The way of a man with a maiden. This is the way of an adulteress

[tonychanyt]

Proverbs 30:

18 There are three things too wonderful for me, four that I cannot understand:

The three-and-four expression is idiomatic, not arithmetic. A similar expression is in
Amos 1:3 This is what the LORD says: "For three sins of Damascus, even for four, I will not relent.

19 the way of an eagle in the sky,
the way of a snake on a rock,
the way of a ship at sea,
and the way of a man with a maiden.

Examine the following pattern:

the way of an eagle in the sky,
the way of a snake on a rock,
the way of a ship at sea,
the way of a man with a maiden.

The actors and movers are eagle, snake, ship, and man.
The sky, rock, sea, and maiden are passive backgrounds.

20 This is the way of an adulteress:
She eats and wipes her mouth
and says, ‘I have done nothing wrong.’

The adulteress eats and wipes. She is an actor like the eagle, snake, ship, and man.

Is the adulterous woman a description of the maiden?

No. The maiden contrasts the adulteress.

 

[Ted-01]

Really enjoyed this one Tony!

I do think that there might be some more [philosophic(?) layers] to this, and the whole book of Proverbs. But I'm content to leave your insights stand alone, as it's rather good.