PROVERBS: THE BOOK OF WISDOM
                                         (Chapter 2)


Dear Mishpochah (family):

            In the last article from the newsgroup (Nov 26), I sent a detailed
study of Proverb 1. In that study, we learned that the SUBJECT of the
book of Proverbs is that the WISE FOLLOW TORAH. A summary of Proverbs
1 is as follows:

           SUMMARY: THE BOOK OF WISDOM: CHAPTER 1

        In this chapter, we see how Solomon exhorts those who are
wise to follow Torah. The wise pleads with the simple to follow
Torah. The fear of YHVH (following Torah) is the beginning of wisdom
and understanding. The wise understand the parables and dark sayings
(hidden messages) of Torah. A wise son listens to the instruction of
his father (YHVH the Father) and his mother (the Torah instruction of the Holy Spirit).

       Those who don't follow Torah will be punished by YHVH with
anguish, distress and exile and YHVH will not listen to their cry.
However those who do follow the Torah of YHVH will dwell safely under
the wings of YHVH.

      In this article, we will examine Proverbs 2.  After studying
this chapter, we will see once again that Solomon is encouraging the
people of YHVH to observe the Torah.


                 THE BOOK OF WISDOM: CHAPTER 2

KJV Proverbs 2:1 My son, if thou wilt receive MY WORDS, and hide MY
COMMANDMENTS with thee;

              Solomon speaks about "my words" and "my commandments".
This is a reference to observing the Torah.


                   THE COMMANDMENTS ARE THE TORAH

KJV Deuteronomy 30:10 If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD
thy God, to keep his COMMANDMENTS and his statutes which are written
in this book of the TORAH, and if thou turn unto the LORD thy God with
all thine heart, and with all thy soul.

KJV Proverbs 3:1 My son, forget not MY TORAH; but let thine heart keep
MY COMMANDMENTS:

KJV Proverbs 7:2 Keep MY COMMANDMENTS, and live; and MY TORAH as the
apple of thine eye.

 
          THE COMMANDMENTS ARE HIDDEN IN OUR HEARTS

KJV Proverbs 2:1 My son, if thou wilt receive MY WORDS, and HIDE MY
COMMANDMENTS with thee;

          Solomon told us to to "hide the commandments" with us. The
Torah / commnandments are to be hidden in our hearts.

KJV Psalm 40:8 I delight to do THY WILL, O my God: yea, THY TORAH is
WITHIN MY HEART.


      PREACHING RIGHTEOUSNESS = PREACHING THE TORAH

KJV Psalm 40:9 I have PREACHED RIGHTEOUSNESS in the great
congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.


      KNOWING RIGHTEOUSNESS = TORAH IN OUR HEARTS

KJV Isaiah 51:7 Hearken unto me, ye that KNOW RIGHTEOUSNESS, the
people in whose HEART is MY TORAH; fear ye not the reproach of men,
neither be ye afraid of their revilings.


             NOAH = A PREACHER OF RIGHTEOUSNESS (Torah)

KJV 2 Peter 2:5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the
eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon
the world of the ungodly;


                    THE TORAH IS HIDDEN IN OUR HEARTS

KJV Psalm 119:10 With my WHOLE HEART have I sought thee: O let me not
wander from thy COMMANDMENTS.

KJV Psalm 119:11 Thy word have I HID in MINE HEART, that I might not
sin against thee.


              FOLLOWING TORAH = WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING

KJV Proverbs 2:2 So that thou incline thine EAR unto WISDOM, and apply
thine HEART to UNDERSTANDING;


    WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING IS FOLLOWING TORAH

KJV Deuteronomy 4:5 Behold, I have taught you STATUTES and JUDGMENTS,
even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land
whither ye go to possess it.

KJV Deuteronomy 4:6 KEEP therefore and DO them; for this is YOUR
WISDOM and your UNDERSTANDING in the sight of the nations, which shall
hear all these STATUTES, and say, Surely this great nation is a WISE
and UNDERSTANDING people.

