ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

 Tusite Sune 8, 2021

A wise son makes a glad father

KO E foha poto ko e fiefia‘anga ‘o ‘ene tamai 

Palovepi 10 (Proverbs 10)

(v. 1) KONI PALŌVEPI ‘A SOLOMONE - KO E foha poto ko e fiefia‘anga ‘o ‘ene tamai: Ka ko e tama vale ko e fakamamahi ‘o ‘ene fa‘ē.

(v. 1) The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes a glad father,

but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.

 

*Commentary: David Guzik – Study Guide on the Proverbs*

The proverbs of Solomon: Proverbs 10 begins a new section of the book. In some sense the first nine chapters have been an introduction. In a sense, the collection of Solomon’s proverbs begins here as a series of two-phrase single verse wisdom sayings. This arrangement continues through Proverbs 22:16. From the start of Proverbs 10:1 through at least Proverbs 22:16.

We sense some kind of arrangement in these proverbs; they may be sometimes grouped in sets of two, three, or four proverbs linked by a theme. For example, Proverbs 10:4 and 10:5 may have been arranged next to each other because both deal with the theme of hard work.

Yet understanding the manner and nature of the arrangement is difficult if not impossible, and different commentators often see different arrangements. In this look at Proverbs any such connections between individual proverbs are left to the reader to make, and each verse will be treated as its own proverb.

“No exposition is possible save to take each proverb and consider it in its separate value. In the majority of instances this is unnecessary, because they are self-evident expositions of one abiding truth.” (Morgan).

A wise son: Solomon himself was the ultimate wise son, receiving and valuing wisdom above all other things (1 Kings 3). When King David saw this heart in his son, it no doubt made him a glad father.

A foolish son: Many of the proverbs work on the principle of contrast. This proverb contrasts the foolish son with the wise son. Ironically, we could say that Solomon ultimately turned out to be a foolish son (1 Kings 11), though it was long after the death of his mother.