Proverbs 25:21 - Exposition

The traditional hatred of enemies is here strongly repudiated (see Proverbs 24:17 , Proverbs 24:18 , and notes there). Thus Elisha treated the Syrians, introduced blindly into the midst of Samaria, ordering the King of Israel to set bread and water before them, and to send them away unharmed ( 2 Kings 6:22 ). "Punish your enemy by benefiting him," say the Arabs, though they are far from practising the injunction; "Sweet words break the bones;" "Bread and salt humble even a robber," say the Russians.