Description
Book SynopsisPresents an introduction to wisdom literature. This book looks at the historical questions and approaches, discussing the traditional tendency to isolate wisdom literature, and also emphasizing the many links with other biblical literature and thought.
Trade ReviewWeeks provides a valuable survey of Israelite Wisdom Literature. He explains the main issues presented by the Wisdom corpus and gives fair consideration to a variety of views, while arguing thoughtfully for his own conclusions. His knowledge of scholarly literature is extensive and deep, but he takes care to make his writing clear and accessible to all. His Introduction will be an effective tool in the university classroom. -- Michael V. Fox, Jay C. and Ruth Halls-Bascom Professor, Department of Hebrew and Semitic Studies, University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA.
Weeks here illuminates both the form and the content of 's wisdom literature in relation to the wider world of its origins. The thinking is sharp and nuanced, the presentation is lucid and accessible. This is a distinctive and valuable Introduction. -- Walter Moberly, Durham University UK
The Introduction of the study of Wisdom Literature deals with the corpus of Hebew wisdom books incorporated in the Canon of Old Testament, as well as other pieces of Jewish wishdom literature compiled in the period of the Second Temple. The book will definitively serve well the broader academic community, it well be especially useful for teaching a course on wisdom literature in an academic setting. -- Igal German, University of Toronto (Wycliffe College), Canada
The book will definitely serve well the broader academic community; it will be especially useful for teaching a course on wisdom literature in an academic setting. * Theological Book Review *
Avoiding technical language and footnotes, Weeks has given us a clear and thought-provoking introduction to a set of intriguing biblical texts. * The Pastoral Review *
Table of Contents1. Wisdom Literature in Context; a. The terms'wisdom' and 'wisdom literature'.; b. The question of authority.; c. The ancient Near Eastern background.; d. The roots of biblical wisdom literature.; 2. The Wisdom Books; a. Proverbs: its nature as an anthology, and the character of the subsections.; b. Job.; c. Ecclesiastes.; d. The apocryphal wisdom books, and other early Jewish wisdom texts.; e. On defining a corpus of 'wisdom literature'.; 3. The Place of Wisdom Literature.; a. The place of the wisdom texts in the biblical canon.; b. The origins of wisdom literature and the question of 'wisdom circles'.; c. The influence of wisdom literature.; 4. Wisdom and Theology; a. Creation, world-order, and the role of God.; b. Wisdom, ethics, and personal piety.; c. The influence of wisdom ideas and motifs in Jewish and Christian thought.
