of Israel’s neighbours. (Egypt is referred to, for example, in Gn. 41:8; Ex. 7:11; 1 Ki. 4:30; Is. 19:11; Babylon in Is. 44:25; Je. 50:35; 51:57; and Edom in Je. 49:7; Ob. 8 and Jb. 2:11). Egyptian and Mesopotamian writers sought to explore the questions of life and death in the light of their own background faith. The book of Proverbs is exploring these same questions from its basis of faith in Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. The proverbs are concerned with the practicalities of living in God’s
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