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into the living standards of the average Hebrew citizen. The record keeping of Isreal also deteriorated under King Solomon's reign. This was usually a task assigned to the King. While Solomon's did begin his reign by praying for wisdom, and he did receive it in great magnitude, towards the end he began to marry foreign wives and worship their false gods. Being the spiritual head of Israel, this of course led all of the people down the wrong path.

I do believe that the evidence supports that King Solomon and Bathsheba were the authors of chapter thirty-one. I have also enjoyed the, not so common, common advice that I have obtained from the passage. The advice that the mother gives in the first part of the passage is obvious. She says, "choose your wife carefully.' During the second part of the piece, their mother extols the value of a woman of quality. To me this reinforces that I, as a woman, am of value to God, since He did inspire the Bible, and it is considered to be His Word.

The mother goes on to describe a woman of quality as trustworthy, a doer of good works, hardworking and industrious, fair to those who work for her, a good planner and wise investor, compassionate, hopeful, well dressed [spiritually and physically], and she is kind and does not gossip. The poem ends with verses twenty-eight through thirty-one explaining how family and husband will bless the woman who possesses these qualities.

Many woman read Proverbs chapter thirty-one wishing that they too could possess all of the qualities listed wondering how it is humanly possible. This text was not written for us to use as a mirror to reflect our shortcomings. A loving mother wrote this text to her son. "Oh my dear son, find a good wife, and when you do love, honor and cherish her." When we understand the nature of this wonderful poem, we can begin to rest in the Grace of God that will grow us into the wife and mother He has called us to be.

Boone, J. (1994). Old testament survey. Cleveland, TN: Lee College.

Gordon, C. (1958). The world of the old testament. Garden City, NY: Double Day and Company, Inc.

Harrison, E., Pfeiffer, C. (1969). The Wycliffe bible commentary. Chicago, IL: Moody Press.

Logan, R. (1986). The alphabet effect. New York, NY: William Morrow and Company, Inc.

McGee, J. (1988). Proverbs. Pasadena, CA: Thru the Bible Radio Network.

Zodhiates, S. (1991). The Hebrew-greek key study bible. Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishing.

Learn more about this author, Catherine Fuller.
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