Outline

A proverb is a kind of riddle; some of the wisdom is usually hidden. These Hebrew proverbs are in the form characteristic of Hebrew poetry. They consist of two lines and the second line echoes the first somehow. But the echo is never exact. There is always "a surplus of meaning." As we listen to the proverbs we are challenged to figure out what the added meaning is. For example, "It is the wisdom of the clever to understand where they go" (14:8). We might expect the second line to say, "but the folly of fools is that they don't know where they are going." Instead it says, "the folly of fools misleads." Misleads whom? Just themselves? The proverb suggests subtly that the folly of fools may mislead others as well as themselves. Can you find other added meanings?

From the New American Bible:

Proverbs

The first word of this book, MISHLE, has provided the title by which it is generally designated in Jewish and Christian circles. The name "Proverbs," while not an exact equivalent of MISHLE, describes the main contents satisfactorily, even though it is hardly an adequate designation for such parts as Pro 1:1-9:18 or Pro 31:10-31. Among some early Christian writers the book was also known by the name of "Wisdom," and in the Roman Missal it was referred to as a "Book of Wisdom."

The Book of Proverbs is an anthology of didactic poetry forming part of the sapiential literature of the Old Testament. Its primary purpose, indicated in the first sentence (Pro 1:2, 3), is to teach wisdom. It is thus directed particularly to the young and inexperienced (Pro 1:4); but also to those who desire advanced training in wisdom (Pro 1:5, 6). The wisdom which the book teaches, covers a wide field of human and divine activity, ranging from matters purely secular to most lofty moral and religious truths, such as God's omniscience (Pro 5:21; 15:3-11), power (Pro 19:21; 21:30), providence (Pro 20:1-24), goodness (Pro 15:29), and the joy and strength resulting from abandonment to him (Pro 3:5; 16:20; 18:10). The teaching of the entire book is placed on a firm religious foundation by the principle that "the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge" (Pro 1:7; cf Pro 9:10).

To Solomon are explicitly ascribed parts II and V of the book; he is the patron of Hebrew wisdom. Of Agur (part VI) and Lemuel (part VIII), nothing further is known. Parts III and IV are attributed to "the wise." The remaining parts are anonymous.

The manner of compilation is conjectural. Parts II and V may have circulated first as independent collections, compiled before the fall of Jerusalem, as the references to Solomon (Pro 10:1) and Hezekiah (Pro 25:1) suggest. Parts III, IV and VII would seem to belong together as a third collection of a similar kind. The author of the first nine chapters, a religious sage familiar with the earlier sacred books, was the editor of the whole as we have it, probably in the early part of the fifth century B.C.

Christ and the Apostles often expressly quoted the Proverbs (Joh 7:38; Rom 12:20; Jam 4:6) or repeated their teaching; compare Luk 10:14, and Pro 25:7; 1Pe 4:8; Jam 5:20 and Pro 10:12. The book has an important place in the Latin and Greek liturgies.

On the basis of titles, subject matter, and poetic structure the Book of Proverbs may be divided as follows:
I: Introduction: The Value of Wisdom (Pro 1:1-9:18)
II: First Collection of the Proverbs of Solomon (Pro 10:1-22:16)
III: Sayings of the Wise (Pro 22:17-24: 22)
IV: Other Sayings of the Wise (Pro 24:23-34)
V: Second Collection of the Proverbs of Solomon (Pro 25:1-29:27)
VI: The Words of Agur (Pro 30:1-6)
VII: Numerical Proverbs (Pro 30:7-33)
VIII: The Words of Lemuel (Pro 31:1-9) IX: The Ideal Wife (Pro 31:10-31)

The Book of Proverbs

In 2002, there have been over five thousand books published in England and America that had titles with the same first two words—"How to..." By reading these books you can learn how to paint like the old masters, how to get a job, how to fix your house, how to use the internet,  how to get a divorce, how to get free publicity, how to get a mortgage or even a blind date. You can read about how to buy a car, a house, a small business or a personal computer. You can become a balloon artist, an astrologer, an athlete, a golfer, a fashion designer, a good dancer, a pilot, a master manipulator, a mechanic or a vampire. Experts out there will make you expert at petting a cat, picking lottery numbers, losing five pounds fast, building fences or bearing children.

