Western Lit. 1-25: Ethical Sanctions in Proverbs

Write 500 on this topic: "Discuss the relationship between ethics and sanctions in Proverbs 1-7."

    The book of Proverbs is somewhat peculiar in that it is the only biblical book with an introduction. In the opening chapters of 1-9 Solomon provides an overall view of its goals, but also an excellent outline of the rest of the book, thus we will focus on them. The first capter covers the ethical basis for his claims in the entire book, but this introduction is extended to each of the nine chapters. He explains the purpose of the book is to teach his son(s) "Kohkmah" or wisdom in the form of applied knowledge. Attached is the idea of reverence and awe to God, this brings forth a humbled ethical mindset in which the individual totally submits himself to the divine in order to gain blessings. 

    The book follows a series of ten speeches which deliver parallel naritives about ethical living and the approval of the highest father. These books are considered as the wellspring of hebrew literature, including the later psalms and extra-biblical literature. To that effect they do not focus much on much about sovereignty, hierarchy, or inheritance, though these thems are touched on. The real focus of proverbs is to contrast the wisdom of God with the foolishness of evildoers. It does this with examples of the sanctions granted to the adherents. Each diologuge speaks about the blessings and joy that wisdom brings its adherents, but foolishness is seen as self destructive. 

    One of the most salient points goes like this. The incarnation of wisdom offers itself as a blessing to the ones who will receive her. This is the image of a woman standing in public selling her goods to the foolish. However they ignore the excellent deal and instead turn towards her rival, a prostitute, who slays her victims in her dungeon and hides the bodies. All the fools know about this possibility, and dread it, but they choose evil anyway. This is the idea that when the thing you dread strikes you, the wisdom you ignored will haunt you. That your evil desires will reap and eat what they have planned and sowed. These chapters involve negative sanctions for evildoing, but the ultimate sanction is to make your life so miserable that it was if you were dead, suffering, and caring out in agony unable to scream forever, this is the hell man makes of himself. 

    Individuals should follow the ethical system they have discovered as a result of their pursuit of the divine, this will bring positive sanctions to their lives. Evil comes from a neglect of wisdom, your failure to orient yourself and act properly results in greater suffering.

    The book of Proverbs is not only for the king, it is the wellspring of a broad array of ancient wisdom literature. It showed the people that wisdom meant to to receive discipline that leads to insight, Righteousness, justice, and the straight ethical path in life. A good life meant the freedom found in voluntary submission to God, but that foolishness is a way to pour out our life and ruin it. It taught that the wisdom of God brings glory to its adherents and the incarnation of wisdom offers itself freely to everyone and only fools would reject it at their own demise.  It is an commentary on Ethics which reports sanctions as the result of our willful choices in life. 

    It might be useful to recap all of this information. The goal of the text is to teach wisdom, it is taught from the perspective of a king speaking to his son. I'm sure Jung and Perterson would have plenty to ay about the importance of the king and father archtypes here, but nevertheless, it comes from a place of knowledge and genuine advice. The king advises that theives may entice the son to do evil and to act destructivly in the kingdom, but they do not know this behavior is self-anihilating. He teaches that Wisdom is freely available, but it must be accepted and cherished like a good woman, people ignore this offer and instead prefer a 'quick flick' with their desire over what will truly be valuable. The implication is that we should not be ethical simpletons, we should heed the sanctions of the Logos, and strive for a transendently valuable etos rather than an inauthentic and weak one. The book teaches that there are imperative ethical consequences to action, and through imagery and symbolism It fosters a love for wisdom and righteousness. We have to strive for the practical, applied knowledge of ethics, and if we don't we will be cursed to consume ourselves in a pit of death.