Chapter 7

A combination of extreme busyness during the weekend and computer struggles have gotten in the way of the Commentary, and for this I apologise. But no matter – we press on!

Tonight’s commentary is a short one, but it’s power packed. Once again, Solomon deals with the topic of adultery. He details the story of a young man seduced and taken away by a (married!) woman.

Once again, we can be struck by the contrast. Without a doubt many men in our society would think “The lucky guy!” After all, a (rich and beautiful) woman has declared her intention to have sex with him. That’s all she wants.

Hey, if that’s all she wants, where’s the harm?

But notice the metaphor that Solomon uses to describe him walking off towards her bed – “Like a calf led to the butcher’s shop; like a stag lured into ambush . . like a bird flying into a net.”

He’s not just describing RISKING death; he goes further. From Solomon’s viewpoint, the young man is already dead, he just doesn’t know it yet.

Not physically dead, of course. Even in the roughest of sexual relationships this would be unusual. But dead in the sense that he’s given up his life to this woman (quite probably without know what he’s lost). And the metaphor sees the seductress as the hunter – no subtlety here!

It’s tempting to see sex between consenting adults as a victimless crime, but it’s not. Quite apart from the harm it inflicts on the innocent husband (mentioned but not seen here), it hurts those who participate, in that whether they realize it or not, they will form a relationship. I have observed that friends who have experienced sexual relationships before they get married do have a higher incidence of marital trouble – so perhaps the damage it does could be seen as like a ticking time bomb.

What is Solomon’s answer? Bluntly, don’t go near her!

Oh, and ladies? Don’t you be smug – guys can seduce girls just as easily. So the same applies to you too. Treat that seemingly guilt-free encounter with caution. No, better than that – don’t give in! It’s dangerous!