A comprehensive examination of the links between wisdom literature and prophecy. The book is divided into four sections. The first addresses methodological concerns such as identifying “wisdom,” identifying potential sociological spheres for wisdom and prophecy in the ancient Near East, and recognizing potential textual relationships. The second examines the role of wisdom in the prophetic corpus more broadly in a book-by-book analysis of biblical texts, first examining the role of wisdom in the prophetic corpus of the Hebrew Bible.
The third section looks at elements of prophecy within the traditional wisdom books such as Job, Proverbs and Qoheleth. Finally, the book continues the conversation by providing two concluding chapters that evaluate, critique, engage, and raise new questions that Hebrew Bible scholars will need to wrestle with as the search for the relationship between wisdom and prophecy moves forward.
Table of Contents:
Preface
Acknowledgements
Abbreviations
Introduction
Part I. Methodology
1. Prophet and Sage in Dialogue: History and Methodology – Russell L. Meek, Louisiana College, USA.
2. ‘Wisdom’ as Mask and Mirror – Will Kynes, Whitworth University, USA.
3. Methods, Muddles, and Modes of Literature – Mark Sneed, Lubbock Christian University, USA.
4. Overlap? Influence? Allusion? The Importance of Asking the Right Questions – Stuart D. Weeks, University of Durham, UK.
5. The Relationship of Prophecy and Wisdom in the Ancient Near East – John Hilber, Cornerstone University, USA.
Part II. Wisdom among the Prophets
6. Spiritual Blindness and Wisdom Traditions in the Book of Isaiah - Eric Ortlund, Briercrest College and Seminary, USA.
7. The Structural Role of Wisdom in Jeremiah - Leslie Allen, Fuller Theological Seminary, USA.
8. Wisdom Gets “Tyred” in the Book of Ezekiel - William R. Osborne, College of the Ozarks, USA.
9. Daniel as Wisdom in Action - Andrew Steinmann, Concordia University Chicago, USA.
10. Where Shall Wisdom be Found (in the Book of the Twelve)? - Daniel Timmer, University of Sudbury, USA.
Part III. Prophecy among the Sages
11. A Prophet in the Sage’s House - Ryan O’Dowd, Cornell University, USA.
12. You Can’t Get a Sage to Do a Prophet’s Job: Overcoming Wisdom’s Deficiencies in the Book of Job - Martin Shields, University of Sydney, Australia.
13. Was Qohelet an Eschatological or Anti-Apocalyptic Sage? Hebel, the Evil Day, and Divine Judgement in the Book of Ecclesiastes - Richard Schultz, Wheaton College, USA.
14. From Where Should Apocalyptic Be Found? The Book of Job as Key to Von Rad’s Theory - Timothy Johnson, Philadelphia Biblical University, USA.
Part IV. Conclusions
15. Response on Methodological Matters Regarding Wisdom Influence and on the Relationship between Wisdom and Prophecy - Katharine J. Dell, University of Cambridge, UK.
16.Wisdom in Prophecy: A Response - Mark J. Boda, McMaster University, Canada.
17. Prophecy and Wisdom: Connections, Influences, Relationships - Tremper Longman III, Westmont College, USA.
Indexes
About the Author :
Mark J. Boda is Professor of Old Testament at McMaster Divinity College and Professor in the Faculty of Theology at McMaster University, Canada.
Russell L. Meek is Assistant Professor of Old Testament and Hebrew at Louisiana College, USA.
William R. Osborne is Assistant Professor of Biblical and Theological Studies at College of the Ozarks, USA.
Review :
This work accomplishes its purpose in calling a new generation of scholarship to consider and explore critical questions on intertextuality between sage and prophet … Those interested in wisdom literature, prophetic literature, intertextuality, or all of the above, should benefit from the robust and clear scholarship found in this volume.
As a whole, Riddles and Revelations is an important and much-needed work. Each of its major parts covers its chosen corpus in a representative and balanced way… Riddles and Revelations is a pleasurable and insightful reading experience.
Assessing a collection of articles always challenges a reviewer, and this volume is no exception. The volume’s tight editing, however, and use of review articles makes it a fine example of how collected volumes should work… The editors have done a remarkable job of curating a rich conversation, which will provoke many others.
This volume presents stimulating discussion of an important, emerging issue in the study of biblical wisdom and prophecy.
