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The Book of Wisdom in Modern Research

Goff, Matthew. The Catholic Biblical Quarterly 69.1 (Jan 2007): 180-182.

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Abstract
The author concludes that "the attitude defended by the Book of Wisdom with regard to the problem of the rights of the Jews of Alexandria is that of a Judaism which is conscious of its own individuality but which, at the same time, seeks a measure of integration" (p. 79).

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Full Text
ANGELO PASSARO and GIUSEPPE BELLIA (eds.), The Book of Wisdomin Modern Research (Deuterocanonical and Cognate Literature Yearbook 2005; Berlin/New York: de Gruyter, 2005). Pp. xx + 363. euro91.59. The Book of Wisdomin Modern Research is a stimulating volume that anyone interested in this deuterocanonical bookwill find valuable. Along with an introduction by John J. Collins, it comprises fourteen essays: David Winston, "A Century ofResearch on the Book of Wisdom" (pp. 1-18); Maurice Gilbert, "The Literary Structure ofthe Book of Wisdom: A Study ofVarious Views" (pp. 19-32); Marie-Franoise Baslez, "The Author of Wisdomand the Cultured Environment ofAlexandria" (pp. 33-52); Luca Mazzinghi, "Wis 19:13-17 and the Civil Rights ofthe Jews ofAlexandria" (pp. 53-82); Giuseppe Bellia, "Historical and Anthropological Reading ofthe Book of Wisdom" (pp. 83-115); mile Puech, "The Book of Wisdomand the Dead Sea Scrolls: An Overview" (pp. 117-41); John J. Collins, "The Reinterpretation of Apocalyptic Traditions in the Wisdom ofSolomon" (pp. 143-57); Silvana Manfredi, "The Trial ofthe Righteous in Wis 5:1-14 (1-7) and in the Prophetic Traditions" (pp. 159-78); Angelo Passaro, "The Serpent and the Manna or the Saving Word: Exegesis ofWis 16" (pp. 179-93); Rosario Pistone, "The Lyre and the Creation: Music Theory and Persuasive Strategy in Wisdom19" (pp. 195-217); Giovanni Rizzi, "Hermeneutic Phenomena in the Translation of the Peshitta Wisdom" (pp. 219-53); Roberto Vignolo, "Wisdom, Prayer and Kingly Pattern: Theology, Anthropology, Spirituality ofWis 9" (pp. 255-82); Paolo lovino, '"The Only Wise God' in the Letter to the Romans: Connections with the Book of Wisdom" (pp. 283-305); Giuseppe Bellia and Angelo Passaro, "Infinite Passion for Justice" (pp. 307-28). This bookcontains the proceedings ofa conference entitled "St. John the Evangelist" that convened in Palermo, March 22-23, 2002, under the auspices ofthe Theological Faculty of Sicily. This is their third Conference ofBiblical Studies, having held two previous congresses on sapiential literature (Proverbs in April 1998 and Qoheleth in April 2000). The organizers have produced an important contribution to the study ofthe Wisdom ofSolomon. The essays in this volume address major themes and issues ofthis composition, including its history of scholarship (Winston), its literary structure (Gilbert), its probable Alexandrian provenance (Basiez, Mazzinghi, Bellia), its relationship to apocalypticism and the Dead Sea Scrolls