All these books are offering us wisdom—skill in one area or another. Books like these proliferate because we all need wisdom to live successfully. Wisdom brings success and prosperity in our work, in dealings with family and friends, and in our relationship with God. One book of the Bible—the Proverbs of Solomon—specializes in wisdom. It gives us direction and guidance that is practical, concrete, reasonable, wholesome, understandable, shrewd and fruitful. By reading it we gain skill in all areas of life.

The book of Proverbs begins with the notice "The Proverbs of Solomon, Son of David, King of Israel." This does not mean, however, that Solomon authored every word of the book. In 1 Kings 4:32 we learn that Solomon "spoke three thousand proverbs." Undoubtedly, he composed a substantial number of these proverbs himself. First Kings 4:34 mentions that kings of surrounding nations sent delegations to hear Solomon’s wisdom. On the other hand, an exchange of wisdom must have developed between Solomon and those who came to learn from him.

The book of Proverbs reflects this interchange. Approximately three hundred proverbs are labeled "The Proverbs of Solomon" in Proverbs 10:1-22:16. Perhaps this section formed the nucleus of the collection. Some years later, King Hezekiah’s scribes added about one hundred thirty additional Solomonic proverbs, found in Proverbs 25:1-29:27. "The Words of the Wise" appear in Proverbs 22:17-24:22, followed by "The Sayings of the Wise" in Proverbs 24:23-34. Then come "The Words of Agur" in Proverbs 30:1-33, "The Words of King Lemuel" in Proverbs 31:1-9, and the acrostic poem on the virtuous wife in Proverbs 31:10-31. Clearly, the book of Proverbs as it comes to us contains a diverse collection of proverbs, from a diversity of wise men and at least one woman who is identified as King Lemuel’s mother.

Comparing the book of Proverbs with other ancient Near Eastern wisdom literature sheds light on how the collection arose in the first place. In order to instruct their sons, court officials in many lands would pull together the wisdom they had acquired in a lifetime of diplomatic service. From Egypt we have at least ten such collections, from The Instruction of Ka-gem-ni that dates to c. B.C. 2350, and The Instruction of Prince Hor-dedef (a son of King Khufu), dating from the Old Kingdom (2686-2160 B.C.), to The Instruction of Onchsheshonqy in the fourth or fifth century B.C. (Onchsheshongy advised: Dumbness is better than a hasty tongue."

"When words are many, transgression is not lacking,
but the prudent are restrained in speech," (Prov. 10.19)

An Akkadian translation of a Sumerian original entitled The Instructions of Shurruppak dates from approximately 1300 B.C. Ahiqar, who served as vizier to the Assyrian Kings Sennacherib and Esarhaddon in the seventh century B.C., left the Words of Ahiqar. The Proverbs of Solomon, Son of David, King of Israel, takes its place alongside these and other collections. Prophetic authorities added Solomon’s proverbs to the canon of Scripture. A manual of instruction for the king’s son became available to all of God’s children.

Solomon tells us the purpose of the collection in Proverbs 1:2-6:

for attaining wisdom and discipline;

for understanding words of insight;

for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life,

doing what is right and just and fair;

for giving prudence to the simple,

knowledge and discretion to the young—

let the wise listen and add to their learning,

and let the discerning get guidance—

for understanding proverbs and parables,

the sayings and riddles of the wise.

These 13 lessons will introduce us to selected proverbs from Solomon’s collection, grouped together under thirteen different themes. Our weekly study questions will guide our thoughts as we ponder together the meanings of the proverbs and as we learn to live more wisely.

On to the Lessons