KJV Deuteronomy 4:8 And what nation is there so great, that hath
STATUTES and JUDGMENTS so righteous as all this TORAH, which I set
before you this day?

        These verses tell us that KEEPING and DOING the TORAH is done
by a WISE and UNDERSTANDING PEOPLE.


    WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING IS FOLLOWING TORAH

KJV 1 Chronicles 22:9 Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall
be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round
about: for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and
quietness unto Israel in his days.

KJV 1 Chronicles 22:12 Only the LORD give thee WISDOM and
UNDERSTANDING, and give thee charge concerning Israel, that thou
mayest KEEP the TORAH of the LORD thy God.

KJV 1 Chronicles 22:13 Then shalt thou PROSPER, if thou takest heed to
fulfil the statutes and judgments which the LORD charged Moses with
concerning Israel: be strong, and of good courage; dread not, nor be
dismayed.

        Therefore, a person who is WISE and has UNDERSTANDING will
follow the TORAH and will PROSPER.


         OUR EAR ARE TO BE TOWARD FOLLOWING THE TORAH

KJV Proverbs 2:2 So that thou incline thine EAR unto WISDOM, and apply
thine heart to understanding;

KJV Psalm 78:1 {Maschil of Asaph.} Give EAR, O my people, to my TORAH:
incline your EARS to the WORDS of my MOUTH.

KJV Proverbs 28:9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law,
even his prayer shall be abomination.

            If we don't follow the Torah, our prayers are an
abomination.

                   THE TORAH IS A HIDDEN TREASURE

KJV Proverbs 2:3 Yea, if thou criest after KNOWLEDGE, and liftest up
thy voice for UNDERSTANDING;

            Knowledge and understanding is the Torah.

KJV Proverbs 2:4 If thou SEEKEST her as silver, and SEARCHEST for HER
as for HID TREASURES

            The Torah his a hidden treasure. 

KJV Matthew 13:44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto TREASURE
HID in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for
joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

                Yeshua is teaching about seeking the hidden treasures
of the Torah. Yeshua is telling us to sell all that we have (anything
that hinders us from) obtaining the hidden treasures of the Torah.


                            WHAT IS THE FEAR OF YHVH?

 KJV Proverbs 2:5 Then shalt thou understand the FEAR of the LORD, and
find the knowledge of God.
          
KJV Job 28:20 Whence then cometh WISDOM? and where is the place of
UNDERSTANDING?

KJV Job 28:28 And unto man he said, Behold, the FEAR of the LORD, that
is WISDOM; and to depart from evil is UNDERSTANDING.

KJV Psalm 111:10 The FEAR of the LORD is the beginning of WISDOM: a
GOOD UNDERSTANDING have all they that DO his COMMANDMENTS: his praise
endureth for ever.

             Job asked what is wisdom and understanding? The
BEGINNING of wisdom and understanding is the fear of YHVH. How to we
express our fear (reverence, respect, awe) of YHVH? We keep His Torah
or commandments!

      FEAR YHVH IS WISDOM = KEEPING HIS COMMANDMENTS       

      If the fear of YHVH is the beginning of wisdom and
understanding then what is the fear of YHVH?

KJV Deuteronomy 5:29 O that there were such an heart in them, that
they would FEAR ME, and KEEP all my COMMANDMENTS always, that it might
be well with them, and with their children for ever!

KJV Deuteronomy 8:6 Therefore thou shalt KEEP the COMMANDMENTS of the
LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to FEAR HIM.

KJV Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:
FEAR God, and KEEP his COMMANDMENTS: for this is the whole duty of
man.

                       WHAT IS THE KNOWLEDGE OF YHVH?
       
 KJV Proverbs 2:5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and
find the KNOWLEDGE of God.


