Here’s a scholarly book designed to really get at what OT wisdom literature is and what scholarship has thought it to be. Edited by David Firth and Lindsay Wilson, this book highlights the work of eleven scholars on the oft-debated issues of wisdom literature.

Part 1 is one chapter by Craig Bartholomew that introduces where the study of OT wisdom is today. That provides a fine overview, including some of the more bizarre things out there.

Part 2 gives chapters on the four main wisdom books of Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes, and the Song by Ernest Lucas, Lindsay Wilson, Katherine Dell, and Rosalind Clarke respectively. All of the chapters were worthwhile providing the reader learning each time.

Part 3 branches out on themes including seeing Ruth as Wisdom literature, retribution, wisdom, the connection of wisdom and biblical theology, voicing, and a really profound discussion of divine absence.   Gregory Goswell, Lennart Bostrom, David Firth, Christopher Ansberry (he was a really good writer), Simon Stocks, and Brittany Melton provided these chapters.

The book was a solid effort. If you like this type of book, I suggest you check out “Five Festal Garments” by Barry Webb from the same publisher as well. I predict you will see this volume quoted often in future scholarly works. It would be a worthy addition to your library.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.