The Book of Proverbs is a challenge. Its language is straightforward, its messages reasonably accessible. Yet, to sit and study aphorisms, no matter how good the advice, can be a drag at best, and beating yourself over the head, at worst. This collection of smart, pithy statements may not be a self-help book (it\u2019s not that direct), but its premise is that one who abides by its wisdom will succeed.<\/p>\r\n
Proverbs is the purported handicraft of the prolific King Solomon, though the text intimates that he was not yet king when he wrote it. Its purpose is indeed a matter of self-improvement, namely: \u201cto know wisdom and ethics, to understand statements of understanding; to take practical, moral lesson, justice and law, and uprightness\u201d (1:2-3, translation mine). Solomon seemingly repeats himself in asserting the value of this text, but it is in those nuanced differences that the riches of his text are first found.<\/p>\r\n
The degree of one\u2019s involvement increases with each of the verbs - \"to know\" (lada'at<\/em>), \"to understand\" (lehavin<\/em>), \"to take\" (lakachat<\/em>) - from passive knowledge to the delving required for understanding to the active engagement that enables internalizing morals.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n His nouns - \"wisdom,\" \"ethics,\" \"statements of understanding;\" \"moral lessons,\" \"justice,\" \"law,\" and \"uprightness\" - are all traits available for those who learn and internalize Proverbs.<\/p>\r\n Who's the target audience? Really, everyone. Each person will achieve a higher level of wisdom than that which preceded the encounter with Solomon\u2019s words.<\/p>\r\n It will give the fools cunning, and the lad knowledge and foresight, the ability to plan that comes with maturation. Solomon assures us that also the wise will also benefit -- they will accrue additional wisdom. And the discerning will acquire the capacity to strategize. These four stages of acquiring wisdom may be indications of growth that we all traverse, or simply from which we each can progress.<\/p>\r\n Verse 6 defines wisdom, writ large: understanding parables and flourishes, the words of the wise and their riddles. The Vilna Gaon explains this discernment to be grasping both literal and figurative meanings. He notes that the Written Torah and the Oral Torah include both ideas that are easily accessible, and those that are cloaked in metaphor, requiring \u201cunpacking\u201d (and which may be counterintuitive). The verses of Proverbs are used throughout rabbinic literature as triggers for sharp explication of other passages of biblical text, and as springboards to rabbinic homiletics.<\/p>\r\n To round out his introduction to what might otherwise appear to be a secular endeavor of intellectual pursuit, Solomon the Wise brings in the Divine. He asserts that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Is that a prerequisite or does it take precedent? Perhaps both. And then Solomon, pulling no punches, calls those who deride wisdom and ethics (or discipline) imbeciles.<\/p>\r\n It\u2019s an invitation to probe this work. Nay, a demand. To examine its place in the literature of the sages, and to develop our powers of discernment through its study.<\/p>\r\n image: King Solomon (stained glass), produced by Tiffany Studios, c.1900,\u00a0Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows, The Navy Pier, Chicago, IL.\u00a0 Photo by A Duarte \/ flickr<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":92101,"alt":"","title":"pro1-solomon stained glass","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro1-solomon-stained-glass.jpg","width":784,"height":1080,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro1-solomon-stained-glass-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro1-solomon-stained-glass-218x300.jpg","medium-width":218,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro1-solomon-stained-glass-743x1024.jpg","medium_large-width":743,"medium_large-height":1024,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro1-solomon-stained-glass-743x1024.jpg","large-width":743,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro1-solomon-stained-glass.jpg","1536x1536-width":784,"1536x1536-height":1080,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro1-solomon-stained-glass.jpg","2048x2048-width":784,"2048x2048-height":1080,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro1-solomon-stained-glass.jpg","post_full_size-width":784,"post_full_size-height":1080,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro1-solomon-stained-glass-305x420.jpg","home_baner-width":305,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"The Riddles And Flourishes Of Solomon The Wise","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"An invitation, a challenge and an opportunity","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":92101,"alt":"","title":"pro1-solomon stained 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A Prologue To The Book ","post_title":"Proverbs: A Prologue To The Book","slug":"proverbs-a-prologue-to-the-book","old_id":"92078","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":34243,"post_title":"Moshe Sokolow","slug":"moshe-sokolow","old_id":"34243","first_name":"Moshe","last_name":"Sokolow","description":"Dr. Moshe Sokolow is Associate Dean of the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, Yeshiva University, and teaches a weekly class in parashat hashavu`a at Lincoln Square Synagogue. He is the author of TANAKH: An Owner\u2019s Manual (Jerusalem: Urim\/Ktav, 2015).\r\n\r\n","short_description":"Dr. Moshe Sokolow is Associate Dean of the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, Yeshiva University","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":34244,"alt":"","title":"sokolow","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","width":302,"height":300,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow-300x298.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":298,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","medium_large-width":302,"medium_large-height":300,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","large-width":302,"large-height":300,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","1536x1536-width":302,"1536x1536-height":300,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","2048x2048-width":302,"2048x2048-height":300,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","post_full_size-width":302,"post_full_size-height":300,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/sokolow.jpg","home_baner-width":302,"home_baner-height":300}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"718","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"A practical approach\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":" Describing King Solomon\u2019s wisdom, the Tanakh says: \u201cHe composed three thousand proverbs, and his songs numbered one thousand and five\u201d (1 Kings 5:12). While it is not possible to determine whether these numbers are exact or exaggerated, the proverbs are traditionally assumed to include those collected in the Book of Proverbs (<\/span>Mishlei<\/span><\/em>) and the Book of Ecclesiastes (<\/span>Kohelet<\/span><\/em>), and the songs are identified with the Song of Songs (<\/span>Shir Ha-shirim<\/span><\/em>).