• “Wisdom Is the Principal Thing; Therefore Get Wisdom” Comments on Proverbs and Ecclesiastes

"The books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes are sometimes called the 'wisdom literature.' The sages of the ancient Near East realized the superiority of wisdom over knowledge, for wisdom encompasses knowledge and includes understanding and moral conduct. One was not wise, regardless of his vast learning, if his actions did not comply with his righteous beliefs: 'Like all Hebrew intellectual virtues, wisdom . . . is intensely practical, not theoretical. Basically, wisdom is the art of being successful, of forming the correct plan to gain the desired results. Its seat is the heart, the centre of moral and intellectual decision [see 1 Kings 3:9, 12].' (J. D. Douglas, ed., The New Bible Dictionary, s.v. “wisdom.”)
“'The book of Proverbs in the Old Testament . . . is the best sample of Hebrew "Wisdom Literature" derived apparently from the experiences of the race, epitomized by wise men into brief rules for behavior. The book contains less material accredited to divine revelation and more attributed to human evaluations than the books by the Prophets. As to Solomon’s authorship of proverbs, he is said in I Kings 4:33 to have spoken thousands of them, covering all facets of the relationships of nature, man and God. Whether the extant proverbs in the Bible include all of them, and whether all that are attributed to him are really his would be difficult to tell now. In any case, Proverbs, chapters 1–9 are entitled "Proverbs of Solomon." They are largely in the form of advice from a father to his son, but include also some long poems about wisdom (e.g., chapter 8 , wherein "Wisdom" is personified, and seems to be not an abstraction, but a personality, a member of the Godhead). Chapters 10–22:16 are appropriately entitled "Proverbs of Solomon," for they contain only the formal pithy little poetic couplets that are by definition proverbs proper. From 22:17 to the end of chapter 24 there are a variety of longer admonishments and maxims on matters moral and social. Chapters 25 to 29 also constitute a unit called "Proverbs of Solomon." Chapter 30 is called "The Words of Agur," and chapter 31 "The Words of King Lemuel."'” (Ellis T. Rasmussen, An Introduction to the Old Testament and Its Teachings [1st ed., 1969], 2:45.)


This is the introduction to the notes and commentary on Proverbs and Ecclesiastes in the church educational system's institute course on the Old Testament. If you wish to read this, please click on this link.

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