Commentaries:
Adam Clarke
For that ye ought to say - ̔· Instead of saying, or instead of which ye should say,
If the Lord will, we shall live - I think St. James had another example from the rabbins in view, which is produced by Drusius, Gregory, Cartwright, and Schoettgen, on this clause: "The bride went up to her chamber, not knowing what was to befall her there." On which there is this comment: "No man should ever say that he will do this or that, without the condition If God Will. A certain man said, ' To-morrow shall I sit with my bride in my chamber, and there shall rejoice with her.' To which some standing by said, im gozer hashshem , ' If the Lord will.' To which he answered, ' Whether the Lord will or not, to-morrow will I sit with my bride in my chamber.' He did so; he went with his bride into his chamber, and at night they lay down; but they both died, antequam illam cognosceret ." It is not improbable that St. James refers to this case, as he uses the same phraseology.
On this subject I shall quote another passage which I read when a schoolboy, and which even then taught me a lesson of caution and of respect for the providence of God. It may be found in Lucian, in the piece entitled, , , c. 6: , , ̔ ̔, ̔, · , , ' ̔ , · , ̔ . "A man was invited by one of his friends to come the next day to supper. I will certainly come, said he. In the mean time a tile fell from a house, I knew not who threw it, and killed him. I therefore laughed at him for not fulfilling his engagement." It is often said Fas est et ab hoste doceri , " we should learn even from our enemies." Take heed, Christian, that this heathen buffoon laugh thee not out of countenance.
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