Unit 6
The Writings I: Wisdom (Proverbs, Job and Ecclesiastes)

Learning Objectives

After completing Unit 6 you should be able to

1. define “Wisdom Literature” and discuss the distinctive theological, political, and philosophical perspectives that it represents.
2. explain the extent to which wisdom is attainable by human beings and the primary ways of acquiring wisdom, according to the wisdom literature.
3. discuss the relationship between the wisdom literature of the Hebrew Bible and Egyptian and Mesopotamian wisdom texts.
4. discuss the similarities and differences in the approaches to wisdom found in Job, Ecclesiastes and Proverbs.

Introduction

In this and the next two units, we discuss a diverse group of books called the Ketuvim (Writings). This unit focuses on wisdom literature, which is a technical term for one type of literature found in the Hebrew Bible. The biblical texts we will read represent two different approaches to wisdom. The tradition represented in the book of Proverbs is optimistic and affirming, while the books of Job and Ecclesiastes are more somber and questioning.