Reading for February 26th

Read Proverbs 30.1-16. In verses 1-10: This poem is the most puzzling section in Proverbs. Verses 1-6 were the original unit, but later vv. 1-10 were edited to amke a new and larger speech. Verses 1-6 evoke old passages such as Ps 18.30 (Prov 30.5), Ps 73.22 (Prov 30.21), Deut 4.2 (Prov 30.6),Deut 30.11-14 (Prov 30.4a). Also influential are the divine questions beginning with "Who?" in Job 38-41 and Isa 40-45 (see Prov 30.4b-d). In vv.1-6 Agur delivers an oracle ("ne'um," v. 1) that did not come from his own efforts, for he is worn out, incapable of wisdom, and does not know God (vv. 2-3). Indeed, no human being can have divine wisdom, for who is capable of bringing it down rom heaven (v. 4a)? In fact, no act of wisdom and power is possible for human beings (v. 4b-d)! In the process of acknowledging his word of God, which is reliable and protects him just as it protected the psalmists in Ps 12 and 18 (v. 5). One should not add to the divine word (v. 6). Agur now prays to speak the truth and to have basic necessities of life (vv. 7-18) lest he offend the God who has rescued him from exhaustion and ignorance (v. 9). Verse 10 comcludes vv. 1-9, for Do not reprises v. 6. Curse in v. 10 links to what follows. In verses 11-14: The poem is united by anaphora. There seems to be a progression from disdaining parental advice (v. 11), to overestimating one's situation (v. 12), to arrogance (v. 13), resulting finally in cruelty directed toward the lowly (v. 14). Comments or Questions...