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Honor a physician according to your need with the honors due to him, for truly the Lord has created him.
Verse 1. Honour and pay. Proverbs 8:9. Calmet.—Greek adds, “with his fees.” Bible.—The health of body and soul must be regarded. Worthington.
For healing comes from the Most High, and he shall receive a gift from the king.
Verse 2. King. Physicians were formerly kept at the king’s expense. Pliny xxix. 1.
The skill of the physician will lift up his head. He will be admired in the sight of great men.
The Lord created medicines out of the earth. A prudent man will not despise them.
Verse 4. Them, as he will all superstitious remedies. Calmet.—“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. Calmet.
Wasn’t water made sweet with wood, that its power might be known?
Verse 5. Wood, of various sorts. Grot.—Many suppose that he alludes to the miracle of Moses, (Exodus 15:25) who thus was supernaturally informed ( Calmet.) of the effects of a certain wood. Tirinus. Menochius. Saint Augustine q. lvii. in Ex.
He gave men skill that he might be glorified in his marvelous works.
Verse 6. The. Greek “that his or its virtue might be known by man.”
With them he heals and takes away pain.
Verse 7. These plants.—And of. Greek “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.” Bible.—Disease flee before him; so powerful are his medicines, that the very smell effects a cure.
With these, the pharmacist makes a mixture. God’s works won’t be brought to an end. From him, peace is upon the face of the earth.
My son, in your sickness don’t be negligent, but pray to the Lord, and he will heal you.
Verse 9. Thee. We must neither trust too much in physicians, (2 Chronicles 16:12) nor despise them, as this would be tempting God.
Put away wrong doing, and direct your hands in righteousness. Cleanse your heart from all sin.
Verse 10. Sin. All diseases are in consequence of original sin, and may are inflicted for actual transgressions. John 9:2 and 1 Corinthians 11:30. Numbers 12:10. Calmet.
Give a sweet savor and a memorial of fine flour, and pour oil on your offering, according to your means.
Verse 11. Then. Greek “as being no longer. Yet give,” and so forth Bible.—Be converted and offer sacrifice, as if there were no hopes of life. Still do not despair. Calmet.
Then give place to the physician, for truly the Lord has created him. Don’t let him leave you, for you need him.
There is a time when recovery is in their hands.
Verse 13. Thou. Greek “a sweet smell (success) shall be in their hands.” Bible.
For they also shall ask the Lord to prosper them in diagnosis and in healing for the maintenance of life.
He who sins before his Maker, let him fall into the hands of the physician.
Verse 15. Physician. This state is very troublesome, and a punishment of sin. verse 10.
My son, let your tears fall over the dead, and as one who suffers grievously, begin lamentation. Wind up his body with due honor. Don’t neglect his burial.
Verse 16. Burial. Thus we must shew our respect for the deceased. The Jews also prayed for them. 2 Maccabees 12:42. Calmet.—“The care … and pomp of funerals are rather the consolations of survivors than of service to the dead.” Saint Augustine cura 2.
Make bitter weeping and make passionate wailing. Let your mourning be according to his merit, for one day or two, lest you be spoken evil of; and so be comforted for your sorrow.
Verse 17. For. Greek “and shed burning tears of mourning, (18) and lament for,” and so forth Bible.—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, ( Calmet.) for a day or two; and we may receive the consolatory visits of our friends, during the seven days of mourning. Calmet. 22:13. John 11:19. 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. Worthington.
For from sorrow comes death. Sorrow of heart saps one’s strength.
In calamity, sorrow also remains. A poor man’s life is grievous to the heart.
Verse 19. And the, and so forth is not in Greek. Excessive sorrow brings on sickness, and renders us unfit for any thing.
Don’t give your heart to sorrow. Put it away, remembering the end.
Verse 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.
Don’t forget it, for there is no returning again. You do him no good, and you would harm yourself.
Verse 21. End. This is the chief utility derived from attending funerals.
Remember his end, for so also will yours be: yesterday for him, and today for you.
When the dead is at rest, let his remembrance rest. Be comforted for him when his spirit departs from him.
Verse 23. Thee. A man on his death-bed, or already dead, is introduced speaking. Calmet.
The wisdom of the scribe comes by the opportunity of leisure. He who has little business can become wise.
Verse 24. Him. Greek “thyself.” He is at rest, we hope; ( Bible.) be thou so too. Calmet.
How could he become wise who holds the plow, who glories in the shaft of the goad, who drives oxen and is occupied in their labors, and who mostly talks about bulls?
Verse 25. A scribe; that is, a doctor of the law, or a learned man. Challoner.—Sorrow ( Bible.) and too much employment, are injurious to learning. Calmet.—Sapientiæ otia negotia sunt. Saint Bernard ser. 85. Cant.—When pastors have leisure, they would do well to write, in imitation of Saint Paul, and so forth Worthington.
He will set his heart upon turning his furrows. His lack of sleep is to give his heifers their fodder.
So is every craftsman and master artisan who passes his time by night as by day, those who cut engravings of signets. His diligence is to make great variety. He sets his heart to preserve likeness in his portraiture, and is careful to finish his work.
So too is the smith sitting by the anvil and considering the unwrought iron. The smoke of the fire will waste his flesh. He toils in the heat of the furnace. The noise of the hammer deafens his ear. His eyes are upon the pattern of the object. He will set his heart upon perfecting his works. He will be careful to adorn them perfectly.
Verse 28. Work: engraving on gold, or silver, or on precious stones.
So is the potter sitting at his work and turning the wheel around with his feet, who is always anxiously set at his work. He produces his handiwork in quantity.
Verse 29. Sitting. Such was the ancient custom of smiths, ( Calmet.) who carried all their implements with them, and laboured with much pain. Chardin.
He will fashion the clay with his arm and will bend its strength in front of his feet. He will apply his heart to finish the glazing. He will be careful to clean the kiln.
All these put their trust in their hands. Each becomes skillful in his own work.
Without these no city would be inhabited. Men wouldn’t reside as foreigners or walk up and down there.
They won’t be sought for in the council of the people. They won’t mount on high in the assembly. They won’t sit on the seat of the judge. They won’t understand the covenant of judgment. Neither will they declare instruction and judgment. They won’t be found where parables are.
But they will maintain the fabric of the age. Their prayer is in the handiwork of their craft.
Verse 34. Glazing. The earthen vessel would otherwise spoil all but oil and water. Calmet.