Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Proverbs 17:2
A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.
2. a wise servant ] or, a servant that dealeth wisely, R.V., in contrast with a son who causeth shame, or dealeth shamefully. Comp.
“Free men shall minister unto a wise servant.”
Sir 10:25 , R.V.
The proverb is exemplified in Eliezer of Damascus (Gen 15:2), and Ziba (2Sa 16:4 with 1Ch 2:34-35), and in Jeroboam, Solomon’s “servant” (1Ki 11:26), who, being “industrious,” shared the inheritance with Rehoboam, “a son that dealt shamefully.”
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The servant, it must be remembered, was a slave, but (as in such cases as Gen 15:2; 2Sa 16:4) might succeed to the inheritance.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Shall have rule over a son that causeth shame; either as being by his father appointed tutor or guardian to his son; or being by his wisdom advanced to that estate and dignity which the other possibly hath lost by his folly.
Shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren; partly as a just recompence for his faithful service, as Gen 15:2,3, &c., and partly as an obligation to him to take care of his children.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
2. (Compare Pr14:35).
causeth shame (Pr10:5).
shall . . . inheritancethatis, share a brother’s part (compare Num 27:4;Num 27:7).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame,…. That does wicked and shameful actions: that is slothful, and will not attend to instruction or business; that is prodigal, wasteful, and luxurious, and causes shame to his parents, who blush at his conduct. Now a servant that behaves well and wisely in a family is observed and respected by his master, and he puts his wicked and extravagant son under him, makes him a tutor to him, and sets him to watch over him, and obliges his son to obey his orders. Jarchi illustrates this in Nebuchadnezzar ruling over the children of Israel;
and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren; be appointed by his master’s will to a share in his estate among his children, for his faithful service to him in life, and to encourage him to take care of his family, his children, and his affairs, after his death; or through gifts in his lifetime shall have what is equal to what his sons have; or growing rich shall purchase a part of theirs, as Gussetius y: or “shall part the inheritance among the brethren” z; being a wise man, his master shall leave him executor of his will, to divide his substance among his children, and see that everyone have their proper portion and equal share; but it rather is to be understood of his being a co-heir with them. So the Gentiles, through the will of the Lord, become fellow heirs of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ with the Jews, and share in the same inheritance with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and their children; nay, when the children of the kingdom shall be shut out; see Eph 3:6. Jarchi gives an ancient exposition of it thus,
“a proselyte of righteousness is better than a wicked native; and in time to come he shall divide the spoil and the inheritance in the midst of the children of Israel, at it is said in Eze 47:23;”
y Ebr. Comment. p. 263. z “dividet”, Mercerus, Gejerus, Michaelis; so Syriac version and the Targum; “partitur”, Junius Tremellius “partieur”, Piscator.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
2 A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.
Note, 1. True merit does not go by dignity. All agree that the son in the family is more worthy than the servant (John viii. 35), and yet sometimes it so happens that the servant is wise, and a blessing and credit to the family, when the son is a fool, and a burden and shame to the family. Eliezer of Damascus, though Abram could not bear to think that he should be his heir, was a stay to the family, when he obtained a wife for Isaac; whereas Ishmael, a son, was a shame to it, when he mocked Isaac. 2. True dignity will go by merit. If a servant be wise, and manage things well, he shall be further trusted, and not only have rule with, but rule over a son that causes shame; for God and nature have designed that the fool shall be servant to the wise in heart. Nay, a prudent servant may perhaps come to have such an interest in his master as to be taken in for a child’s share of the estate and to have part of the inheritance among the brethren.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
Wise Servant More Worthy
Verse 2 declares that a wise servant is more worthy to rule and share in the family inheritance than a son who causes shame, Pro 10:5; Pro 19:26. This principle is illustrated in the history of Jeroboam the servant and Rehoboam the son, lKi 11:28-37.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
CRITICAL NOTES.
Pro. 17:2. A son that causeth shame, rather, a degenerate son. (Delitzsch and Zckler).
