Contradiction in the Book of Proverbs: The Deep Waters of Counsel PDF
Preview Contradiction in the Book of Proverbs: The Deep Waters of Counsel
ContradiCtion in the Book of ProverBs despite the welcome revival of scholarly interest in Biblical Wisdom, the Book of Proverbs remains neglected. it continues to be seen as a disorganised repository of traditional banalities, while Job and Qohelet are viewed as more exciting texts, in revolt against Proverbs’ conventional wisdom. Contradiction in the Book of Proverbs argues that this misleading consensus owes more to scholarly presuppositions than to the content of Proverbs; it sees Proverbs as a challenging work, one that aims to provoke a critical appropriation of wisdom and in which diverse sources have been skilfully brought together by a creative final editor to form a complex unity. Many divergences from the hebrew in the Greek witness to the translator’s discomfort with his spikey, provocative original. Peter hatton challenges many existing scholarly assumptions and calls for a re-evaluation of the role and significance of Proverbs in relation to the other biblical wisdom books and the whole canon. SOCIETY FOR OLD TESTAMENT STUDY MONOGRAPHS Series Editor Margaret Barker Series Editorial Board katharine J. dell; Paul Joyce; edward Ball; eryl davies Series Advisory Board Bertil albrektson; Graeme auld; John Barton; Joseph Blenkinsopp; William Johnstone; John rogerson ashgate is pleased to publish the revived society for old testament study (sots) monograph series. the society for old testament study is a learned society based in the British isles, with an international membership, committed to the study of the old testament. this series promotes old testament studies with the support and guidance of the society. the series includes research monographs by members of the society, both from established international scholars and from exciting new authors. Titles in the series include: Jeremiah’s Kings A Study of the Monarchy in Jeremiah John Brian Job Hebrew Bible and Ancient Versions Selected Essays of Robert P. Gordon robert P. Gordon The Old Testament: Canon, Literature and Theology Collected Essays of John Barton John Barton Amos and the Cosmic Imagination James r. Linville Contradiction in the Book of Proverbs the deep Waters of Counsel Peter t.h. hatton First published 2008 by Ashgate Publishing Published 2016 by Routledge 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN 711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017, USA Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business Copyright © 2008 Peter t.h. hatton Peter t.h. hatton has asserted his moral right under the Copyright, designs and Patents act, 1988, to be identified as the author of this work. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. Notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used on ly for identi fication and ex planation without intent to infringe. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data hatton, Peter t.h., 1954– Contradiction in the Book of Proverbs : the deep waters of counsel. – (the society for old testament study) 1.Bible. o.t. Proverbs – Criticism, interpretation, etc. 2. Paradox in the Bible i. title ii. society for old testament study 223.7’06 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data hatton, Peter t.h., 1954– Contradiction in the book of Proverbs : the deep waters of counsel / Peter t.h. hatton. p.cm. — (society for old testament study) includes bibliographical references. isBn 978-0-7546-6304-1 (hardcover : alk. paper) 1. Bible. o.t. Proverbs—Criticism, interpretation, etc. 2. Paradox in the Bible. i. title. Bs1465.6.P32h38 2008 223’.706—dc22 2007045047 isBn 9780754663041 (hbk) To my wife, Susan Hatton, Ishet-Hayil This page intentionally left blank Contents Acknowledgements ix Permissions xi Abbreviations xiii 1 Proverbs, an Undervalued text 1 2 How Proverbs was Marginalized 17 3 Unity and diversity in Proverbs 47 4 Provocative Contradiction: the acts–Consequence ‘Construct’ 83 5 Provocative Contradiction: the Powerful in Qohelet and Proverbs 117 6 Provocative Contradiction: Gifts and Bribes in Proverbs 137 7 the deep Waters of Counsel 149 recent articles dealing with Wisdom Literature in Jsot, vt and ZaW 171 Bibliography 179 Index of Authors 189 Index of References 191 Index of Selected Subjects 195 This page intentionally left blank acknowledgements i am greatly indebted to the rev dr kenneth Wilson, the rev dr Gerard norton and dr deryn Guest who all took turns at supervising the doctoral research on which this book is based. they were endlessly patient and gave freely of their time, learning and wisdom. none of them bears any responsibility for the opinions i express or for any errors i have made. i should like to thank my wife, susan, for her support for my attempts to combine scholarly and pastoral endeavour. this book is dedicated to her. Peter Hatton
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