<\/span><\/p>\r\n The various titles or attributions appearing in some chapters divide the Book of Proverbs into several parts:<\/span><\/p>\r\n The Talmud (Baba Batra 14b) attributes the redaction of the Book of Proverbs (along with Song of Songs and Ecclesiastes) to King Hezekiah and his entourage (see 25:1), perhaps in acknowledgement of the fact that all three are compilations, suggesting that they were authored by one party (Solomon) but organized and published by another.<\/span><\/p>\r\n A sense of the complexity of the book and the difficulty in interpreting is evident from these remarks by Radak in his introduction:<\/span><\/p>\r\n When I set about my commentary on the Bible, I examined all that had been written by my predecessors and found their interpretations arranged on the various books, some quite correct and proper, each having done his best to interpret them. Regarding Proverbs, I found differing interpretations corresponding to the different exegetical opinions, each taking his own approach, to the extent that the general public is perplexed regarding its correct interpretation.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Some exegetes maintained that Solomon compared the Torah to a wise and virtuous woman and idolatry to a wicked and wanton woman. Others maintained that he compared physical matter to a harlot and intellectual form to a virtuous and wise woman\u2026 The upshot is that even individual verses were misinterpreted, and readers get confused because the verses are not arranged topically\u2026 It also contains many verses which begin with one subject and end with yet another.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Radak committed himself to explain the practical intent of Proverbs more than its philosophical intent, and we shall consistently avail ourselves of his commentary.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":92079,"alt":"","title":"pro1-whole book","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro1-whole-book.jpg","width":1600,"height":874,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro1-whole-book-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro1-whole-book-300x164.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":164,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro1-whole-book-768x420.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":420,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro1-whole-book-1024x559.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":559,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro1-whole-book.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":839,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro1-whole-book.jpg","2048x2048-width":1600,"2048x2048-height":874,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro1-whole-book-1200x656.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":656,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro1-whole-book-769x420.jpg","home_baner-width":769,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Proverbs: A Prologue To The Book","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"A practical approach","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":92079,"alt":"","title":"pro1-whole book","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro1-whole-book.jpg","width":1600,"height":874,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro1-whole-book-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro1-whole-book-300x164.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":164,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro1-whole-book-768x420.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":420,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro1-whole-book-1024x559.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":559,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro1-whole-book.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":839,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro1-whole-book.jpg","2048x2048-width":1600,"2048x2048-height":874,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro1-whole-book-1200x656.jpg","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":656,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro1-whole-book-769x420.jpg","home_baner-width":769,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Writings","book":"Proverbs","chapter":"1","chapter_main_number":"718","date":"20280530","wall_id":"718"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":4,"id":"92149","color":"#efefef","size":"1","name":"The Responsibility And Liability Of Wisdom ","post_title":"The Responsibility And Liability Of Wisdom","slug":"the-responsibility-and-liability-of-wisdom","old_id":"92149","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":46656,"post_title":"Molly Morris","slug":"molly-morris","old_id":"46656","first_name":"Molly ","last_name":"Morris ","description":"Molly Morris holds a Masters degree in Leadership and Community Engagement. Her particular area of interest is biblical leadership. Molly participates in the 929 initiative with a dedicated group from the Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto congregation. \r\n\r\n","short_description":"Molly Morris holds a Masters degree in Leadership and Community Engagement. Molly participates in the 929 initiative with a dedicated group from the Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto congregation. \r\n\r\n","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":92561,"alt":"","title":"molly morris","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris.jpg","width":2192,"height":2488,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-264x300.jpg","medium-width":264,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-768x872.