Proverbs
Quick Overview of Proverbs. – –1:1-6 – – the introduction and
purpose of the book – – 1:7-9:18 – – wisdom and folly are
examined – – 10:1-22:16 – – wisdom does good – – 22:17-24:34 –
– the words of the wise – – 25:1-29:27 – – the Proverbs of
Solomon are collected by Hezekiah's servants – – 30:1-33 – –
the messages of Agur – – 31:1-31 – – the sayings of King
Lemuel.
Link: https://bible-history.com/old-testament/...
Proverbs 1:1 indicates that the whole collection was called
"the Proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel."
Technically a proverb is a profound maxim or epigrammatic
saying that, if pondered on for a length of time there is deep
meaning associated with it. Proverbs was not uncommon in the
ancient world, but the concept of fearing a single God who is
the only God and the giver of life, was completely foreign in
a world filled with polytheism.
Solomon was the son of David who was chosen to build the
Temple. His name comes from the Hebrew word for peace
(shalom), and he is recognized in the Bible as the ultimate
peacemaker King in the history of the kingdom of Israel.
Link: https://bible-history.com/old-testament/...
Solomon's Wisdom. David had chosen Solomon to sit upon the
throne of Israel and serve the Lord. After Solomon had
removed his enemies, he allied with the Pharaoh of Egypt,
and took Pharaoh's daughter to be his wife. Solomon had
thought intensely about his task to build a house for the
Lord, the Temple in Jerusalem. He went to offer sacrifices
to the Lord at Gibeon and that night the Lord appeared to
him in a dream saying "ask what you will and I will give it
to you" and Solomon said "you have shown great mercy to your
servant David, my father, even as he walked before you in
truth and justice and with an upright heart. You have
continued your great mercy toward him and given him a son to
sit on his throne, as it is today. And now, O Lord God, you
have made your servant King succeeding David, my father. I
am but a child, and know not how to act. You have chosen me
to be king over so many that they cannot be counted. Give
me, therefore, an understanding heart, to judge your people
and to discern between good and evil." The Lord was pleased
with Solomon's request and said, "because you have not asked
for long life or riches, nor for the death of your enemies,
but have asked wisdom for yourself to discern what is right,
I have done for you as you asked, and have given you a wise
and understanding heart, so much so that you are unlike
anyone before you, nor shall there be anyone like you after.
Yes, and the things also which you did not ask, I have given
you: that is, riches and glory, so that you are incomparable
with all previous kings. And if you will walk in my ways,
and keep my precepts and my commandments, as your father, I
will lengthen your life." (see 1 Kings 3 and 2 Chronicles
1).
Link: https://bible-history.com/old-testament/...
The book of Proverbs not only names Solomon as the author in
the very first verse, but there are other verses that indicate
that Solomon was the person responsible for the Proverbs
(Proverbs 10:1; Proverbs 25:1).
The book of Kings indicates that Solomon was blessed with
wisdom from God (1 Kings 4:29), he was a man of humility (1
Kings 3:7), and a great diplomat (1 Kings 3:16-28; 1 Kings
5:12) to such an extent that people came from all over the
world to hear his wisdom (1 Kings 4:30; 1 Kings 10:1-13). The
book of Kings also indicates that Solomon wrote over 3000
proverbs (1 Kings 4:32), and this is many more than the book
of Proverbs contains.
Link: https://bible-history.com/old-testament/...
Proverbs 1-9, Solomon addresses the young. His words are
arranged in a series of discourses in praise of wisdom. A
personification of Wisdom speaks as an instructor, warning
against all manner of folly. The proverbs in this section
are arranged with more continuity than is seen in succeeding
chapters.
Proverbs 10-22:16 are the "proverbs of Solomon," and this
section is usually thought to be the original nucleus around
which the remainder of the book was constructed.
Proverbs 22:17-24 :22 contains advice for those in
responsible positions, calling it "the words of the wise."
