This is a new and ground-breaking study of the nature and origins of the earliest material in the book of Proverbs, drawing on evidence from Israel and neighbouring countries in the ancient Near East. This literature has widely been believed to have originated as pedagogical material, designed for the education of future administrators in the royal bureaucracy from the time of Solomon. That belief has played an important part not only in the interpretation of the texts, but in reconstructions of Israelite society and history. In this book, Dr Weeks challenges this view, arguing that it is largely founded on assumptions which are now widely discredited, and he sets out to re-evaluate the evidence in the light of more recent research. Dr Weeks's conclusions will have important implications for the future study of this material, and for our understanding of ancient Israel's society and history.
Reviews
Every once in a while a book comes along that challenges the assured results of a particular field of inquiry. So impressive are the challenges of the book that one's perspective on the field of inquiry is significantly altered. Certainly, Stuart Weeks has presented such a challenge to the assured results of Israelite wisdom studies. * Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society *



Book Information
ISBN 9780198270072
Author Stuart Weeks
Format Paperback
Page Count 228
Imprint Oxford University Press
Publisher Oxford University Press
Weight(grams) 267g
Dimensions(mm) 213mm * 134mm * 14mm