              THE KNOWLEDGE OF YHVH IS FOLLOWING TORAH

KJV Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for LACK of KNOWLEDGE: because
thou hast REJECTED KNOWLEDGE, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt
be no priest to me: seeing thou hast FORGOTTEN the TORAH of thy God, I
will also forget thy children.

KJV Malachi 2:7 For the priest's lips should KEEP KNOWLEDGE, and they
should SEEK the TORAH at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD
of hosts.

           WISDOM (FOLLOWING TORAH) IS FOR THE RIGHTEOUS       

KJV Proverbs 2:6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh
knowledge and understanding.

KJVV Proverbs 2:7 He layeth up sound WISDOM for the RIGHTEOUS: he is a
buckler to them that walk uprightly.

KJV Luke 1:5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a
certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife
was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

KJV Luke 1:6 And they were both RIGHTEOUS before God, WALKING in all
the COMMANDMENTS and ordinances of the Lord blameless.


THOSE WHO UNDERSTAND RIGHTEOUSNESS (FOLLOW TORAH) = GOOD PATH

KJV Proverbs 2:9 Then shalt thou UNDERSTAND RIGHTEOUSNESS, and
judgment, and equity; yea, every GOOD PATH.

KJV Psalm 119:35 Make me to go in the PATH of thy COMMANDMENTS; for
therein do I delight.

KJV Psalm 119:105 NUN. Thy WORD is a LAMP unto my feet, and a light
unto MY PATH.

KJV Proverbs 4:18 But the PATH of the JUST is as the SHINING LIGHT,
that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

KJV Proverbs 6:23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the TORAH is
LIGHT; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:


                    WISDOM (TORAH) IS TO BE IN OUR HEART

KJV Proverbs 2:10 When WISDOM ENTERETH into THINE HEART, and knowledge
is pleasant unto thy soul;

KJV Psalm 37:31 The TORAH of his God is in HIS HEART; none of his steps
shall slide.

KJV Ezra 7:10 For Ezra had prepared his HEART to SEEK the TORAH of the
LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.

KJV Isaiah 51:7 Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the
people in whose HEART is my TORAH; fear ye not the reproach of men,
neither be ye afraid of their revilings.


WICKED = WALKS IN THE WAYS OF DARKNESS (Don't follow Torah)

KJV Proverbs 2:12 To deliver thee from the way of the EVIL MAN, from
the man that speaketh froward things;

KJV Proverbs 2:13 Who leave the paths of uprightness, to WALK in the
WAYS of DARKNESS;


        THE FOLLOWERS OF MESSIAH DON'T WALK IN DARKNESS

KJV John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light
of the world: he that FOLLOWETH ME shall NOT WALK in DARKNESS, but
shall have the light of life.


                     WALK IN DARKNESS = NOT THE TRUTH

KJV 1 John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and WALK in
DARKNESS, we lie, and do NOT the TRUTH:


                           TRUTH = THE TORAH

KJV Psalm 119:142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness,
and thy TORAH is the TRUTH.


                  THE WICKED DON'T FOLLOW TORAH

KJV Proverbs 2:14 Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the
frowardness of the wicked;

KJV Proverbs 2:15 Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their
paths:


STRANGE WOMAN = FLATTERING WORDS ARE DON'T FOLLOW TORAH

KJV Proverbs 2:16 To deliver thee from the strange <02114>  woman, even from
the stranger which flattereth with her words;

       The "flattering words" of a "strange woman" which are EVIL
says "don't follow Torah". The "flattering words" from the "strange
woman" says: "The Torah is bondage. You don't need to follow the
Torah."

KJV Hosea 8:12 I have written to him the GREAT THINGS of my TORAH, but
they were counted as a STRANGE  <02114>thing.
     
KJV Proverbs 5:3 For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb,
and her mouth is smoother than oil:


        THE END OF A STRANGE WOMAN = WORMWORD

KJV Proverbs 5:4 But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a
twoedged sword.

