Outline:
(A) What are the seven main divisions of this book?
| DIVISION I = | Proverbs 1:7 to 9:18. |
| DIVISION II = | "The Proverbs of Solomon" Proverbs 10:1 to 22;16. |
| DIVISION III = | "The words of the wise [ones]" Proverbs 22:22 to 24:22. |
| DIVISION IV = | "These also belong to the wise [ones]" Proverbs 24:23 to 24:34, |
| DIVISION V = | "These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied" Proverbs 25:1 to 29:27. |
| DIVISION VI = | "The words of Agar the son of Jakeh" Proverbs 30 (the whole chapter). |
| DIVISION VII = | "The words of king Lemuel" Proverbs 31 (the whole chapter). |
(B) How are these divisions indicated in the text? How do they compare as to length?
Division (1)
The first six verses of the book are an introduction to the whole of the Book of Proverbs. The very first "proverb," in itself, is found in verse seven.
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction."
Proverbs 1:7
This sets the theme of the first division, and also to all of Proverbs. "The fear of the Lord," which is the Old Testament way of saying: "Have faith and trust in God," is the very start of wisdom. All else, according to the author of this section, is subsidiary to this main principle. And what is the next step to wisdom?
"My son, hear the instruction of your father, and forsake not the law of your mother: for they shall be an ornament of grace unto your head, and chains about your neck."
Proverbs 1:8–9
Division (2)
The next thirteen chapters of the book are short proverbial statements made exclusively by King Solomon. The simple title to the section is: "The proverbs of Solomon" (Proverbs 10:1). And what is its primary emphasis? Look at the first proverb of this division: "A wise son makes a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother."
Whereas in the first division the thrust is mainly upon spiritual things: Wisdom, Understanding, Faithfulness and Duty to God, in this second section it is foremostly the relationships between humans. Of course, the most important association is that of children and parents, and that is emphasized first. There is nothing especially esoteric about these short and to-the-point statements, yet the order in which they occur could be significant. Since we are told by Paul that a "root of all evil" is the desire for riches (1 Timothy 6:10), it is interesting that the second proverb of Solomon's personal section shows that the "treasures of wickedness profit nothing" (Proverbs 10:2).
Division (3)
This is one of the most interesting sections in the whole of Proverbs. One who reads the King James Version would hardly realize that a new division was being introduced — but it is clearly evident in the original text. Division Three actually begins in the middle of chapter 22. The title to it is found from Proverbs 22:17 to 21. Let us look at it. Understand that the verses that now follow are not individual proverbs in themselves. They represent an introduction to Division Three.
"Bow down your ear, and hear the words of the wise [plural:"wise ones"], and apply your heart unto my knowledge. For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them [the following proverbs of Division Three] within you; they [these particular proverbs] shall withal be fitted in your lips. That your trust may be in the Lord, I have made known to you this day, even to you. Have not I written to your excellent things [or, as the Revised Standard Version has it: "thirty sayings"] in counsels and knowledge, that I might make you know the certainty of the words of truth; that you might answer the words of truth to them that send unto you?" Proverbs 22:17–21
After this long introduction, we then find the first proverb of Division Three. It is Proverbs 22:22–23:
"Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate: for the Lord will plead their causes, and spoil the soul of those that spoil them."
Division (4)
One would hardly realize that a new section of proverbs was being introduced if only the King James Version were relied on. Still, however, look at Proverbs 24:23. It says: "These things also belong to the wise [the wise ones]." The first proverb of this short division is: "It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment." The whole of the division occupies only twelve verses, but they were thought important enough to include them in the biblical book. The main theme is: do not be lazy, and hold your neighbor in esteem. It is really very good advice to anyone, and this section was deemed necessary for the righteous Israelite to hold in importance.
Division (5)
This section is a very significant one and was designed to muster together various proverbs of Solomon (of the many that he wrote) that would show a king how to act. One person who was intent in learning the wisdom of Solomon on rulership was righteous king Hezekiah in the 8th century before Christ. It was he who ordered his scribes to collect some of the most important proverbs of Solomon which pertained to rulership. And that is what we have in this fifth division (Proverbs 25:1 to 29:27).
"These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out."
Proverbs 25:1
Division (6)
This section is one chapter (30). It is the literary work of an unknown person called Agur, "The words of Agur the son of Jakeh." He was an agnostic! He had great difficulty in believing that a loving and wise God existed (even though he admitted he did). See Proverbs 30:2–6. Though it was difficult for him to believe that God truly had an interest in human life, he was compelled to admit it because of the marvels of creation. The rest of the chapter involves the orderliness of animals: birds, fish, insects, carnivores. To Agur, these all seemed to act according to a definite order, but mankind did not. Humans were haughty, they stole, were full of vanity, sensuous and foolish. And who did Agur consider the most stupid of all? It was himself "Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of man" (Proverbs 30:2). His anguish was so acute that he was asking: "Where is God in all this?" (this is a paraphrase of verse 4). This chapter (and division) ends without Agur finding the answer to his quest. His agnosticism was not cured, though he knew there was a God.
Division (7)
The last division was that written by an unknown king called Lemuel. "The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him." Ferrar Fenton tried to identify this "Lemuel" with King Solomon himself. This was done by stretching the meaning of "Lemuel" to signify "The One Who Forgot God." This is a rather fanciful interpretation and little weight should be attached to it. However, we know of no king in the Bible (or in secular history) with such a name. It may well be a cipher for Solomon himself, but no one can be sure of this.
This Lemuel became so distraught with life in the end of his days that he was driven to drink (Proverbs 31:2–9). This could well describe Solomon near his final years (Ecclesiastes 12:1–7). Solomon blamed his downfall on the many foreign women that he had in his harem (Ecclesiastes 7:26–29). The main problem was that they were the wrong kind of women for a righteous ruler of Israel. If "Lemuel" is a cipher for Solomon, it might help to explain why the last part of division seven (22 verses in length) describes the perfect and honest woman — the type Solomon never found (Proverbs 31:10–31). He could have discovered such a person if he would have looked in the right places. The trouble with Solomon, he did not!
Introduction
(c) To what branch of literature does this book belong?
Wisdom
(d) What is to be said as to its authorship?
Mostly King Solomon, and in chapter 30 and 31 are the words of Agur and Lemuel.
(e) What is the purpose of the book?
Knowledge is nothing more than an accumulation of raw facts, but wisdom is the ability to see people, events, and situations as God sees them. In the Book of Proverbs, Solomon reveals the mind of God in matters high and lofty and in common, ordinary, everyday situations, too. It appears that no topic escaped King Solomon's attention. Matters pertaining to personal conduct, sexual relations, business, wealth, charity, ambition, discipline, debt, child-rearing, character, alcohol, politics, revenge, and godliness are among the many topics covered in this rich collection of wise sayings; Also to give moral instruction, especially to young people.
