num_pages: 238
description: As a sequel to his widely accepted study of the Old Testament prophets Professor Scott of Princeton University offers this treatment of the Wisdom Literature of the Old Testament. The Wisdom Literature consists principally of three books of the Proverbs Job and Ecclesiastes. But added to these are two non-canonical Sirach and The Wisdom of Solomon. Some of the Psalms and The Song of Songs are also regarded as belonging in character to the Wisdom corpus; and allusions and quotations from these and other Wisdom sources appear in the historical and prophets books of the Old Testament. The unique characteristic of this literature is its marked difference from the main body of Old Testament materials. These are concerned chiefly with the covenant relationship between Yahweh and the people of Israel and claim authority derived from divine revelation. The Wisdom Literature on the other hand treats mainly of individual behavior and character and claims no authority beyond that of human insight and experience. As such however it exerted a powerful influence upon Israel's religious and cultural development an influence too much overlooked today. These and other aspects of the Wisdom movement the author handles with expertise and ordered simplicity which makes this study accessible to the layman and to the minister and student for whom it is written.
language: English
title: The Way of Wisdom in the Old Testament
publisher: Scribner Book Company