A comprehensive introduction to ancient wisdom literature, with fascinating essays on a broad range of topics.The Wiley Blackwell Companion to Wisdom Literature is a wide-ranging introduction to the texts, themes, and receptions of the wisdom literature of the Bible and the ancient world. This comprehensive volume brings together original essays from established scholars and emerging voices to offer a variety of perspectives on the "wisdom" biblical books, early Christian and rabbinic literature, and beyond. Varied and engaging essays provide fresh insights on topics of timeless relevance, exploring the distinct features of instructional texts and discussing their interpretation in both antiquity and the modern world.Designed for non-specialists, this accessible volume provides readers with balanced coverage of traditional biblical wisdom texts, including Proverbs, Job, Psalms, and Ecclesiastes; lesser-known Egyptian and Mesopotamian wisdom; and African proverbs. The contributors explore topics ranging from scribes and pedagogy in ancient Israel, to representations of biblical wisdom literature in contemporary cinema. Offering readers a fresh and interesting way to engage with wisdom literature, this book:* Discusses sapiential books and traditions in various historical and cultural contexts* Offers up-to-date discussion on the study of the biblical wisdom books* Features essays on the history of interpretation and theological reception* Includes essays covering the antecedents and afterlife of the textsPart of the acclaimed Wiley Blackwell Companions to Religion series, the Companion to Wisdom Literature is a valuable resource for university, seminary and divinity school students and instructors, scholars and researchers, and general readers with interest in the subject.

Notes on Contributors viiiAcknowledgments xiiiAbbreviations xivEditors' Introduction 1Samuel L. Adams and Matthew GoffI. Texts 111 Proverbs 13Jacqueline Vayntrub2 Job 30Davis Hankins3 Ecclesiastes 49Jennie Grillo4 Psalms 67William P. Brown5 Sirach/Ben Sira 87Bradley C. Gregory6 Wisdom of Solomon 104Randall D. Chesnutt7 Wisdom Texts From the Dead Sea Scrolls 122Elisa Uusimäki8 Proverbs, Job, and Ecclesiastes in the Septuagint (LXX) 139Patrick PouchelleII. Themes 1579 The Figure of Solomon 159Blake A. Jurgens10 Female Imagery in Wisdom Literature 177Tova Forti11 Scribes and Pedagogy in Ancient Israel and Second Temple Judaism 195Matthew Goff12 God in Wisdom Literature 213James L. Crenshaw13 Jewish Wisdom in the Contest of Hellenistic Philosophy and Culture: Pseudo-Phocylides and Philo of Alexandria 229Michael Cover14 Wisdom and Apocalypticism 248Jason M. Zurawski15 The Orality of Wisdom Literature 267Timothy J. SandovalIII. Antecedents 28716 Ahiqar and Other Legendary Sages 289Seth A. Bledsoe17 Wisdom Literature in Egypt 310Samuel L. Adams18 Mesopotamian Wisdom 328Nili SametIV. Reception 34919 Wisdom in the New Testament 351Benjamin Wold20 Wisdom and the Rabbis 368Ari Mermelstein21 The Wisdom Tradition in Early Christianity through Late Antiquity 389Carson Bay22 Jewish Sapiential Traditions in the Nag Hammadi Library 412Dylan M. Burns23 The Sapiential Books in the Latin Middle Ages 429Gilbert Dahan24 The Reception History of Job 447Mark Larrimore25 Wisdom from African Proverbs Meets Wisdom from the Book of Proverbs 464Madipoane Masenya (Ngwan'a Mphahlele)26 Cinematic Wisdom: Film and Biblical Wisdom Literature 479Matthew S. RindgeIndex 496