Last night I saw Michael Walzer, an eminent political scientist, speak at U. of Toronto. He addressed the relationship between the “wisdom books” of the Jewish Bible (Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Job) and the prophetic books (by which he means not just the prophetic books, but Deuteronomy since it addresses some of the same issues).
Key points:
*Wisdom books have high ethical standards, but nevertheless have a different focus. They are about how one person makes his way through life, not really on future generations. Prophetic books are about an entire people.
*Wisdom books take the existing social order for granted, and tell you how to get along with (or rise in the service of) a king. If the king is wrong, just obey him or stay out of his way. Prophetic books criticize the misconduct of king and nation. Wisdom books tell you to avoid evil; prophetic books tell you to root out evil.
*Because of its focus on prudence, wisdom literature was ultimately inadequate to deal with the challenges of the world, because it doesn’t tell you what to do when prudence and morality diverged, or when (as in times of political turmoil) worldly prosperity seems not to be an option. Prophetic books do.
*The prophetic books differ among themselves, addressing different kinds of challenges. Proverbs a bit complacent, more about success in normal times, more optimistic. Ecclesiastes sees even success as futile. Job about situations where wisdom inadequate to deal with life’s problems.
