The Wisdom of Solomon: a new translation with introduction and commentary

Introduction

Contents

Structure

Authorship: single or composite

Language and style

Genre

Date

Religious ideas

Wisdom of Solomon and Philo of Alexandria

Purpose

Manuscripts and versions

Status and influence

Selected bibliography

Translation and notes

Part I: Wisdom's gift of immortality (1

6:21)

Exhortation to justice which brings immortality (1:1-15)

Speech of the wicked who have covenanted with death (1:16-2:24)

Sufferings of the immortal just only a trial (3:1-12)

Sterility of the virtuous will ultimately be converted to fruitfulness (3:13-4:6)

Early death a token of God's solicitous care (4:7-20)

Vindication of the just and final judgment (5:1-23)

Exhortation to wisdom which is easily found and bring immortality and sovereignty (6:1-21)

Part II: The nature and power of wisdom and Solomon's quest for her (6:22

10:21)

The nature of wisdom and her mysteries will be revealed (6:22-25)

Solomon is only a mortal (7:1-6)

Solomon prefers wisdom above all else (7:7-14)

God is sole source of all-encompassing wisdom (7:15-22a)

Nature of wisdom: her twenty-one attributes (7:22b-24)

Fivefold metaphor describing wisdom's essence and her unique efficacy (7:25-8:1)

Solomon sought to make wisdom his bride (8:2-16)

Wisdom a sheer gift of God's grace (8:17-21)

Without wisdom no human enterprise can succeed (9:1-6)

Without wisdom, Solomon could not reign (9:7-12)

Divine wisdom brought men salvation (9:13-18)

An ode to wisdom's saving power in history (19-20)

From Adam to Moses (10:1-14)

The exodus (10:15-21)

Part III: Divine wisdom or justice in the exodus (11-19)

First antithesis: Nile water changed to blood, but Israelites obtained water from the desert rock (11:1-14)

Excursus I: Nature and purpose of divine mercy (22-24)

God's mercy toward the Egyptians and its causes (his might and the source of his merciful love) (11:15-12:2)

God's mercy toward the Canaanites and its causes (12:3-18)

God's mercy a model lesson for Israel (12:19-22)

Return to theme of measure for measure and transition to second Excursus (12:23-27)

Excusus II: On idolatry (24-31)

Mindless nature worship (13:1-9)

Wretched wooden-image making (13:10-14:11)

Origin and evil consequences of idolatry (14:12-31)

Israel's immunity from idolatry (15:1-6)

Malicious manufacture of clay figurines (15:1-6)

Folly of Egyptian idolatry (15:14-19)

Second antithesis: Egyptians hunger through animal plague, but Israel enjoys exotic quail food (16:1-4)

Third antithesis: Egyptians slain by locusts and flies but Israel survives attack through the bronze serpent, symbol of salvation (16:5-14)

Fourth antithesis: Equptians plagues by thunderstorms, but Israel fed by a rain of manna (16:15-29)

Fifth antithesis: Egyptians terrified by darkness, but Israel illuminated with bright light and guided through desert by a pillar of fire (17:1-18:4) 00 Sixth antithesis: Egyptian firstborn destroyed, but Israel protected and glorified (18:5-25)

Seventh antithesis: Egyptians drowned in the sea, but Israel passes safely through (19:1-9)

Retrospective review of God's wonders through which nature was refashioned for Israel (19:10-12)

Egypt more blameworthy than Sodom (19:13-17)

Transposition of the elements (19:18-21)

Concluding doxology (19:22).