“An analogy to this is American folk wisdom which, although often dominated by Christian morality and presuppositions, contains few allusions to the Bible or Christian theology.” (Garrett)Ĭ. Proverbs rarely quotes other parts of the Hebrew Scriptures, such as the torah or law. A proverb is not a magical formula, bringing wisdom and blessing by incantation: ‘Like a lame man’s legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools’ (Prov.
We need no telling that a maxim like ‘Many hands make light work’ is not the last word on the subject, since ‘Too many cooks spoil the broth.’” (Kidner) But nobody objects to this in secular sayings, for the very form demands a sweeping statement and looks for a hearer with his wits about him.
“Naturally generalize, as a proverb must, and may therefore be charged with making life too tidy to be true. Proverbs by design lays out pointed observations, meant to be memorized and pondered, not always intended to be applied ‘across the board’ to every situation without qualification.” (Phillips) They are not failed prophecies or systematic theologies. “Proverbs are wonderfully successful at being what they are: proverbs. The proverbs: Proverbs teach wisdom through short points and principles but should not be regarded as “laws” or even universal promises. Egyptian jewels, as at the Exodus, have been re-set to their advantage by Israelite workmen and put to finer use.” (Kidner)ī. “If Proverbs is the borrower here, the borrowing is not slavish but free and creative. There is debate as to who borrowed whom, but most scholars believe Amenemope is earlier. There are several sections of Proverbs (Proverbs 22:17-23:14 is an example) that seem to be borrowed from The Teaching of Amenemope, an ancient Egyptian writing. As Ross notes, “The genre of wisdom literature was common in the ancient world, and a copious amount of material comes from ancient Egypt.” Some of these works are titled: Neighboring kingdoms had their own collections of wisdom literature, and in some places, there are significant similarities to these writings. Proverbs is also unique in its connection with the secular literature of its time. It is unique in its theology, being concerned with practical life wisdom more than ideas about God and His work of salvation. It is unique in its structure, being mostly a collection of individual statements without much context or organization by topic. Though part of a larger body of wisdom literature that includes Job, Psalms, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon, the Book of Proverbs is unique. The proverbs of Solomon: The Book of Proverbs is a collection of practical life wisdom given mostly in short, memorable statements. The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:Ī. Proverbs 1 – Wisdom’s Beginning and Call A.
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