          NOT FOLLOWING TORAH = WORMWORD

KJV Deuteronomy 29:18 Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or
family, or tribe, whose HEART TURNETH AWAY this day from the LORD our
God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be
among you a root that beareth gall and WORMWOOD;

KJV Jeremiah 9:15 Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of
Israel; Behold, I will FEED THEM, even this people, with WORMWOOD, and
give them water of gall to drink.


FOLLOWING A STRANGE WOMAN = FORGETTING THE COVENANT OF YOUR YOUTH

KJV Proverbs 2:17 Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and
FORGETTETH the COVENANT of her God.

 
                         THE COVENANT IS THE TORAH              

KJV 1 Chronicles 16:17 And hath confirmed the same to Jacob for a
TORAH, and to Israel for an everlasting COVENANT,

KJV Psalm 78:10 They kept NOT the COVENANT of God, and REFUSED to walk
in his TORAH;

KJV Hosea 8:1 Set the trumpet to thy mouth. He shall come as an eagle
against the house of the LORD, because they have transgressed MY
COVENANT, and trespassed against MY TORAH.


THE HOUSE OF A STRANGE WOMAN (NOT FOLLOWING TORAH) = DEATH
     
KJV Proverbs 2:18 For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths
unto the dead.

                CHOOSING THE TORAH = CHOOSING LIFE

KJV Deuteronomy 30:19 I call heaven and earth to record this day
against you, that I have set before you LIFE and DEATH, blessing and
cursing: therefore CHOOSE LIFE, that both thou and thy seed may live:

KJV Proverbs 13:14 The TORAH of the WISE is a fountain of LIFE, to
depart from the snares of death.


                THE PATHS OF LIFE IS THE TORAH                          

KJV Proverbs 2:19 None that go unto her return again, neither take
they hold of the paths of life.

KJV Proverbs 2:20 That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and
KEEP the PATHS of the RIGHTEOUS.

            If you follow a "strange woman" (not follow Torah) then
you DON'T take hold of the paths of life (following Torah).

KJV Isaiah 2:3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us
go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob;
and he will teach us of his ways, and we will WALK in his PATHS: for
out of ZION shall go forth the TORAH, and the word of the LORD from
Jerusalem.


     THOSE WHO FOLLOW TORAH WILL DWELL IN THE LAND

KJV Proverbs 2:21 For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the
perfect shall remain in it.


NOT FOLLOWING TORAH =  CUT OFF FROM THE THE LAND OF ISRAEL

KJV Proverbs 2:22 But the wicked shall be CUT OFF from the earth, and
the transgressors shall be ROOTED OUT of it.

KJV Deuteronomy 29:28 And the LORD ROOTED them OUT of their LAND in
anger, and in wrath, and in great indignation, and cast them into
another land, as it is this day.

KJV 1 Kings 9:6 But if ye shall at all turn from following me, ye or
your children, and will NOT KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS and my statutes which
I have set before you, but go and serve other gods, and worship them:

KJV 1 Kings 9:7 Then will I CUT OFF ISRAEL out of the LAND which I
have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for my name,
will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a
byword among all people:


           SUMMARY: THE BOOK OF WISDOM: CHAPTER 2

         As we have seen, Proverbs 2 continues the message of
Proverbs 1 encouraging the people of YHVH to follow the Torah.

Wisdom and Understanding = Following Torah
We are to give our ear and hearts to following Torah.
The Torah is a hidden treasure.
A "strange woman" will flatter you with words to not follow Torah.
Don't listen to the voices which speak to not follow Torah.
Those who follow Torah will dwell in the land.
Those who don't follow Torah will be cast out of the land.

       I pray that this study will continue to help you to see the
book of Proverbs in a new light. The book of Proverbs is a book
written as encouragement to follow the Torah and to praise the wise
who follow this advice.

      May YHVH continue to bless you in your studies.

Eddie Chumney
Hebraic Heritage Ministries Int'l