Book Of Proverbs

by Waltke, Bruce K.

• ISBN13: 9780802825452
• ISBN10: 0802825451
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2004-10-30
• Publisher: Eerdmans Pub Co

Table of Contents

General Editor's Preface	xix
Author's Preface	xxi
Abbreviations	xxvi
Introduction
Title	1	(1)
Text and Versions	1	(8)
Hebrew Texts	2	(1)
Greek Versions (LXX)	2	(3)
Other Ancient Versions	5	(2)
Conclusion	7	(2)
Structure	9	(19)
Introduction	9	(1)
Collection I: Title with Preamble (1:1-7), Prologue (1:8-8:36), and Epilogue (9:1-18)	10	(4)
Title with Preamble (1:1-7)	10	(1)
Prologue and Epilogue (1:8-9:18)	10	(1)
Prologue (1:8-8:36)	10	(1)
Epilogue (9:1-18)	11	(1)
Organization of 1:8-9:18	12	(2)
Collection II: Proverbs of Solomon (10:1-22:16)	14	(7)
Introduction	14	(1)
Sections of Collection II	15	(2)
Units of Collection II	17	(4)
Collection III: The Thirty Sayings of the Wise (22:17-24:22)	21	(3)
Collection IV: Further Sayings of the Wise (24:23-34)	24	(1)
Collection V: Solomon II (25:1-29:27)	25	(1)
Collection VI: The Sayings of Agur Son of Jakeh (30:1-33)	26	(1)
Collection VII: The Sayings of Lemuel (31:1-31)	27	(1)
Ancient Near Eastern Wisdom Literature	28	(3)
Authorship	31	(7)
Solomon	31	(5)
Agur and Lemuel	36	(1)
The Final Editor	36	(2)
Forms of Proverbs	38	(25)
Poetry	38	(7)
Terseness and Aphorisms	38	(1)
Imagery or Figures	39	(2)
Parallelism	41	(1)
Sounds and Syllables	41	(1)
Words, Phrases, and Syntax	42	(1)
Meaning of the Verset Halves	43	(2)
Poetics	45	(5)
Wisdom Genre	50	(5)
Genres in the Book of Proverbs	55	(3)
Definition of ``Proverb''	55	(2)
Proverbs and Sayings	57	(1)
Short Sayings and Long Admonitions	57	(1)
Setting	58	(5)
Setting of Composition	58	(4)
Setting of Dissemination	62	(1)
Theology	63	(70)
Introduction	64	(3)
The Theology of Proverbs and Biblical Theology	64	(1)
Proverbs and Pan-Oriental Wisdom Literature	65	(2)
God	67	(9)
Names of God	67	(1)
God as Creator	68	(1)
The Lord's Transcendence and Immanence	69	(1)
The Lord's Transcendence	69	(2)
The Lord's Immanence	71	(2)
Retribution	73	(3)
Revelation, Inspiration, and Tradition	76	(12)
Definitions of ``Wisdom'' and of ``Knowledge''	76	(2)
Revelation	78	(2)
Inspiration	80	(3)
Identification of Woman Wisdom	83	(1)
Her Persona	83	(3)
Her Reality	86	(1)
Tradition	87	(1)
Anthropology	88	(38)
Human Beings in General	89	(1)
Words for Humankind	89	(1)
Nepes (Traditionally ``Soul'')	90	(1)
Heart	90	(2)
Spirit	92	(1)
The Wise and Fools	93	(1)
Introduction: Correlative Terms	93	(1)
The Wise and Righteous	94	(1)
The Wise and Righteous and Other Correlative Terms	94	(6)
The Fear of the Lord	100	(1)
The Wise and Words	101	(2)
The Wise and Wealth	103	(1)
The Wise and Their Rewards: Life	104	(3)
Does Proverbs Promise Too Much?	107	(2)
Fools and the Wicked	109	(1)
Fools, the Wicked, and Other Correlative Terms	109	(2)
The Gullible (pett)	111	(1)
Two Words for Fool (ewil and kesil)	112	(2)
The Mocker (les)	114	(1)
The Sluggard ('asel)	114	(1)
The Senseless (hsar leb)	115	(1)
The Grave (Traditionally Sheol)	116	(1)
Male and Female	116	(1)
Man and Woman	116	(2)
Husband and Wife	118	(1)
Father and Mother	118	(1)
The Unchaste (``Strange'') Wife	119	(1)
The ``Unchaste Woman'' (issa zara)	120	(1)
The ``Outsider'' (nokriya)	121	(1)
``An Unfaithful, Apostate Wife''	122	(2)
Conclusion	124	(2)
Pedagogy	126	(1)
Christology	126	(7)
Proverbs' Enduring Relevance	126	(1)
Woman Wisdom as a Type of Jesus Christ	127	(1)
