a strange woman. The so-called “strange woman” (or “foreign woman”) is mentioned some ten times in Proverbs. The emphasis, however, is not on the fact that she was foreign born, but instead had not been instructed in the laws of God, as had the women of Israel, and so often tended to practice idolatrous promiscuity. She was also called a “foolish woman” (Proverbs 9:13), and is actually personified as “the foolish” or “folly,” in contrast to “wisdom.”

O ye children. It is interesting that Solomon here warned his daughters, as well as his son, against the influence of these pagan women. Solomon's kingdom was extensive and included many pagan tribes with their alien religions and cultures. The men of these tribes had been subjugated and put to labor by the Israelites, so it is not surprising that their women frequently desired to be wives, or even concubines, to Israelite men, and so would make themselves as seductively attractive to them as they could. Such lifestyles might even become a temptation to Israelite girls.

wife of thy youth. Whether written by David or Solomon, this chapter gives strong counsel to young men against fornication and adultery, as well as polygamy. Both David and Solomon had many wives, and God used them anyway, but God's intended purpose in creating men and women involved lifelong commitment between one husband and one wife (Matthew 19:3-9). It is significant that the marriages and family lives of both David and Solomon, as well as Rehoboam (Solomon's son) were tragic in many ways, largely because of their ignoring this primeval commandment (Genesis 2:24, 25).

bosom of a stranger. It seems unlikely that Solomon could have written such words to his son if he himself were occupied with the many strange women of his later reign. This fact implies that his “sermons” in Proverbs were written before he acquired all these foreign wives. They were evidently added later for reasons of politics and prestige, but many indications suggest that his only real love was “the wife of his youth” (Proverbs 5:18), and that was Naamah, the mother of Rehoboam (1 Kings 14:21). See Introduction to Song of Solomon.