Sunday Sermonette: A question of attribution

Although the new book following the Egyptian contribution apparently started in the middle of the previous chapter, the introduction is provided here in Chapter 25. Again, the only explanation I can give for these odd divisions is that they are based on the length of the scrolls available at the time this was compiled, presumably during the Babylonian exile. 

 

The introduction claims that these are proverbs composed by Solomon, compiled during the reign of Hezekiah. According to Kings and Chronicles, Hezekiah was the 13th King of Judah and Solomon was the second, which would mean, a fortiori, that somehow these sayings of Solomon had survived for a couple of centuries before they were written down. That seems absurd. What seems most likely to me is that the attribution to Solomon and Hezekiah was just intended to give the work prestige. To the priests who presumably created this, Hezekiah is one of the most respected kings because he restored religious orthodoxy, reestablished the pilgrimage festivals, and purged the land of idols. 

 

He was also one of the most important military leaders of Judah. During his reign, the Neo-Assyrian empire under Sargon destroyed the northern kingdom of Israel, and he then successfully resisted the siege of Jerusalem by Sargon's son Sennacherib in 701 BCE, which is why the Jewish people exist today. However, he probably benefits from my inclination not to give him credit for these proverbs, because they are distinctly unimpressive as wisdom. Much of Chapter 25 is about the respect due to kings, which would be rather self-serving. Some of it is difficult to comprehend, like verse 24, which is apparently so important that it is a repeat from Chapter 21. Apparently somebody involved in all this had an unhappy marriage.

Anyway, as before, I'm not going to make you read all of the rest of this. We'll some up next time, then move on to Ecclesiastes, which is certainly more interesting.

25 These are more proverbs of Solomon, compiled by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:

² It is the glory of God to conceal a matter;
    to search out a matter is the glory of kings.
³ As the heavens are high and the earth is deep,
    so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.

⁴ Remove the dross from the silver,
    and a silversmith can produce a vessel;
⁵ remove wicked officials from the king’s presence,
    and his throne will be established through righteousness.

⁶ Do not exalt yourself in the king’s presence,
    and do not claim a place among his great men;
⁷ it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,”
    than for him to humiliate you before his nobles.

What you have seen with your eyes
⁸     do not bring^[a] hastily to court,
for what will you do in the end
    if your neighbor puts you to shame?

⁹ If you take your neighbor to court,
    do not betray another’s confidence,
¹⁰ or the one who hears it may shame you
    and the charge against you will stand.

¹¹ Like apples^[b] of gold in settings of silver
    is a ruling rightly given.
¹² Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold
    is the rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear.

¹³ Like a snow-cooled drink at harvest time
    is a trustworthy messenger to the one who sends him;
    he refreshes the spirit of his master.
¹⁴ Like clouds and wind without rain
    is one who boasts of gifts never given.

¹⁵ Through patience a ruler can be persuaded,
    and a gentle tongue can break a bone.

¹⁶ If you find honey, eat just enough—
    too much of it, and you will vomit.
¹⁷ Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house—
    too much of you, and they will hate you.

¹⁸ Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow
    is one who gives false testimony against a neighbor.
¹⁹ Like a broken tooth or a lame foot
    is reliance on the unfaithful in a time of trouble.
²⁰ Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day,
    or like vinegar poured on a wound,
    is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

²¹ If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
    if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
²² In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head,
    and the Lord will reward you.

²³ Like a north wind that brings unexpected rain
    is a sly tongue—which provokes a horrified look.

²⁴ Better to live on a corner of the roof
    than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

²⁵ Like cold water to a weary soul
    is good news from a distant land.
²⁶ Like a muddied spring or a polluted well
    are the righteous who give way to the wicked.

²⁷ It is not good to eat too much honey,
    nor is it honorable to search out matters that are too deep.

²⁸ Like a city whose walls are broken through
    is a person who lacks self-control.

Footnotes

1. Proverbs 25:8 Or nobles / on whom you had set your eyes. / ⁸ Do not go
2. Proverbs 25:11 Or possibly apricots