Book of Proverbs in Fausset's Bible Dictionary
mishlee, plural of maashaal, "comparison" or "likeness." The
Christian fathers (Clement, Ep. Cor. 1:57; Hegesippus,
Irenaeus in Eusebius H. E. 4:22) entitle it "Wisdom, the sum
of all virtues" (Panareros sophia). Pithy sayings (compare
David's quotation, 1 Samuel 24:13), like similes or with a
figure. The comparison is either expressed or left for the
hearer to supply. So Balaam's "parable" is prophecy in
figurative language (Numbers 23:7-10; 1 Samuel 10:12;
Ezekiel 12:22-23; Ezekiel 17:2-3; Ezekiel 18:2; Ezekiel
20:49; Ezekiel 24:3; Luke 4:23). In Job 27:1 "parable" (Job
29:1) means a figurative, sententious, weighty embodiment of
wisdom, not in this case short, but containing Job's whole
argument (Psalm 49:4, maashaal).
In Proverbs 1:6 "dark sayings" (chidah) are another
form of proverbs, the enigmatical obscurity being designed
to stimulate reflection (Habakkuk 2:6; Judges 14; 1 Kings
10:1; 2 Chronicles 9:1; Ezekiel 17:2; Psalm 78:2); the
melitsah (Proverbs 1:6), "interpretation" (so Chald. and
Vulgate versions), for which Gesenius translated "a saying
that needs an interpreter," i.e. enigmatical (Habakkuk 2:6).
For instance (Proverbs 12:27), "the slothful man roasteth
not that which he took in hunting" requires discernment to
see the point of comparison and the application; the
slothful man is too lazy to hunt, and therefore has nothing
to roast (compare 2 Thessalonians 3:10). "Proverb" is with
Jesus' disciples equivalent to an obscure saying (John
16:29).
Canonicity. The Book of Proverbs is found in all
Jewish lists among the ketubim, "writings" (hagiographa),
the third division of Scripture. The Talmud (Baba Bathra, 14
b.) gives the order, Ruth, Psalms, Job, Proverbs,
Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Lamentations, Daniel, Esther,
Ezra (including Nehemiah), Chronicles. The New Testament
quotes and so canonizes (Proverbs 1:16; Romans 3:10; Romans
3:15. Proverbs 3:7; Romans 12:16. Proverbs 3:11-12; Hebrews
12:5-6; Revelation 3:19. Proverbs 3:34; James 4:6. Proverbs
10:12; 1 Peter 4:8. Proverbs 11:31; 1 Peter 4:17-18.
Proverbs 17:13; Romans 12:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:15; 1 Peter
3:9. Proverbs 17:27; James 1:19. Proverbs 20:9; 1 John 1:8.
Proverbs 20:20; Matthew 15:4. Proverbs 22:8; 2 Corinthians
9:6; Galatians 6:7; Galatians 6:9. Proverbs 25:21-22; Romans
12:20. Proverbs 26:11; 2 Peter 2:22. Proverbs 27:1; James
4:13)...
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