) nor are they ever quoted by them.
*H But they shall strengthen the state of the world, and their prayer shall be in the work of their craft, applying their soul, and searching in the law of the most High.
Ver. 39. World, giving children to the commonwealth, (M.) and employing themselves in useful arts. The Jews would not allow magicians, players, &c. to reside in their country. — Craft. They pray that they may succeed in their employment, while some also strive to comply with their religious duties. C. — Applying. Gr. refers this to the following chap. "As for him who applies his soul and meditates on the law of the Most High, he will," &c. H.