Proverbs 9:4-6, Is Wisdom an Adulteress?

“Let all who are simple come to my house!” To those who have no sense [Wisdom] says, “Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of insight.”

//Today’s verses describe Wisdom as a woman who stands at the door of her house, calling to the senseless, offering food and drink.

A strange picture … indeed, a very strange picture, given how close it matches this description just two chapters earlier of a adulteress:

At the window of my house I looked down through the lattice. I saw among the simple, I noticed among the young men, a youth who had no sense. He was going down the street near her corner, walking along in the direction of [the adulteress woman’s] house at twilight, as the day was fading, as the dark of night set in. Then out came a woman to meet him, dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent. … She took hold of him and kissed him and with a brazen face she said: “Today I fulfilled my vows, and I have food from my fellowship offering at home … Come, let’s drink deeply of love till morning; let’s enjoy ourselves with love!” –Proverbs 7:6-19

So Wisdom, personified, lurks at the door of her house, watching for the senseless, tempting him with food and drink like an adulteress? Can this possibly be a coincidence?

I’m afraid I have no explanation for this one.

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