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":872,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-902x1024.jpg","large-width":902,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris.jpg","1536x1536-width":1353,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris.jpg","2048x2048-width":1804,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-1057x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1057,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/molly-morris-370x420.jpg","home_baner-width":370,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"720","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"When we believe too much in our own wisdom, our sensitivity to others diminishes in inverse proportion to our arrogance\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":" Chapter 3 of Proverbs opens with two overarching statements of caution. \u201cTrust in God with all your heart and do not rely on your own understanding (3:5)\u201d and \u201cDon\u2019t be wise in your own eyes (3:7)\u201d are calls to self-awareness. King Solomon speaks to this from his own painful experience. It was precisely the error of succumbing to overconfidence in his own wisdom that led to King Solomon\u2019s infraction against God. While Solomon well knew the commandment concerning the accumulation of excess (1 Kings 10-11) he thought himself wise enough to be able to push the boundaries without consequence. The danger, as Solomon himself experienced, in overestimating our own understanding is that we can too easily slip from putting our trust in God to trusting only our own assessment and becoming self-serving.<\/span><\/p>\r\n And yet, just a few verses on, Solomon tells us, \u201cHappy is the man who finds wisdom; the man who attains understanding.\u201d It\u2019s a delicate balance to strike \u2013 strive for understanding while knowing precisely when the knowledge we have attained puts us at risk of tipping the balance from wisdom to arrogance. Rav Shimshon Raphael Hirsch provides an instructive methodology for checking ourselves. If we continually ask ourselves whether the goals we have and the means by which we aim to reach them are in keeping with God\u2019s will, then we can expect God\u2019s assistance in achieving success.<\/span><\/p>\r\n The chapter concludes with a series of \u201cdon\u2019ts\u201d including: \u201cDon\u2019t withhold good from those who need it when you have the power to give it (v.27)\u201d and \u201cDon\u2019t tell them, \u2018come back tomorrow and I\u2019ll give it to you then\u2019 (v. 28)\u201d, and essentially \u201cdon\u2019t pick fights (v. 30).\u201d What do these expressions have to do with self-awareness and the suppression of arrogance? When we believe too much in our own level of wisdom, our sensitivity to the needs of others diminishes in inverse proportion to our arrogance. If we have the means to help someone immediately, it can only be arrogance \u2013 a misplaced notion of our own self-importance \u2013 that would lead us to deny or delay. Similarly, with respect to quarreling, Rav Hirsch reminds us that quarrelsome people come to a quarrel with the conviction that they are right and the need to have the last word.<\/span><\/p>\r\n This proverb is not meant to dissuade us from striving for knowledge and wisdom but teaches us to be cognizant that trusting in God is integral to our wisdom, and that as our understanding increases, so to do our responsibilities.<\/span><\/p>\r\n <\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":92150,"alt":"","title":"pro3-quote","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro3-quote.jpg","width":1024,"height":683,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro3-quote-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro3-quote-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro3-quote-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro3-quote-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro3-quote.jpg","1536x1536-width":1024,"1536x1536-height":683,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro3-quote.jpg","2048x2048-width":1024,"2048x2048-height":683,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro3-quote.jpg","post_full_size-width":1024,"post_full_size-height":683,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro3-quote-630x420.jpg","home_baner-width":630,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"The Responsibility And Liability Of Wisdom","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"When we believe too much in our own wisdom, our sensitivity to others diminishes in inverse proportion to our arrogance","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":92150,"alt":"","title":"pro3-quote","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro3-quote.jpg","width":1024,"height":683,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro3-quote-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro3-quote-300x200.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":200,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro3-quote-768x512.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":512,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro3-quote-1024x683.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":683,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro3-quote.jpg","1536x1536-width":1024,"1536x1536-height":683,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro3-quote.jpg","2048x2048-width":1024,"2048x2048-height":683,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro3-quote.jpg","post_full_size-width":1024,"post_full_size-height":683,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro3-quote-630x420.jpg","home_baner-width":630,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Writings","book":"Proverbs","chapter":"3","chapter_main_number":"720","date":"20280601","wall_id":"720"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":5,"id":"92247","color":"#f2e9df","size":"1","name":"Solomon\u2019s Didactic Tools ","post_title":"Solomon\u2019s Didactic Tools","slug":"solomons-didactic-tools","old_id":"92247","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":78133,"post_title":"Josh Blechner","slug":"josh-blechner","old_id":"78133","first_name":"Josh ","last_name":"Blechner ","description":"Josh first finished the Tanach during Yeshiva in Mevaseret Zion. He and his daughter studied the Tanach again for her bat mitzvah. Josh has taught many classes on Tanach throughout the years and currently in the New Rochelle 929 group. When not studying for 929, Josh works as an in-house lawyer in New Jersey.","short_description":"Josh has taught many classes on Tanach throughout the years and currently in the New Rochelle 929 group, and is an in-house attorney in New Jersey. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":78134,"alt":"","title":"josh blechner","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","width":276,"height":351,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner-236x300.jpg","medium-width":236,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","medium_large-width":276,"medium_large-height":351,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","large-width":276,"large-height":351,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","1536x1536-width":276,"1536x1536-height":351,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","2048x2048-width":276,"2048x2048-height":351,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","post_full_size-width":276,"post_full_size-height":351,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/josh-blechner.jpg","home_baner-width":276,"home_baner-height":351}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"723","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Four different arguments against laziness\u00a0\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":" In this long chapter, Solomon utilizes several techniques to provide his sage advice. He begins with straightforward advice in verses 1-4, essentially admonishing his son not to be lazy. Then in 5- 8 he switches to animal metaphors including one of the more famous lines in the book: \"consider the ant.