My forthcoming book is not a commentary on Proverbs so it doesn’t address all the questions I have about the book. It addresses nine major lessons that Solomon says we should learn.
But there is a lot more to explore about Proverbs.
One question I have is this: Why is Hezekiah mentioned by name in Proverbs:
These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied.
Proverbs 25:1 (ESV)
The text could have included his collection without naming Hezekiah. Are we supposed to think about him when we read that section?
One similarity between Hezekiah and Solomon is the prominence of a foolish son in both their stories. Solomon addressed a son from the beginning of Proverbs but his son was not wise. Rehoboam’s pride led to the split of Israel into two kingdoms.
Hezekiah’s son was Manasseh, the most wicked king in Jerusalem.
How should this inform our reading of Proverbs 25:1-29? Should it?
But this raises another question: What are we to think of the failure of Solomon in reading Proverbs? Solomon not only had a foolish son, but acted foolishly himself. And his folly started with taking new young wives in his later years.
One might suppose we should “bracket” our knowledge of Solomon’s failing while reading Proverbs. But that’s hard because Proverbs concludes with an exhortation to King Lemuel from his mother:
The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him:
What are you doing, my son? What are you doing, son of my womb? What are you doing, son of my vows?
Do not give your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings.
Proverbs 31:1-3
Her words conclude with a poem on the importance of a (singular!) godly wife.
How can this possibly not be directed at Solomon’s major failing?
But I’m not sure what that means for how we’re supposed to interpret Proverbs.