Names of the Book

THE VISIT OF THE QUEEN OF SHEBA TO KING SOLOMON- Sir Edward John Poynter (1890)

English:  Proverbs
Hebrew:  משׁלי
Transliterated:  Mishlei
Other names:   

 

whoWho

Wrote the book:  Solomon (Agur and Lemuel contributed some later sections)
Are the key people:  Solomon
Is it written to:  The people of Israel

 

whatWhat

Wisdom for young people (Proverbs 1-9)
Wisdom for all people (Proverbs 10-24)
Wisdom for leaders (Proverbs 25-31)

 

whenWhen

Was it written:  c 1000 BCE
Did the events occur:  c 1012-961 BCE
Was it canonized:  c 499-100 BCE
(see the Timeline of the Tanakh)

 

whereWhere

Was it written:  In Jerusalem
Did the events occur:  various

 

whyWhy

Proverbs was written to inform us that: 
G-d is the source of true wisdom.
G-d's Law should govern our relationships.
G-d's morality should guard our speech.
G-d is in control of the final outcome of all we do.
G-d's standards produce G-dly wives.

 

whyIntroduction

Proverbs is a collection of Israelite wisdom literature that contains practical lessons for living.  Although written by several authors, many of the proverbs contained in the book are attributed to the wisest man who ever lived, King Solomon.  Proverbs tells us that the beginning and essence of wisdom is the fear of the Lord.  This book often compares the blessings of living wisely and the curses of living foolishly.  Proverbs illuminates the truths that while the wicked stumble in "deep darkness", "the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day".

 

 

Torah Portion

unknown

 

 

or view this week's triennial cycle reading.

Today is

Yom Sh'lishi, 9 Adar II, 5784

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

 

Learn more about this date in history.