Prudence

How Nave’s arranged it

• General scriptures concerningJob 34:3Job 34:4Psalms 39:1Psalms 112:5Proverbs 6:1Proverbs 6:2Proverbs 8:12Proverbs 11:13Proverbs 11:15Proverbs 11:29Proverbs 12:8Proverbs 12:16Proverbs 12:23Proverbs 13:16Proverbs 14:8Proverbs 14:15Proverbs 14:16Proverbs 14:18Proverbs 15:5Proverbs 15:22
• See Diplomacy
• See Gentleness
• See Wisdom
• INSTANCES OF
• Jacob, in his conduct toward EsauGenesis 32:3–21
• Jacob, toward his sons, after Dinah' s defilementGenesis 34:5Genesis 34:30
• Joseph, in the affairs of EgyptGenesis 41:33–57
• Jethro' s advice to MosesExodus 18:17–23
• The Israelites, in the threatened war with the two and one-half tribesJoshua 22:10–34
• Saul, in not killing the Jabesh-gileadites1 Samuel 11:13
• David, in his conduct toward Saul1 Samuel 18:5–30

The passages, in Bible order (112)

The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 16 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.

1. Genesis 32:3–21

   Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom.

   ›Commentary on Genesis 32:3–211 voice

   “And Jacob sent messengers before him unto Esau his brother,.... Or "angels": not angels simply, as Jarchi, for these were not under the command, and in the power of Jacob to send, nor would they have needed any instruction from him afterwards given, but these were some of his own servants.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 32:3–21→

   Verse page →Original language →

2. Genesis 34:5

   Jacob heard that Shechem had defiled his daughter Dinah, but since his sons were with his livestock in the field, he remained silent about it until they returned.

   Verse page →Original language →

3. Genesis 34:30

   Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have brought trouble upon me by making me a stench to the Canaanites and Perizzites, the people of this land. We are few in number; if they unite against me and attack me, I and my household will be destroyed.”

   ›Commentary on Genesis 34:302 voices

   Those who are brothers according to faith to the injured one, if they are in the priestly order, like Levi, are among the subjects (Simon, in fact, is interpreted as "obedience"). They are extremely displeased if somebody who is their intimate friend according to faith is offended. However, they should not proceed to demand blood, nor should they expect extremely severe punishments for the corruptors, so as not to listen to Christ, who said to them, "You have made me hateful, so that I am now evil in the eyes of all the inhabitants of the land."

   “Ye have troubled me - Brought my mind into great distress, and endangered my personal safety; to make me to stink - to render me odious to the surrounding tribes, so that there is every reason to suspect that when this deed is come abroad they will join in a confederacy against me, and extirpate my whole family. And had he not been under the peculiar protection of God, this in all human probability would have been the case; but he had prevailed with God, and he was also to prevail with men.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 34:30→

   Verse page →Original language →

4. Genesis 41:33–57

   Now, therefore, Pharaoh should look for a discerning and wise man and set him over the land of Egypt.

   ›Commentary on Genesis 41:33–572 voices

   “A man discreet and wise - As it is impossible that Joseph could have foreseen his own elevation, consequently he gave this advice without any reference to himself. The counsel therefore was either immediately inspired by God, or was dictated by policy, prudence, and sound sense.

   “When Joseph said, "Let Pharaoh select a man," he spoke about himself. Joseph, out of modesty, did not say it openly in his own name, but he would not give it to another, for he knew that no one else would be able to make …

   Everything gathered on Genesis 41:33–57→

   Verse page →Original language →

5. Exodus 18:17–23

   But Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good.

   Verse page →Original language →

6. Joshua 22:10–34

   And when they came to Geliloth near the Jordan in the land of Canaan, the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh built an imposing altar there by the Jordan.

   ›Commentary on Joshua 22:10–341 voice

   “The borders of Jordan, that are in - Canaan - This verse can never mean that they built the altar on the west side of Jordan, for this was not in their territories; nor could it be a place for the purpose of public worship to their own people, if built on the opposite side of Jordan; besides, the next verse says it was built over against the land of Canaan. It appears that when they came to the river they formed the purpose of building the altar; and when they had crossed it they executed their purpose.

