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Background to the Book of Proverbs This book is part of what is referred to as the Wisdom literature. This includes besides the book of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon and Job. The emphasis in wisdom literature is, 'the lessons and insights of experience on the basis of human conduct' (Murphy: 1981). Certainly, the emphasis is on human endeavour and how one ought to live life. In order to sustain right behaviour the book of Proverbs is the guide, which will secure a life of well being, decency, and dignity (Fox: 3). The universal nature of wisdom contrasts with the Israelite election traditions (God chose them for his own) encompassing exodus, giving of the Law, entry into land, all of which are the basis for prophetic and legal traditions (Perdue: vii). Relationship to God takes a minor place in the wisdom literature. However, God is portrayed as the genesis of Wisdom, which people can possess when taught. Wisdom properly begins from the stance of awe (Hebrew uses 'fear') in God, which after instruction by the sages provides the means of 'a life of success - materially, physically, socially, and morally' (Fox: 6). The sayings for this instruction are drawn from a number of social and religious situations: the folklore of ordinary people, court circles, schools, cult and government are places in which it was generated. The question of whether there was a school of sages or wise men is a mute point, but certainly the wise are mentioned as if they are a significant group in Israel. The sayings and instruction was significant enough to be gathered into collections as time went on. Israel was not alone in having this particular genre. Many of the Proverbs (e.g.. 22:17-24:22) are very similar to the Egyptian 'The Instruction of Amenemope'. Scholars have considered whether one source is dependent on the other without arriving at a consensus (it was accepted for many years that Proverbs was dependent on the Egyptian Instruction). Wisdom is part of the culture of many countries in the ancient near east: Egypt, Phoenicia, Syria, Mesopotamia. The book of Proverbs consists of sayings, which have been gathered into collections under vario+us headings (8 named by Perdue: ix-xi). When this occurred is difficult to ascertain, however it is clear that proverbs had a long prehistory of oral tradition before their collection into blocks of material and then finally into the canon. This occurred in 3rd century BCE when the third part of the Hebrew Scriptures was gathered under the heading of the Writings. After the final revolt against the Romans and the fall of Jerusalem the Council of Jamnia (70 CE) met to deal with this crisis and closed the canon. In the Book of Proverbs Wisdom woman is portrayed as a creation of Yahweh before the rest of the world was created. She was present when God made the heavens and the earth (Proverbs 8:22-31). It is also the case in the Book of Wisdom that the divine Word is portrayed as a personal independent being who carries out the divine will (Van Leeuwen:97). |
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Context of Prov 4:10-19 Proverbs 4 comes in the middle of the first section Proverbs 1-9 which has the literary function along with Proverbs 30-31 of providing an interpretative frame for chapters 10-29 (Clifford:24). Proverbs 1-7 gives instruction to a son as from a father to guide him through the pitfalls of life. To walk in the ways of wisdom will lead to to the house of wisdom (9:1), but always this wisdom begins with the fear and knowledge of the Lord. In 1:20-33, 8:1-36 and 9:1-6 wisdom is personified as a female person who speaks in the first person. Young men are warned of the dangers of loose morals and falling into bad company. This can be avoided if they pay attention to the teaching of wisdom (Proverbs 2) and then by trusting in the Lord (Proverbs 3). Interesting the order in which this comes in the Book. Chapters five and six warn against relationships with loose women, extending surety for a neighbour, laziness, habitual mischievousness, and adulterous relationships. Proverbs 7 continues the teaching about succumbing to the wiles of an adulterer. After Wisdom has made her speech in Proverbs 8, there are two invitations to an inaugural banquet in Proverbs 9, one by the wise woman, and the other by the foolish woman. The wisdom sayings which follow in Proverbs 10ff tend to a collection of individual sayings without the coherence of Proverbs 1-9. |
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Insights/Message of Prov 4:10-19 Verses 1-9 emphasise that wisdom is passed on from father to son and as the father learnt it so will his son, indeed these verses are penned as if from a grandfather (R. E. Murphy CBQ 50 [1988] 600–603). Van Leeuwen suggests the the word for 'learning' (leqah) incorporates that which is received from another, handed on and finally made one's own by the recipient (58). This is picked up in the Passover meal when the child asks the questions about the past and why this feast is held - the tradition is passed on from one generation to another. Wisdom is referred to in vv.6-10 as a feminine personification which is to be loved, treasured, guarded and prized and in return you will be honoured and receive the bounty of her wisdom. So the feminine pronouns in v.13b refer to wisdom from v.11. Just note that commentaries go with the section vv.10-19 which includes in v.19 a comment about the wicked - the lectionary stops at v.18 which finishes on a positive statement about the righteous. Vv.10-19 are divided into 2 - vv.10-13 and vv.14-19. The instruction about wisdom continues with the use of the words. "path, step, guide, run, stumble, walk, go, turn, etc which in their repetition emphasises the message to the son. This road will be the way to life and bathed in light (v.18) as opposed to the road of darkness if one fails to embrace wisdom (v.19). The poetic style is one in which the thought of the first line is expanded in the second line of the stanza. Vv.10-13 give the positive aspects of guarding and holding onto wisdom, however vv.14-17 picture the consequences of failing to follow wisdom. The unit finishes with the two comparisons in vv.18 and 19. The parent's teaching is the conduit in which wisdom as the true source of life from God is conveyed in Proverbs. This wisdom from the past is meant to enable the person in the present to make decisions about new situations. This wisdom ought to be able to help us choose between right ways to act and those ways which lead to our downfall. Sometimes it is not simple to make the 'right' choice and we need to call on all the reorces we have at our disposal. It seems a contradiction when we think of our Western culture in which values and wisdom do not seem very high. How is wisdom passed onto the the next generation, schools bear a great responsibility, but cannot be expected to pass on all wisdom to our next generation. |
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Resources/Worship for Prov 4:10-19 Resources: Commentaries The Old Testament Guides (OTG) by Sheffield Academic Press are an excellent small resource which give many suggestions for readings on particular aspects in the book. The New Interpreter's Bible is another very helpful resource and published in the late 1990's - 2002 is more up to date than some earlier works. Fox, Michael V. Proverbs 1-9: a new Translation with Introduction and
Commentary. The Dramatised Bible: ed. Michael Perry. London: Marshall Pickering: Bible Society, 1989 Web sites with helpful lectionary resources: These links were updated 09/06/2008
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