The Virtuous Wife (verse 27)

Proverbs 31:27 NKJV
She watches over the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
She sees to it that no-one in her household goes without food, no-one is treated unfairly, no-one goes without warm garments...
Idle: (of a person) avoiding work; lazy, and, without purpose or effect; pointless, and, spend time doing nothing. (Google).

Do not covet

Exodus 20:17 "You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's. NKJV

Deuteronomy 5:21 'You shall not covet your neighbor's wife; and you shall not desire your neighbor's house, his field, his male servant, his female servant, his ox, his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's. NKJV

Covet: yearn to possess (something, especially something belonging to another). (Google).

The children of God knew these laws. 

If we now look at the Book of Joshua in the Bible we see that Achan admits to coveting a Babylonian item and silver and gold. 

The instruction for the beautiful Babylonian garment was to abstain from it so that God's child did not become accursed and so that Israel did not become accursed. Joshua 6:18.

Accused: under a curse. (Google)

The instruction for the silver and gold was that it was consecrated to the LORD; these items were to come into the treasury of the LORD.

Achan coveted something accursed, and something of the LORD's. 

He knew that he had done wrong, as he hid it - buried it - kept it secret. 

So Achan not only coveted something accursed (which was going to affect his whole nation), he also coveted something that belonged to God.

So who did it affect? 

• Himself.
• His family.
• His livelihood.
• His nation. 

The Virtuous Wife (verse 26)

Proverbs 31:26
She opens her mouth with wisdom,
And on her tongue is the law of kindness.

She is wise, but not in her own wisdom. 
Wisdom comes from the LORD. Proverbs Chapters 2-3. 

She speaks kindness.

 

The Virtuous Wife (verse 25)

Proverbs 31:25 NKJV

Strength and honor are her clothing;
She shall rejoice in time to come. 

She wears strength and honor like a garment.

Because of this, she will not be ashamed in time to come.

The Virtuous Wife (verse 24)

Proverbs 31:24 NKJV
She makes linen garments and sells them,

And supplies sashes for the merchants.

The Virtuous Wife (verse 23)

Proverbs 31:23 NKJV
Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
The gates were important places. 

• They were places of watching and being watched. 
• People would come and go through the gates of cities and towns constantly. 
• It was a place where the elders would gather.
• Transactions, oath taking and/or judging would often be done at the gates in front of the elders (as witnesses).   

Her husband is known to others when he goes and sits among the elders of the land. He is known in the community. 

The Virtuous Wife (verse 22)

Proverbs 31:22 NKJV
She makes tapestry for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.

She does not sit idle. Idle: (of a person) avoiding work; lazy, and, without purpose or effect; pointless. (Google).