Behind | Proverbs and Ancient Near Eastern Parallels

Both the forms of Proverbs and their messages have many ancient parallels. These are often apparent at a glance, as is the case with the Ugaritic poem below, which has a similar form and rhythm to biblical proverbs.

For two kinds of banquets Baal hates,
Three the Rider of the Clouds:
A banquet of shamelessness,
A banquet of baseness,
And a banquet of handmaids’ lewdness.

The name “Baal” in the opening line gives away the fact that it isn’t biblical. Apart from that, the poem sounds a lot like a biblical maxim. Notice the similarities in Proverbs 30:18-19, given in the table below for comparison.

Source: Duane A. Garrett, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, 1993, p. 45.

Proverbs 30:18-19 (NASB)	Ugaritic Poem
There are three things which are too wonderful for me, Four which I do not understand: The way of an eagle in the sky, The way of a serpent on a rock, The way of a ship in the middle of the sea, And the way of a man with a maid.	For two kinds of banquets Baal hates, Three the Rider of the Clouds: A banquet of shamelessness, A banquet of baseness, And a banquet of handmaids’ lewdness

At times ancient parallels to biblical proverbs will sound almost like they belong in the Bible. See another example below.

Proverbs 23:22 (NASB)	Teaching of Ani vii, 19
Listen to your father who begot you, And do not despise your mother when she is old.	Double the food which you give your mother, and carry her as she carried you.

Many biblical proverbs have multiple ancient parallels:

Proverbs 3:27 (NASB)	Teaching of Ani v, 10	Counsels of Wisdom, 61-65
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in your power to do it.	Do not refuse your hand to one whom you do not know who comes to you in mortal poverty.	The one begging for alms honor, clothe; Over this his god rejoices.

The role of Proverbs in the Bible is not primarily to distinguish it from other traditions, but to endorse and enhance traditions of wisdom and common sense with revelation from YHWH. Remember the refrain: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” (Prov 9:10, NIV).

Proverbs is distinctive most importantly by being connected with YHWH and His vision for His people. In the ancient world, and still today, one of the primary values of Proverbs is not to overthrow wisdom but to use wisdom, and universal truths, to introduce people to the God of the Bible.

Source: John Ruffle, “The Teaching of Amenemope and Its Connection with the Book of Proverbs,” Learning from the Sages: Selected Studies on the Book of Proverbs, edited by Roy Zuck, 1995, pp. 303-304.