I have followed the discussion with much interest.

As to the fool being compared to a dog returning to his vomit (Proverbs 26:11): I wonder whether the text also might be talking about hamartology (teaching about sin). Dogs are classified as unclean animals (Leviticus 11:27). Wild dogs were feeding on dead bodies (2 Kings 9:35-36),just to mention one example. The fool could be said to vomit scoffing (Proverbs 1:13), hatred and slander (Proverbs 10:18), contempt to his mother (Proverbs 15:20), hot anger (Proverbs 29:11) and other sinful utterances and habits. See also Matthew 15:19.

The message could be: As the wild dogs are returning to their vomit and eating it over and over again, so the fool is repeating his sins over and over again. The fool has become addicted to his sinful way of living. He is in need of salvation and reformation. In fact, he is invited to change his ways (Proverbs 1:20-23).

There is hope to uttermost sinful and unclean sinners, such as the malefactor crucified with Christ (Luke 23:43) or even the two men possessed with demons living in tombs (Matthew 8:28). We are also reminded of the tax collector who said: God be merciful to me a sinner (Luke 18:13). This leaves us all with hope.

Winfried Stolpmann

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