Chapter seven brings attention again to the adulterous woman, the fourth time since chapter two. After another warning and encouragement for his son to keep Solomon’s instruction, including a reference to binding them to himself as with the Law in Deuteronomy 6:8, Solomon spent the rest of the chapter telling a story of a young man who did not pay attention. Whether the story was a true account or a parable is unknown, though he said that he saw the events through his window.
The young man that Solomon saw from his window was walking near the woman’s house, possibly hoping for a glance at her, when she came out and grabbed him (Proverbs 7:6-10). Solomon described her as wearing the clothes of a prostitute (Proverbs 7:11-15). Though she was technically not one, she was well-known in the marketplace for seducing young men. She had apparently just made a voluntary offering at the Temple, so she had a feast waiting for them at home. Her bedroom had the best Egyptian sheets and fragrances (Proverbs 7:16-20). She was ready to have him all night. In case he was unsure if it was safe, she assured him that her husband was on a business trip for at least a few days, if not a couple of weeks, so no one would catch them.
“She persuaded him with persuasive words,” and Solomon likened the young man to an animal that had just stepped into a trap and was about to be pierced and killed (Proverbs 7:21-27). Even if he was not executed for adultery under the Law, his life was over. She could hold this over him, or he would always fear of being found out. His morals had been corrupted; she had killed him spiritually.