\" He then switches back to the theme of being lazy, this time using insults in verses 9-15.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n He then turns to the divine perspective, and explains how God hates these things as well. Then in 20-24 he makes a general plea to follow his teachings, his wife's teachings, and God's teaching so they may act as light (perhaps a light to awaken the slumbering son referenced above).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n Finally he ends with an extended parable warning against adultery in 25-34. This one chapter perfectly encapsulates the multiple didactic tools that Solomon uses in Proverbs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":92248,"alt":"","title":"pro6-lazy","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro6-lazy.png","width":1280,"height":1048,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro6-lazy-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro6-lazy-300x246.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":246,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro6-lazy-768x629.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":629,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro6-lazy-1024x838.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":838,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro6-lazy.png","1536x1536-width":1280,"1536x1536-height":1048,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro6-lazy.png","2048x2048-width":1280,"2048x2048-height":1048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro6-lazy-1200x983.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":983,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro6-lazy-513x420.png","home_baner-width":513,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Solomon\u2019s Didactic Tools","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Four different arguments against laziness\u00a0","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":92248,"alt":"","title":"pro6-lazy","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro6-lazy.png","width":1280,"height":1048,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro6-lazy-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro6-lazy-300x246.png","medium-width":300,"medium-height":246,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro6-lazy-768x629.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":629,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro6-lazy-1024x838.png","large-width":1024,"large-height":838,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro6-lazy.png","1536x1536-width":1280,"1536x1536-height":1048,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro6-lazy.png","2048x2048-width":1280,"2048x2048-height":1048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro6-lazy-1200x983.png","post_full_size-width":1200,"post_full_size-height":983,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro6-lazy-513x420.png","home_baner-width":513,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Writings","book":"Proverbs","chapter":"6","chapter_main_number":"723","date":"20280606","wall_id":"723"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":6,"id":"92250","color":"#f6edf6","size":"1","name":"All Israel Are Guarantors For One Another\u00a0\u00a0 ","post_title":"All Israel Are Guarantors For One Another\u00a0\u00a0","slug":"all-israel-are-guarantors-for-one-another","old_id":"92250","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":33877,"post_title":"Marc Bregman","slug":"marc-bregman","old_id":"33877","first_name":"Marc","last_name":"Bregman","description":"Marc Bregman received his Ph.D. from The Hebrew University in Jerusalem in 1991. He taught at the Hebrew Union College (Jerusalem), The Hebrew University in Jerusalem, the Schechter Institute for Judaic Studies in Jerusalem, and at the Ben-Gurion University in Beer Sheba, Israel. During 1993 he was Visiting Associate Professor at Yale University, and during 1996 he was the Stroum Professor of Jewish Studies and Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Washington in Seattle. During 2005, Bregman served as the Harry Starr Fellow in Judaica at Harvard University and was awarded a Teaching Fellowship at the Center for Advanced Judaic Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. He also has served as Forchheimer Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Humanities at The Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He is the author of The Tanhuma-Yelammedenu Literature: Studies in the Evolution of the Versions (Gorgias Press, 2003). In 2006, Bregman was appointed the Herman and Zelda Bernard Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro, where he also headed the program in Jewish Studies, until 2013. Bregman retired from UNCG as of July 31, 2017. He has now returned to Jerusalem where he is continuing his research and teaching activities.","credit":"","image_url":"","short_description":"Marc Bregman is the Herman and Zelda Bernard Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies emeritus, at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro.","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":33878,"alt":"Marc Bregman","title":"Marc Bregman","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","width":361,"height":488,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-222x300.jpg","medium-width":222,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","medium_large-width":361,"medium_large-height":488,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","large-width":361,"large-height":488,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","1536x1536-width":361,"1536x1536-height":488,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","2048x2048-width":361,"2048x2048-height":488,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman.jpg","post_full_size-width":361,"post_full_size-height":488,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Marc-Bregman-311x420.jpg","home_baner-width":311,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"723","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Except when they\u2019re not","post_main_content_content":" Our<\/span> chapter<\/span><\/a> continues with a series of practical admonitions directed by the father to his son. These begin (<\/span>verses 1-3<\/span><\/a>) with specific financial advice: \u201cMy son, if you have stood surety for your fellow, given your hand for another, you have been trapped by the words of your mouth, snared by the words of your mouth. Do this, then, my son, to extricate yourself, for you have come into the power of your fellow: Go abase yourself \u2014and importune your fellow!