The greater part of this volume (Chapters V. to XII.) is occupied with a study of the teaching of “Wisdom” among the Jews in Palestine during the Hellenistic Age, so far as the subject is represented in the two great collections of Jewish sayings, the Book of Proverbs and Ecclesiasticus. It would be too much to claim that in these chapters the book breaks new ground, for the importance of the Hellenistic period is recognised by students of history, and there have been many commentaries on the Book of Proverbs, nor has Ecclesiasticus been without its expositors. But the historian devotes himself to the relation of events, and the commentator5 is busy with the thoughts of the several proverbs or with the textual difficulties they present, rather than with their precise historical setting. Here an endeavour has been made to bring the proverbs into{8} close connection with the history, and it is hoped that not only do the proverbs thereby6 acquire fresh interest, but also that there emerges a picture of the men who made them and used them in the furtherance of morality and faith. Even to professed7 students of Jewish history the makers8 of the “Wisdom” proverbs are apt to remain distant and shadowy figures; but we cannot afford to neglect any of the makers of the Bible, and I venture to think that the method followed in this volume makes it possible to appreciate the outlook of these men, to realise their difficulties, and if not to sympathise wholly with their views, at least to feel that they were very human. Whether this brief sketch9 is successful in attaining10 its object or not, it is certain that the subject deserves more attention than it has hitherto received.
Besides the numerous maxims11 in Proverbs and Ecclesiasticus, there are some interesting popular proverbs in the historical and prophetical books of the Old Testament12. To these a part of Chapter IV. will be devoted13. Occasional references will also be made, especially in the second half of the book, to proverbial sayings taken from the Rabbinical literature of the Jews. The titles of Chapters XIII. to XX. sufficiently14 indicate the nature of their contents, and require no further comment here.
In translating the proverbs the Revised Version has been used as a basis, but liberty has been exercised in making any alterations16 that seemed desirable on textual or literary grounds. Most of the changes thus introduced will readily explain themselves to those who are acquainted with the original texts or may care to consult modern commentaries, such as that of Professor Toy on Proverbs (International{9} Critical Commentary) and of Dr. Oesterley on Ecclesiasticus (Cambridge Bible Series).
Any volume, such as this, that touches a wide range of subjects must have correspondingly many obligations. I welcome this opportunity of recording17 my gratitude18 to the authors whose writings are referred to in the following pages, and in particular I desire to acknowledge my indebtedness to the Right Rev15. E. L. Bevan’s illuminating19 work on the Hellenistic period, to the writings of Professor Toy and Dr. Oesterley mentioned above, and to Professor C. F. Kent’s short study and analysis of Proverbs in his book The Wise Men of Ancient Israel.
W. A. L. E.
Christ’s College, Cambridge.
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constrained
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adj.束缚的,节制的 | |
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discreetly
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ad.(言行)审慎地,慎重地 | |
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explicitly
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ad.明确地,显然地 | |
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accomplished
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adj.有才艺的;有造诣的;达到了的 | |
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commentator
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n.注释者,解说者;实况广播评论员 | |
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thereby
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adv.因此,从而 | |
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professed
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公开声称的,伪称的,已立誓信教的 | |
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makers
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n.制造者,制造商(maker的复数形式) | |
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sketch
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n.草图;梗概;素描;v.素描;概述 | |
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10
attaining
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(通常经过努力)实现( attain的现在分词 ); 达到; 获得; 达到(某年龄、水平、状况) | |
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maxims
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n.格言,座右铭( maxim的名词复数 ) | |
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testament
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n.遗嘱;证明 | |
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devoted
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adj.忠诚的,忠实的,热心的,献身于...的 | |
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14
sufficiently
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adv.足够地,充分地 | |
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15
rev
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v.发动机旋转,加快速度 | |
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alterations
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n.改动( alteration的名词复数 );更改;变化;改变 | |
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17
recording
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n.录音,记录 | |
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gratitude
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adj.感激,感谢 | |
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illuminating
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a.富于启发性的,有助阐明的 | |
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