Proverbs 24:15

15 Don't set an ambush, wicked man, at the camp[a] of the righteous man; don't destroy his dwelling.

Proverbs 24:15 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 24:15

Lay not wait, O wicked [man], against the dwelling of the
righteous
The church of God, which is the righteous man's dwelling place, and where he desires and delights to dwell; or his own dwelling house; it may be rendered, "at the dwelling of the righteous" {p}; lay not wait at his door to observe who goes in and out, and what is done there; and to watch for his halting, and take notice of his infirmities, slips, and falls, and improve them to his disadvantage; and so the Vulgate Latin version, "and lay not wait and seek ungodliness in the house of the righteous"; or lay not wait there for him, as Saul set men to watch the house of David to kill him, ( 1 Samuel 19:11 ) ; or to take an opportunity and get into it and plunder it, as follows; spoil not his resting place:
by pulling it down, or stripping it of its furniture; by robbing him of the substance in it, and thus disturbing his rest, and destroying the place of it; or the place where he lies down as a sheep in its fold, or as the shepherd in his cottage, of which the words in the text are used; and so denote that as the righteous man is like a sheep, harmless and innocent, those that lay in wait for him and spoil him are no other than wolves.


FOOTNOTES:

F16 (hwnl) "habitaculo", Pagninus, Montanus, Mercerus; "habitationi", Michaelis; "mansioni", Cocceius, Schultens.

Proverbs 24:15 In-Context

13 Eat honey, my son, for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to your palate;
14 realize that wisdom is the same for you. If you find it, you will have a future, and your hope will never fade.
15 Don't set an ambush, wicked man, at the camp of the righteous man; don't destroy his dwelling.
16 Though a righteous man falls seven times, he will get up, but the wicked will stumble into ruin.
17 Don't gloat when your enemy falls, and don't let your heart rejoice when he stumbles,

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. A rural encampment or home not under the protection of a city
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