Proverbs

This is the fourteenth in a series of biblical summaries from David Dorsey's book: The Literary Structure of the Old Testament.  This is the third in the sub-series of poetic books, covering the Book of Proverbs.

It seems likely that the Book of Proverbs is organized in a seven-part linear structure:

a   prologue (1:1-7)
b   introduction (1:8-9:18)
c   first collection of Solomonic proverbs (10:1-22:16)
d   words of the wise (22:17-24:34)
e   second collection of Solomonic proverbs (25:1-29:27)
f   words of Agur (30:1-33)
g   words of Lemuel (31:1-31)

The 'b' section (1:8-9:18) serves as an introduction.  Dorsey writes: "It is noteworthy that the book opens, not with the first collection of proverbs, but with an introduction that expounds the value of wisdom.  This organizational decision suggests that the editor of the book felt that his readers need to be convinced of the value of wisdom before they will be interested in utilizing the collection of wise sayings.  The introduction, then, serves as a "hook." (187)

This section forms a chiasm:

a   invitation of folly (1:8-19)
     b   invitation of wisdom (1:20-33)
          c   invitation to call out for wisdom (2:1-9)
               d   the loose woman (2:10-22)
                    e   good consequences of wise living (3:1-20)
                         f   practical advice (3:21-35)
                             g   embrace wisdom (4:1-27)
                             g'  don't embrace the adulteress (5:1-23)
                         f'  practical advice (6:1-19)
                    e'  bad consequences of adultery (6:20-35)
               d'  the loose woman (7:1-27)
          c'  invitation of wisdom who calls out (8:1-36)
     b'  invitation of wisdom (9:1-12)
a'  invitation of Lady Folly (9:13-18)

The 'a' pattern shows the link between folly and Lady Folly.  In the first, the wicked invite others to lie in secret to ambush and steal.  In the second, there is reference to bread eaten in secret and stolen water.  In the first, the wicked swallow the innocent like Sheol and death awaits the wicked.  In the second, death and Sheol await the one who goes in to Lady Folly.  In the first, death awaits those who live as the wicked do.  All this suggests the foolishness of secrecy and wickedness.

The 'b' pattern links two invitations to wisdom.  In both, she calls out to the naive and to the scoffers.

The 'c' pattern links a call for wisdom to a call from wisdom.  In the first, the reader is exhorted to call out and cry aloud for wisdom, to seek her and find knowledge of God.  The reader is told she is more valuable than silver, and that she is from Yahweh.  In the second, wisdom calls out and cries aloud.  The reader is exhorted to seek her in order to find her, to choose her above silver and is created by Yahweh.

The 'd' pattern links two sections about the loose woman.  In both, the reader is told that wisdom will protect from the "available woman who makes smooth her words."  In the first, her house "descends to death," and in the second, "her house is the path to Sheol."

The 'e' pattern links good consequences of wise living to the bad consequences of adultery.  In the first, wise living brings riches, honor, favor, and health.  In the second, adultery leads to poverty, dishonor, disfavor, and disease.  Both sections refer to responses to correction and discipline.

The 'f' pattern links two sections about practical advice.  The first is advice about right social behavior.  The second is advice about wrong social behavior.  The first includes seven "don't's."  The second includes seven evils.

The 'g' pattern links exhortation to embrace wisdom to an exhortation to not embrace the adulteress.  The first says, "Embrace wisdom and she will honor you."  The second says, "embrace the adulteress and you will be shamed."  The first says, "align your path."  The second says, "she does not align her paths."