Where no wood is, [there] the fire goeth out,.... Or "woods" (h); where there is a large quantity of wood or fuel, the fire is kept up; but where there is little, scarce any or none at all, it goes out of course;
So where [there is] no talebearer, the strife ceaseth; or is silent (i): men cease to quarrel one with another; they hold their peace and are silent, when there are none to bring tales from one to another, or any whisperer or backbiter to suggest evil things of each other; or when such are discouraged on both sides, and their tales are not listened to; or when they are detected and thrust out of doors, as they deserve, then strife subsides, and peace ensues. Contention is like a fire, the flame of which is blown up by talebearers and whisperers, who are as incendiaries, and as such are to be treated.
(h) באפס עצים "deficientibus lignis", Junius Tremellius, Piscator "in deficientia lignorum", Michaelis; "quum expirarunt ligna", Schultens. (i) ישתק "silebit", Pagninus, Montanus, Mercerus, Gejerus; "silet", Junius Tremellius, Piscator "consilescit", Cocceius, Schultens.
Where no wood is, [there] the fire goeth out,.... Or "woods" (h); where there is a large quantity of wood or fuel, the fire is kept up; but where there is little, scarce any or none at all, it goes out of course;
So where [there is] no talebearer, the strife ceaseth; or is silent (i): men cease to quarrel one with another; they hold their peace and are silent, when there are none to bring tales from one to another, or any whisperer or backbiter to suggest evil things of each other; or when such are discouraged on both sides, and their tales are not listened to; or when they are detected and thrust out of doors, as they deserve, then strife subsides, and peace ensues. Contention is like a fire, the flame of which is blown up by talebearers and whisperers, who are as incendiaries, and as such are to be treated.
(h) באפס עצים "deficientibus lignis", Junius Tremellius, Piscator "in deficientia lignorum", Michaelis; "quum expirarunt ligna", Schultens. (i) ישתק "silebit", Pagninus, Montanus, Mercerus, Gejerus; "silet", Junius Tremellius, Piscator "consilescit", Cocceius, Schultens.