When was Proverbs written?

As David was the greatest poet of Psalms so Solomon was the greatest poet of Proverbs. First Kings 4:29-34 states: "And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore. And Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country (JND: sons of the east), and all the wisdom of Egypt. For he was wiser than all men, than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, and Chalcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all nations round about. And he spoke three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five. And he spoke of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springs out of the wall: he spoke also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes. And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom."

Only around a thousand of Solomon's proverbs are collected in the book of Proverbs and were maintained by divine inspiration and preservation. King Hezekiah's men collected some of Solomon's proverbs only 200 years later (compare Proverbs 25:1). Also Solomon has probably not compiled all proverbs but taken over already known proverbs by the wise (compare chap. 22:17; 24:23). The same implies for the "appendix" in Proverbs 30 and 31 where the name of Agur and Lemuel appear. Solomon has therefore more likely collected the words of these men than just added them later. Solomon reigned around 970 to 931 BC and Hezekiah (in whose time many ancient things came to honour) around 716 to 687 BC. This fixes the beginning and the end of the book's origin.

Spoken by Solomon except chaps. 30, 31; compiler (?)

Palestine; probably collected and compiled in the days of Hezekiah (Prov. 25:1) about 726 B.C.

The Division of Proverbs

As already stated in our introduction the book of Proverbs, as a book, was not in existence in the days of Solomon; it was completed through the interest, no doubt inspired interest, of King Hezekiah. That Solomon wrote the proverbs as attributed to him is beyond question.

At the beginning of Solomon's reign, God gave him wisdom and knowledge such as no one before or after was given (2 Chron. 1:7-12), and for this reason no doubt Solomon was chosen by God to write the major part of this book of Proverbs. Very likely this was written rather early in his history, and the book of Ecclesiastes later (Eccl. 1:12-18).

Proverbs is also poetic, written by King Solomon in his younger years, a book of wise instruction in reference to every department of personal life and conduct. Its great, outstanding truth is simply this: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." Its warnings against subtle evils are accompanied by instruction as to the means of avoiding these evils.

Chapter 25 begins with the statement: "These are also proverbs which the men of Hezekiah, King of Judah, copied out." This pious king must have had a great interest in compiling and preserving certain portions of the Word of God. According to this statement in Proverbs he must have commissioned certain scribes to add to the previous collection of proverbs by Solomon, other proverbs, which up to that time had remained uncollected. Then in chapter 30 we find the words of Agur the son of Jakeh, and in chapter 31 the words of King Lemuel.

From these facts which appear in the book it is clear that the composition of the entire book of Proverbs cannot be attributed to Solomon. The book begins with "The Proverbs of Solomon the Son of David, King of Israel". In the beginning of chapter 10 we read again: "The Proverbs of Solomon". It seems clear then that in chapters 1-24 we have the proverbs of Solomon; chapter 25 to the end contains also proverbs by the king, except the last two chapters. In all probability the scribes of Hezekiah who copied out the proverbs of chapters 25-29 added the last two chapters. What criticism states, that "the later chapters of this book point to the second or third century before Christ," is only an assertion.

Another feature of this book is, that numerous times a person is addressed as "My son," and the personal pronoun is often used "thou, thee, thy," etc. The sections where we find this are chapters 1-9; 19:20--24:34; and 27-29:27. Who then is the person addressed? Does Solomon address some one or is it Solomon himself who is addressed? Dr. J.W. Thirtle in his Old Testament Problems distinguishes between proverbs written by Solomon and those which were written for him. All those which are addressed to "My son," and in which the personal pronoun is used, it is claimed, are given to Solomon by "wise men or teachers" and that all these sententious sayings were given to young Solomon by these men to fit him for rulership. But this produces other difficulties. The proverbs of Solomon would in this case be very few in comparison with the size of the book, and furthermore we do not know who these wise men or teachers were who instructed the king and wrote such words of wisdom.

The Book of Proverbs. The whole of these proverbs were spoken by Solomon, save those contained in the two last chapters. We may regard these wise principles and maxims as part of the three thousand uttered by the illustrious monarch of Israel (1 Kings 4:32), and as the fruit of that wisdom he asked from the Lord at the commencement of his reign (1 Kings 3:12); his name is introduced at the beginning of each of the three divisions of the book (see chapters 1, 10, 25), and which are here selected and arranged by inspiration of God. The compiler was probably one of the prophets living in the days of Hezekiah, if, indeed, that monarch himself did not do so; we know at least that his servants copied out a number of these proverbs (Prov. 25:1). We know nothing of Agur (Prov. 30:1), nor of King Lemuel (Prov. 31:1); their names alone have been handed down to posterity.

Ecclesiastes (the preacher). The opening words of the book are conclusive as to its authorship, "The words of the Preacher, the son of David, King in Jerusalem." The boundary of Solomon's horizon is the sun, beneath it all is pronounced "Vanity." Read the book, and you will say that it was evidently written by Solomon at the close of his reign, in the evening of his life; probably too in Jerusalem, at least in Palestine.

"These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah copied out." These proverbs then were not new in Hezekiah's time: they had been from the beginning of the glorious kingdom of Israel; but they have peculiar significance for the difficult times of Hezekiah. Just so, the truth of God, "the faith of God's elect" has been once for all delivered to the saints. God's revelation was completed with the introduction of Christianity into the world: in Christ Himself revealed in grace, God has seen fit to completely reveal His will, so that provision for the entire history of the church was made at the very beginning of the church. But it has been neglected and ignored, and we are sorely broken and in reproach. Yet that same Word has already made provision for recovery, where hearts are concerned about recovery. 2 Timothy has often been referred to as such a provision. Let us then have energy of faith, not to devise new methods or expedients for such a day, but to "copy out" what is already written, and apply ourselves to obey it. This is to "have knowledge of the times," and to have true fellowship with God in that which is His special work in a day of evil.

Verse 1 tells us, "These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, copied out." Thus they were not new in Hezekiah's time. Just so, the truth of God, "the faith of God's elect" has been once for all delivered to the saints. God's revelation was completed with the introduction of Christianity into the world: in Christ Himself, revealed in grace, God has seen fit to completely reveal His will, so that provision for the entire history of the church was provided at her very beginning. But it has been neglected and ignored, and we are sorely broken and in reproach. yet that same Word has already made provision for recovery, and is to be applied when our hearts are concerned for recovery. Let us then have energy of faith, not to devise new methods or expedients for such a day, but to "copy out" what is already written, and apply ourselves to obey it. This is to "have knowledge of the times." and to have true fellowship with God in that which is His special work in a day of evil.

Here begin the proverbs which the good king Hezekiah, under the guidance of the Spirit of God, added to this book. "This title is interesting as affording a proof that a revival of literary activity accompanied the revival of religion and of national prosperity which marked the reign of Hezekiah. The men of Hezekiah were doubtless a body of scribes engaged under the direction of the king in literary labors."