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INTRODUCTION
The third
poetical book of the Old Testament is that of the Proverbs of Solomon, not a
collection of popular sayings or a product of human speculation and
observation, but a book setting forth the principles of true wisdom and making
the divine truths the object of believing contemplation. The scope of the wise
sayings in this book is to direct all men, but especially the believers, so to
order their life and conduct as to please God and promote their welfare here on
earth. And there is one outstanding feature in this book, namely, the
revelation of the true Source and Fountain of wisdom, the Son of God. He who
knows and accepts the Son of God, Jesus Christ, by faith, will bring his entire
conduct in life in agreement with the true reverence and fear of the Lord over
against the foolishness and blindness of such as despise this true wisdom, the
sum of all instruction in the Word of God.
The entire book
is ascribed to Solomon, although the last chapters, which were added to the
collection at a later time, have as their authors Agur,
the son of Jakeh, and King Lemuel.
Of Solomon it is stated that he spoke three thousand proverbs, 1 Kings 4, 32.
Some of these Solomonic proverbs were gathered together
in our book, as the superscriptions of the various sections show: "The
proverbs of Solomon, the son of David," chap. 1, 1; "The proverbs of
Solomon," chap. 10, 1; "These are the proverbs of Solomon, which the
men of Hezekiah, king of
The three
superscriptions also indicate the divisions of the book. The first section, chaps. 1 to 9, inclusive, contains a description
and recommendation of true wisdom, directed especially to young people. The
second section, chaps. 10 to 24, is more loosely
constructed, the pearls of wisdom following one another in a most telling
manner. The third section, chaps. 25 to 29, contains
such proverbs as were selected by a committee of prophets at the time of
Hezekiah. The book closes with three additions, chap. 30, 1-33; 31, 1-9; 31,
10-31.
The practical
wisdom contained in the Book of Proverbs is intended by the Lord for the instruction
of all men of all times and should be heeded in this sense also by the
Christians of the New Testament. It is the Lord Himself who speaks to men in
these sayings, and therefore they are profitable for doctrine, for reproof,
for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that a man of God may be
perfect, thoroughly furnished ‘into every good work, 2 Tim. 3, 15-17.
Paul E. Kretzmann