Commentaire de citation sur Les Proverbes 6:27

(4) AND THEIR FIRE PANS. With which to rake coals, as it is written (Isa. 30:14), "to scoop coals from a brazier," and (Prov. 6:27), "can a man rake embers into his bosom."

ומחתתיו AND ITS FIRE-PANS — These had a cavity to hold things so that the coals might be taken in them from the altar in order to carry them on to the inner altar for the incense. And because of their use for raking the coals into them (חתיה) they were called מחתות. This word is of the same root and meaning as the verb in, (Isaiah 30:14) “לחתות fire from the fire-place,” which has the meaning of drawing fire from its place. Similar is, (Proverbs 6:27) “Can a man rake (היחתה) fire into his bosom?”

Bahya writes further that King Solomon, of blessed memory, said. “Can a man rake embers into his bosom without burning his clothes?” [Proverbs, 6:27]. This means, whoever sweeps the fire into his lap and his clothes will not be burned?