Proverbs 15:17 - Exposition

Better is a dinner (portion) of herbs where love is. A dish of vegetables would be the common meal, whereas flesh would be reserved for festive occasions. Where love presides, the simplest food is cheerfully received, and contentment and happiness abound ( Proverbs 17:1 ). Lesetre quotes Horace's invitation to his friend Torquatus ('Epist.,' 1.5. 1)—

" Si potes Archiacis conviva recumbere lectis,

Nec modica cenare times olus omne patella,

Supreme te sole domi, Torquate, manebo ."

"If, dear Torquatus, you can rest your head

On couches such as homely Archias made,

Nor on a dish of simple pot herbs frown,

I shall expect you as the sun goes down."

(Howes.)

So the old jingle—

" Cum dat oluscula menes minuscula pace quieta,

Ne pete grandia lautaque prandia lite repleta ."

A stalled ox is one taken up out of the pasture and fatted for the table. Thus we read ( 1 Kings 4:23 ) that part of Solomon's provision for one day was ten fat oxen and twenty oxen out of the pastures; and the prophets speak of "calves of the stall" ( Amos 6:4 ; Malachi 4:2 ; comp. Luke 15:23 ). The fat beef implies a sumptuous and magnificent entertainment; but such a feast is little worth if accompanied with feelings of hatred, jealousy, and ill will. This and the preceding verse emphasize and explain Proverbs 15:15 .