Discovery BoxProverbs 23:35 
Context23:35 You will say, 1 “They have struck me, but I am not harmed!
They beat me, but I did not know it! 2
When will I awake? I will look for another drink.” 3
Proverbs 27:10
Context27:10 Do not forsake your friend and your father’s friend,
and do not enter your brother’s house in the day of your disaster;
a neighbor nearby is better than a brother far away. 4
1 tn The phrase “You will say” is supplied in the translation to make it clear that the drunkard is now speaking.
2 sn The line describes how one who is intoxicated does not feel the pain, even though beaten by others. He does not even remember it.
3 tn The last line has only “I will add I will seek it again.” The use of אוֹסִיף (’osif) signals a verbal hendiadys with the next verb: “I will again seek it.” In this context the suffix on the verb refers to the wine – the drunkard wants to go and get another drink.
4 sn The meaning of the verse is very difficult, although the translation is rather straightforward. It may simply be saying that people should retain family relationships but will discover that a friend who is available is better than a relative who is not. But C. H. Toy thinks that the verse is made up of three lines that have no connection: 10a instructs people to maintain relationships, 10b says not to go to a brother’s house [only?] when disaster strikes, and 10c observes that a nearby friend is better than a far-away relative. C. H. Toy suggests a connection may have been there, but has been lost (Proverbs [ICC], 485-86). The conflict between 17:17 and 10b may be another example of presenting two sides of the issue, a fairly frequent occurrence in the book of Proverbs.
