The Contribution of the Structuring of the Canon to Debate about the Place of Wisdom in Biblical Theology

Psalms, Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs are routinely juxtaposed (in different orders and combinations) in the Hebrew and Greek OT canons. The implication of their propinquity is that the books were viewed by early readers as belonging together and mutually enriching. The regular collation of these five books means that they were treated as primary conversation partners, whose interaction took hermeneutical precedence over other possible intra-canonical links. Irrespective of whether it is decided that these generically diverse texts are to be designated a “wisdom collection,” contemporary readers of Scripture will benefit by taking into consideration that the books were placed together by ancient readers who viewed them as needing to be read in relation to each other.