Historical Background	127	(3)
Similarities and Superiority of Jesus Christ to Woman Wisdom	130	(1)
The Superiority of Jesus Christ to Solomon's Wisdom	131	(1)
Conclusion	132	(1)
Bibliography	133	(40)
TEXT AND COMMENTARY
Collection I (1:1-9:18)	173	(274)
Title and Preamble (1:1-7)	173	(8)
Title (1:1)	173	(1)
Preamble (1:2-7)	174	(1)
Purpose and Addressees (1:2-6)	174	(1)
Summary of Purpose: Substance and Expression of Wisdom (1:2)	175	(2)
Substance of Wisdom and Addressees (1:3-5)	177	(2)
Expression of Wisdom (1:6)	179	(1)
The Book's Foundation (1:7)	180	(1)
Prologue and Epilogue (1:8-9:18)	181	(266)
Lecture 1: Exhortation to Listen and to Reject the Gang's Invitation (1:8-19)	183	(3)
A Parent's Exhortation and a Son's Adornments (1:8-9)	186	(1)
Address and Admonition (1:8)	186	(1)
Motivation (1:9)	187	(1)
Lesson: Resist the Gang's Invitation (1:10-19)	188	(1)
Introduction: Summary Statement (1:10)	189	(1)
Body: Sinners' Temptation Unfolded (1:11-14)	190	(3)
Body: The Father's Warning Unfolded (1:15-18)	193	(3)
Conclusion: The Lesson's Moral (1:19)	196	(1)
First Interlude: Wisdom's Rebuke of the Gullible (1:20-33)	197	(4)
The Setting of the Sermon (1:20-21)	201	(1)
Wisdom's Sermon (1:22-27)	202	(1)
Introductory Accusation (1:22-23)	202	(3)
Denunciation (1:24-27)	205	(4)
Wisdom's Reflection on Her Sermon (1:28-33)	209	(1)
Certainty and Finality of the Gullible's Judgment (1:28-31)	209	(3)
Conclusion: Summary of the Destinies of Fools and the Wise (1:32-33)	212	(1)
Lecture 2: Safeguard against the Wicked (2:1-22)	213	(6)
Introduction: Conditions (2:1-4)	219	(3)
Consequence: Protection (2:5-11)	222	(1)
Religious Education Leading to Divine Protection (2:5-8)	222	(5)
Ethical Education Leading to Character Protection (2:9-11)	227	(1)
The Purpose of Protection (2:12-22)	228	(1)
Deliverance from the Wicked Man (2:12-15)	228	(2)
Purpose 2: Deliverance from the Unchaste Wife (2:16-19)	230	(3)
Conclusion: Life on the Earth versus Death (2:20-22)	233	(3)
Lecture 3: The Lord's Promises and the Son's Obligations (3:1-12)	236	(4)
Introduction: Admonitions to Preserve the Father's Teaching (3:1-4)	240	(3)
Body: A Lesson in Piety: Trust, Fear, and Honor the Lord (3:5-10)	243	(5)
Conclusion: Do Not Reject the Lord's Discipline (3:11-12)	248	(2)
Lecture 4: The Value of Wisdom (3:13-35)	250	(5)
Exordium: The Value of Wisdom (3:13-26)	255	(1)
The Value of Wisdom to adam (3:13-18)	256	(4)
The Value of Wisdom to the Lord (3:19-20)	260	(3)
The Value of Wisdom to the Son (3:21-26)	263	(2)
Lesson: Covenant Obligations to Neighbors (3:27-35)	265	(1)
Commands: Obligations to Good Neighbors (3:27-30)	266	(3)
Center Line (Janus): Do Not Envy a Violent Man (3:31)	269	(1)
Argument: The Lord Punishes the Wicked but Rewards the Righteous (3:32-35)	270	(4)
Lecture 5: Get the Family Heritage (4:1-9)	274	(2)
Introduction: Addressees and Admonitions (4:1-2)	276	(1)
The Lesson: The Grandfather's Lecture (4:3-9)	277	(1)
Narrative Introduction to the Grandfather's Lecture (4:3-5)	277	(1)
The Grandfather's Lecture: Get Wisdom (4:5-9)	278	(5)
Lecture 6: Stay Off the Wrong Way (4:10-19)	283	(3)
Introduction and Body (4:10-17)	286	(1)
Admonitions to Walk in the Way of Wisdom (4:10-13)	286	(3)
Admonitions to Avoid the Way of the Wicked (4:14-17)	289	(2)
Conclusion (4:18-19)	291	(2)
Lecture 7: Don't Swerve from the Right Way (4:20-27)	293	(3)
