Proverbs 28:2

28:1 Sin makes men cowards. Whatever difficulties the righteous meet in the way of duty, they are not daunted. 2. National sins disturb the public repose. 3. If needy persons get opportunities of oppressing, their extortion will be more severe than that of the more wealthy. 4. Wicked people strengthen one another in wicked ways. 5. If a man seeks the Lord, it is a good sign that he understands much, and it is a good means of understanding more. 6. An honest, godly, poor man, is better than a wicked, ungodly, rich man; has more comfort in himself, and is a greater blessing to the world. 7. Companions of riotous men not only grieve their parents, but shame them. 8. That which is ill got, though it may increase much, will not last long. Thus the poor are repaid, and God is glorified. 9. The sinner at whose prayers God is angry, is one who obstinately refuses to obey God's commands. 10. The success of ungodly men is their own misery. 11. Rich men are so flattered, that they think themselves superior to others. 12. There is glory in the land when the righteous have liberty. 13. It is folly to indulge sin, and excuse it. He who covers his sins, shall not have any true peace. He who humbly confesses his sins, with true repentance and faith, shall find mercy from God. The Son of God is our great atonement. Under a deep sense of our guilt and danger, we may claim salvation from that mercy which reigns through righteousness unto eternal life, by Jesus Christ our Lord. 14.

There is a fear which causes happiness. Faith and love will deliver from the fear of eternal misery; but we should always fear offending God, and fear sinning against him. 15. A wicked ruler, whatever we may call him, this scripture calls a roaring lion, and a ranging bear. 16. Oppressors want understanding; they do not consult their own honour, ease, and safety. 17. The murderer shall be haunted with terrors. None shall desire to save him from deserved punishment, nor pity him.

Proverbs 28:2 . For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof — Contending at the same time for supremacy, or rather succeeding one another. Their princes are soon cut off, and other persons, and frequently persons of other families, come in their stead, which is justly threatened, in the Scriptures, as a curse to a country, because such frequent changes are seldom for the better, but commonly for the worse, and are frequently attended with blood and slaughter, with the change and subversion of laws, with heavy taxes and charges, with the ruin of many families, and with many other mischiefs. But by a man of understanding, &c. — By a wise and good man. This may be understood, 1st, Collectively, according to the translation in the margin, of men of understanding, &c. That is, when the men or people of a land are wise and good: or, rather, 2d, Singularly; of a wise and righteous prince, who, by the good government of himself, and his family, and kingdom; by punishing and preventing the transgressions of the people, turns away God’s wrath, and saves himself and people. Such princes were Asa, Jehoshaphat, Jotham, Hezekiah, and Josiah, who, by their wisdom and piety, were instrumental in averting, for a time, the divine judgments, and prolonging the state and tranquillity of their country; and whose history is the best comment on the latter part of this verse.

(2) For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof. —Comp. 1Kings 15:27 , sqq., and indeed the whole history of the kingdom of Israel as compared with the regular succession of the family of David in accordance with the promise of Psalm 89:33 . The state thereof shall be prolonged—i.e., its settled condition. Or it may signify “right” (i.e., authority)” continues.”

2 . a man ] This is better taken collectively, and rendered men , as in R.V. text. the state thereof] i.e. its stability. This rendering is retained in R.V. Others render (taking the word state in its more usual sense as an adverb) so, on that condition , sc. of its possessing men of understanding and knowledge, it (the land) shall be continued . But there seems hardly sufficient reason for laying such stress upon the condition, nor is there much force in saying the land shall continue. The proverb is abundantly illustrated by the history of Israel. See, for example, 1 Kings 16:8-28 .

Many are the princes thereof; either, 1. Together, contending for supremacy. Or rather, 2. Successively, as appears from the following clause. Their princes are soon cut off, and other persons, and ofttimes persons of other families, come in their stead, which is justly threatened as a curse, because such frequent changes are seldom for the better, and commonly for the worse, and are frequently attended with blood and slaughter, with the change and subversion of laws, with heavy taxes and charges, with the ruin of many families, and with many other mischiefs. By a man of understanding and knowledge; by a wise and good man; which may be understood either, 1. Collectively, for men of understanding, & c., as it is rendered in the margin. i.e. when the men or people of a land are wise and good. Or rather, 2. Singularly; and that either, 1. Of a wise and righteous prince, who by the good government of himself, and his family, and kingdom, by punishing and preventing the transgressions of the people, turns away God’s wrath, and saves himself and people. Or, 2. Of any other man of eminent wisdom or piety, who prevents this judgment, either by his good counsels given to the prince and people, and entertained by them, or by his intercession to God; for God hath sometimes spared a people for the sake of one man, as he did Zoar for Lot, Genesis 19:20,21 . and the Israelites for Moses, Psalm 106:23 .

Transgression - Better, rebellion. A revolt against a ruler leads to rapid changes of dynasty (the whole history of the kingdom of Israel was a proof of this), but "with men of understanding and knowledge thus shall he (the prince) continue." True wisdom will lead people to maintain an existing order. The King James Version implies that political disorders may come as the punishment of any national sin. The state - Better, it (the land) shall surely prolong its days in stability.

2. Anarchy producing contending rulers shortens the reign of each. but by a man … prolonged—or, "by a man of understanding—that is, a good ruler—he who knows or regards the right, that is, a good citizen, shall prolong (his days)." Good rulers are a blessing to the people. Bad government as a punishment for evil is contrasted with good as blessing to the good.

Verse 2. - For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof. This implies that the wickedness of a nation is punished by frequent changes of rulers, who impose new laws, taxes, and other burdens, which greatly oppress the people; but regarding the antithesis in the second hemistich, we take the meaning to be that when iniquity, injustice, apostasy, and other evils abound, a country becomes the prey of pretenders and partisans striving for the supremacy. The history of the northern kingdom of Israel, especially in the disastrous period succeeding the death of Jeroboam II, affords proof of the truth of the statement (comp. Hosea 8:4 ). Septuagint, "Owing to the sins of ungodly men, quarrels ( κρίσεις , lawsuits) arise." But by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged . "The state" is the stability, the settled condition of the country. The word is כֵן ( ken ), here a substantive, equivalent to "station," "base." Umbreit, Nowack, and others translate it, "justice," "authority," "order." When a wise and religious man is at the helm of state, justice continues, lives, and works; such a man introduces an clement of enduring good into a land (comp. Proverbs 21:22 ; Ecclesiastes 9:15 ). The good kings Ass, Jehoshaphat, Uzziah, and Hezekiah had long and prosperous reigns. Septuagint, "But a clever man ( πανοῦργος ) will quench them (quarrels)." Proverbs 28:2