(Collins, Puech), and its theological concepts (lovino, Bellia-Passaro). Some papers are devoted to the explication ofspecific texts (Passaro, Pistone, Vignolo). (The space allotted for this review does not allow me to discuss every article in the volume.) Baslez argues that the polemical aspects ofthe Wisdom ofSolomon reflect an orientation toward "the social and cultural elite ofAlexandria" in order to counter their influence on the Jewish community (p. 36). The author addresses other aspects ofthe work's Alexandrian milieu, such as "clubs and other convivial associations" (p. 40) and Dionysianism, which, it is argued, is attacked in texts such as Wis 12:3-7 and 14:23 (pp. 42-43). Baslez concludes that the Wisdom ofSolomon is best understood against the backdrop "ofthe fiscal reform of24/3 rather than the period ofPhilo and Caligula" (p. 49), putting forward a date ofcomposition that is earlier than that ofDavid Winston's authoritative The Wisdom ofSolomon: A new translation with introduction and commentary (AB 43; New York: Doubleday, 1979) 23. Mazzinghi examines how Wis 19:13-17 sheds light on the civil rights ofthe Jewish community in Alexandria. This pericope compares the Egyptians to the biblical men ofSodom, who treated their guests cruelly. The author concludes that "the attitude defended by the Book of Wisdom with regard to the problem ofthe rights ofthe Jews ofAlexandria is that ofa Judaism which is conscious ofits own individuality but which, at the same time, seeks a measure ofintegration" (p. 79). Puech's essay examines the Wisdom ofSolomon vis--vis the Dead Sea Scrolls. His treatment ofthe theme ofthe afterlife concentrates less on the Greek conception ofthe immortality ofthe soul than on the Jewish tradition. He argues that immortality is a "free gift of God" that constitutes the annulment ofAdam's sin (p. 128). Puech suggests that the Wisdom ofSolomon never mentions resurrection because it is either a "known truth" for the ancient author or he considered the idea "unacceptable" (p. 129). Puech sees the doctrine of resurrection in a surprising number ofQumran manuscripts, including one fragment ofthe wisdomcomposition 4QInstruction (4Q418 69 ii). For him, this text aptly illustrates "the eschatological conception ofthe Book of Wisdom" (p. 135). Collins's essay also analyzes the Wisdom ofSolomon in relation to late Second Temple Palestinian traditions. He reviews apocalyptic tropes ofthe composition (e.g., eschatological judgment). Collins concludes that "the apocalyptic motifs in the Wisdom ofSolomon do not ultimately shape the worldview of the text," but they are rather "reinterpreted through the lens ofHellenistic philosophy" (p. 154). Two novel essays in the collection are those ofPistone and Rizzi. Pistone examines the ending ofthe Wisdom ofSolomon, which describes the exodus as a metamorphosis of elements ofthe natural world (Wis 19:18-21). To depict this transformation, the pericope uses a musical metaphor, which Pistone investigates in light ofancient Greek musicology, drawing on material such as Aristoxenus's Harmonia and a treatise on meter and rhythm from the Oxyrhynchus papyri (POxy. 9 and 2687) (p. 207). He concludes his technical discussion with the assertion that Wis 19:18 "can and should be read as a musical allusion in terms of rhythm, not sound" (p. 211). Rizzi contributes an erudite paper on the Wisdom ofSolomon in the Syriac tradition. The Peshitta ofthis bookis a translation from the LXX (p. 229). There is a limited degree ofengagement with the Syriac translation ofthe Wisdom ofSolomon by

medieval rabbis, including Nachmanides (p. 233). The author reviews instances in which the Syriac offers a "Christianized" translation ofthe text, such as Peshitta Wis 2:12d (p. 235). Rizzi concludes that the Syriac version ofsome Wisdom ofSolomon texts "could be less confessional than what has been proposed" (p. 250). The Book of Wisdomin Modern Research is a successful and learned volume. It brings together, in an Italian context, some ofthe leading experts on the Wisdom ofSolomon. They address, often with sophistication and insight, some ofthe core issues ofthis composition. AuthorAffiliation Matthew Goff, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306

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Indexing (details)
Subject Theology; Traditions; Conferences; Nonfiction; Civil rights; Essays The Book of Wisdom in Modern Research Goff, Matthew The Catholic Biblical Quarterly 69 1 180-182 3 2007 Jan 2007 2007 Washington Catholic Biblical Association of America Washington United States Religions And Theology--Roman Catholic 00087912 Scholarly Journals English Book Review-Favorable Nonfiction, Essays, Theology, Conferences, Civil rights, Traditions 220251174 http://search.proquest.com/docview/220251174?accountid=8013 Copyright Catholic Biblical Association of America Jan 2007

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