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Please read the Introductory Notes to this commentary.
The text used for my commentary is my own paraphrase and must not be considered “a translation” or authorative in any way. It is, in fact, simply my commentary. Sometimes the paraphrase is the only comment necessary for a particular passage.
Introduction to the Apocrypha
The Missing Parts of the King James Bible
Tobit •
Judith •
Esther (LXX) •
Wisdom of Solomon •
Sirach •
Baruch •
2 Baruch
1 Maccabees •
2 Maccabees •
3 Maccabees •
4 Maccabees
1 Esdras •
2 Esdras •
Enoch •
Jubilees
Prayer of Manassas •
Psalm 151 •
Daniel (LXX)
The Apocryphal Book of
The Wisdom of Solomon
The Apocryphal Book of the
Wisdom of Solomon
Introduction
This book honors King Solomon as a respected ruler who was granted great wisdom by God. Written originally in Greek, it clearly draws on earlier Hebrew Wisdom sources and features excellent poetry composed in the style of classical Hebrew Wisdom poetry. The book is written as though Solomon himself were addressing the reader, but it is most likely the work of a Jewish sage from Alexandria writing at some point in the late first century BCE, which he produced for the large Jewish community there. The author is familiar with the Hebrew scriptures, the traditional Jewish Wisdom teachings, and Greek philosophy. The aims of the author are to help restore the faith of wavering contemporaries, to encourage faithful living according to God's teachings in Torah, and to show that God's Wisdom is far superior to what may be found in other religions or philosophies. Just as in the book of Proverbs there is much emphasis placed on the importance of acquiring and living by Wisdom. As in Proverbs 8, divine Wisdom is here personified as a woman, an astute and creative agent of God for good.
In the model Solomonic prayer for Wisdom found in chapter 9 (based on 1 Kings 3), we are introduced to the Logos, Greek for “word,” as a personified attribute of God. The opening line of this prayer, addresses God “who hast made all things with thy word” (9.1). That word (Logos) is then equated with Wisdom in the next verse (9.2), the active personification of the divine creative power and wisdom (cf. Prov 8:22-31; Ecclus 24; Bar 3:9-37). This book is a very important source for understanding the background and development of the Logos concept which would come to express itself a century and a half later in the New Testament in a highly developed form and applied to the Christ in John 1:1-4.
Outline
• God Blesses All Who Seek Wisdom (1.1—8.21)
• Praying for Wisdom (9.1—19.22)
• Outline of Contents
• Immortality for the righteous and punishment for the wicked (1.1—5.23)
• In praise of wisdom (6.1—9.18)
• Wisdom's protection of God's people and punishment of enemies (10.1—12.27)
• The foolishness of idolatry (13.1—15.13)
• Blessing and punishment at the Exodus (15.14—19.22)
Sources:
You Bible Version
King
James Version with Apocrypha, American Edition;
Good News Translation (US Version)
ANXIOUSLY WATCHING FOR MASHIACH’S RETURN,
SPEEDILY AND IN OUR DAY. MARANA, TA!