Proverbs 24:23-29 are designated as "the proverbs of Solomon
which the wise men of Hezekiah copied out." These are in the
form of detached statements, although there are occasional
signs of continuity. There are also sayings on related
subjects such as rulers, sluggards and fools.
Proverbs 30, the sayings of Agur, and Proverbs 31, the great
chapter on womanhood which purports to come from the mother
of King Lemuel which was constructed in acrostic form, the
verses beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew
alphabet. This last chapter completes this book of Hebrew
wisdom.
Link: https://bible-history.com/old-testament/...
Study Bible with information, images, and notes on many
important subjects from the ancient world. Archaeological
notes, geographical notes, ancient documents and manuscripts,
cultural notes, theological notes, articles from scholars,
information about ancient history, ancient customs, ancient
temples, ancient monuments, and a close look at people,
places, and events from the ancient world that are explained
in an easy to understand format.
Link: https://bible-history.com/studybible/Pro...
The Book of Proverbs (in Hebrew: מִשְלֵי Mishlay) is a book of
the Hebrew Bible. The original Hebrew title of the book of
Proverbs is "Míshlê Shlomoh" ("Proverbs of Solomon"). When
translated into Greek and Latin, the title took on different
forms. In the Greek Septuagint (LXX) the title became
"paroimai paroimiae" ("Proverbs"). In the Latin Vulgate the
title was "proverbia", from which the English title of
Proverbs is derived...
Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Pr...
I. The Book's Account of Itself.
1. Title and Headings:
At the beginning, intended apparently to cover the whole
work, stands the title: "The proverbs of Solomon the son of
David, king of Israel." It seemed good to the compilers,
however, to repeat, or perhaps retain an older heading, "The
proverbs of Solomon" at Prov 10, as if in some special sense
the collection there beginning deserved it; and at Prov 25
still another heading occurs: "These also are proverbs of
Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied
out." All these ascribe the proverbs to Solomon; but the
heading (30:1), "The words of Agur the son of Jakeh; the
oracle," and the heading (31:1), "The words of king Lemuel;
the oracle which his mother taught him," indicate that
authorship other than that of Solomon is represented; while
the mention of "the words of the wise" (1:6; 22:17), as also
the definite heading, "These also are sayings of the wise"
(24:23), ascribe parts of the book to the sages in general.
The book is confessedly a series of compilations made at
different times; confessedly, also, to a considerable extent
at least, the work of a number, perhaps a whole guild, of
writers.
2. Authorship or Literary Species?:
It is hazardous to argue either for or against a specific
authorship; nor is it my intention to do so. The question
naturally arises, however, in what sense this book, with its
composite structure so outspoken, can lay claim to being the
work of Solomon. Does the title refer to actual personal
authorship, or does it name a species and type of literature
of which Solomon was the originator and inspirer--as if it
meant to say "the Solomonic proverbs"? We may work toward
the answer of this question by noting some literary facts...
Link: https://bible-history.com/isbe/P/PROVERB...
The title of this book in Hebrew is taken from its first
word, mashal, which originally meant "a comparison." It is
sometimes translated parable, sometimes proverb as here. The
superscriptions which are affixed to several portions of the
book, in chs. Pr 1:1; 10:1; 25:1 attribute the authorship of
those portions to Solomon the son of David, king of Israel.
With the exception of the last two chapters, which are
distinctly assigned to other author it is probable that the
statement of the superscriptions is in the main correct, and
that the majority of the proverbs contained in the book were
uttered or collected by Solomon. Speaking roughly, the book
consists of three main divisions, with two appendices:--
1. Chs. 1-9 form a connected didactic Wisdom is
praised and the youth exhorted to devote himself to her.
This portion is preceded by an introduction and title
describing the character and general aim of the book.
