Poverty in the Social World of the Wise
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 7529301 |
|---|---|
| Authors | J David Pleins (Program on Studies in Religion, The University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI 48104, USA, corresponding author) |
| Year | 1987 |
| Volume | 12 |
| Issue | 37 |
| Pages | 61-78 |
| Publication date | 1987-02-01 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal for the Study of the Old Testament (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0309-0892 • E-ISSN: 1476-6728 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1177/030908928701203704 |
| OpenAlex | W2169460628 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 4 |
Significant progress has been made in clarifying the social milieu of the biblical wisdom literature.Although scholars are certainly not in complete agreement on this issue, nevertheless many have convincingly argued for an urban elite educational background as the well-spring of wisdom thought.This paper explores this thesis through a consideration of wisdom teaching on poverty.The study begins with a brief sketch of the royal tendencies and influences present in the book of Proverbs.The view defended here is that the values and interests of the wisdom writers are the same as those of the urban elite whom they serve.There follows a detailed consideration of the distinctive use of the Hebrew terms for poor in the book of Proverbs.An examination of this vocabulary sets in sharp relief the view of poverty held by the wise.In the course of this essay it will be seen that, in their understanding of the causes and theological dimensions of poverty, the wise differed significantly from other strains of the biblical tradition, in particular the Hebrew prophets.The evidence of the wisdom vocabulary on poverty confirms the view that the wise are the purveyors of urban values.1
Political science · Poverty · Sociology · Biblical Studies and Interpretation · Development, Ethics, and Society · Jewish Identity and Society · Law
| Highly cited | No |
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