Covenant Language Covenant Language (3):(3):

WisdomWisdom

ProverbsProverbs

ImagineImagine……

How do we enter Proverbs?How do we enter Proverbs?

► We need to think in terms of the process of We need to think in terms of the process of developing a moral lifestyle: education.developing a moral lifestyle: education.

► The word “proverb” is from a Latin term The word “proverb” is from a Latin term which means “for a verb.” In other words, which means “for a verb.” In other words, these are “words” which take the place of these are “words” which take the place of “more words,” or concise distillations of “more words,” or concise distillations of wisdom compacted into a few phrases.wisdom compacted into a few phrases.

► The worldview of Genesis and Exodus is The worldview of Genesis and Exodus is assumed, though never explicitly stated.assumed, though never explicitly stated.

► We must understand the power of Hebrew We must understand the power of Hebrew poetry, especially antithetic parallelism, to poetry, especially antithetic parallelism, to summarize key moral concepts.summarize key moral concepts.

► We must pay attention to the careful We must pay attention to the careful development of the collection in its final form.development of the collection in its final form.

Proverbs OverviewProverbs Overview

► Prologue: the purpose of Proverbs (1:1-7)Prologue: the purpose of Proverbs (1:1-7)► Lectures on Wisdom & Folly (1:8-9:18)Lectures on Wisdom & Folly (1:8-9:18)► Collections of Proverbs: (10:1-31:9)Collections of Proverbs: (10:1-31:9)

““The Proverbs of Solomon” (10:1-22:16)The Proverbs of Solomon” (10:1-22:16) ““Sayings of the Wise” (22:17-24:22)Sayings of the Wise” (22:17-24:22) ““More Sayings of the Wise” (24:23-34)More Sayings of the Wise” (24:23-34) ““More Proverbs of Solomon” (25:1-29:27)More Proverbs of Solomon” (25:1-29:27) ““The Sayings of Agur” (30:1-23)The Sayings of Agur” (30:1-23) ““The Sayings of King Lemuel” (31:1-9)The Sayings of King Lemuel” (31:1-9)

► Epilogue: “The Wife of Noble Character” Epilogue: “The Wife of Noble Character” (31:10-31)(31:10-31)

ProloguePrologueProverbs 1:1-7

The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:

For learning about wisdom and instruction, for understanding words of insight, for gaining instruction in wise dealing, righteousness, justice, and equity; to teach shrewdness to the simple, knowledge and prudence to the young— let the wise also hear and gain in learning, and the discerning acquire skill, to understand a proverb and a figure, the words of the wise and their riddles.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Lectures on Wisdom & FollyLectures on Wisdom & Folly1:8-9:181:8-9:18

► Both “Wisdom” & “Folly” are feminine nouns in Both “Wisdom” & “Folly” are feminine nouns in the Hebrew language.the Hebrew language.

► Thus the use of the literary device, “My son, Thus the use of the literary device, “My son, listen to my words,” is intentional. All listen to my words,” is intentional. All readers/hearers are the “son” (masculine) who readers/hearers are the “son” (masculine) who is courted by two women (feminine “Wisdom” is courted by two women (feminine “Wisdom” & “Folly”). At the end of these lectures all must & “Folly”). At the end of these lectures all must choose which woman to be with. Wisdom choose which woman to be with. Wisdom brings stability and well-being; Folly offers brings stability and well-being; Folly offers quick experiences and tragic ends.quick experiences and tragic ends.

► The “lectures” are carefully planned & written:The “lectures” are carefully planned & written:

Lectures on Wisdom & FollyLectures on Wisdom & Folly► Enticement to Perverse Ways (1:8-19)Enticement to Perverse Ways (1:8-19)►Wisdom’s Call (1:20-33)Wisdom’s Call (1:20-33)

Benefits of Wisdom (2:1-22) [22 poetic lines]Benefits of Wisdom (2:1-22) [22 poetic lines] Benefits & Specific Instructions (3:1-20) [20]Benefits & Specific Instructions (3:1-20) [20] Benefits & Specific Instructions (3:21-35) [15]Benefits & Specific Instructions (3:21-35) [15] Benefits of Wisdom (4:1-27) [27]Benefits of Wisdom (4:1-27) [27]

Warning against Adultery (5:1-23) [23]Warning against Adultery (5:1-23) [23] Warning against Perverse Ways (6:1-19) [20]Warning against Perverse Ways (6:1-19) [20] Warning against Adultery (6:20-35) [16]Warning against Adultery (6:20-35) [16] Warning against Adultery (7:1-27) [27]Warning against Adultery (7:1-27) [27]

►Wisdom’s Call (8:1-36)Wisdom’s Call (8:1-36)►Wisdom’s Invitation & Folly’s Enticement Wisdom’s Invitation & Folly’s Enticement

(9:1-18)(9:1-18)

[42]

[42]

[43]

[43]

[84]

[86]

The Proverbs of SolomonThe Proverbs of Solomon10:1-22:1610:1-22:16

► 375 parallelism couplets expressing summary points 375 parallelism couplets expressing summary points of wisdomof wisdom

► There are no numerals in the Hebrew language. There are no numerals in the Hebrew language. Numbers are indicated by use of the letters of the Numbers are indicated by use of the letters of the alphabet which represent certain values. The letters alphabet which represent certain values. The letters in Solomon’s name have numerical values that add in Solomon’s name have numerical values that add up to 375.up to 375.