2. Chs. 10-24 with the title "The Proverbs of
Solomon," consist of three parts: Pr 10:1-22; Pr 10:16 a
collection of single proverbs and detached sentences out of
the region of moral teaching and worldly prudence; Pr 22:17-
24; Pr 22:21 a more connected didactic poem, with an
introduction, Pr 22:17-22 which contains precepts of
righteousness and prudence; Pr 24:23-34 with the inscription
"These also belong to the wise," a collection of unconnected
maxims, which serve as an appendix to the preceding. Then
follows the third division chs. 25-29, which, according to
the superscription, professes to be collection of Solomon's
proverbs, consisting of single sentences, which the men of
the court of Hezekiah copied out. The first appendix, ch.
30, "The words of Agur the son of Jakeh," is a collection of
partly proverbial and partly enigmatical sayings; the
second, ch. 31, is divided into two parts, "The words of
King Lemuel," vs. 1-6, and an alphabetical acrostic in
praise of a virtuous woman, which occupies the rest of the
chapter. Who was Agur and who was Jakeh, are questions which
have been often asked and never satisfactorily answered. All
that can be said of the first is that he was an unknown
Hebrew sage, the son of an equally unknown Jakeh, and that
he lived after the time of Hezekiah. Lemuel, like Agur, is
unknown. It is even uncertain whether he is to be regarded
as a real personage, or whether the name is merely
symbolical. The Proverbs are frequently quoted or alluded to
in the New Testament and the canonicity of the book thereby
confirmed. The following is a list of the principal
passages:-- Pr 1:16 compare Roma 3:10,15
Pr 3:7 compare Roma 12:16
Pr 3:11,12 compare Hebr 12:5,6, see also Reve 3:19
Pr 3:34 compare Jame 4:6
Pr 10:12 compare 1Pet 4:8
Pr 11:31 compare 1Pet 4:18
Pr 17:13 compare Roma 12:17; 1The 5:15; 1Pet 3:9
Pr 17:27 compare Jame 1:19
Pr 20:9 compare 1Joh 1:8
Pr 20:20 compare Matt 15:4; Mark 7:10
Pr 22:8 (LXX.), compare 2Cor 9:7
Pr 25:21,22 compare, Roma 12:20
Pr 26:11 compare, 2Pet 2:22
Pr 27:1 compare, Jame 4:13,14...
Link: https://bible-history.com/smiths/P/Prove...
a collection of moral and philosophical maxims of a wide
range
of subjects presented in a poetic form. This book
sets forth the
"philosophy of practical life. It is the sign to us
that the
Bible does not despise common sense and discretion.
It impresses
upon us in the most forcible manner the value of
intelligence
and prudence and of a good education. The whole
strength of the
Hebrew language and of the sacred authority of the
book is
thrown upon these homely truths. It deals, too, in
that refined,
discriminating, careful view of the finer shades of
human
character so often overlooked by theologians, but so
necessary
to any true estimate of human life" (Stanley's
Jewish Church).
As to the origin of this book, "it is probable that
Solomon
gathered and recast many proverbs which sprang from
human
experience in preceeding ages and were floating past
him on the
tide of time, and that he also elaborated many new
ones from the
material of his own experience. Towards the close of
the book,
indeed, are preserved some of Solomon's own sayings
that seem to
have fallen from his lips in later life and been
gathered by
other hands' (Arnot's Laws from Heaven, etc.)
This book is usually divided into three parts: (1.)
Consisting
of ch. 1-9, which contain an exhibition of wisdom as
the highest
good.
(2.) Consisting of ch. 10-24.
(3.) Containing proverbs of Solomon "which the men
of
Hezekiah, the king of Judah, collected" (ch. 25-29).
These are followed by two supplements, (1) "The
words of Agur"
(ch. 30); and (2) "The words of king Lemuel" (ch.
31).
Solomon is said to have written three thousand
proverbs, and
those contained in this book may be a selection from
these (1
Kings 4:32). In the New Testament there are thirty-
five direct
quotations from this book or allusions to it.
Link: https://bible-history.com/eastons/P/Prov...
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)...
Link: https://bible-history.com/faussets/P/Pro...