   Everything gathered on Joshua 22:10–34→

   Verse page →Original language →

7. 1 Samuel 11:13

   But Saul ordered, “No one shall be put to death this day, for today the LORD has worked salvation in Israel.”

   ›Commentary on 1 Samuel 11:132 voices

   “The calm and sagacious counsel of Samuel directed the popular feelings into a right channel, by appointing a general assembly of the militia, the really effective force of the nation, at Gilgal, where, amid great pomp and religious solemnities, the victorious leader was confirmed in his kingdom [1Sa 11:15].

   “15. For the Lord had said above to Samuel: They have not rejected you, but me, that I should not reign over them (1 Kings VIII, 7). But of Saul it was said a little before: Because they despised him, and did not bring him gifts (Ibid., X, 27). But he who was rejected, and he who was despised, after the enemies had been slain and victory obtained, heard the people crying out: Give us the men, and we will kill them.

   Everything gathered on 1 Samuel 11:13→

   Verse page →Original language →

8. 1 Samuel 18:5–30

   So David marched out and prospered in everything Saul sent him to do, and Saul set him over the men of war. And this was pleasing in the sight of all the people, and of Saul’s officers as well.

   ›Commentary on 1 Samuel 18:5–302 voices

   “And it was certainly a great instance of the power of God's grace in David that he was able to bear all this respect and honour flowing in upon him on a sudden without being lifted up above measure. Those that climb so fast have need of good heads and good hearts. It is more difficult to know how to abound than how to be abased.

   “He had approved himself a dutiful son to Jesse his father, and now a dutiful servant to Saul his master; those that are good in one relation it is to be hoped will be so in another. That Jonathan, who was heir to the crown, entered into covenant with him, God so ordering it, that David's way might be the clearer when his rival was his friend.

   Everything gathered on 1 Samuel 18:5–30→

   Verse page →Original language →

9. 1 Samuel 25:18–31

   Then Abigail hurried and took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five butchered sheep, five seahs of roasted grain, a hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs. She loaded them on donkeys

   ›Commentary on 1 Samuel 25:18–312 voices

   “Took two hundred loaves - The Eastern bread is ordinarily both thin and small; and answers to our cakes. Two bottles of wine - That is, two goat-skins full. The hide is pulled off the animal without ripping up; the places where the legs, etc., were are sewed up, and then the skin appears one large bag. This is properly the Scripture and Eastern bottle. There is one such before me. Five sheep - Not one sheep to one hundred men. Clusters of raisins - Raisins dried in the sun. Cakes of figs - Figs cured, and then pressed together.

   “Nabal grudged them water, but she took two bottles ( casks or rundlets ) of wine, loaded her asses with these provisions, and sent them before; for a gift pacifieth anger, Prov. xxi. Jacob thus pacified Esau. When the instruments of the churl are evil, the liberal devises liberal things, and loses nothing by it; for by liberal things shall he stand, Isa. xxxii.

   Everything gathered on 1 Samuel 25:18–31→

   Verse page →Original language →

10. 1 Samuel 29:1

    Now the Philistines brought all their forces together at Aphek, while Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel.

    ›Commentary on 1 Samuel 29:12 voices

    “A person who compares the Bible account of Saul's last battle with the Philistines, with the region around Gilboa, has the same sort of evidence that the account relates what is true, that a person would have that such a battle as Waterloo really took place. Gilboa, Jezreel, Shunem, En-dor, are all found, still bearing the same names.

    “A fountain - Probably, the fine spring Ain-Jalud. It is impossible to say what the special circumstances were which led to the struggle between Israel and the Philistines taking place so far north as the plain of Jezreel. Possibly it was connected with some movements of the Aramaic tribes to the north of Palestine. See 2 Sam. 8.

    Everything gathered on 1 Samuel 29:1→

    Verse page →Original language →

11. 2 Samuel 15:33–37

    David said to him, “If you go on with me, you will be a burden to me.

