Proverbs 2, Seek Wisdom Like Silver

Instructions on seeking wisdom, from the wise mentor, to his students, continue.

Proverbs 2: 1-4, Search for silver!

  My son, if you accept my words 

and store up my commands within you,

 turning your ear to wisdom 

and applying your heart to understanding,

 and if you call out for insight 

and cry aloud for understanding,

 and if you look for it as for silver 

and search for it as for hidden treasure,

In the previous chapter, Wisdom called out in the noisy streets. Here the one who should be wise is told to search for Wisdom, as if she were silver or some hidden treasure. One must be active in obtaining wisdom.

Proverbs 2: 5-8, Then you will receive wisdom

 then you will understand the fear of the LORD 

and find the knowledge of God.

 For the LORD gives wisdom, 

and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

 He holds victory in store for the upright, 

he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,

 for he guards the course of the just 

and protects the way of his faithful ones.

The one who searches for wisdom, as described in the first four verses, receives it. Again, wisdom is equated with knowledge and awe of YHWH. Kidner explains that "verse 5 encompasses the two classic Old Testament terms for true religion -- the poles of awe and intimacy." Wisdom is then described as providing victory, a shield, guard and protection. This is a broad generic promise; as Job points out, there are occasionally exceptions to these general rules.

Proverbs 2: 9-11, Understanding and knowledge

 Then you will understand what is right 

and just and fair--every good path.

 For wisdom will enter your heart, 

and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.

 Discretion will protect you, 

and understanding will guard you.

As in chapter 1, wisdom has various forms and flavors: knowledge, discretion, understanding.

Proverbs 2: 12-15, Saved from the wicked

 Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, 

from men whose words are perverse,

 who leave the straight paths to walk in dark ways,

 who delight in doing wrong 

and rejoice in the perverseness of evil,

 whose paths are crooked 

and who are devious in their ways.

There is a geometry ("spacial metaphors" says Alter) to the moral descriptions. The righteous walk on straight paths while the evil have paths that are crooked and speak words that are tahpukah, "perverse" or "topsy-turvy" (Alter.) 

Proverbs 2: 16-19, A house leading down to death

It will save you also from the adulteress, 

from the wayward wife with her seductive words,

 who has left the partner of her youth 

and ignored the covenant she made before God.

 For her house leads down to death 

and her paths to the spirits of the dead.

 None who go to her return or attain the paths of life.

In verse 16 the NIV describes the woman as "wayward wife." The Hebrew word zā·rāh  means "strange" and some other English versions write "strange woman." Both Kidner and Alter say that the phrase "strange woman" here means a woman strange to appropriate social circles and so "wayward" seems to be a good translation.

The adulteress is described here as one who has ignored her companion-husband and her vows to God. Alter says that the Hebrew word bā·’e·hā, translated here "go to her" may include sexual innuendo; the root of the word is bo, which can mean "into".

Proverbs 2: 20-22, Upright/wicked, life/death

Thus you will walk in the ways of good men

 and keep to the paths of the righteous.

 

For the upright will live in the land, 

and the blameless will remain in it;

 but the wicked will be cut off from the land,

and the unfaithful will be torn from it.

The book of Proverbs keeps the results simple and uncomplicated. As we note in the book of Job, it is not always this straightforward.