\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n In modern terms this is a warning to avoid undertaking a loan guarantee. On the face of it, the proverbial warning not to \u201cstand surety\u201d for one\u2019s fellow may seem to contradict the rabbinic principle that \u201call Israel are guarantors for one another \u2013 <\/span>kol Yisrael \u2018arevim zeh ba-zeh<\/span><\/em>\u201d. However, in its Talmudic contexts (<\/span>Sanhedrin 27b<\/span><\/a>,<\/span> Shevuot 39a<\/span><\/a>) this statement has a religious rather than a financial meaning.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\r\n Midrash Exodus Rabbah<\/span><\/a> (see also<\/span> Midrash Psalms<\/span><\/a>) <\/span>applies the fatherly advice at the beginning of our chapter to the world of the sages. \u201cMy son, if you have stood surety for your fellow\u2026\u201d. This passage applies to the difference between being a \u201cfellow\u201d among other rabbinic scholars (<\/span>chaverim<\/span><\/em>) and one who accepts the more demanding role of rabbinic leadership.\u00a0 An ordinary rabbinic scholar is not punished for any sins other than his own. But once one accepts the mantle (<\/span>tallit<\/span><\/em>) of heading a community, he accepts responsibility for their behavior. If he sees one of his followers injuring another, or if he does not prevent one of his community from committing a transgression, the leader of the community is punished by God along with the transgressor.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n In effect, the Holy Spirit cries out: \u201cMy son, if you have stood surety for your fellow\u2026\u201d, you have accepted responsibility for his behavior. The Holy One blessed be He says to a rabbinic leader, You have \u201cgiven your hand for another (<\/span>la-zar<\/span><\/em>).\u201d When you enter into the \u201carena\u201d (<\/span>la-zirah<\/span><\/em>, <\/span><\/i>i.e. of community leadership), you either succeed or fail. You may be \u201csnared by the words of your mouth, which refer to words of Torah, as it says at the beginning of the following chapter of Proverbs: \u201c\u2018My son, heed my words!\u2019 You may err in rendering <\/span>halakhic<\/em> <\/span>decisions. So, having accepted the responsibility of directing members of your community, \u2018Go abase yourself\u2019 at the feet of those who are greater than you in Torah learning (i.e. learn the <\/span>halakhah<\/span><\/em> from the greatest Torah scholars) and only then \u201cimportune your fellow\u201d (i.e. direct the members of your community). For ultimately, all Israel are spiritual \u201cguarantors\u201d (i.e. responsible) for each other and they are all ultimately answerable to the Holy One, blessed be He.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n Image: doozzle, \"Drawing Hands\" - An homage to M.C. Escher, 2006 \/ flickr<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":92251,"alt":"","title":"pro6-escher hands drawing","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro6-escher-hands-drawing.jpg","width":1031,"height":908,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro6-escher-hands-drawing-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro6-escher-hands-drawing-300x264.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":264,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro6-escher-hands-drawing-768x676.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":676,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro6-escher-hands-drawing-1024x902.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":902,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro6-escher-hands-drawing.jpg","1536x1536-width":1031,"1536x1536-height":908,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro6-escher-hands-drawing.jpg","2048x2048-width":1031,"2048x2048-height":908,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro6-escher-hands-drawing.jpg","post_full_size-width":1031,"post_full_size-height":908,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro6-escher-hands-drawing-477x420.jpg","home_baner-width":477,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"All Israel Are Guarantors For One Another\u00a0\u00a0","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":" Except when they\u2019re not","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":92251,"alt":"","title":"pro6-escher hands drawing","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro6-escher-hands-drawing.jpg","width":1031,"height":908,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro6-escher-hands-drawing-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro6-escher-hands-drawing-300x264.jpg","medium-width":300,"medium-height":264,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro6-escher-hands-drawing-768x676.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":676,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro6-escher-hands-drawing-1024x902.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":902,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro6-escher-hands-drawing.jpg","1536x1536-width":1031,"1536x1536-height":908,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro6-escher-hands-drawing.jpg","2048x2048-width":1031,"2048x2048-height":908,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro6-escher-hands-drawing.jpg","post_full_size-width":1031,"post_full_size-height":908,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro6-escher-hands-drawing-477x420.jpg","home_baner-width":477,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Writings","book":"Proverbs","chapter":"6","chapter_main_number":"723","date":"20280606","wall_id":"723"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":7,"id":"92296","color":"#e0e9ef","size":"1","name":"Prudence? Foresight? Cunning? ","post_title":"Prudence? Foresight? Cunning?","slug":"prudence-foresight-cunning","old_id":"92296","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":39778,"post_title":"Aliza Libman Baronofsky","slug":"aliza-libman-baronofsky","old_id":"39778","first_name":"Aliza Libman ","last_name":"Baronofsky ","description":"Aliza Libman Baronofsky is a first-year student in the Advanced Kollel at Yeshivat Maharat and teaches at Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School, in Rockville, MD. She studied Tanach at Midreshet Lindenbaum and York University and previously taught Tanach and math at the Maimonides School in Brookline, MA. Aliza is the creator of www.chumashandmath.blogspot.com, a repository of interdisciplinary lesson plans. ","short_description":"Aliza Libman Baronofsky is a student in the Advanced Kollel at Yeshivat Maharat and teaches at Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School, in Rockville, MD. