(Part 1)

JBTM Daniel I. Block
76
short proverbs are gathered in Proverbs 10–29. These short wisdom statements arise out of
everyday experiences of life, both of the common folk and of the royal courtiers.
Numerical Sayings. The counting and listing of items reflects a combination of the sage’s
concern for order and his/her interest in nature. In the formula “X, indeed X+1,” the last
item always represents the center of gravity. For examples, see Prov 6:16–19; 30:11–33.
Autobiographical Stylization. The wise persons’ perceptions are cast as first person
discoveries, rather than universal abstractions. For examples, see Prov 24:30–34; Ps 37:25,
35–36; Job 4:8; Ecclesiastes.
Long Didactic Poems. These are often introduced with something like “My son,” or “I
will tell you.” In the case of the former, the wise man (the teacher) is portrayed as a father
exhorting his son (the pupil) to pay attention to the speech that follows. Ten of these
lectures are preserved in Proverbs 1–9: 1:8–19; 2:1–22; 3:1–12; 3:21–35; 4:1–9; 4:10–19; 4:20–27;
5:1–23; 6:20–35; 7:1–27. These didactic poems are cast as second person commands. Their
aim is to persuade the young to adopt a certain style of life.
Beattitudinal Poems. Some wisdom texts begin with ʾašrê . . . , “Oh the privilege . . . .” or
“O the joy . . . .” These occur not only in the First Testament (Prov 3:13–20; Pss 1, 32, 34:8,
112, 128), but are also found in the New Testament. In Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount he
speaks as the Wise God (Matt 5:3–12).
Dialogue. Some wisdom writings are cast as dramas, involving several characters who
alternate speeches as they wrestle with difficult problems (Job) or celebrate the joy of
human experience (Song of Songs).
Fable. Fables do not necessarily pursue moral goals, but they attempt simply to represent
a truth which is typical. They operate on the assumption that strange dress renders a truth
more forceful. Some of these are embedded in biblical texts outside those we classify as
wisdom literature (Judg 9:8–18; 2 Sam 12:1–4; 2 Kgs 14:9; Ezekiel 17; 19).
Allegory. Allegories involve stories or descriptions in which the individual elements
stand for something else. Qoheleth 12:1–6 is the finest example in Scripture, but see also
Ezekiel 27.
Didactic Narrative. Since the goal of some wisdom texts (most notably Proverbs) is to
train a young man for responsible life in the court, we should not be surprised if some have
interpreted some of the courtly narratives in Scripture as wisdom. Some would treat the
Joseph story as a lengthy essay on wisdom. Joseph is an ideal person, a wise man of the
court, living in a foreign environment and subjected to temptations of all kind. Nevertheless
he manages to order his life on the basis of the fear of YHWH and eventually makes his way