8.- for the dumb; i.e., for those who, through incapacity, like orphans, or through fear of powerful opponents, are unable to defend their own cause.

10-31. It seems probable that this description of a good wife is not a continuation of the discourse of Lemuel's mother, nor a description of the wife of a king, but rather a distinct composition, and perhaps by a different hand. It consists of twenty-two verses, beginning with the letters of the Hebrew alphabet in consecutive order; the first with Aleph, the second with Beth, &c., whence Döderlein calls it the golden A B C for wives. Henry calls it the looking-glass for ladies, into which they should look, and by which they should dress themselves.

10. capable woman. The term capable expresses the idea of the original better than virtuous. A capable as well as a virtuous woman is denoted, as is evident not only from the original term, strength, i.e., capacity, but from the description which follows. The objection to the term virtuous is, that it makes the idea of chastity too prominent. The passage is a delineation of the ideal of a Hebrew housewife.

11. trusteth, &c.; i.e., for the prudent and faithful management of all his domestic affairs. of gain; i.e., by her industry and economy her husband is enriched with provision for the family.

12. All the days of her life; i.e., not at first only, or now and then, by fits and starts, but constantly and perpetually.

13. wool and flax. It is well known that the most noble females among the Hebrews, Greeks, and Romans were engaged in labors of this kind. worketh willingly, &c. ; more literally, worketh with the delight of her hands; she makes it appear that her work is not her drudgery, but her delight.

14. bringeth her food, &c.; by the sale of her homespun commodities, she procures provision from distant places.

16. By her industry and economy, she not only provides for the household, but even adds to her husband's possessions.

17.

girdeth her loins; i.e., what she does she does with all her might. (See the note on Job xii. 21.)

18. her lamp is not extinguished, &c.; she continues her labors beyond the close of the day. Of course the expression is not to be understood to the letter. (Comp. Virg. Æn. viii. 407, et seqq.) Umbreit, who often strains his ingenuity to find a new meaning, supposes the expression to be an image of prosperity, as in chap. xiii. 9; xx. 20.

19. the spindle. It is said to have been common in the East to draw the thread from the distaff with one hand, and to twirl the spindle with the other.

21. clothed with crimson; i.e., not only protected from the cold, but even splendidly arrayed. (Comp. 2 Sam. i. 24.)

23. known in the gates, &c. This may mean that he is distinguished by the richness of his dress, which his wife has provided for him by her industry. (Comp. Hom. Odys., vi. 60, &c.) Or that the husband is freed, by the industry and good management of his wife, from all cares but those of public business.

24. linen garments; probably a linen under-garment. Adam Clarke observes: "Some such garments as these are still worn by

ladies in India and China, and are so thin and transparent, that every part of the body may be seen through them. I have many representations of persons clothed in this way before me, both of the Chinese, the Hindoo, and the Malabar ladies." (See also Gesenius ad verb.) - girdles. Girdles were sometimes of so rich a texture as to be con sidered a valuable present.

25. Strength and honor are her clothing; i.e., her greatest ornaments, however, are her strong and active mind, her honorable conduct, and her good name. she laugheth, &c.; i.e., she lives in tranquillity of mind; she has no concern about want or trouble in future time.

26. with wisdom; she is neither silent through ignorance or sullenness, nor yet full of vain and unprofitable gossip. Her conversation is wise and instructive. kind instruction; she is ever ready to give instruction or advice, and that not with the authority of a dictator, but with the affection of a friend.

27. ways of her household; she carefully oversees the domestics and laborers of her family, so that they shall have their allotted work, and attend to it with diligence. bread of idleness; i.e., gotten without labor. In connection with the preceding line, the sense may be, that her living is earned by her domestics, whom her activity stimulates to diligence.

29. Many daughters; i.e., many women. (Comp. Gen. xxxiv. 1; Ezek. xxx. 18.)

30. Grace; i.e., gracefulness, elegance of form and manners. deceitful; i.e., it disappoints expectation, being of short duration, or unable to give the permanent satisfaction which the husband promised himself from it. vain; i.e., like a breath, a vapor, a mist, perish

ing, soon gone.

31. —fruit of her hands; i.e., the praise which she has well earned by her labors. the gates; i.e., the places of public concourse.

THE END.