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":39779,"alt":"","title":"aliza baronofsky","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/aliza-baronofsky.jpg","width":1425,"height":1794,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/aliza-baronofsky-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/aliza-baronofsky-238x300.jpg","medium-width":238,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/aliza-baronofsky-768x967.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":967,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/aliza-baronofsky-813x1024.jpg","large-width":813,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/aliza-baronofsky.jpg","1536x1536-width":1220,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/aliza-baronofsky.jpg","2048x2048-width":1425,"2048x2048-height":1794,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/aliza-baronofsky-953x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":953,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/aliza-baronofsky-334x420.jpg","home_baner-width":334,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"725","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"The many and contradictory meanings of \u201corma\u201d\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":" Lovers of language are delighted by contranyms \u2013 words with two contradictory meanings. In English, Genesis 2:24 tells a man to leave his parents and cleave to his wife, while we also use the word \u201ccleave\u201d to mean \u201cseparate.\u201d In Hebrew, the text of Genesis 2:24 uses the familiar root <\/span>davek<\/span><\/em> which more uniformly means \u201cstick to.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n The book of Proverbs features 13 mentions of a particularly confounding word, one that is translated consistently by Koren as \u201cprudent,\u201d where JPS gives the same root at least three different translations in Proverbs, including prudent, shrewdness and clever. The root in question, <\/span>\u2018-r-m<\/span><\/em>, <\/span><\/i>\u201c\u05e2\u05e8\u05dd\u201d, also has a simple meaning that would appear to be the opposite \u2013 nakedness.<\/span><\/p>\r\n In today\u2019s chapter, the Koren edition renders: \u201cI, wisdom, dwell with <\/span>prudence<\/em>, and find knowledge and discretion\u201d (8:12).<\/span><\/p>\r\n The JPS translation similarly translates the verse, swapping \u201cforesight\u201d as the final word.<\/span><\/p>\r\n This translation of our verse fits the approaches of most medieval commentaries . Prudence was an archetype of virtue in medieval and Renaissance art, represented by Titian as tripartite: Prudence learns from the past, acts wisely in the present, using foresight to make plans for the future.<\/span><\/p>\r\n In contrast, the medieval Jewish commentators only saw two possible translations of\u00a0orma<\/em> \u201c\u05e2\u05b8\u05e8\u05de\u05d4\u201d \u2013 nakedness, or cunning. Their source is its first appearance in the Bible, which cements its identity as a contranym with dramatic wordplay. At the very beginning of the Torah, the serpent in Genesis 3:1 is described as <\/span>arum<\/span><\/em>,<\/span><\/i> \u201c\u05e2\u05e8\u05d5\u05bc\u05dd \u05de\u05b4\u05db\u05bc\u05b9\u05dc \u05d7\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b7\u05ea \u05d4\u05b7\u05e9\u05c2\u05bc\u05b8\u05d3\u05b6\u05d4\u201d (JPS translates this as \u201cshrewdest of all beings\u201d.) The serpent, through his cunning and guile, tricks the man and the woman into sinning, after which they notice they are\u00a0<\/span>arumim<\/span><\/em> (\u201c\u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b5\u05a3\u05d3\u05b0\u05e2\u0594\u05d5\u05bc \u05db\u05bc\u05b4\u05a5\u05d9 \u05e2\u05b5\u05bd\u05d9\u05e8\u05bb\u05de\u05bc\u05b4\u0596\u05dd \u05d4\u05b5\u0591\u05dd\u201d \u2013 Genesis 3:7), that is, naked.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Even to a casual reader, the wordplay in Genesis must stand out. We will see that later on in Proverbs, the Hebrew root seems to mean variations on \u201ccunning\u201d which is not precisely the same as \u201cprudent.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n The 19<\/span>th<\/span> century commentator Malbim had his own take on the word, writing on 8:12, \u201c<\/span>Orma<\/span><\/em> is the strength in a soul to weigh each action before doing it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n Malbim tells us that a person can possess the trait of <\/span>orma<\/span><\/em> and use it for good or for ill, but one who has wisdom will think through his actions and make the wisest choice. Without wisdom, a person who uses the trait of \u201corma<\/em>\u201d will use it generally for evil.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Mathematically speaking:<\/span><\/p>\r\n wisdom + <\/span>orma<\/em> <\/span>= foresight<\/span> The author of Proverbs very clearly sees this trait as laudable \u2013 in future chapters, we will get a fuller picture of how a person can incorporate <\/span>orma<\/em> <\/span>into a life of wisdom.<\/span> Image: Titian, The Allegory of Prudence, 1550-1565 \/ wikipedia<\/span><\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":92309,"alt":"","title":"Pro8-Titian-Allegory of Prudence","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Pro8-Titian-Allegory-of-Prudence.jpg","width":3782,"height":4226,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Pro8-Titian-Allegory-of-Prudence-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Pro8-Titian-Allegory-of-Prudence-268x300.jpg","medium-width":268,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Pro8-Titian-Allegory-of-Prudence-768x858.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":858,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Pro8-Titian-Allegory-of-Prudence-916x1024.jpg","large-width":916,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Pro8-Titian-Allegory-of-Prudence.jpg","1536x1536-width":1375,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Pro8-Titian-Allegory-of-Prudence.jpg","2048x2048-width":1833,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Pro8-Titian-Allegory-of-Prudence-1074x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1074,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Pro8-Titian-Allegory-of-Prudence-376x420.jpg","home_baner-width":376,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Prudence? Foresight? Cunning?","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"The many and contradictory meanings of \u201corma\u201d","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":92309,"alt":"","title":"Pro8-Titian-Allegory of Prudence","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Pro8-Titian-Allegory-of-Prudence.jpg","width":3782,"height":4226,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Pro8-Titian-Allegory-of-Prudence-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Pro8-Titian-Allegory-of-Prudence-268x300.jpg","medium-width":268,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Pro8-Titian-Allegory-of-Prudence-768x858.