► The first 180 proverbs in this collection are virtually The first 180 proverbs in this collection are virtually all “antithetic;” the last 195 are somewhat more all “antithetic;” the last 195 are somewhat more varied in parallelistic form.varied in parallelistic form.

► These may have been created for banquet These may have been created for banquet entertainment or recorded as official statements of entertainment or recorded as official statements of Solomon in the context of his executive legislation.Solomon in the context of his executive legislation.

► They might also have been published for training the They might also have been published for training the young among the royal families in preparation for young among the royal families in preparation for government duties.government duties.

Sayings of the WiseSayings of the Wise22:17-24:22 22:17-24:22 && 24:23-34 24:23-34

► After a brief introduction (22:17-21) there are After a brief introduction (22:17-21) there are 30 “wise sayings” about social relationships.30 “wise sayings” about social relationships.

► An Egyptian collection called “The Wisdom of An Egyptian collection called “The Wisdom of Amenemopet,” dated at about 1000 B.C. (about Amenemopet,” dated at about 1000 B.C. (about the time of Solomon), is nearly parallel in the time of Solomon), is nearly parallel in structure & content. It also has 30 brief “wise structure & content. It also has 30 brief “wise sayings,” of which 10 are virtually identical to sayings,” of which 10 are virtually identical to 10 of these “sayings.” Scholars differ as to 10 of these “sayings.” Scholars differ as to which came first, but there seems to be some which came first, but there seems to be some interaction between the sources behind both interaction between the sources behind both collections.collections.

► The fragment of 5 “More Sayings of the Wise” The fragment of 5 “More Sayings of the Wise” (24:23-34) seem related to the preceding (24:23-34) seem related to the preceding collection, but little else is known about these.collection, but little else is known about these.

More Proverbs of SolomonMore Proverbs of Solomon25:1-29:2725:1-29:27

► The title to this collection (25:1) indicates that The title to this collection (25:1) indicates that “the men of Hezekiah” gathered and published “the men of Hezekiah” gathered and published these. This would be a little more than two these. This would be a little more than two hundred years after Solomon, during a time of hundred years after Solomon, during a time of reform and strong religious resurgence in reform and strong religious resurgence in Judah.Judah.

► Though similar to the first collection of Though similar to the first collection of Solomon-proverbs, there is more diversity of Solomon-proverbs, there is more diversity of subject matter and literary form among these.subject matter and literary form among these.

►Most are still antithetic parallelism single-Most are still antithetic parallelism single-couplets, but there are more multiple-line couplets, but there are more multiple-line proverbs among them.proverbs among them.

Sayings of Agur & King LemuelSayings of Agur & King Lemuel30:1-2330:1-23 & & 31:1-931:1-9

► We don’t know who these people were.We don’t know who these people were.► Some speculate they were from the Some speculate they were from the

Ishmaelite tribe of Massa (Genesis 25:14) Ishmaelite tribe of Massa (Genesis 25:14) and entered Israelite culture through traders and entered Israelite culture through traders from Edom.from Edom.

► The form of these sayings is strikingly The form of these sayings is strikingly different from others in the Proverbs different from others in the Proverbs collection, particularly the use of numbers collection, particularly the use of numbers for identifying extremes or adding emphasis.for identifying extremes or adding emphasis.

► The “Agur” reflections are on general life The “Agur” reflections are on general life situations, while the brief “King Lemuel” situations, while the brief “King Lemuel” notes focus more specifically on the notes focus more specifically on the necessary character of good rulers.necessary character of good rulers.

Epilogue: “Wife of Noble Epilogue: “Wife of Noble Character”Character”

31:10-3131:10-31► An acrostic poem:An acrostic poem:

The beginning letter of each successive couplet The beginning letter of each successive couplet follows the 22-letters of the Hebrew alphabet in follows the 22-letters of the Hebrew alphabet in sequence. This technique communicates sequence. This technique communicates completeness of an idea (everything from A-Z).completeness of an idea (everything from A-Z).

►What is the purpose?What is the purpose? Describe the ideal woman/wife?Describe the ideal woman/wife? Identify the appropriate tasks of a homemaker?Identify the appropriate tasks of a homemaker?

► Think back to the opening “lectures:”Think back to the opening “lectures:” There we were asked to choose a “wife”There we were asked to choose a “wife” If we chose “Wisdom,” chapters 10-30 described If we chose “Wisdom,” chapters 10-30 described

the furnishings and lifestyle in our marriage the furnishings and lifestyle in our marriage homehome

This concluding poem summarizes the good life This concluding poem summarizes the good life created by Wisdomcreated by Wisdom

One more note on “Wisdom”One more note on “Wisdom”

► In its personification of Wisdom, Proverbs In its personification of Wisdom, Proverbs 8 includes a section that makes “Wisdom” 8 includes a section that makes “Wisdom” the creative partner of Yahweh (22-31).the creative partner of Yahweh (22-31).

►Correlating this to the Prologue of John Correlating this to the Prologue of John (1:1-18) where “The Word” is the creative (1:1-18) where “The Word” is the creative agent of God, some Christian theologians agent of God, some Christian theologians have interpreted the “Wisdom” of have interpreted the “Wisdom” of Proverbs 8 as a pre-incarnate Proverbs 8 as a pre-incarnate manifestation of the second person of the manifestation of the second person of the Trinity.Trinity.