Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (review)

Abstract

Hebrew Studies 36 (1995) 201 Reviews Entwicklung der Weisheit in Agypten voraussetzt; sie gehort einem kulturgeschichtlich sp:iten Stadium der Weisheit an, die Spruchweisheit Israels dagegen einem kulturgeschichtlich friihen. Die Obemahme eines Teiles der :igyptischen Weisheitsschrift ist erst moglich im Spatstadium der israelitischen Weisheit, die schriftlich entstand und die gleiche Form der Weisheitsgedichte hatte. Ich fmde an dieser Arbeit gut, daB Snell am SchluB zugibt, daB er auf dem Weg seiner Untersuchung zwei der wichtigsten Fragen nicht beantworten konnte. Es muB ein anderer Weg gesucht werden. C. Westermann Augustinum Heidelberg GERMANY PROVERBS, ECCLESIASTES, SONG OF SONGS. By Duane A. Garrett. The New American Commentary 14. Pp. 448. Nashville: Broadman Press, 1993. Cloth, $27.99. Interested and educated persons have no excuse in our time not to be quite well informed about the Bible. Many commentary series exist to serve almost every religious preference and academic specialty. In addition a wide variety of commentaries are available which do not belong to specific series. Is there not something suspicious about the fact that the basic text of the Bible can be read, translated and interpreted in so many different ways? Or should we celebrate such abundance? The New American Commentary is clear about its mission (see Editor's Preface), that is, to be committed to the infallibility of Scripture and to "affirm the divine inspiration, inerrancy, complete truthfulness, and full authority of the Bible." For persons who are less familiar with such key words as "infallibility" and "inerrancy," at least a basic explanation should have been provided. Interested laypersons, college and seminary students, teachers, pastors and scholars are the intended readership. Duane A. Garrett has fulfilled his very difficult task (of providing a scholarly commentary with an evangelical interpretation on three formidable biblical books) in a most exemplary fashion. In a severely limited space he provides (for every book under discussion) a clear "Outline," a thorough "Introduction" to most of the important topics which are spe- Hebrew Studies 36 (1995) 202 Reviews cific to each book, the text of the NIV, followed by comments and footnotes. A "Selected Subject Index," "Person Index" and "Selected Scripture Index" complete the book. There is no separate bibliography; the bibliographic information is available in the footnotes. The "Selected Subject Index" is a little bit too skimpy and does not do justice to the richness of the commentary. A map of "The Middle East During the United Monarchy" is provided on page 58, but it provides only minimal information. Although Garrett makes a great effort to explain many technical terms, it would have been good to add a "Glossary" for the benefit of persons who are not familiar with some of the terms. A historical chart might also have been worthwhile. The comments are presented in a very readable style and are, in my opinion, understandable even to the beginner in biblical studies. They contain exactly what his readership needs to hear: clear theological and evangelical exposition of the text presented with remarkable scholarly competence and pastoral sensitivity. Two examples must suffice. (1) In close to forty years of teaching the Bible I have yet to encounter a person who does not chuckle upon hearing the advice in Eccl 11:1, "Cast your bread upon the waters, I for after many days you will find it again." Garrett's comment transforms the unbelieving snicker into respect for biblical wisdom: "To cast bread upon the waters is to engage in commercial enterprises involving overseas trade (cf. 1 Kgs 9:26-28; 10:22). Eventually the investment will payoff." It also shows (as do most learned works on the Bible) that it is simply impossible to understand the message of Scripture by merely reading a translation (even the NIV) without the explanations of a competent teacher. (2) Garrett is sensitive to the fact that much of Scripture was written from a male perspective and that, for example, Eccl 7:23-29 was written for a male audience. In his comments Garrett shows that this passage can (and should) also be read from a woman's perspective. He might have added that, although the setting of most of Scripture might be "patriarchal," the message of Scripture is not (at least...