Solomon wrote much of Proverbs, along with Agur (chapter 30) and Lemuel (chapter 31). Proverbs is a wisdom book along with Job, Song of Solomon and Ecclesiastes. A prover
b is a brief statement which can state an insight, make an observation, or offer advice in the form of an admonition or prohibition…it does not teach a universally valid truth. On the contrary, proverbs are true only if stated at the right time and in the right circumstance.1” The wisdom literature in Proverbs is made up of poetry. “Poetry has three major characteristics: terseness, parallelism, and intense use of imagery.2” The first nine chapters of proverbs contain discourses from a father to a son and ‘Woman wisdom’ giving advice also. They speak as messengers from the Lord to impart wisdom3. The father gives 10 lectures to his son, and there are two interludes of Woman wisdom, who is a personified essence of the father’s teaching. Indeed, the purpose of the book is to ‘know wisdom’ (v.2). Chapters 10-31 contain mostly short pithy proverbs which can be interpreted in light of the first nine chapters. A foundational theme in the preamble (1:1-7) is 1:7: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction (ESV). What is meant by ‘fear of the Lord4’? Simply put it is worshipful reverence. It means submission to His will. To benefit from wisdom, it has to be in relationship to God.