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<\/a><\/p>\nThe second half of the book of Proverbs makes quite clear the international character of wisdom literature, and how it was exchanged between countries, or at least between their rulers., for in chapter 30 we have the wisdom of Agur, and in chapter 31 an otherwise unknown king of Massa shows up.\u00a0 \u00a0What we do know about Solomon\u2019s court is that he did have international relationships (remember the story about the queen of Sheba).\u00a0 \u00a0That story in 1 Kings 10 has led to all sorts of conjectures including, Solomon had a child with her, and somehow allowed her son to cart off the ark of the covenant to Ethiopia\u2013 the latter part being a truly non-starter of a legend.<\/p>\n
Prov. 16 begins with an interesting aphorism\u2014\u201cHumans order their own thoughts, but from the Lord is the tongue\u2019s articulation.\u201d\u00a0 What is being said here is that God guides or provides fitting speech for important occasions.\u00a0 \u00a0This is followed by one of the more familiar proverbs of all \u201cTurn over your deeds to the Lord, that your plans may have a firm foundation\u2019.\u00a0 \u00a0This is not far from \u2018man proposes, but God disposes\u2019.\u00a0 Or vs. 9 on a similar theme\u2013\u2018A person\u2019s heart may plan his way, but the Lord will make his step secure\/firm\u2019.<\/p>\n
Vs. 18 is equally famous for the phrase \u2018pride goes before a fall (Alter has a breakdown), and before stumbling, haughtiness\u2019.<\/p>\n
Vs. 24 instructs \u2018Pleasant sayings are a honeycomb, sweet to the palate and healing to the bones\u2019.<\/p>\n
Vs. 31\u2013 \u2018In the lap the lot is cast\/ but from the Lord is all the disposing.\u2019\u00a0 \u00a0 In short fortunate telling is no substitute for the leading of God.<\/p>\n
It is characteristics of proverbs to contrast opposites\u2013 the opposite of the wise man is the fool, the opposite of the righteous man is the wicked, the opposite of the industrious person is the sluggard or sloth.\u00a0 It is quite clear what qualities are being praised and which condemned.\u00a0 But it is when a proverb links good behavior with good outcomes from God, one is assuming a moral order to that world. And yet the same groups of proverbs also complain about the plight of the poor, the hungry, the ill, and disabled, so the author knows that it is not always the case that \u2018the good guys have good outcomes\u2019 and vice versa for the wicked.\u00a0 However early wisdom literature as in Proverbs or Ecclesiastes does not yet have a robust view of the afterlife in any strictly positive sense like going to heaven, which makes clear that at least some of this literature goes back to the pre-exilic monarchy it would seem. \u2018<\/p>\n
Another regular theme is God is the judge, and he weighs human hearts\u2014 for instance 17.3\u2013\u201cSilver has a crucible, gold a kiln, and the Lord tries\/tests human hearts\u2019.<\/p>\n
Another familiar one is 17.17\u2013\u2018At all times a companion is loving, and a brother was born for [the time of] trouble.\u2019<\/p>\n
17.22- \u2018A joyful heart can effect a cure, but a maimed spirit dries up the bones.\u2019<\/p>\n
18.22\u2013 \u2018He who finds a wife, finds a good thing\/and wins favor from the Lord.\u2019\u00a0 This saying should have been the Intro to wife discourse in Prov. 31 and it foreshadows the praise there.<\/p>\n
The translation of 18.24 is much debated. Is it parallel construction or antithetical construction?\u00a0 \u2018There is a companion one keeps company with\/ but there is a friend closer than a brother.\u2019\u00a0 The contrast makes better sense.\u00a0 And it was indeed often the case that friends, like David and Jonathan, were often closer than two family members, especially if the brothers were from different mothers\u2013 like Isaac and Ishmael.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The second half of the book of Proverbs makes quite clear the international character of wisdom literature, and how it was exchanged between countries, or at least between their rulers., for in chapter 30 we have the wisdom of Agur, and in chapter 31 an otherwise unknown king of Massa shows up.\u00a0 \u00a0What we do […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":91,"featured_media":71032,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[15523],"class_list":["post-71176","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-what-kind-of-fool-do-you-think-i-am"],"yoast_head":"\n
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