Introduction: Keeping the Interior Anatomy (4:20-22)	296	(1)
Address and Admonitions to Keep the Father's Teaching (vv. 20-21)	296	(1)
Motivating Argument: Teachings Give Life (4:22)	297	(1)
Janus: Guard the Heart, the Source of All Behavior (4:23)	297	(1)
Lesson: Keep the Exterior Anatomy Fixed on What Is Right (4:24-27)	298	(1)
The Mouth and Eyes (4:24-25)	299	(1)
The Foot (4:26-27)	300	(1)
Lecture 8: Folly of Adultery, Wisdom of Marriage (5:1-23)	301	(5)
Introduction (5:1-6)	306	(1)
Address, Admonition, and Aim (5:1-2)	306	(1)
Motivation (5:3-6)	307	(3)
Lesson (5:7-20)	310	(1)
The Folly of Adultery (5:7-14)	310	(6)
The Wisdom of Marriage (5:15-20)	316	(7)
Conclusion (5:21-23)	323	(2)
Appendix: Three Inferior Types of Men (6:1-19)	325	(4)
Warning against Becoming Surety (6:1-5)	329	(2)
Introduction: The Foolish Situation (6:1-2)	331	(2)
Body: Urgent Admonitions to Resolve the Situation (6:3-4)	333	(1)
Conclusion: Summary of the Lecture (6:5)	334	(1)
Warning to the Sluggard (6:6-11)	335	(1)
Admonition to Learn Wisdom from the Ant (6:6-8)	336	(2)
Condemnation of the Sluggard (6:9-11)	338	(3)
Warning against the Insurrectionist (6:12-19)	341	(1)
Seven Marks of an Insurrectionist (6:12-15)	342	(3)
Catalogue of Seven Abominations to the Lord (6:16-19)	345	(3)
Lecture 9: The High Price of an Unchaste Wife (6:20-35)	348	(2)
Introduction (6:20-24)	350	(1)
Address and Admonition to Be Attentive (6:20-21)	350	(1)
Motivation (6:22-24)	351	(2)
Lesson (6:25-35a)	353	(1)
Admonition (6:25)	353	(1)
Argument 1: Adultery's Severe, Inevitable, Unending Penalty (6:26-33)	354	(5)
Argument 2: The Cuckold Cannot Be Compensated (3:34-35)	359	(2)
Lecture 10: The Unchaste Wife's Seductive Tactics (7:1-27)	361	(7)
Introduction: Address and Admonition to Hear the Father's Lecture (7:1-5)	368	(2)
Lesson: The Unchaste Wife's Seductive Tactics (7:6-23)	370	(1)
Encounter: The Father's Observations (7:6-13)	370	(6)
Seduction: The Unchaste Wife's Smooth Speech (7:14-20)	376	(6)
Fall: The Gullible's Submission (7:21-23)	382	(2)
Conclusion (7:24-27)	384	(1)
Admonition: Listen to the Father, Not to the Unchaste Wife (7:24-25)	384	(1)
Motivation: The Unchaste Wife Is Deadly (7:26-27)	384	(2)
Interlude 2: Wisdom's Self-Praise to the Gullible (8:1-36)	386	(8)
Introduction (8:1-11)	394	(1)
The Setting and Addressees of Wisdom's Speech (8:1-5)	394	(2)
Wisdom's Exhortation to Listen with Motivation (8:6-11)	396	(3)
Lesson (8:12-31)	399	(1)
Wisdom's Communicable Attributes in Historical Time (8:12-31)	400	(1)
Wisdom's Role in Civil Order (8:12-16)	400	(3)
Wisdom's Gifts of Material Glory for Her Lovers (8:17-21)	403	(3)
Wisdom's Birth and Celebration in Primordial Time (8:22-31)	406	(17)
Conclusion: Wisdom's Final Invitation and Warning (8:32-36)	423	(3)
Epilogue: Rival Banquets of Wisdom and Folly (9:1-18)	426	(5)
Wisdom's Banquet (9:1-6)	431	(1)
Preparation for the Meal (9:1-3)	431	(5)
Wisdom's Invitation (9:4-6)	436	(2)
The Poet's Supplement to the Invitations (9:7-12)	438	(1)
The Consequences to the Sage for Correcting the Proud versus the Wise (9:7-9)	439	(2)
Janus: The Beginning and Gain of Wisdom (9:10)	441	(1)
The Consequences to Oneself of Being Wise or a Mocker (9:11-12)	442	(1)
Folly's Banquet (9:13-18)	443	(1)
The Pretentious Hostess (9:13-15)	443	(2)
Folly's Invitation (9:16-17)	445	(1)
Conclusion: Death (9:18)	446	(1)
Collection II: Solomon I (10:1-22:16)	447	(242)
