Cosmos and Empire in the Wisdom of Solomon
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William Horbury
Abstract
It is suggested that in the book of Wisdom, as often elsewhere in Greek, Roman and Jewish literature, cosmos and earthly empire are interconnected; cosmic order, represented in Wisdom as government by a world-soul identified with divine wisdom or spirit, forms the pattern of imperial order, represented by righteous Israel and her kings. Links in Wisdom between cosmos and empire are reviewed with reference to the presentation of Solomon and the kings of the earth and with comparison of Ecclesiasticus and Aeneid book Six, among other writings. In Wis 1:1-11:1, it emerges, the cosmos is treated within the framework of the manifestation of divine rule in the empire of David and Solomon. The extent of resemblance between Wisdom and Virgil on this theme is noted.
Abstract
It is suggested that in the book of Wisdom, as often elsewhere in Greek, Roman and Jewish literature, cosmos and earthly empire are interconnected; cosmic order, represented in Wisdom as government by a world-soul identified with divine wisdom or spirit, forms the pattern of imperial order, represented by righteous Israel and her kings. Links in Wisdom between cosmos and empire are reviewed with reference to the presentation of Solomon and the kings of the earth and with comparison of Ecclesiasticus and Aeneid book Six, among other writings. In Wis 1:1-11:1, it emerges, the cosmos is treated within the framework of the manifestation of divine rule in the empire of David and Solomon. The extent of resemblance between Wisdom and Virgil on this theme is noted.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- Abbreviations VII
- Introduction 1
- Zum Gedenken an Otto Kaiser (1924–2017) 5
- In Memory of Alexander A. Di Lella (1929–2019) 9
- Heaven: Use, Function and Content of a Cosmic Concept 13
- Does κτίστης Mean “Creator”? The Lexeme κτι- and Its Implications in the Greek-Hellenistic Context 35
- Cosmos and Creation in Job 38 (Septuagint) 55
- Cosmic Events in the First and Last Additions to the Greek Text of the Book of Esther 77
- “Bless the Lord, Winter Cold and Summer Heat”. Cosmos and Creation in Greek Daniel 3:52–90 91
- Epiphanies: Cosmic Transcendence in 2 Maccabees 111
- “Gold from Heaven” in 2 Maccabees 129
- Creation and Humanity in the Book of Ben Sira 149
- Polarities in Creation (Sir 33:7–15) 179
- A Theology of the Creator and His Creation in Sir 42:15–25 201
- Creation and Cosmos in Greek Sirach 18:1–10 223
- Cosmos and Empire in the Wisdom of Solomon 245
- Creation and History in the Structure of the Book of Wisdom. ἡ κτίσις … ὑπηρετοῦσα (Wis 16:24) 271
- Philosophical Ideas about Cosmos and Creation in the Book of Wisdom 297
- God’s Conflict with the Chaos Monster in the Book of Tobit 319
- Cosmological Origins and Creation in 4QInstruction 331
- The Work of Creation in Early Rabbinic Prayers and Benedictions 345
- Ben Sira 42–50: An Antecedent of the Seder ‘Avodah Poems? 363
- Biographies of Authors 385
- Index of References 387
- Index of Authors 429
- Index of Subjects 435
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- Abbreviations VII
- Introduction 1
- Zum Gedenken an Otto Kaiser (1924–2017) 5
- In Memory of Alexander A. Di Lella (1929–2019) 9
- Heaven: Use, Function and Content of a Cosmic Concept 13
- Does κτίστης Mean “Creator”? The Lexeme κτι- and Its Implications in the Greek-Hellenistic Context 35
- Cosmos and Creation in Job 38 (Septuagint) 55
- Cosmic Events in the First and Last Additions to the Greek Text of the Book of Esther 77
- “Bless the Lord, Winter Cold and Summer Heat”. Cosmos and Creation in Greek Daniel 3:52–90 91
- Epiphanies: Cosmic Transcendence in 2 Maccabees 111
- “Gold from Heaven” in 2 Maccabees 129
- Creation and Humanity in the Book of Ben Sira 149
- Polarities in Creation (Sir 33:7–15) 179
- A Theology of the Creator and His Creation in Sir 42:15–25 201
- Creation and Cosmos in Greek Sirach 18:1–10 223
- Cosmos and Empire in the Wisdom of Solomon 245
- Creation and History in the Structure of the Book of Wisdom. ἡ κτίσις … ὑπηρετοῦσα (Wis 16:24) 271
- Philosophical Ideas about Cosmos and Creation in the Book of Wisdom 297
- God’s Conflict with the Chaos Monster in the Book of Tobit 319
- Cosmological Origins and Creation in 4QInstruction 331
- The Work of Creation in Early Rabbinic Prayers and Benedictions 345
- Ben Sira 42–50: An Antecedent of the Seder ‘Avodah Poems? 363
- Biographies of Authors 385
- Index of References 387
- Index of Authors 429
- Index of Subjects 435
