2. Proverbs as a Whole

The book of Proverbs is an anthology, actually a collection of seven collections. Each consists of a set of short sayings, except for the first, which consists of wisdom essays. Only the first collection (chapters 1-9) and the last (chapter 31) have longer sub-units with thematic continuity (for example, chapter 31 is the acrostic poem about the ideal wife). Each collection of sayings is identifiable because it is introduced with a title.

**Table 15.2 Proverb Collections**
Title	Collection
1. 1:1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David king of Israel	1:2-9:18
2. 10:1 The proverbs of Solomon	10:1-22:16
3. 22:17 Stretch your ears and hear the words of the wise	22:17-24:22
4. 24:23 Also these are of the wise	24:23-34
5. 25:1 Also these are proverbs of Solomon	25:1-29:27
6. 30:1 The words of Agur son of Yakeh, the oracle	30:1-33
7. 31:1 The words of King Lemuel, an oracle his mother taught him	31:1-31

The second through fifth collections allude to a monarchy, suggesting a pre-exilic setting. The first, sixth, and seventh collections are generally considered postexilic. The book as a whole does not demonstrate logical movement or plot. It was probably edited into its final form late in the fifth century B.C.E.

House of Wisdom. Skehan (1971) has devised an ingenious theory that the book of Proverbs is a "house of wisdom" (9:1) designed on analogy with the Solomonic temple, with a front (1-9), nave (10:1-22:16), and inner sanctuary (22:17-31:31). The "seven pillars" of wisdom's house (9:1) are the seven columns of text into which chapters 2-7 can be divided, each having the same number of lines as letters in the alphabet.

Table 15.D is an outline of Proverbs.

ToC | Reading the Old Testament . . . Chapter 15. Proverbs and Job | ToC