This volume, the first of its kind, surveys Proverbs studies from 1870 to the present day. It describes theories of origins and background (affinities with international wisdom, supposed rootage in court, school and tribal wisdom), literary and structural aspects such as the nature of Hebrew poetry and the composition of the proverb collections, the special problems of chapters 1-9, 22:16-24:34 and 30-31, theological ideas (especially relationships with Egyptian wisdom texts and with characteristic Old Testament teaching), date, text and versions.
This work will be of interest to all teachers and students of Proverbs, but is especially directed to the needs of those preparing or directing doctoral dissertations.
The bibliography lists 350 books and articles, all of which are discussed in the text and notes.