“Therefore I determined to take her
To live with me.
I knew
That she would give me good counsel.
She would give me encouragement in cares.
She would give me encouragement in grief.”
The wisdom author wanted wisdom to live (συμβίωσιν) with him. She would then provide good counsel and encouragement whenever there were serious cares or in times of grief.
“Hear!
O daughter!
Consider!
Incline your ear!
Forget your people!
Forget your father’s house!
The king will desire your beauty.
Since he is your lord,
Bow to him.
The people of Tyre will sue your favor with gifts.
The richest of the people,
With all kinds of wealth,
Will come to you.”
This psalmist scribe asks that the daughter listen carefully and consider her words. She was to forget her people and her father’s house. She was to go forward to the king, her new lord. She was to bow to him. She would become powerful and rich with this marriage. These are like the words of encouragement to a reluctant bride before a marriage. Clearly she is to be subject to her new husband, the king. The consequences of this marriage will be enormous power and wealth. There is an interesting note about the new queen coming from Tyre. She may have been a Phoenician or a Philistine, the mortal enemy of David.
“When Demetrius heard of these things he was distressed and said.
‘What is this that we have done?
Alexander has gotten ahead of us
In forming a friendship with the Jews
To strengthen himself.
I also will write to them words of encouragement.
I will promise them honor and gifts,
So that I may have their help.’”
King Demetrius I heard what King Alexander had done to Jonathan. He was upset. How did King Alexander get ahead of him with his friendship with the Jews? He was going to offer Jonathan more words of encouragement. He was going to promise honors and gifts so that Jonathan would be with him.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 