Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Songs

ELLEN F. DAVIS

Westminster John Knox Press Louisville, Kentucky

Westminster Bible Companion

Series Editors

Patrick D. Miller

David L. Bartlett

© 2000 Ellen F. Davis

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. For information, address Westminster John Knox Press, 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40202-1396.

Except where noted, the scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.

Acknowledgments will be found on page viii.

Book design by Publishers’ WorkGroup

Cover design by Drew Stevens

First edition

Published by Westminster John Knox Press

Louisville, Kentucky

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

A catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress.

ISBN 0-664-25522-1

Contents

Series Foreword

Acknowledgments

General Introduction: These Three Books

PROVERBS

Introduction

1. Poetic Preface

The Goal of Learning (1:1–6)

The Fear of the Lord (1:7)

Bad Company (1:8–19)

Wisdom’s Challenge (1:20–33)

The Choice between Two Paths (2:1–22)

Beyond the Limits of Human Understanding (3:1–12)

Laying Hold of Happiness (3:13–26)

The Scorners (3:27–35)

Loving Wisdom (4:1–9)

The Anatomy of Wisdom (4:20–27)

Frank Talk about Sex (5:1–23)

Standing Surety (6:1–5)

Parable of the Ant (6:6–11)

Adorned with the Commandments (6:20–24)

Femme Fatale (7:1–27)

Wisdom’s Speech from the Heights (8:1–36)

Two Invitations (9:1–18)

2. Proverbs Proper

Constructive and Destructive Criticism (10:10)

Joy in Hope (10:28)

Gossip (11:11–13)

Women’s Beauty, Women’s Power (11:22)

The Root of the Righteous (12:3 and 12:12)

Working for Ourselves (12:9)

Choosing Companions (13:20)

Disciplining Children (13:24)

Honoring Solitude (14:10)

Joy and Sorrow (14:12–13)

Children’s Inheritance (14:18, 26)

The Religious Significance of the Poor (14:20–21)

Healing Speech (15:4)

Gaining a Heart (15:30–33)

Autonomy and Obedience (16:1–9)

The Power and the Justice of Kings (16:10–16)

Trusting God (16:20)

Temperance (16:32 and 25:28)

Choosing the Good (17:1)

The Danger of Isolation (18:1–2)

Deadly and Life-giving Speech (18:20–21)

Good Companions (18:22–24)

Contentiousness (19:13)

Fast Money (20:20–21)

Radical Pedagogy (22:6)

Thirty Sayings (22:17–24:22)

The Cost of Laziness (24:30–34)

Delivering the Message (25:11–13)

Defeating Evil (25:21–22)

A Fool’s Anger (27:3)

Envy (27:4)

Choosing Silence (27:14)

3. Closing Frames

The Words of Agur (30:1–33)

The Wisdom of Women (31:1–31)

ECCLESIASTES

Introduction

Introducing Koheleth (1:1)

The Great Question (1:2–3)

Instability and Amnesia (1:4–11)

Koheleth’s Memoir (1:12–2:26)...