Proverbs 31 Star Chart: This is a Hebrew acrostic in alphabetical order -- 22 verses. Other acrostic examples are Psalm 9, 10, 25, 34, 37, 111, 112, 119 & 145; also Lamentations 1, 2, and 3. The ancient Rabbinical commentators identified Lemuel with Solomon. The Babylonian Talmud (Tractate Aboth, Chapter 5) says that six names were given to Solomon: Solomon, Jedidiah, Qoheleth, Ben Iokoh, Agur, and Lemuel. According to A. Cohen, Proverbs (Hindhead, Surrey: The Soncino Press, 1945), p. 209, Lemuel is another name for Solomon that when translated means “towards (lemo) God (el).” In his book Solomon and Solomonic Literature (Charleston, SC: BiblioBazaar, 2008), p. 67, Moncure Daniel Conway tells a rabbinical story that relates Proverbs 31 to Solomon and Bathsheba. He wrote: The Ancient Rabbins identified Lemuel with Solomon, and relate than when, on the day of the dedication of the temple, he married Pharaoh’s daughter, he drank too much at the wedding feast, and slept until the fourth hour of the next day, with the keys of the temple under his pillow. Whereupon his mother, Bathsheba, entered and reproved him with this oracle. Bathsheba’s own amour with Solomon’s father does not appear to have excited any rabbinical suspicion that the description of the virtuous wife with which the Book of Proverbs closes is hardly characteristic of the woman. |
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A Woman Clothed With Strength and Honour
31:1 The words of king Lemuel (Solomon), the prophecy that his (Virgo -- Bathsheba) mother taught him.
"Among the Persians the boys are kept in the female apartments until their fifth year, and not permitted to see their fathers." (Herodotus 1:136)
2 What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my (red radius) vows?
3 Give not thy strength unto (Germini) women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth (Gemini) kings.
Beauty is only skin deep and has deceived many men (Eccl. 7:26).
4 It is not for (Gemini) kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink (solar golden) wine; nor for princes strong drink:
5 Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8 Open thy (lunar) mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
9 Open thy (lunar) mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
10 Who can find a virtuous (capable) (Virgo) woman? for her price is far above (red radius) rubies.
By doing and suffering what Christ has on the church's account account; the price he has paid for her is far above rubies; she is bought with a price, but not with corruptible things, as silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ; the ransom price paid for her is himself, who is more precious than rubies, and all the things that can be desired, 1 Peter 1:18.
11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13 She seeketh (lunar) wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her (Virgo) hands.
14 She is like the (Argo) merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
15 She riseth also while it is yet (black zodiac) night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her (Gemini) maidens.
16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a (solar and lunar grape) (red radius) vineyard.
17 She girdeth her (purple radius) loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her (purple radius) candle goeth not out by (black zodiac) night.
19 She layeth her hands to the (solar) spindle, and her hands hold the (lunar) distaff.
"The time when early housewives leave the bed,
When living embers on the hearth they spread,
Supply the lamp, and call the maids to rise;
With yawning mouths and with half-opened eyes,
They ply the distaff by the winking light,
And to their daily labour add the night:
Thus frugally they earn their children's bread,
And uncorrupted keep their nuptial bed." (Virgo Aen 8:407)
"Hasten to thy tasks at home,
There guide the distaff and direct the loom." (Homer's Iliad 6:491).
20 She stretcheth out her (solar gold coin) hand to the (Argo) poor; yea, she reacheth forth her (lunar and solar) hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the (lunar) snow for her (Gemini) household: for all her household are clothed with (red radius) scarlet.
22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and (purple radius) purple.
23 Her (Argo) husband is known in the (solar golden) gates, when he sitteth among the (Gemini) elders of the land.
24 She maketh fine (lunar white) linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
26 She openeth her (lunar) mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the (solar) bread of idleness.
28 Her (Gemini) children arise up, and (red radius) call her blessed; her husband also, and he (red radius) praiseth her.
29 Many (Gemini) daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
Song of Solomon 6:8
30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be (red radius) praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the (solar golden) gates.