John Gill Commentary Proverbs 2:18

"For her house inclineth unto death, And her paths unto the dead;" — Proverbs 2:18 (ASV)

For her house inclines to death
Bends, verges, and points that way; it lies in the way to death, and brings to it, and sinks into it as into a ditch; or all that are in her house, that are familiar with her, live and dwell with her, and commit wickedness with her; these incline or are liable to lose, and do lose, their name, character, and reputation, which is a death upon them; and bring diseases upon their bodies, which issue in corporeal death; or are in danger of dying by the hand of the injured husband, or the civil magistrate; and also are exposed to eternal death; or "she inclines to death, which is her house"^F24, so Aben Ezra and Kimchi; and to which the Targum agrees,

``for in the pit of death is her house:'' that is, the house she at last comes to and must dwell in, and all that are ensnared by her; see (Proverbs 5:5) (Revelation 21:8); and the second death will be the portion of the whore of Rome and all her followers, (Revelation 14:10Revelation 14:11) (17:8) (19:20);

and her paths to the dead;
that is, her evil ways in which she walks, and into which she draws others to join with her; these lead both her and them to the "damned"^F25 in hell, to keep company with them, and be punished as they are:

the word "rephaim", here used, sometimes signifies "giants", and so the Targum renders it here; and may refer to the giants of the old world, who were cut off for their debauchery and uncleanness, (Genesis 6:4Genesis 6:11Genesis 6:12); and with whom such persons shall be for ever.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F24: (hytb twm la) "ad mortem quoad domum suam", Cocceius; "ad mortem domum suam", Gejerus; "quod ad domum suam", Michaelis.
• F25: (Myapr la) "ad damnatos", Tigurine version; "ad orcinos", Schultens.