MAIN HOMILETICS OF Pro. 17:2
THE FOOLISH SON AND THE WISE SERVANT
I. High social position is not necessarily the outcome of mental ability or moral worth. Many a man is born heir to a great estate, or even to a throne, who brings shame upon the name he bears and the place he occupies. He may be inferior in intellectual power to many of the dependents upon the house, or he may be worse in his character than they are. Or if he is not so degraded in character, or of such limited ability as to be surpassed by the majority, there may be one who serves him whose aim in life is far more lofty than his own, and who has far greater capabilities than he has.
II. A wise man will acquire influence, whatever position he fills. A servant who understands his duties, and conscientiously fulfils them, will win respect and confidence; and these will give him influence in his masters house, and over all with whom his business brings him into contact. There are many instances, both in the history of private families and in the history of courts, in which the judicious conduct of a subordinate person has averted evils which would otherwise have followed the crimes of a son of the house, and the father of such a son can but acknowledge such services, and reward them, if he is possessed of any gratitude. But whether he does so or not, it is an ordination of Gods providence, which we see in constant operation around us, that a wise man is a fools master. It is a law of nature that a stronger physical body shall govern the weaker, if no other power interferes, and it is a law in the universe of mind that the stronger mind shall rule the weak, and make it serve his purpose in some way. This is the secret of many of the social changes which are always going on, in which some who were born to affluence come down to penury, and those who were born in obscurity take their places.
OUTLINES AND SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS
Eliezer will show the custom that suggests the type. He was a wise servant. Abraham thought he would have to be his heir (Gen. 15:2-3). All commentators put son in apposition with him who causes shame; i.e., make them the same person. But to be the same person they should be in the same form grammatically, and son is in the construct. The causer of shame, therefore, is the father. And this is more consistent, for a wise father could uphold a son, or could give the inheritance to other brethren. In the worldly sense there could be no difficulty. In the spiritual what noted instances!in the Israelites, who, unlike Abraham, failed to command their households (Gen. 18:19), and who gave place to their bought servants, the hated Gentiles!in Satan, who has given place to man (Psa. 8:2)!in modern men who have professed the faith, but have debauched their children till they see them hardening under their very eyes, and some far-off waif gets before them into the everlasting kingdom. Better, says the last proverb, the utmost poverty, with peace and love; better, says this proverb, the poorest hold upon the Church, if there be the humbler hold upon the service of the Most High.Miller.
If wisdom make us free, then are we free indeed: as on the other side, he is altogether a servant that dealeth unwisely. But he that is wisdoms freeman is not only a freeman but a master, not only a master but a son, not only a son but an heir, an heir among the brethren. So highly doth wisdom exalt. But thus it is with the Father of the world, it is not so with worldly fathers. Their foolish love doth honour their son, though his foolish life doth fill them with shame: their proud carriage despiteth their servant, though his wise carriage exalteth their estate. The son shall have all though he deserve nothing, the servant shall not have his wages though they be due unto him. But the wisdom of God bestoweth His love, the justice of God divideth His inheritance in another manner. Oftentimes, even in this life, he putteth the servant in the sons place Be wise, then, though thou be a servant, and thou shalt be His son who is the Father of wisdom. Be not wicked, though the son of rich parents, and, it may be, heir to a great estate, for He, the Lord of all, can quickly make thee a poor servant for thy sins, who has made thyself a servant to thy sins.Jermin.
Fuente: The Preacher’s Complete Homiletical Commentary Edited by Joseph S. Exell
(2) A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame. . . .This was strikingly exhibited in the case of Ziba, who by his timely succour to David (2 Samuel 16), first gained all the property of his master, Mephibosheth (i.e., the man of shame), and was later confirmed in the possession of half of it. Slaves, especially those born in the house, often rose to a position of great trust. (Comp. Gen. 24:2; Gen. 39:4-6.) Eliezer would have been Abrahams heir had not Isaac been born (Gen. 15:3).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2. A son that causeth shame By his base conduct; “a degenerate son.” Zockler.
