P
r o v e r b s: Probably the greatest psychology book ever written.
A book containing much
wisdom.
Written 1000.B.C.E..Rendered
"proverb" in Isaiah 14:4; Habakkuk 2:6; "dark saying" in Psalms 49:4, Numbers
12:8. A collection of moral and philosophical
maxims
of a wide range of subjects. It impresses upon us in the most forcible
manner the value of intelligence and prudence
and of a good education.
As to the origin of this
book, "it is probable that Solomon gathered and recast many proverbs which
sprang from human experience in preceding ages and were floating past him
on the tide of time, and that he also elaborated many new ones from the
material of his own experience. Towards the close of the book, indeed,
are preserved some of Solomon's own sayings that seem to have fallen from
his lips in later life and been gathered by other hands" (Arnot's Laws
from Heaven, etc.)
Solomon is said to have written
three thousand proverbs, and those contained in this book may be a selection
from these:.1Kings
4:32. In the New Testament there are thirty-five direct quotations
from this book or allusions to it.
E
c c l e s i a s t e s: means the 'preacher'. Along with Proverbs,
two of the wisest books ever written. Ecclesiastes was written 975 B.C.E.,
almost a thousand years before Jesus came on the scene. The writer represents
himself implicitly as Solomon:.Ecclesiastes
1:12. The writer concludes by pointing out that the secret of a true
life is that a man should consecrate
the vigour of his youth to God. At the close of his life he recorded here
his experience for the benefit of others,
The keynote of the book is
sounded in chapter 1:2."Vanity
of vanities! saith the Preacher, Vanity of vanities! all is vanity!"
or, all man's efforts to find happiness apart from God are without result,
so learn early; why waste your life?
From Adam Clarke's Commentary
the chapters are about: "Chapters 1-3: The vanity of life is increased
by oppression; 4: by envy; 5: by idleness; Chapters 6-12: The misery of
a solitary life, and the advantages of society; 13: A poor and wise child;
better than an old and foolish king; 14-16: The uncertainty of popular
favour."
S
o n g O f S o l o m o n:.Written
1013
B.C.E..An
erotic book of love about the passion a male/female couple can experience.
The traditional view is that it is the product of Solomon's pen.
I
s a i a h: Written 698 B.C.E.
Isaiah prophesied
in the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. The book contains
numerous and full prophesies concerning the coming and character, the ministry
and preaching, the sufferings and death of the Messiah and the extent and
continuance of his kingdom.
Under the veil of the deliverance
from Babylon, Isaiah points to a much greater deliverance, which was to
be effected by the Messiah.
Nothing more is known of
the ancestors of Isaiah than that he was the son of Amoz. He prophesied
in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, all kings of Judah.
From the closing years of Uzziah to the death of Hezekiah would be from
about B. C. 765 to 700, embracing a period of 65 years. The first verse
says that the vision was concerning Judah and Jerusalem. Had due attention
been paid to this, it would have prevented many things being ascribed in
the headings of the chapters to the church, and the prophecy would have
been the better understood. In few words the prophecy may be said to treat
of the failures of the nation of Judah and the judgments upon it. Assyria
is used as God’s rod to punish them, and is then destroyed. Judgments are
pronounced against the nations around the promised land that had been enemies
to God’s people. The Messiah is prophesied of and His rejection, and universal
blessing is spoken of.
More
on the Book of Isaiah from:.The
Concise Bible Dictionary
J
e r e m i a h: means, raised up or appointed by Jehovah. Written
588 B.C.E.
Jeremiah lived about seventy
years after the death of Isaiah. He was a priest, a native of Anathoth,
in the tribe of Benjamin. He was called to the prophetic
office when very young and exercised it for about forty years with great
faithfulness, till the sins of the Jewish nation led to its destruction.
Jeremiah existed when Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem (Jeremiah
37:4,5), B.C. (also now called B.C.E.) 589.
The general subject of his
prophecies is the idolatry and other sins of the Jews; the judgments by
which they were threatened, with references to their future restoration
and deliverance, and promises of the Messiah. They are remarkable for plain
and faithful reproofs, affectionate expostulations,
and awful warnings. He lived till the reign of Evil-Merodach, son of Nebuchadnezzar,
and must have been about ninety years of age at his death.
L
a m e n t a t i o n s: Written 588
B.C.E.
Jeremiah the prophet
mourns over the desolation brought on the city and the holy land by Chaldeans.
It is evident that Jeremiah was the author of the Lamentations which bear
his name. The book was not written till after the destruction of Jerusalem
by the Chaldeans. Meaning of lament.