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":858,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Pro8-Titian-Allegory-of-Prudence-916x1024.jpg","large-width":916,"large-height":1024,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Pro8-Titian-Allegory-of-Prudence.jpg","1536x1536-width":1375,"1536x1536-height":1536,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Pro8-Titian-Allegory-of-Prudence.jpg","2048x2048-width":1833,"2048x2048-height":2048,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Pro8-Titian-Allegory-of-Prudence-1074x1200.jpg","post_full_size-width":1074,"post_full_size-height":1200,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Pro8-Titian-Allegory-of-Prudence-376x420.jpg","home_baner-width":376,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Writings","book":"Proverbs","chapter":"8","chapter_main_number":"725","date":"20280608","wall_id":"725"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":8,"id":"92381","color":"#faeed8","size":"1","name":"Three Approaches To Wisdom And Fear Of God ","post_title":"Three Approaches To Wisdom And Fear Of God","slug":"three-approaches-to-wisdom-and-fear-of-god","old_id":"92381","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":92270,"post_title":"Shimon Lerner","slug":"shimon-lerner","old_id":"92270","first_name":"Shimon ","last_name":"Lerner ","description":"Shimon Lerner teaches physics at the JCT Lev Academic Center in Jerusalem. He received his PhD from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in the field of condensed matter physics.","short_description":"Shimon Lerner teaches physics at the JCT Lev Academic Center in Jerusalem. ","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":92271,"alt":"","title":"shimon lerner","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/shimon-lerner.jpg","width":692,"height":852,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/shimon-lerner-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/shimon-lerner-244x300.jpg","medium-width":244,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/shimon-lerner.jpg","medium_large-width":692,"medium_large-height":852,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/shimon-lerner.jpg","large-width":692,"large-height":852,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/shimon-lerner.jpg","1536x1536-width":692,"1536x1536-height":852,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/shimon-lerner.jpg","2048x2048-width":692,"2048x2048-height":852,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/shimon-lerner.jpg","post_full_size-width":692,"post_full_size-height":852,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/shimon-lerner-341x420.jpg","home_baner-width":341,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"726","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Psalms, Proverbs and Job compared\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":" The three books of Psalms, Proverbs and Job, designated with the title of \"Wisdom literature of the Bible\" all deal with the idea of wisdom. Yet each one presents a very different approach to the matter. Each one has its own concept of what constitutes wisdom, where it comes from and ultimately what is its purpose.<\/span><\/p>\r\n In order to evaluate the different approaches all we need to do is carefully examine four verses which appear in these books and relate to wisdom and the fear of God.<\/span><\/p>\r\n In Psalms (111, 10): \"The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the LORD; all who practice it gain sound understanding. Praise of Him is everlasting.\"<\/span><\/p>\r\n In Proverbs (1, 7) and our chapter (9, 10): \"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and discipline\u2026 The beginning of wisdom is fear of the LORD, And knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n And in Job: \"He said to man, 'See! Fear of the Lord is wisdom; To shun evil is understanding.'\"<\/span><\/p>\r\n While at first glance these verses appear almost identical the subtle differences and the different contexts encode three different outlooks and clue us in to each author's approach.<\/span><\/p>\r\n The framework from within which we need to look at these three books of wisdom begins with what they define as the goal of humanity:<\/span><\/p>\r\n Psalms: A person\u2019s goal is fear of God. In Psalms, the goal is fear of God itself, that is what the author is always striving for and always trying to attain. Praising the Lord is his ultimate goal. To be granted wisdom in the process is just a side-effect.<\/span><\/p>\r\n In Proverbs on the other hand, wisdom is the goal. Discovering the ways of God and learning to fear Him is just part of the process and our first step in trying to attain it.<\/span><\/p>\r\n For Job it is not about fear of God nor about wisdom. Both of these are just a means to an end of living a good and moral life. Since wisdom according to Job happens to be unattainable, all that is left is fear of God.<\/span><\/p>\r\n This, then, defines in concise terms, the reason humans should fear God:<\/span><\/p>\r\n Psalms \u2013 Fear of God is the ultimate goal. And as a corollary, the ultimate source of wisdom:<\/span><\/p>\r\n Psalms - Wisdom comes from above. \u00a0<\/p>","post_main_content_image":{"id":92382,"alt":"","title":"pro9-wisdom books","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro9-wisdom-books.jpg","width":287,"height":493,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro9-wisdom-books-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro9-wisdom-books-175x300.jpg","medium-width":175,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro9-wisdom-books.jpg","medium_large-width":287,"medium_large-height":493,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro9-wisdom-books.jpg","large-width":287,"large-height":493,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro9-wisdom-books.jpg","1536x1536-width":287,"1536x1536-height":493,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro9-wisdom-books.jpg","2048x2048-width":287,"2048x2048-height":493,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro9-wisdom-books.jpg","post_full_size-width":287,"post_full_size-height":493,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro9-wisdom-books-245x420.jpg","home_baner-width":245,"home_baner-height":420}},"post_main_content_embedded_video":"","post_main_content_video_duration":"","post_main_content_show_fb_comments":"1","post_main_content_credit_media":"","tile_top_caption":"","tile_main_caption":"Three