Contradiction in the Book of Proverbs: The Deep Waters of Counsel

215 Pages·2016·8.203 MB·English

by  Peter T.H. Hatton

ContradiCtion in the Book of ProverBs
despite the welcome revival of scholarly interest in Biblical Wisdom, the Book of
Proverbs remains neglected. it continues to be seen as a disorganised repository of
traditional banalities, while Job and Qohelet are viewed as more exciting texts, in
revolt against Proverbs’ conventional wisdom. Contradiction in the Book of Proverbs
argues that this misleading consensus owes more to scholarly presuppositions than
to the content of Proverbs; it sees Proverbs as a challenging work, one that aims to
provoke a critical appropriation of wisdom and in which diverse sources have been
skilfully brought together by a creative final editor to form a complex unity. Many
divergences from the hebrew in the Greek witness to the translator’s discomfort with
his spikey, provocative original. Peter hatton challenges many existing scholarly
assumptions and calls for a re-evaluation of the role and significance of Proverbs in
relation to the other biblical wisdom books and the whole canon.
SOCIETY FOR OLD TESTAMENT STUDY MONOGRAPHS
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Series Editorial Board
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ashgate is pleased to publish the revived society for old testament study (sots)
monograph series. the society for old testament study is a learned society based
in the British isles, with an international membership, committed to the study of
the old testament. this series promotes old testament studies with the support
and guidance of the society. the series includes research monographs by members
of the society, both from established international scholars and from exciting new
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Titles in the series include:
Jeremiah’s Kings
A Study of the Monarchy in Jeremiah
John Brian Job
Hebrew Bible and Ancient Versions
Selected Essays of Robert P. Gordon
robert P. Gordon
The Old Testament: Canon, Literature and Theology
Collected Essays of John Barton
John Barton
Amos and the Cosmic Imagination
James r. Linville
Contradiction in the
Book of Proverbs
the deep Waters of Counsel
Peter t.h. hatton
First published 2008 by Ashgate Publishing
Published 2016 by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017, USA
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
Copyright © 2008 Peter t.h. hatton
Peter t.h. hatton has asserted his moral right under the Copyright, designs and Patents act,
1988, to be identified as the author of this work.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised
in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or
hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information
storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.
Notice:
Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are
used on ly for identi fication and ex planation without intent to infringe.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
hatton, Peter t.h., 1954–
Contradiction in the Book of Proverbs : the deep waters of counsel. – (the society for old
testament study)
1.Bible. o.t. Proverbs – Criticism, interpretation, etc. 2. Paradox in the Bible
i. title ii. society for old testament study
223.7’06
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
hatton, Peter t.h., 1954–
Contradiction in the book of Proverbs : the deep waters of counsel / Peter t.h. hatton.
p.cm. — (society for old testament study)
includes bibliographical references.
isBn 978-0-7546-6304-1 (hardcover : alk. paper) 1. Bible. o.t. Proverbs—Criticism,
interpretation, etc. 2. Paradox in the Bible. i. title.
Bs1465.6.P32h38 2008
223’.706—dc22
2007045047
isBn 9780754663041 (hbk)
To my wife, Susan Hatton, Ishet-Hayil
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Contents
Acknowledgements ix
Permissions xi
Abbreviations xiii
1 Proverbs, an Undervalued text 1
2 How Proverbs was Marginalized 17
3 Unity and diversity in Proverbs 47
4 Provocative Contradiction: the acts–Consequence ‘Construct’ 83
5 Provocative Contradiction: the Powerful in Qohelet and Proverbs 117
6 Provocative Contradiction: Gifts and Bribes in Proverbs 137
7 the deep Waters of Counsel 149
recent articles dealing with Wisdom Literature in Jsot, vt and ZaW 171
Bibliography 179
Index of Authors 189
Index of References 191
Index of Selected Subjects 195
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acknowledgements
i am greatly indebted to the rev dr kenneth Wilson, the rev dr Gerard norton and
dr deryn Guest who all took turns at supervising the doctoral research on which this
book is based. they were endlessly patient and gave freely of their time, learning
and wisdom. none of them bears any responsibility for the opinions i express or for
any errors i have made. i should like to thank my wife, susan, for her support for
my attempts to combine scholarly and pastoral endeavour. this book is dedicated
to her.
Peter Hatton