Among the brethren The brothers of the family; that is, among the heirs. Servitude among the Orientals, particularly among the Hebrews, was different in its spirit and conditions both from our modern slavery and from modern hired service. The servant, whether bought with money, (as they frequently were,) or born in the house, was regarded as a member of the family; not, indeed, as being naturally the equal of the son and heir, (comp. Gen 21:10,) but as capable of becoming so in certain circumstances; as where there was no legitimate heir, (Gen 15:2-3,) or where the heir or heirs acted basely, and brought upon themselves the displeasure of the father or patriarch, and were disinherited. The trusty, loyal, life-long servant then became heir; in some cases a sole heir, in others a co-heir with the brothers. Comp. 2Sa 9:10 ; 2Sa 16:4. Such were the customs and laws. Furthermore, as a person by misconduct, or poverty, which is frequently the result of misconduct, might be sold into servitude, the unworthy son, disinherited for his baseness, might also be sold into servitude, and purchased by the man once the servant of his father. Though exactly this cycle of events could not occur in our modern society, yet substantially the same thing does occur. A person brought up in a family as a dependent by his prudence and good conduct frequently rises to distinction in life, while the sons with whom he was reared, by imprudence, folly, improvidence, intemperance, or crime, are reduced to want, or dependence on the former menial of the family. Compare Pro 14:35. Miller renders the first clause, “the son of one who causeth shame.”
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
v. 2. A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame,
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
Pro 17:2. A wise servant In all troubled and disagreeing families, there is commonly some servant, or gentle friend, who, being powerful with both sides, may moderate and compose the differences which are among them; to whom, in that respect, the whole house, and the master himself, are much engaged and beholden: this servant, if he aim only at his own ends, cherishes and aggravates the divisions of the family; but if he be sincerely faithful and upright, certainly he deserveth much; so as to be reckoned as one of the brethren, or at least to receive a fiduciary administration of the inheritance. Lord Bacon.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Pro 17:2 A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.
Ver. 2. A wise servant shall have rule over a son, &c. ] God hath a very gracious respect unto faithful servants, and hath promised them “the reward of inheritance,” Col 3:24 which properly belongs to sons. This happens sometimes here, as to Joseph, Joshua, those subjects that married Solomon’s daughters; 1Ki 4:10 ; 1Ki 4:14 but infallibly hereafter, when “they shall come from east and west to sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven,” and to “enter into their Master’s joy,” “but the children of the kingdom shall be cast out.” Mat 8:11-12
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Pro 17:2
Pro 17:2
“A servant that dealeth wisely shall rule over a son that causeth shame, And shall have part in the inheritance among the brethren.”
“A wise servant shall rule over a disgraceful son, and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.” “A slave who deals wisely will rule over a child that acts shamefully, and will share the inheritance as one of the family. Eliezer the servant of Abraham was just such a servant (Gen 15:2-3) as that which is spoken of here.
Pro 17:2. Pulpit Commentary: Here is intimated the supremacy of wisdom over folly and vise…Slaves were often raised to high honor and might inherit their masters possessions. Thus Abrahams servant…was at one time considered the patriarchs heir (Gen 15:2-3); Ziba, Sauls servant, obtained the inheritance of his lord Mephibosheth (2Sa 16:4); Joseph was advanced to the highest post in Egypt. In European history when the sons of Clovis, king of the Franks, did not really care to rule but merely to enjoy the pleasures of the palace, they had mayors of the palace who did the actual ruling, and in time the mayors became the heirs of the throne itself. (For further reading consult the Merovingian and Carolingian dynasties in church history books or encyclopedias.) For a son that causeth shame, see Pro 10:5; Pro 19:26.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
wise: Pro 11:29, Pro 14:35, Gen 24:4-67, Ecc 4:13
that: Pro 10:5, Pro 19:26, Pro 29:15
Reciprocal: Gen 15:2 – the Gen 39:4 – overseer Gen 41:41 – General Pro 12:24 – hand Pro 16:20 – handleth Pro 27:18 – so
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Pro 17:2. A wise servant shall have rule, &c. Probity and prudence are so much better than mere riches and noble birth, that a wise and faithful servant sometimes arrives at the honour of being appointed the governor of a son, whose folly and wickedness make him a discredit to his family; and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren His merits, perhaps, are rewarded with a portion of the estate, which is to be distributed among them.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
17:2 A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the {b} inheritance among the brethren.
(b) That is, will be made governor over the children.