INTRODUCTION life. Wisdom includes technical skills, such as weaving and goldsmithing; administra The wisdom literature of the Bible is usu tive skills, such as governing and leading in ally identified as the books of Job, war; and artistic skills, such as composing Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes. Wisdom is con poetry and songs or playing n1usical instru nected with wise men or sages, just as law ments. The sayings are short and easy to is connected with the priest and the word remember. They help the individual get with the prophet. along with others. The intent of practical In Jewish tradition, Solomon is the wise wisdon1 is to guide a person through the man of the ages, for we are told in 1 Kings difficulties of life to success. 4:31-33 that he was wiser than all others. Biblical wisdom was practical, but also Besides his wisdom about nature, he spoke religious. It was not concerned with relig 3,000 proverbs and composed 1,005 songs. ious ritual, but it was always understood To Solomon, therefore, tradition attributes that "the fear of the LORD is the beginning the writing of most of the Proverbs, all of of knowledge [wisdom]" (Proverbs 1:7). Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon. Wisdom was recognized as coming from God, but it was frequently portrayed as a WISDOM IN TIlE BmLICAL woman (see Proverbs 1:20-33; 3:13-20; and WORLD 8: 1-31). This personification of wisdom Thanks to archaeological research in the helps us understand the personification of past 150 years, we know today that wisdom the Word (Logos) in John 1:1-18. literature similar to that in the Bible existed Job and Ecclesiastes are two examples of long before Solomon in the biblical world. the philosophical type of wisdom in the From ancient Babylonia, Syria, and Egypt Bible. They wrestle with such issues as why have come examples of ancient wisdom. the innocent suffer and how to find a The Egyptian wisdom is the most important rational explanation for the purpose of life because of the close connections that the in the face of humankind's inevitable death. people of the Nile Valley had with ancient Canaan and Israel over long periods of time. WISDOM LITERATURE AND Biblical wisdom shares basic characteris TIlE BmLE tics with the wisdom of the ancient Near Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes are found East. First, wisdom is focused on the indi in the third section of the Hebrew Bible. vidual rather than the nation. The law This section seems to be held together by taught by the priest is concerned primarily the idea of wisdom, just as the Pentateuch is with statutes and con1mandments that keep by law and the prophetic section is by the the nation holy before God. The prophets idea of the prophetic word. Thus Psalms emphasize the moral requirements of God can be seen as the result of wisdom, along and the shortcon1ings of the people that with the other collections of poems, threaten national judgment. But the sages Lamentations, and Song of Solomon. provide instruction for the individual. Daniel is included in this third section, The wisdom of Babylonia and Egypt rather than among the prophets, because consists of the two types that we n1eet in the Daniel is clearly a sage. Bible-practical and philosophical. Biblical wisdom literature, though writ Practical wisdom helps the individual ten at least 2500 to 3000 years ago, is a develop a sane, workable attitude toward vital source of moral instruction today.
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