Wisdom as a Hermeneutical Construct : A Study in the Sapientializing of the Old Testament

194 Pages·2013·13.519 MB·English

by  Gerald T. Sheppard

Gerald T. Sheppard
Wisdom as a Hermeneutical Construct

Gerald T. Sheppard
Wisdom
as a Hermeneutical
Construct
A Study in the Sapientializing
of the Old Testament
W
DE
G
Walter de Gruyter · Berlin · New York
1980
Beiheft zur Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft
Herausgegeben von Georg Fohrer
151
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Sheppard, Gerald Τ 1946-
Wisdom as a hermeneutical construct.
(Beiheft zur Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft; 151)
Bibliography: p. 161
1. Wisdom literature-Criticism, interpretation, etc. 2. Bible. O.T.
Apocrypha. Ecclesiasticus—Criticism, interpretation, etc. 3. Bible.
O.T. Apocrypha. Baruch-Criticism, interpretation, etc. 4. Bible.
O.T.-Criticism, interpretation, etc. I. Title. II. Series: Zeitschrift
für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft : Beiheft ; 151.
BS410.Z5 vol. 151 [BS1455] 221'.08s 79-13156
ISBN 3-11-007504-0 [229'.4'06]
CIP-Kurztitelaufnahme der Deutschen Bibliothek
Sheppard, Gerald T.:
Wisdom as a hermeneutical construct : a study in the sapiential-
izing of the old testament / Gerald T. Sheppard. - Berlin, New
York: de Gruyter, 1980.
(Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft : Beih. ; 151)
ISBN 3-11-007504-0
©
1980
by Walter de Gruyter & Co., vormals G. J.Göschen'sche Verlagshandlung - J. Guttentag,
Verlagsbuchhandlung - Georg Reimer - Karl J. Trübner - Veit & Comp., Berlin 30
Alle Rechte des Nachdrucks, derphotomechanischen Wiedergabe, der Übersetzung,
der Herstellung von Mikrofilmen und Photokopien, auch auszugsweise, vorbehalten.
Printed in Germany
Satz und Druck: Hubert Sc Co., Göttingen
Bindearbeiten: Lüderitz Sc Bauer, Berlin 61
To my parents,
Emma and Thomas I. Sheppard

Foreword
I wish to express my gratitude most of all to Professor Brevard
S. Childs of Yale University for his persistent interest, suggestions, and
encouragement on this project. The best of this research should be viewed
as a tribute to him. I am also indebted to the copious criticisms and sug-
gestions of Professor Sid Z. Leiman, S. Dean McBride, and Robert R.
Wilson. Likewise, for various stages of typing and proofreading, I thank
Samuel Huestis, Ann Salinas, Erma Frodsham, Ron Hock, Leslie Wolff,
and Karen Lanier. My wife, Marilyn, deserves much credit for this effort.
Not only did she give sacrificially of her time to allow me to pursue the
research, but she also proofread parts of the manuscript and helped
prepare the bibliography.
I am grateful to the Layne Foundation for tuition grants and to Yale
University for stipends, without which graduate study would not have
been possible. Union Theological Seminary in New York, through the
offices of President Donald W.Shriver and Dean Milton McC. Gatch, gen-
erously provided the subvention fee for publication. Finally, I want to
thank Professor Georg Fohrer for his acceptance of this work in the BZAW
Monograph series.
This book is dedicated to my parents, Thomas and Emma Sheppard,
who tirelessly supported and encouraged my work. They always read the
Scriptures in the present tense, as a guide to the obedient life. I have sought
in this monograph to understand something about how they and the
generations of the faithful before them found contemporary wisdom in
such ancient religious traditions.
Gerald T. Sheppard

Table of Contents
Foreword VII
Abbreviations X
Chapter I. Introduction l
The Problem of Wisdom in Recent Critical Scholarship 1
A New Approach 12
Chapter II. Case Study One: Sir. 24:3-29 19
Preface to the Sirach Case Studies 19
Preface to Sir. 24:3-29 21
Sir. 24:3-29 Analysis 21
Chapter III. Case Study Two: Sir. 16:24-17:14 72
Preface to Sir. 16:24-17:14 72
Sir. 16:24-17:14 Analysis 72
Chapter IV. Case Study Three: Bar. 3:9-4:4 84
Preface to the Baruch Studies 84
Bar. 3:9-4:4 Analysis 85
Chapter V. An Assessment of the Case Studies 100
A Review of the Technical Evidence 100
The Factor of Canon in These Interpretations 109
The Text as the Medium of Interpretation 110
Synthetic Modes of Interpretation Ill
A Shift in the Identification of Subject 114
Wisdom as a Hermeneutical Construct 116
Chapter VI. Evidence of a Similar Phenomenon in the OT 120
Preface to the OT Investigation 120
The Epilogue to Qoheleth (Qoh. 12:13-14) 121
The Ending of the Book of Hosea (Hos. 14:10) 129
The Preface to the Psalter (Ps. 1 and 2) 136
The Last Words of David (2Sam. 23:1-7) 144
Conclusions to the OT Studies 159
Bibliography 161
Authors Index 167
Scripture Index 170