The rhetoric of work in proverbs 24:30-34

Abstract

The book of Proverbs contains several instances where the Israelite sages highlight the value of work for the individual and for society. Proverbs 24:30-34 is a masterful example of such a rhetorical piece. Failure to consider its rhetorical featuares is likely to result in incomplete and even incorrect interpretation. Many recent works on Proverbs recognize the rhetorical character of the book, but do not demonstrate its relevance as far as interpretation of the sayings is concerned. To read Proverbs as a rhetorical act is to treat the book close to the demand of its genre. This paper takes a close look at Proverbs 24:30-34 and argues that an analysis of the rhetoric of the text enables us to gain insight into how proverbs function. As well, a rhetorical approach will unfold the meaning and influence of biblical proverbs for a contemporary audience