Egyptian wisdom

Michael V. Fox; Suzanna R. Millar

doi:10.1017/9781108673082.020

Egyptian wisdom

Michael V. Fox, Suzanna R. Millar

School of Divinity

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (peer-reviewed) › peer-review

Abstract

Moving into the wider world of the ancient Near East, Michael Fox and Suzanna R. Millar examine Egyptian wisdom literature. They begin with an overview of extant examples from the Old Kingdom to the Late Period, and then turn to some major themes and issues. They consider Ma’at (the regulating force of truth/justice), character development (particularly as expressed through polar character types), pedagogy (including the debate about who is capable of learning), and transmission (through the generations in oral and written forms). The second half of the chapter assesses some commonly proposed examples of Egyptian influence on biblical wisdom literature, namely the influence of Amenemope on Prov 22:17–23:11 and elsewhere in Proverbs, Egyptian parallels to Proverbs 8, Egyptian parallels to Prov 23:12–24:22, an alleged precursor to Job 38–39 in Egyptian onomastica, and connections between Ben Sira and the Demotic Instruction Phibis.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	The Cambridge Companion to Biblical Wisdom Literature
Editors	Katharine J. Dell, Suzanna R. Millar, Arthur Jan Keefer
Publisher	Cambridge University Press
Chapter	17
Pages	323-343
Number of pages	21
ISBN (Electronic)	9781108673082
ISBN (Print)	9781108483162, 9781108716475
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108673082.020
Publication status	Published - 9 Jun 2022

Publication series

Name	Cambridge Companions to Religion

Keywords

Egypt
Ma'at
truth
justice
character
transmission
Amenemope
Proverbs
Job
Ben Sira
demotic

Access to Document

10.1017/9781108673082.020

Cite this

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AB - Moving into the wider world of the ancient Near East, Michael Fox and Suzanna R. Millar examine Egyptian wisdom literature. They begin with an overview of extant examples from the Old Kingdom to the Late Period, and then turn to some major themes and issues. They consider Ma’at (the regulating force of truth/justice), character development (particularly as expressed through polar character types), pedagogy (including the debate about who is capable of learning), and transmission (through the generations in oral and written forms). The second half of the chapter assesses some commonly proposed examples of Egyptian influence on biblical wisdom literature, namely the influence of Amenemope on Prov 22:17–23:11 and elsewhere in Proverbs, Egyptian parallels to Proverbs 8, Egyptian parallels to Prov 23:12–24:22, an alleged precursor to Job 38–39 in Egyptian onomastica, and connections between Ben Sira and the Demotic Instruction Phibis.

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KW - truth

KW - justice

KW - character

KW - transmission

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KW - Proverbs

KW - Job

KW - Ben Sira

KW - demotic

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A2 - Millar, Suzanna R.

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PB - Cambridge University Press

ER -

Egyptian wisdom

Abstract

Publication series

Keywords

Access to Document

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Introduction

The Cambridge Companion to Biblical Wisdom Literature

The multiple genres of wisdom

Cite this