CONTENTS -- Foreword and Acknowledgments -- Abbreviations -- The Transliteration of the Hebrew Alphabet -- Introduction -- Employed Methodology -- 1. A Survey of Research Concerned with the Structural Framework of Proverbs 1-9 -- 1.1 The Structure and Character of Proverbs 1-9 -- 1.2 The Parental Instructions and the Speeches of Wisdom in Proverbs 1-9 -- 1.3 Summary and Appraisal -- 2. Structure in Light of the Wisdom Concept of House- Building and House-Filling -- 2.1 Introduction -- 2.2 House-building and Creation in the Ancient Near East -- 2.3 House-building and Creation in Israel -- 2.4 The Significance of the Wisdom of the Builder -- 2.5 Proverbs 1-9 as the House of Wisdom: First Part -- 2.6. Proverbs 1-9 as the House of Wisdom: Second Part -- 2.7 Summary and Appraisal -- 3. Poetic Structure in Proverbs 1:20-33: A New Chiastic Structure -- 3.1 Introduction -- 3.2 The Translation of the Massoretic Text of Proverbs 1:20-33 -- 3.3 The Train of Thought of Proverbs 1:20-33 -- 3.4 The Chiastic Structure of Proverbs 1:20-33 -- 3.5 The Address to the Thoughtless, Scoffers and Dullards (1:20-22) -- 3.6 The Admonition and the Motivation Enforced by a Promise (1:23) -- 3.7 The First Part of Wisdom's Chiding Speech (1:24-25) -- 3.8 Announcement of the Threatening Speech (1:26-27) and its Consequence (1:28) -- 3.9 The Second Part of Wisdom's Chiding Speech, Accusation and Result (1:29-31) -- 3.10 Motivation with Promise (1:32) and Concluding Appeal for a Hearer for a Hearer (1:33) -- 3.11 Excursus: The Employment of Anaphora in Proverbs 1:20-33 -- 3.12 Summary and Appraisal -- 4. A Close Reading of Proverbs 8:1-36 -- 4.1 Introduction -- 4.2 The Translation of the Massoretic Text of Proverbs 8:1-36 -- 4.3 The Outline of the Structure of Proverbs 8:1-36 -- 4.4 The Train of Thought of Proverbs 8:1-36 -- 4.5 Poetic Structure in Proverbs 8:1-36.

4.6 Summary and Appraisal -- 5. A Close Reading of Proverbs 9:1-6 -- 5.1 Introduction -- 5.2 The Translation of the Massoretic Text of Proverbs 9:1-6 -- 5.3 The Outline of the Structure of Proverbs 9:1-6 -- 5.4 The Train of Thought of Proverbs 9:1-6 -- 5.5 Poetic Structure in Proverbs 9:1-6 -- 5.6 Summary and Appraisal -- 6. The Gattung Definition of the Three Speeches of Wisdom -- 6.1 Preliminary Foundational and Methodological Remarks -- 6.2 The Gattung Definition of Proverbs 1:20-33 -- 6.3 The Classification of Proverbs 1-9 As A Wisdom Instruction -- 6.4 The Gattung Definition of Proverbs 8:1-36 and 9:1-6 -- 6.5 Summary and Appraisal -- 6.6 Proverbs 1:20-33: Repentance Sermon or Instruction? -- 7. Wisdom Built Her House: Poetic Imagery as a Unifying Element of Structure -- 7.1 Introduction -- 7.2 Proverbs 1-9 A Collection/Anthology or a Composition of Instructions -- 7.3 An Enumeration of Metaphors, Similes, Themes, Motifs and Imageries -- 7.4 The Path Imagery in Proverbs 1-9 -- 7.5 The House Imagery in Proverbs 1-9 -- 7.6 The Treasure Imagery in Proverbs 1-9 -- 7.7 Summary and Appraisal -- 8. Gradation of Enticement, Temptation and Desirability in Wisdom's Speeches -- 8.1 Introduction -- 8.2 The Question of Chronological Sequence of Events and Plot -- 8.3 Gradation in Proverbs 1:20-33 -- 8:1-36 and 9:1-6 -- 8.4 Summary and Appraisal -- Conclusion -- Bibliography -- Index of Ancient Texts -- Index of Names -- Index of Subjects.