Approaches To Wisdom And Fear Of God","tile_main_caption_size":"1","tile_sub_caption":"Psalms, Proverbs and Job compared","tile_preview_embedded":"","tile_preview_image":{"id":92382,"alt":"","title":"pro9-wisdom books","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro9-wisdom-books.jpg","width":287,"height":493,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro9-wisdom-books-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro9-wisdom-books-175x300.jpg","medium-width":175,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro9-wisdom-books.jpg","medium_large-width":287,"medium_large-height":493,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro9-wisdom-books.jpg","large-width":287,"large-height":493,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro9-wisdom-books.jpg","1536x1536-width":287,"1536x1536-height":493,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro9-wisdom-books.jpg","2048x2048-width":287,"2048x2048-height":493,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro9-wisdom-books.jpg","post_full_size-width":287,"post_full_size-height":493,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/pro9-wisdom-books-245x420.jpg","home_baner-width":245,"home_baner-height":420}},"tile_preview_video":"","tile_external_link":"","tile_link_for_pay":"0","tile_tile_gallery_items":"","tile_credits":"","alternate_tile_top_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption":"","alternate_tile_main_caption_size":"1","alternate_tile_sub_caption":"","alternate_tile_hide_media":"0","tile_group_preview_image_url":"","tile_group_main_caption":"","tile_group_sub_caption":"","tile_group_popup_package_extra_content":"","tile_group_read_time":"","home_color":"","home_gallery_top":"","home_gallery_middle":"","home_gallery_book":"","home_gallery_bottom":"","seo_seo_title":"","seo_seo_description":"","seo_seo_default_title":"","seo_seo_default_description":"","links":false,"chapter_info":{"books_group":"Writings","book":"Proverbs","chapter":"9","chapter_main_number":"726","date":"20280611","wall_id":"726"},"link_for_pay":false,"tags":false},{"order":9,"id":"92542","color":"#e6f5f3","size":"1","name":"Glow And Behold! ","post_title":"Glow And Behold!","slug":"glow-and-behold","old_id":"92542","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":{"id":64450,"post_title":"David Curwin","slug":"david-curwin","old_id":"64450","first_name":"David ","last_name":"Curwin ","description":"David Curwin is a writer living in Efrat, and the author of the Balashon blog www.balashon.com","short_description":"David Curwin is a writer living in Efrat, and the author of the Balashon blog www.balashon.com","credit":"","image_url":"","hide_writer":false,"link_for_pay":false,"image":{"id":64452,"alt":"","title":"david curwin","caption":"","description":"","mime_type":"image\/png","url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin.png","width":427,"height":464,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin-150x150.png","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin-276x300.png","medium-width":276,"medium-height":300,"medium_large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin.png","medium_large-width":427,"medium_large-height":464,"large":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin.png","large-width":427,"large-height":464,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin.png","1536x1536-width":427,"1536x1536-height":464,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin.png","2048x2048-width":427,"2048x2048-height":464,"post_full_size":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin.png","post_full_size-width":427,"post_full_size-height":464,"home_baner":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/david-curwin-387x420.png","home_baner-width":387,"home_baner-height":420}},"tags":false},"related_cahpter":"730","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content_description":"Radiant, joyful light (for the righteous, that is)\r\n\r\n","post_main_content_content":" In Proverbs 13, the Sage compares the righteous and wicked by using the metaphor of a lamp:\u00a0<\/span>\u201cThe light of the righteous is radiant; the lamp of the wicked is extinguished\u201d (Proverbs 13:9).<\/span><\/p>\r\n The contrast is clear \u2013 the righteous will bask in light, while the wicked are condemned to darkness.<\/span><\/p>\r\n But there is an unusual word in this verse. What we have translated here as \u201cradiant\u201d is <\/span>yismach<\/span><\/em>\u00a0in Hebrew. That word has the same root as <\/span>simcha<\/span><\/em>\u00a0\u2013 \u201cjoy.\u201d Following that meaning, others translate the phrase as \u201cthe light of the righteous rejoices.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n However, that is a difficult translation for two reasons. One, it does not serve as a parallel to the second half of the verse, and second, how does light rejoice? We cannot even say that the light makes others happy, because that would be a different form of the verb \u2013 <\/span>yisameach<\/span><\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\r\n Therefore, some scholars say that the root <\/span>s-m-ch<\/span><\/em>\u00a0here means \u201cto grow\u201d and is related to the verb <\/span>tzamach<\/span><\/em>\u00a0<\/span><\/i>\u2013 \u201cto sprout.\u201d We have a similar case in English with the word \u201celated\u201d \u2013 it means both \u201chappy\u201d and \u201clifted up.\u201d So with this understanding, perhaps the phrase could be translated, \u201cthe light of the righteous will grow\u201d or \u201cwill increase.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\r\n But where does the translation \u201cis radiant\u201d come from? Other scholars note that another meaning of <\/span>s-m-ch<\/span><\/em>\u00a0is \u201cto shine.\u201d Again, English has a parallel: \u201cto brighten\u201d means both \u201cto shine\u201d and \u201cto make happy.\u201d This allows them to translate the verb in our verse in Proverbs as \u201cis radiant\u201d as well as in this verse in Psalms:\u00a0<\/span>\u201cLight is sown for the righteous, radiance <\/span>simcha<\/span><\/em>\u00a0<\/span><\/i>for the upright\u201d (Psalms 97:11).<\/span><\/p>\r\n While it might seem that \u201cto grow\u201d and \u201cto glow\u201d have distinct meanings, in Semitic languages they are often related. For example, the Hebrew root <\/span>n-tz-tz<\/span><\/em>\r\n\t
\r\n<\/span>lack of wisdom + <\/span>orma<\/em> <\/span>= cunning<\/span><\/p>\r\n
\r\n
\r\n<\/span><\/p>\r\n
\r\n<\/span>Proverbs: A person\u2019s goal is to achieve wisdom.
\r\n<\/span>Job: A person\u2019s goal is to live well.<\/span><\/p>\r\n
\r\n<\/span>Proverbs \u2013 Fear of God is the first step.
\r\n<\/span>Job \u2013 Fear of God is good advice.<\/span><\/p>\r\n
\r\n<\/span>Proverbs \u2013 Wisdom comes from within.
\r\n<\/span>Job \u2013 Wisdom is unattainable.<\/span><\/p>\r\n