T&T Clark An Introduction to the Study of Wisdom Literature (T&T Clark Approaches to Biblical Studies)

"Stuart Weeks" provides a much needed introduction to wisdom literature. In contrast to much of the other literature in the Hebrew Bible, the wisdom books have little interest in corporate religion or historical exigencies, but focus instead on the needs of each individual, struggling to survive and prosper in a world that can be dangerous and confusing. This has sometimes led to the marginalization of this literature in biblical studies, but has also allowed it to remain popular and influential amongst readers of the Bible, who have continued to confront the same questions and issues across the centuries. After an initial section, examining these basic questions and the development of 'authoritative' literary genres which sought to address them in Egypt and Mesopotamia, the literary characteristics and thought of each book will be outlined, and the relationships between them discussed. The third section will look at the historical questions and approaches, discussing the traditional tendency to isolate wisdom literature, but also emphasizing the many links with other biblical literature and thought. The final section, similarly, will suggest that the theological and ideological positions most commonly associated with wisdom literature can also be viewed more profitably in the general context of developing Jewish ideas than as an 'alien' body within the canon. These guides have been developed for those taking a course in biblical studies in theological or ministerial education, and are designed to introduce the reader to the various approaches to the study of the bible. The series is ecumenical, and all the writers are professionally engaged in the teaching of biblical studies. Review 'Avoiding technical language and footnotes, Weeks has given us a clear and thought-provoking introduction to a set of intriguing biblical texts.' --Sanford Lakoff 'The book will definitely serve well the broader academic community; it will be especially useful for teaching a course on wisdom literature in an academic setting.'--Sanford Lakoff 'Weeks provides a valuable survey of Israelite Wisdom Literature. He explains the main issues presented by the Wisdom corpus and gives fair consideration to a variety of views, while arguing thoughtfully for his own conclusions. His knowledge of scholarly literature is extensive and deep, but he takes care to make his writing clear and accessible to all. His "Introduction "will be an effective tool in the university classroom.' - Michael V. Fox, Jay C. and Ruth Halls-Bascom Professor, Department of Hebrew and Semitic Studies, University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA.--Sanford Lakoff Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 st1\: *{behavior: url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name: "Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow: yes; mso-style-parent: ""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language: #0400; mso-fareast-language: #0400; mso-bidi-language: #0400;} 'Weeks here illuminates both the form and the content of 's wisdom literature in relation to the wider world of its origins. The thinking is sharp and nuanced, the presentation is lucid and accessible. This is a distinctive and valuable Introduction'. - Walter Moberly, Professor of Theology and Biblical Interpretation, Durham University, --Sanford LakoffNormal0falsefalsefalseMicrosoftInternetExplorer4st1\: *{behavior: url(#ieooui) }!--/* Style Definitions */p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal{mso-style-parent: "";margin:0cm;margin-bottom: .0001pt;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align: none;text-autospace: none;font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language: EN-US;}@page Section1{size:612.0pt 792.0pt;margin:72.0pt 9