Proverbs 7:9 Commentary and Bible Study

A very interesting literary device is employed by Solomon here: ‘In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night.’ There is no mistranslation there, it is quite clear that he is saying three things at once. Don't forget this is entirely a parable but it also reflects all the literary devices of Solomon in all his poetic literature. ‘In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night’ suggests that this event is going to take place repeatedly. The first time is in twilight - he is just wandering about and he is trapped. The next time he goes and he does this in the evening. Now he has been trapped, he is going the second time to the prostitute, when he does so; it is of his own intention. It is now a planned visit. And the third time he goes is in the night, which suggests that now he is trapped, now he is visiting regularly. He has fallen for this woman who has seduced him but, of course, it is appropriate to do these things at night. These are secret sins and Solomon traces a little into the future in the way in which he expresses it.