Wisdom instruction in Proverbs interprets the Torah-values to confront injustice and the misuse of power in ancient Israel. The problem of human greed for power, privileges, and wealth earned by dishonest means are issues encountered by the Post- exilic Israel. The study employs socio-liberative reading to guide us to understand how Torah can be understood from liberative perspective if justice, righteousness and the fear of the Lord is being realized. Such issues are relevant to contemporary society in the context of mishandling of power by the ruling elites that created conflict, discrimination and inequalities in society.
Dr. Enolyne Lyngdoh is the Associate Professor at John Roberts Theological College in Old Testament. She completed her Bachelor of Divinity from Union Biblical Seminary. She did her Master in Theology and Doctor of Theology from The United Theological College. She has been involved in teaching from 2009.
Indeed I am delighted to offer foreword to this book which is an excellent work of her doctoral dissertation completed in 2018 submitted to the Senate of Serampore University. I congratulate Dr. Enolyne for her excellent scholarly work and for her distinct contribution to the field of Old Testament. This work explores a new dimension of social, ethical and theological values embedded in the wisdom literature of the Old Testament, particularly in the book of Proverbs based on Torah principles. The book of Proverbs, although comes from the elite and upper class social class ethic, nevertheless engages its readers from the point of view of marginal and underprivileged class ethic. The book affirms how one should develop a positive attitude in upholding justice and righteousness in maintaining order and peace in a given society. The book of Proverbs, in the context of wisdom sages, who impart and ask their students to inculcate good social and moral as well as ethical values based on the torah principles. For this purpose they admonish, instruct and impart the values of justice in the lives of their pupils in order that they might develop and promote those right values in the entire society. These values will eventually help producing a just and social order where all people including creation will have equal place without any discrimination.
This work employs socio-liberative approach to wisdom discourse found in the Book of Proverbs since the book offers instruction concerning the value of human life and human dignity associating with inter-personal and social relations. This method of study is an integration of social scientific and liberative reading. The study views structural-functionalism as a model of approach that interprets the dimensions of human life, human behaviour, and human nature within the social groups and social institutions. It portrays how the law and social norms function in a specific context. The conflict model describes the struggles of values and interests that create tension between diverse social groups. The study identifies the conflict between the advantaged and the disadvantaged. The conflict emerged as a result of inequalities between the rich and the poor, the powerless and the ruling elites in the Post exilic period. The disadvantaged section consisted of the impoverished group that comprised the poor, widow and orphan whose rights are robbed and trampled. The symbolic model helps us to understand the concepts and symbols employed by parents, sages and scribes in Proverbs to convey the Torah-values in Wisdom instruction. The symbolic model helps the study to investigate how meanings are imposed on people to explain human behaviour. By using socio- liberation reading model the work unpacks the intrinsic values of justice and righteousness in the book of Proverbs based on the Torah principles.
Although, the main focus of this study is based on the exegetical analysis of texts from the book of Proverbs, the Torah principles play a pivotal role in describing what is found in the book of Proverbs for a just orderly social life. In fact, Hebrew sages derive their fundamental teachings on justice and righteousness based on Torah principles described in the Mosaic Law. Wisdom in Proverbs is interpreted as a liberative praxis as it inspires a person to impart justice and fairness. Such awareness concerning the implement of justice in the society can be embraced as the core of the Christian faith. The Christian home and the Church can play a crucial role in transmitting values concerning the care for the poor and awareness on the protection of the disadvantaged section. Torah-values challenge the Christian communities from the obsession of power and from the wealth earned by dishonest means. Further, these values are essential to interpret and relate to the Christian community of the Khasis in the context of exploitation, bribery and unfair treatment of the weak and the disadvantaged section of the community.
In the present Indian context, where young and old are confused with fractured value system exist. In order to choose the best values of justice, fairness and all its integral values for maintaining equality among all people without any discrimination on the basis of caste, creed, class, gender, etc., this book is a must read. I therefore highly recommend it for all sections of people both nationally and globally. May this work enlighten, enrich, and impart knowledge and wisdom on all those who read it.
**Contents and Sample Pages**
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