The Cambridge Companion to Biblical Wisdom Literature
The Cambridge Companion to Biblical Wisdom Literature
Suzanna R. Millar, University of Edinburgh
Arthur Jan Keefer, Eton College
Study of the wisdom literature in the Hebrew Bible and the contemporary cultures in the ancient Near Eastern world is evolving rapidly as old definitions and assumptions are questioned. Scholars are now interrogating the role of oral culture, the rhetoric of teaching and didacticism, the understanding of genre, and the relationship of these factors to the corpus of writings. The scribal culture in which wisdom literature arose is also under investigation, alongside questions of social context and character formation. This Companion serves as an essential guide to wisdom texts, a body of biblical literature with ancient origins that continue to have universal and timeless appeal. Reflecting new interpretive approaches, including virtue ethics and intertextuality, the volume includes essays by an international team of leading scholars. They engage with the texts, provide authoritative summaries of the state of the field, and open up to readers the exciting world of biblical wisdom.
- Offers a high quality overview of the state of studies of the wisdom literature at the present time
- Makes the volume user-friendly and accessible as a reference book to a wide range of readers
- Provides depth and breadth to readers with a range of relevant topics and overviews by key scholars
Reviews & endorsements
‘… a splendid “Companion” to this body of literature.’ John Jarick, Journal for the Study of the Old Testament
‘I highly recommend this collection of essays: they are current, well-researched, and excellent introductions to many aspects of biblical wisdom literature at a time of both turmoil and creativity in the field.’ Douglas B. Miller, Review of Biblical Literature
Product details
June 2022Hardback
9781108483162
375 pages
235 × 157 × 34 mm
0.905kg
Available
Table of Contents
- Part I. The Context of Wisdom Literature:
- 1. Introduction the editors
- 2. The scope of wisdom literature Tremper Longman III
- 3. The multiple genres of wisdom Suzanna Millar
- 4. The literary context(s) and development of wisdom literature in ancient Israel Knut Heim
- 5. The scribal world Mark Sneed
- 6. Theological themes in the 'wisdom literature': proverbs, job and ecclesiastes Katharine J. Dell
- 7. The solomonic connection David Firth
- Part II. Wisdom Literature in the Hebrew Bible:
- 8. Proverbs Christopher B. Ansberry
- 9. Job Will Kynes
- 10. Ecclesiastes/Qoheleth Mette Bundvad
- 11. The song of songs J. L. Andruska
- 12. Wisdom psalms Simon Chi-chung Cheung
- 13. Wisdom's wider resonance Michael C. Legaspi
- Part III. Wisdom Literature Beyond the Hebrew Bible:
- 14. Ben Sira/Sirach Seth A. Bledsoe
- 15. Wisdom of Solomon Joachim Schaper
- 16. Wisdom at Qumran David A. Skelton
- 17. Egyptian wisdom Michael V. Fox and Suzanna Millar
- 18. Syro-Palestinian wisdom Noga Ayali-Darshan
- 19. Mesopotamian wisdom Paul Alain Beaulieu
- Part IV. Themes in the Wisdom Literature:
- 20. Creation in the wisdom literature Zoltán Schwáb
- 21. Reward and retribution Peter T. H. Hatton
- 22. From rebuke to testimony to proverb: wisdom's many pedagogies William P. Brown
- 23. The wisdom literature and virtue ethics Arthur Jan Keefer
- Bibliography
- Index of Subjects.
