Proverbs Study Guide Winter 2013 Eric P.

Jobe Introduction The Book of Proverbs comprises a broad and loose collections of sayings regarding the acquisition of wisdom and the practical application of wisdom to daily life. The term "proverbs" m!"#l$m derives from the Hebrew root M!L, which means "to be like." The basic idea of a proverb, then, is a comparison of two ideas wherein the wise, righteous way of life is highlighted. This comparison lends itself very well to the parallelistic form of Hebrew poetry, as we have already covered. While many of the proverbs have been attributed to certain figures such as Solomon, Agur, or Lemuel, it is impossible to know exactly their real origins. Structure1 1:1-9:18 10:1-22:16 22:17-24:22 24:23-34 25:1-29:27 30:1-14 30:15-33 31:1-9 31:10-31 Themes ! Wisdom vs. Folly ! Integrity, good reputation ! Righteousness vs. Wickedness ! The Fear of the Lord ! Sexual/Gender Ethics ! Controlling the Passions ! Authority ! Money Matters Introduction to Lady Wisdom First Collection of Solomonic Proverbs Sayings of the Wise Appendix to Sayings of the Wise Second Collection of Solomonic Proverbs Sayings of Agur son of Jakeh from Massa Misc. Proverbs Sayings of Lemuel, King of Massa, which his mother taught him The Virtuous Wife

1. Adapted from James L. Crenshaw, Old Testament Wisdom: An Introduction, 3rd ed. (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press), 2010, 66
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Literary Forms of the Proverbs2 ! Instructions - 1-9, 22-24. Egyptian origin? ! Admonitions - "Guard your heart" 3:3-5, 9-10; 4:21-22, 23; 23:10-11; 31:8-9 ! Numerical Sayings: "Three things are too amazing, four that I.." Prov. 30:15b-16, 18-17, 21-31; 6:16-19; 26:24-25; Job 5:19-22; Eccl. 7:16-17; Amos 1-2; Sir 23:16-17 ! "Better than" sayings - Prov 12:9; 15:16-17; 16:8; Eccl 4:3, 6; Sir 40-19-26 ! Comparative sayings - "For as x, so y" 26:11, 21, 23; 25:28; 30:33 ! Abomination sayings - 11:1, 20; 15:8-9 ! Beatitudes - Ps 1:1; 32:1-2l 112:1-2, Prov 8:32, 34; 29:18, Sir 14:1-2 ! Yahweh Sayings - Prov 1:7; 31:30; 15-16; 21:1-31 ! Contrary proverbs - "Do this, not that" 26:4-5 Semantics of Foolishness3 1. pet$ - the nave, simple-minded, gullible 2. k!s$l - careless, shameless, stupid 3. %!w$l - careless in speech, obstinate 4. s#k#l - one who engages in folly, madness 5. b#&#r - one who is brutish, primitive, crude 6. n#b#l - one who is dishonorable, contemptuous 7. h'l(l - acting like a madman, boastful 8. l() - a scoffer, scorner, one who derides, mocks, is overly opinionated, presumptuous Study Question The above section on themes in Proverbs has been intentionally left without any explanation or further elaboration. Pick at least one of these and mine the Book of Proverbs for a comprehensive description of that theme. Describe each aspect of that theme and provide a few examples of each example.

2. Adapted from T. Hildebrandt, "Proverbs, Genre of" in Dictionary of the Old Testament: Wisdom, Poetry & Writings, ed. Tremper Longman III, Peter Enns (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic) 2008, 534. 3. Adapted from James L. Crenshaw, Old Testament Wisdom: an Introduction, 3rd ed. (Louisville: Westminster John Knox) 2010, 74.
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