Chapter 24
1, 2 are a single proverb.
3-7 may well be a single proverb. But it might also be two.
8, 9 are a single proverb.
10-12 are a single proverb. This is the one about saving those who are stumbling to their deaths. The section starts with if you stumble when things get tough, you haven't much strength.
13, 14 are one.
15, 16, are one.
17, 18 are together.
19, 20 are one.
21, 22 are one.
So this would add 9. 5, 10, 9 are 24. Possibly 25. But I do not see 30 proverbs here.
Vs 23 starts with "these are also sayings of the wise..." and offers the first one.
24-26 go together.
27 is one.
28, 29 go together.
30-34 contain a personal observation from which a principle about laziness is deduced.
It seems very obvious at this point that Proverbs as a book was put together over time, and arranged according to someone's idea of how it should be organized. I doubt that the original time of writing is known, so it would not be correct to try and see Solomon's wisdom "evolving" as he gets older from Prov 1 to the last one. Solomon was given wisdom in one single moment.
So this is a collection. We can look at each chapter...but even those are of someone's design and the chapters weren't really there. They are in the order that God intended, we know that.
Second time, this very current, very timely observation:
24 Whoever says to the wicked, "You are in the right," will be cursed by peoples, abhorred by nations, 25 but those who rebuke the wicked will have delight, and a good blessing will come upon them. [Pro 24:24-25 ESV]
Good FB post.
2021-Vss 10-12, Heard a pretty powerful preacher talk about this in a devotional setting one morning. He says this is about preaching to the lost, to the unsaved who need to hear. He says if we ignore them, grow complacent about them, and so don't address them, then God will judge us for that. I believe what this preacher is saying is true - we are enjoined to spread the gospel. But I don't think that's what Solomon was talking about when he wrote these lines. I think what Solomon had in mind were the unwashed masses, the unlearned and unwise hordes that are all around us. He is saying that when we see stupidity we are obligated to teach. I don't think he means fools, who for the most part choose to be fools, but about those who don't have opportunity due to circumstances like poverty, fatherless households and so on, and so were never taught wisdom, never taught how to make good choices. Such people are easy targets for greedy, arrogant, or evil people. We ought to "love our neighbor" enough to try and help with his life choices. Salvation is the highest priority, but that is not and should not be the end of the story. What about general revelation? Won't the world be a better place if even the unsaved understand that most of what the Bible recommends is the best, most long-lasting, most civilized way to conduct ourselves?