Verse 27. Goats' milk enough for thy food ] ûmjll lelachmecha, "to thy bread;" for they ate the bread and supped the milk to assist mastication, and help deglutition. And it seems that bread, with goats' milk, was the general article of food for the master and his family; and for the servant maids who assisted in the household work, and performed the operations required in the dairy.
The reader who wishes to see these maxims detailed and illustrated at large, may consult the writers De Re Rustica, where he will find much curious information.
Ver. 27. And [thou shalt have] goats’ milk enough for thy food , etc.] The word for “goats”, in ( Proverbs 27:26), signifies he goats, which were sold to buyfields, pay servants or rent, or purchase the necessaries of life; and this here signifies she goats, which were kept for their milk; and which was daily used for food in some countries, and is still in use for the same purpose in some parts of our kingdoms; and in medicine it has been preferred by some physicians above others, next to the milk of women f768 : and the diligenthusbandman is promised not only plenty of this his own eating, at least a sufficiency of it, but for his family; for the food of thy household ; his wife and children: and [for] maintenance for thy maidens : or “the lives” of them, on which they should live; for, though menservants might require strongmeat yet the maidens might live upon milk; besides, Athenaeus speaks of most delicious cheese made of goats’ milk, called “tromilicus”. The design of the whole is to show that a man diligent in his business shall have a sufficiency for himself and his family; and, though it may be but the meaner sort of food and clothing he may get, yet, having food and raiment, he should therewith be content.
Verses 23-27 - We ought to have some business to do in this world, and not to live in idleness, and not to meddle with what we do not understand. We must be diligent and take pains. Let us do what we can, still the world cannot be secured to us, therefore we must choose a more lasting portion; but by the blessing of God upon our honest labours, we may expect to enjo as much of earthly blessings as is good for us __________________________________________________________________