Collection IIA: Antithetic Parallels of the Righteous Versus the Wicked (10:1-15:29)	447	(193)
Superscription (10:1a)	447	(1)
The Wise and the Fool Defined by Their Comportment in Wealth and Speech (10:1b-16)	447	(3)
Introductory Educational Proverb (10:1b)	450	(1)
Wisdom and Wealth (10:2-5)	451	(1)
Ethical and Theological Foundations of Wealth (10:2-3)	452	(2)
The Practical Foundation of Wealth (10:4-5)	454	(2)
Effects of Speech on the Self and Others (10:6-14)	456	(1)
On the Self (10:6-9)	456	(3)
Janus (10:10)	459	(1)
On Others (10:11-14)	460	(2)
Wealth and Security (10:15-16)	462	(3)
Deeds and Destinies of the Righteous and the Wicked Contrasted (10:17-11:31)	465	(1)
Introduction: Social Effects of Obedience (10:17)	465	(1)
The Speech and Expectations of the Righteous and the Wicked Contrasted (10:18-32)	466	(2)
Beneficial and Baneful Speech (10:18-21)	468	(4)
The Speech and Expectations of the Righteous and the Wicked (10:22-32)	472	(1)
Pain and Pleasure (10:22-26)	473	(4)
The Security of the Righteous versus the Transience of the Wicked (10:27-30)	477	(2)
The Permanence and Impermanence of Righteous and Wicked Mouths (10:31-32)	479	(1)
Security through Honesty and Righteousness (11:1-8)	480	(2)
Security through Honesty (11:1-2)	482	(2)
Security through Righteousness (11:3-8)	484	(5)
Janus: Security from Destructive Speech through Knowledge (11:9)	489	(1)
Words in Community (11:10-15)	490	(7)
Benevolence and Community (11:16-22)	497	(7)
Desires and Paradoxical Fulfillment (11:23-27)	504	(5)
Certain Gain or Loss (11:28-31)	509	(6)
Two Subunits on Speech and Deeds (12:1-28)	515	(4)
The First Subunit (12:1-14)	519	(1)
Introduction (12:1-3)	519	(2)
Speech and One's Household (12:4-7)	521	(3)
Deeds and Property (12:8-12)	524	(6)
Janus Conclusion: Words and Deeds (12:13-14)	530	(2)
The Second Unit (12:15-28)	532	(1)
An Introductory Rearing Proverb (12:15)	532	(1)
Wise and Foolish Speech (12:16-23)	533	(7)
Diligent Work and Good Speech (12:24-27)	540	(3)
Conclusion (12:28)	543	(2)
Good Teaching, Ethics, and Living (13:1-25)	545	(6)
Introduction (13:1)	551	(1)
Speech and Ethics (13:2-6)	552	(4)
Wealth and Ethics (13:7-11)	556	(6)
Fulfillment through Wisdom versus Frustration through Folly (13:12-19)	562	(8)
The Blessed Future of a Wise Son versus the Baneful End of Fools (13:20-25)	570	(6)
Living in Wisdom (14:1-32)	576	(7)
Walking in Wisdom (14:1-7)	583	(5)
Not Walking by Sight (14:8-15)	588	(6)
Contrasting Social Characterizations and Consequences (14:15-32)	594	(1)
Contrasting Wisdom Characterizations and Their Ethical Comportment (14:15-18)	594	(3)
Contrasting Consequences of Social Comportment Using Mostly Ethical Terms (14:19-24)	597	(5)
Contrasting Characterizations and Consequences of Life or Death (14:25-32)	602	(6)
Upholding Righteousness with a Gentle Tongue (14:33-15:4)	608	(8)
The Importance of Instruction (15:5-19)	616	(2)
The Consequences of Accepting or Rejecting Instruction (15:5-12)	618	(6)
The Overcomer's Superiority to Circumstances (15:13-19)	624	(1)
The Heart's Superiority to Circumstances (15:13-17)	624	(4)
Two Overcomers (15:18-19)	628	(1)
Consequences of Righteousness and Wickedness (15:20-29)	629	(2)
Joy in Education (15:20-23)	631	(3)
Janus (15:24)	634	(1)
The Destinies of the Righteous and the Wicked (15:25-29)	635	(5)
INDEXES
Subjects	640	(5)
Authors	645	(8)
Scripture References	653	(36)
Selected Hebrew Words and Phrases	689