Proverbs Chapter 31

Proverbs Chapter 31 
Distributed by:  KJV Bible Studies
Website: http://www.kjvbiblestudies.net
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Introduction:  This last chapter of Proverbs is ascribed to King Lemuel and what his mother taught him. 
 
I.The Words of King Lemuel
 
Pro 31:1  The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him. 
 
The question many ask is, who is King Lemuel?   There are essentially two options. Either he was an unknown king of an unknown country or Lemuel was another name for Solomon. There is no definitive proof for either.
 
The latter proposition of Lemuel being a pseudonym for Solomon is more likely, for the Old Testament Scriptures were written to the Hebrew nation and this chapter is written in Hebrew. Inasmuch as there was no Hebrew king officially named Lemuel, this likely is a private name given to him by his mother.
 
The name Lemuel literally means ‘for God’ or perhaps ‘to God.’ Solomon was also called Jedidiah which means ‘beloved of God.’  The prophecy (literally ‘burden’) recorded herein was taught him by his mother which would have been Bathsheba.
 
Pro 31:2  What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows? 
Pro 31:3  Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings. 
 
With three-fold application, the mother of Lemuel introduces her instruction to him.  The latter phrase (“the son of my vows”) may refer to her marriage vows to her husband.  The warning to Lemuel likely was to shun giving strength to women of loose morals (i.e., harlots, whether professional or casual).
 
The second warning (that which destroys kings) may be a warning about reckless living in general as the greater context seems to suggest. Her warning was for him to shun loose women and hedonism—practices known to kings and always destructive. 

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