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Hardback

£39.99

£31.99

Publisher: Liturgical Press
ISBN: 9780814681220
Number of Pages: 360
Published: 04/10/2018
Width: 15.2 cm
Height: 22.9 cm

2019 Association of Catholic Publishers Book of the Year

In this volume, Alice Ogden Bellis considers the book of Proverbs as a structural whole, the sages having designed it in such a way as to make positive statements about women and to undercut the negative ones. By grouping Proverbs together around common issues, the reader is called to consider the perennial moral questions of wealth and poverty, diligence and laziness, and integrity and corruption, as well as the relationship among these values. The result is much more complex and has greater depth than the random list of bromides that most of Proverbs is often thought to be. This volume opens up a multi-dimensional spiritual puzzle. 

Contents
 
List of Abbreviations
List of Contributors
Foreword “Tell It on the Mountain”—or, “And You Shall Tell Your Daughter [as Well]” Athalya Brenner-Idan
Editor’s Introduction to Wisdom Commentary: “She Is a Breath of the Power of God” (Wis 7:25) Barbara E. Reid, OP
Author’s Introduction
Part 1: Proverbs 1:1–9:18
Advice to Young Men about Women and Wisdom, Concluding with Wisdom’s and Folly’s Banquets
Part 2: Proverbs 10:1–22:16
Two Collections: One Marked by Antithetical Parallelism, the Other by Focus on the Royal Court
Part 3: Proverbs 22:17–29:27
International Wisdom and the Hezekian Collection
Part 4: Proverbs 30:1–31:9
Foreign Wisdom and Riddles
Part 5: Proverbs 31:10-31
Poem on the ??????? , the Strong Woman/Wife (Capable Wife)
Conclusion
Works Cited
Index of Scripture References and Other Ancient Writings
Index of Subjects
 

Alice Ogden Bellis, Barbara E. Reid, Sarah Tanzer

Alice Ogden Bellis is an ordained minister and professor of Hebrew Bible at Howard University School of Divinity in Washington, D.C. Her books include Helpmates, Harlots, and Heroes: Women’s Stories in the Hebrew Bible (Westminster/John Knox, 1994 & 2007), Science, Scripture, and Homosexuality,with Dr. Terry Hufford (Pilgrim Press, 2002; Wipf and Stock, 2011), and Jews and Christians and the Theology of Hebrew Scriptures (co-edited with Joel Kaminsky, (SBL Symposium Series; Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, November 2000). Barbara E. Reid, general editor of the Wisdom Commentary series, is a Dominican Sister of Grand Rapids, Michigan. She is the president of Catholic Theological Union and the first woman to hold the position. She has been a member of the CTU faculty since 1988 and also served as vice president and academic dean from 2009 to 2018. She holds a PhD in biblical studies from The Catholic University of America and was also president of the Catholic Biblical Association in 2014–2015.

"A refreshing commentary on Proverbs that, in line with the aims of the series, provides a gender-sensitive set of diverse readings, with an eye to the ancient Israelite as well as the modern context. A particularly innovative aspect is that one hears other voices than just that of Bellis herself. Both attention to the detail of the text and digging deep when needed are accompanied by diverse viewpoints, spiritual moments, and creative thinking. A veritable 'wise' commentary for the twenty-first century."Katharine Dell, St. Catharine's College, Cambridge "This well-researched and insightful commentary delves beneath what can often appear to be commonplace or obvious proverbial sayings to discern their deeper theological, social, and anthropological importance, making it a good addition to this growing series."The Bible Today "The Books of Proverbs is unique in that it is addressed primarily to young men, and, according to Bellis, requires a gender-sensitive reading of the text. She beautifully unites many voices and unique perspectives in their commentary on Proverbs and animates this text with a new vitality. Recommended for all theological and university libraries."Catholic Library World "With care and precision, Bellis identifies both positive and problematic gender assumptions in Proverbs, balancing the historical function of these sayings with modern concerns. This volume will be of value to scholars, clergy, and interested laity concerned with the enduring voice of Proverbs in the modern world."Catholic Books Review "Careful Hebrew word study helps readers explore Proverbs more closely. The personification of Wisdom comes alive in these analyses which are a boon for preachers."WATER "Bellis masterfully authors a commentary on the book of Proverbs. This work presents a thorough engagement with the Hebrew text while also consistently considering how the text encounters the world of contemporary readers. Though one might anticipate that a gender sensitive reading of Proverbs would be highly critical of that text-and at times the commentary is-Bellis instead passionately reads the text constructively in order that it might speak to all sorts of persons today and not only those who readily identify with its original, elite male audience." Horizons in Biblical Theology "Bellis's readable, sharp, and cogent commentary will be a helpful resource for making sense of a book whole coherence is not easily apparent. Any reader will no doubt be encouraged by Bellis's vision of the Proverbs." The Catholic Biblical Quarterly "The work stands out from other consciously feminist works by commenting on the whole text, rather than just those that explicitly mention women. It aims to be faithful to the ancient texts and to explore how they are heard by contemporary men and women." The Preacher "Alice Ogden Bellis offers a gender-sensitive reading of the book of Proverbs, paying attention both to its ancient context and to our own." Interpretation