Introduction

After Pentateuch (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy: in Hebrew they are called Tȏrāh) and Historical Books, in the Catholic Bible there are Books of Wisdom and Poetic Books: Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Wisdom of Solomon and Wisdom of Jesus Ben Sira.

In the Books of Wisdom (Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Wisdom of Solomon and of Ben Sira) the word “wisdom” is not merely cognitive or abstract: on the contrary it denotes the practical ability to lead life in the proper way (like the helmsman of a ship), by the observation of reality and reflection on experience. For the wise man or woman, experience becomes a privileged place of encounter with God: in fact, they believe that He created the world with precise order and laws, even if not always knowable by humans. «Doesn’t wisdom cry out? Doesn’t understanding raise her voice? On the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she stands. Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the entry doors, she cries aloud: [...] “The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his work, before his deeds of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, before the earth existed. When there were no depths, I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was brought forth; while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning of the dust of the world. When he established the heavens, I was there [...]”» (Prov 8,1-3.22-27). The personification of the Wisdom that we find in Proverbs 8 says it: she is «from the beginning, before the earth existed» or better she is the principle and rule that the Lord used to create the world. The search of the wise men and women of the Bible rests on their faith in a creator God. 

 

 

The faith is the starting point of every search («The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge», Prov 1,7) and its final limit («There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD», Prov 21,30). Family and school are the traditional places in which wisdom is learnt: «My son, listen to your father’s instruction, and do not forsake your mother’s teaching: for they will be a garland to grace your head, and a necklace around your neck» (Prov 1,8-9); «Draw near to me, you unlearned, And lodge in the house of instruction» (Sir 51,23).

Since the search of wisdom does not rest on God’s direct Revelation (like the Tȏrāh and Prophets), but it passes through the creation, it can host the contributions of foreign wise men. In the Proverbs there are «The words of Agur the son of Jakeh» (30,1) and «The words of king Lemuel» (31,1): both are probably from Massah; moreover Job himself is not Hebrew, but from «the land of Uz» (Job 1,1).

To sum up: the Old Testament Wisdom gathers the personal search on life experience («I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under the sky», Eccl 1,13) and on the previous tradition, faith in a creator God, ability to order life to good and justice («Discretion will watch over you. Understanding will keep you, to deliver you from the way of evil [...]: that you may walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous. For the upright will dwell in the land. The perfect will remain in it. But the wicked will be cut off from the land. The treacherous will be rooted out of it», Prov 2,11-12.20-22).

Job, Proverbs and the Ecclesiastes are originally written in Hebrew, while the Wisdom of Solomon and of Ben Sira use Greek language and date back to the Hellenistic period (see the post about Judas Maccabaeus). It was a time when the Hebrew people were confronted with this rich foreign culture, while trying to preserve and actualize the Fathers’ Tradition. The Proverbs collections of sayings are part of a traditional wisdom, which still recognizes the validity of the retribution theory (the good are rewarded and the wicked are punished in life), while Job and the Ecclesiastes give voice to a more critical and pungent wisdom.

The Psalms and the Song of Songs are part of the Poetic Books.