Jewish Wisdom Tradition: Proverbs and Job

Job is not the same person; he has experienced a transformation. Clues?

The naming of the daughters, the reader's own experience of transformation

Several themes in Proverbs 1-9 include:

The purpose of Proverbs The fundamental basis of wisdom Personification of Wisdom - Wisdom is female, Wisdom as agent of creation

A second round of demanding questions:

Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind: Gird up your loans like a man; I will question you, and you declare to me.

Job: The Ending

Theology of retribution upheld? No.

The most common opposing themes are:

Wisdom and folly The righteous and the wicked Rich and poor Industry and laziness Humility and pride

Biblical proverbs frequently contain _____, at least in the original Hebrew. Most biblical proverbs take the form of _____.

a play on words or alliteration, Hebrew parallelism

A proverb is a short, memorable saying that encapsulates _____. Proverbs are typically framed as ____ of the way things are, and often their lessons are expressed in _____. These statements about the way things are, however, are really lessons about _____.

a truth about life, matter of fact statements, comparisons or metaphors, the way you should be

Chapters 1—9 serve as in introduction or prologue to the rest of the book by developing themes in _____.

brief poetic essays

When interpreting proverbs, it is important to take the proverbs in a _____ manner. Applying individual proverbs calls for serious discernment, recognizing that proverbial wisdom is _____.

cumulative, situational

Concern of Jewish Wisdom Literature: A human search for knowledge that _____. Jewish wisdom literature grounds this search _____ ("the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom"), but the overall perspective continues to be _____ (Job?).

enriches life or makes existence bearable, theologically, anthropocentric

The concluding poem returns to ____ imagery.

female

Reversal of Job's fortunes is an act of God's _____; not a predictable outcome of a theological formula.

freedom and sovereignty

Elihu - continues ____, but comes across as a young, angry "know it all."

traditional theology of retribution

Chapters 10—30 consists primarily of _____, the intention of which is to create a world of values in a binary way.

two-lined proverbs

Job: Central Characters

1. Job 2. God 3. Ha-satan - "the adversary" 4. The "Friends" - representative of traditional wisdom

Job: Structure

1. Narrative Prologue 2. Job's Lament 3. Dialogue Cycles: First Cycle, Second Cycle, Third Cycle 4. Job's Final Discourse 5. Elihu's Speeches 6. God's Speech; Theophany 7. Narrative Epilogue: Job's Reversal

God's Speeches

God does come to Job, but God offers no answers only questions

Can God get justice wrong?Can the Almighty distort rightness? If your children sinned against him, he delivered them over to the consequences of their violation.

He applies the theology of retribution relentlessly. He claims that Job's children must have been notable sinners to be treated so brutally by God. No doubt they died justifiably. Since Job is still alive he must not be too bad a sinner.

You say, 'My principles are pure, and I am innocent before you.' But if God would speak and talk to you himself, and tell you the secrets of wisdom--there are many nuances to wisdom--know that God is exacting less than you deserve.

He claims that Job must be suffering for his own sin. Even though Job will not admit it publicly, he must be a sinner. Job should honestly face his sin and ask God for mercy.

Job: The Dialogues "Think about it. What innocent ever perished? Where were the upright destroyed? I have seen that those who plow evil and sow trouble reap the same. By God's blast they perish and by the heat of his anger they disappear."

He observes that no one is ever completely sinless. In no uncertain terms he upholds the theology of retribution.

Character of Jewish Wisdom Literature

International - extensive parallels with both Egyptian and Mesopotamian didactic/wisdom material. Ahistorical - omit references to the ancestral covenant, the Exodus, the Mosaic covenant, the centrality of Jerusalem, and the Davidic covenant

Job: Purpose

Is that governance just? Does Job fear God for nothing?

Job's final response:

Job is the model of the one who suffers, with all the self-doubt, indignation, impatience, and spiritual agony typical of those in great crises. But he is also the model of one who trusts God, even though he fails to comprehend why he is suffering.

Job's Reply

No coherent response; remains confounded Maintains his innocence and often urges, even demands, that God reveal himself and explain why God is afflicting Job.

Content of Jewish Wisdom Literature

Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes, Sirach (also known as Ecclesiasticus), and Wisdom of Solomon