Whybray put forward the proposition that the evidence for any such group of wise men in ancient Israel was lacking, that 'wisdom' was not the preserve of a class or an institution, and the wise were simply educated citizens "who were accustomed to read for education and pleasure".
Whybray mengajukan proposisi bahwa tidak ada bukti adanya kelompok orang bijak semacam itu pada zaman Israel kuno, bahwa "hikmat" tidak hanya dipelihara pada suatu kelas masyarakat atau institusi, dan orang-orang bijak hanyalah warga yang terpelajar "yang terbiasa membaca untuk pendidikan dan kesenangan".