    ›Commentary on 2 Samuel 15:33–371 voice

    “Then thou shalt be a burden unto me - It appears that Hushai was not a warrior, but was a wise, prudent, and discreet man, who could well serve David by gaining him intelligence of Absalom’s conspiracy; and he directs him to form a strict confederacy with the priests Zadok and Abiathar, and to make use of their sons as couriers between Jerusalem and David’s place of retreat.

    Everything gathered on 2 Samuel 15:33–37→

    Verse page →Original language →

12. 1 Kings 12:7

    They replied, “If you will be a servant to these people and serve them this day, and if you will respond by speaking kind words to them, they will be your servants forever.”

    ›Commentary on 1 Kings 12:72 voices

    “The advice was not that the king should permanently resign the office of ruler, but that he should “for once” be ruled by his people.

    “The old men did not undertake to put words into Rehoboam's mouth, only counselled him to speak good words; but the young men will furnish him with very quaint and pretty phrases, with pointed and pert similitudes: My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins, &c. That is not always the best sense that is best worded.

    Everything gathered on 1 Kings 12:7→

    Verse page →Original language →

13. 1 Kings 19:3

    And Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there,

    ›Commentary on 1 Kings 19:32 voices

    “The rapid movement of the original is very striking. “And he saw (or, “feared,” as some read), and he rose, and he went, etc.” The fear and flight of Elijah are very remarkable. Jezebel’s threat alone, had not, in all probability, produced the extraordinary change but, partly, physical reaction from the over-excitement of the preceding day; and, partly, internal disquietude and doubt as to the wisdom of the course which he had adopted. Beer-sheba is about 95 miles from Jezreel, on the very borders of the desert et-Tih.

    “Nay, which kept him by his sacrifice when the fire of God fell upon it? He that stood undaunted in the midst of the terrors both of heaven and earth trembles at the impotent menaces of a proud passionate woman. Great faith is not always alike strong.

    Everything gathered on 1 Kings 19:3→

    Verse page →Original language →

14. 1 Kings 19:4

    while he himself traveled on a day’s journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my fathers.”

    ›Commentary on 1 Kings 19:42 voices

    “Into the wilderness - The vast wilderness of Arabia. He durst not stay in Judah, tho' good Jehosaphat reigned there, because he was allied to Ahab, and was a man of an easy temper, whom Ahab might circumvent, and either by force or art seize upon Elijah.

    “Elijah, whom John the Baptist followed in spirit and virtue and who caused fire to fall from heaven and the waters of the Jordan to part by his prayers, was afraid of Jezebel and fled, and exhausted, he sat down in the wilderness under a tree, and, wearied from walking, he prayed for death, saying, "It is enough for me, Lord, take away my soul, for I am no better than my ancestors." Who can deny that he was a just man?

    Everything gathered on 1 Kings 19:4→

    Verse page →Original language →

15. 2 Kings 7:12

    So the king got up in the night and said to his servants, “Let me tell you what the Arameans have done to us. They know we are starving, so they have left the camp to hide in the field, thinking, ‘When they come out of the city, we will take them alive and enter the city.’”

    ›Commentary on 2 Kings 7:121 voice

    “He knew no reason the Syrians had to fly, for it does not appear that he or any of this attendants heard the noise of the chariots which the Syrians were frightened at. Let not those who, like him, are unstable in all their ways, think to receive any thing from God; nay, a guilty conscience fears the worst and makes men suspicious.

    Everything gathered on 2 Kings 7:12→

    Verse page →Original language →

16. 2 Kings 7:13

    But one of his servants replied, “Please, have scouts take five of the horses that remain in the city. Their plight will be no worse than all the Israelites who are left here. You can see that all the Israelites here are doomed. So let us send them and find out.”

    ›Commentary on 2 Kings 7:131 voice

    “Behold ... - The Septuagint and a large number of the Hebrew MSS. omit the clause, “behold, they are as all the multitude of Israel that are left in it.” But the text followed by our translators, which is that of the best maunscripts, is intelligible and needs no alteration. It is merely a prolix way of stating that the horsemen will incur no greater danger by going to reconnoitre than the rest of their countrymen by remaining in the city, since the whole multitude is perishing.

    Everything gathered on 2 Kings 7:13→

    Verse page →Original language →