The first section of verses in this chapter shows how parents can pass along the love of wisdom, mainly by personal influence. Note how positive Solomon's instruction is. Rather than saying, "Don't do this and that!"which he does elsewhere (cf. 3:27-31), he wanted his sons to realize that by cooperating with his counsel they could find the best life possible. This father structured formal times of instruction for his sons. His is not a bad example for other fathers to follow.
The Hebrew word translated "instruction"(v. 2) can also mean "law"(cf. 3:1). Normally those who keep God's commandments live (v. 4), but there are exceptions.58Nonetheless this is good motivation. One writer paraphrased verse 7a as follows: "What it takes is not brains or opportunity, but decision. Do you want it? Come and get it."59The second half of this verse probably means, "Be willing to part with anything else you may have to get understanding."
