Proverbs 25:24 (ESV)
It is better to live in a corner of the housetop
than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.
This is, in essence, the same proverb found here:
Proverbs 21:9 (ESV)
It is better to live in a corner of the housetop
than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.
Proverbs 21:19 (ESV)
19 It is better to live in a desert land
than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman.
All three proverbs tell us about the difficulty of living in the same residence with a women who is contentious, vexing or a difficult spouse. I say spouse because even though the context is speaking of a women, the point and principle of the proverb is that a person who is contentious is hard to live with, despite the gender. (We ought to remember, as well, in Proverbs a “woman” is often a personification of Lady Folly. So, Solomon is telling us that this “woman” is like living with someone obsessed with “folly.”) Although there are many things spoken in proverbs about conflict and how to resolve it, "avoidance" is certainly one response. We tend to think "avoiding" conflict is not acceptable. We are told to face our fears and our problems and not run from them. However, Solomon disagrees (and, remember, he did have 700 wives and concubines!). Solomon tells us that when dealing with difficult people (a person locked into Folly), going to the roof (or, desert in 21:19) is an acceptable option. It won't change the contentious person but it will make sure we don't further exasperate the situation. Solomon tells us in Proverbs 15:1 that a soft answer turns away wrath. But, in this proverb it is not a soft answer he promotes, it is no answer. Walking away and finding a place another person can't confront you is an acceptable, wise and Godly response to conflict. It shouldn't be the sole response. But, it is an optional, acceptable and wise response.
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