Table of Contents

General Editors' Preface 11

Acknowledgments 13

Abbreviations 15

Bibliography 19

Table of Sidebars 23

Introduction 25

A Composition and importance of the Book of Proverbs 25

1 The Structure of the Book of Proverbs 25

2 The Compilation of the Book of Proverbs 26

3 The Authority of the Book of Proverbs 27

4 The Value of the Book of Proverbs for Christians 27

B Characteristics of Hebrew Poetry in Proverbs 28

1 Main Types of Parallelism 28

a Affirming 29

b Opposing 29

c Advancing 29

2 Chiasm 29

3 Other Characteristics 30

a Implied Words or Concepts 30

b Play on Sounds of Words 31

c Use of Metaphors 31

C Theological Themes 31

1 Wisdom 31

2 Characteristics of Proverbial Sayings 33

3 Retribution 36

4 Speech 38

5 Valuing Marriage 39

6 Wealth and Poverty 41

7 Jesus and Proverbs 43

a Jesus the Sage 43

b Jesus the Wisdom of God 45

Commentary 47

I A Collection of Wisdom Instructions (1:1-9:18) 47

A Title, Prologue, and Motto (1:1-7) 47

1 Title (1:1) 47

2 Prologue (1:2-6) 48

3 Motto (1:7) 50

B Instructions in Wisdom (1:8-9:18) 52

1 Instruction: Invitation from Sinners and Woman Wisdom's Calling (1:8-33) 52

a Introduction (1:8-9) 52

b Counsel to Reject the Call of Sinners (1:10-19) 53

c The Urgency of Accepting the Call of Woman Wisdom (1:20-33) 55

2 Instruction: Wisdom Gives Understanding and Protection (2:1-22) 59

a Exhortation to Earnestly Seek Wisdom (2:1-11) 61

b Wisdom, the Great Protector (2:12-19) 63

c The Preferred Path and Two Alternatives (2:20-22) 65

3 Instruction: Trusting and Praising God = Being Blessed (3:1-35) 67

a Trusting in Yahweh (3:1-12) 67

b Exalting Wisdom (3:13-20) 73

c God-given Confidence and a Series of Prohibitions as a Guide to Harmony with Neighbors (3:21-35) 76

1 Benefits of Sound Judgment and Discernment (3:21-26) 76

2 Being a Good Neighbor (3:27-32) 77

3 Yahweh's Response to the Wise and to Fools (3:33-35) 78

4 Instruction: My Son, Get Wisdom (4:1-27) 79

a The Highest Goal; Acquiring Wisdom (4:1-9) 79

b The Two Paths (4:10-19) 81

c A Focused Life (4:20-27) 82

5 Instruction: Shun the Adulterous Woman; Take Delight in Your Wife (5:1-23) 83

a The Consequences of Consorting with an Adulterous Woman (5:1-14) 84

b Taking Delight in One's Wife (5:15-23) 86

6 Epigrams and Instruction against Adultery (6:1-35) 89

a A Sapiential Collection (6:1-19) 89

1 Freeing Oneself from Serving as Security for Another's Loan (6:1-5) 89

2 Disparaging Laziness (6:6-11) 90

3 Traits of a Villain(6:l2-15) 92

4 A Numerical Saying Listing Negative Human Traits (6:16-19) 92

b The Dangers of Adultery (6:20-35) 94

7 Instruction: A Portrait of Seduction (7:1 -27) 97

a Exhortation to Keep the Sage's Words (7:1-5) 98

b A Portrait of Seduction (7:6-23) 98

c Exhortation against Yielding to a Wayward Woman (7:24-27) 100

8 Wisdom's Exaltation (8:1-36) 102

a Wisdom's Role on Earth (8:1-21) 102

b Wisdom's Origin and Presence at the Creation (8:22-31) 105

c Wisdom's Blessings (8:32-36) 110

9 Two Invitations to Dine (9:1-18) 111

a Woman Wisdom's Invitation to a Grand Banquet (9:1-6) 113

b Characteristics of a Scoffer, a Wise Person, and the Fear of Yahweh (9:7-12) 113

c The Call of Woman Folly (9:13-18) 115

II Proverbs of Solomon (10:1-22:16) 119

A Proverbs 10:1-32 121

B Proverbs 11:1-31 130

C Proverbs 12:1-28 142

D Proverbs 13:1-25 150

E Proverbs 14:1-35 158

F Proverbs 15:1-33 170

G Proverbs 16:1-33 179

H Proverbs 17:1-28 188

I Proverbs 18:1-24 196

J Proverbs 19:1-29 202

K Proverbs 20:1-30 211

L Proverbs 21:1-31 220

M Proverbs 22:1-16 228

III Instructions of the Wise (22:17-24:34) 235

A Sayings of the Wise (22:17-24:22) 236

B Additional Sayings of the Wise (24:23-34) 261

IV Second Solomonic Collection (25:1-29:27) 265

A Proverbs 25:1-28 268

B Proverbs 26:1-28 277

C Proverbs 27:1-27 286

D Proverbs 28:1-28 294

E Proverbs 29:1-27 303

V Appendix (30:1-31:9) 315

A The Sayings of Agur (30:1-33) 315

1 Agur's Self-Introduction and Prayer (30:1-9) 316

a Heading (30:1ab) 316

b An Apology (30:1c-4) 316

c The Words of God (30:5-6) 317

d A Prayer (30:7-9) 317

2 A Collection of Numerical Sayings and Epigrams (30:10-33) 318

a Admonition against Slander and Description of a Corrupt Generation (30:10-14) 318

b A Series of Numerical Sayings and Three Epigrams (30:15-33) 319

B The Sayings of Lemuel (31:1 -9) 324

1 Superscription (31:1) 325

2 The Exhortations of Lemuel's Mother (31:2-9) 325

a Opening Exhortation (31:2-3) 325

b Exhortation against Drunkenness (31:4-7) 326

c Exhortation to Defend the Poor (31:8-9) 326

VI Capstone: The Noble Wife (31:10-31) 327

A The Wife of Strength (31:10-12) 330

B Activities of the Noble Wife (31:13-27) 331

C Praise of the Noble Wife (31:28-3!) 333