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J_Edwards said:
Wes is correct. In addition wisdom generally means "masterful understanding, "skill," or "expertize" (1:2). In biblical texts outside Proverbs the term is used of technical and artistic skills (Ex 28:3; 31:6), of the arts of magic (Ex 7:11; Is 3:31), of government (Ecc 4:14; Jer 50:35), of diplomacy (1 KIngs 5:7), of war (Is 10:13). Moreover, some have the wisdom to judge (1 Kings 3:28; Is 11:1-6) and much more.....

Proverbs 8 is a little more meticulous. Wisdom is divided into two sections; (1) historical (12-21, and (2) primordial (22-31) times. The 1st section features wisdoms communicable attributes of counsel, understanding, and strength that enable kings to rule and bestow wealth and honor on her lovers. The second pertains to her existence before creation and to her competence and authority, which enable her to bestow authority and order upon rulers in historical time. The wise ruler's ability to decree social order conforms to Wisdoms delight in God's decrees that ordered the cosmos.

A great book that was just released is The Book of Proverbs (Chapters 1-15) by Bruce Waltke. This is part of the NICOT series and is almost 700 pages in length. Waltke is tremendous in OT studies (ok, I am a little prejudice since he teaches Advanced Hebrew Exegesis and Judges-Poets at RTS) and though I am not finished with this yet, what I have read thus far has been exceptionally superb. The book is worth the bibliographies alone.

Great commentary and precisely the one I reached for when I read this post. Thanks. Book of Proverbs: Chapters 1-15 (New International Commentary on the OT) Bruce K. Waltke Retail price: $50.00 Westminster Bookstore: $31.50 ISBN 0-8028-2545-1 (Wm. B Eerdmans Publishing Co. 2004.

"why is she a she?" I don't think that we are identifying the noun for wisdom here as referring to God's gender as God is genderless. As a literary technique, wisdom—as well as folly—are personified as women. i.e. the woman wisdom, the woman folly. "The line between wwisdom's personification and wisdom itself becomes attenuated. Contrary to many biblical theologians who think that personification is a late development in the wisdom tradition, ancient Near Eastern literatures offer many examples of this dramatic figure that gives abstract qualities a human face."

Your question is good. In 8:35, Whoever finds me finds life" G. von Rad asserts "only Jahweh can speak in this way." (Old Testament Theology) Does this mean then that God is female? How? God is a spirit and therefore genderless, yet God created mankind in His image and he created them male and female. Yet the attributes woman wisdom represents are more divine than human.

Wisdom is something begotten form God. Something that is taught in the home. Its acquisition brings with it longevity and God's favor. Woman wisdom, (personified wisdom) supports the father's wisdom (personified wisdom). The father's wisdom says to his son to call out for the "words from my mouth—wisdom— and wisdom promises God's favor.

The Chestnut Mare