Dear friends,

Today I would like to discuss the concept of wisdom in the Bible. In post-biblical times, wisdom was traditionally associated with the Torah, the law. However, this is not the case within the Bible itself.

We must first realize that the meaning of the word חָכְמָה, Xochma, which is usually translated as "wisdom", is different from what we connote when using it in the modern sense. The noun Xochma, as well as the title חָכָם, Xacham (“wise man”) is in fact used for any expertise in any field. For example, when creating the furnishings for the Temple (Exodus 31:1-11), Bezalel, who was the craftsman assigned with this important task, is described as one who is filled with the divine spirit of wisdom, meaning - expertise, in order to properly carry out God's instructions. Other skills described as wisdom are found in building the Temple (1 Kings 7:13-14), creating idols (Isaiah 40:20), sailing and building boats (Ezekiel 27:8-9), as well as women singing dirge songs (Jeremiah 9:16). When Joseph interprets Pharaoh's dreams, he tells him he must find a wise man and place him in charge of the land, in order to properly prepare for the famine that is to come (Genesis 41:33). The wise man chosen is of course Joseph, a skilled and talented ruler.

Joseph coming before Pharaoh

One especially important skill which is referred to as Xochma, is the skill of rhetoric and persuasion. This is often a feminine skill. After David's son, Abshalom, killed his brother Amnon as revenge for raping their sister Tamar, Abshalom fled from the city, and David's heart yearned for him. Yoab, one of David's advisors, then summons a wise woman from Tekoa. She dresses in mourning clothes, and comes before the king, pretending to ask his advice. She tells him that she is a widow, who had two sons. One of her sons killed the other in a fight, and now, the family is demanding to kill her only surviving son in order to avenge his brother's death. If this happens, she will be left with no family at all. David swears to protect her and her son. The woman then cunningly asks David why he does not do the same with his son. David realizes that Yoab is behind this, and then sends him to return Abshalom to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 14).
In another case involving Yoab, a wise woman in the city of Abel of Beth-Maacha convinces Yoab not to destroy the entire city, where the rebel Sheba Ben-Bichri had taken refuge, using a proverb which she quotes. Yoab agrees not to destroy the city, and Sheba's head is thrown over the wall to him (2 Samuel 20).

As opposed to these wise women, who were obviously commoners, we hear of important wise men who were advisors in the courts of the kings. This wisdom is of a unique attribute, because its entire purpose is to be useful: the advice given to kings is not necessarily good or moral; it is intended to help them achieve their goals, even at the cost of doing something obviously immoral. A good example of this is the advice of Ahitofel in 2 Samuel 16 20-24: Abshalom had rebelled against his father David (possibly proving that his return to Jerusalem wasn't such a good idea after all?), and David fled Jerusalem. Ahitofel then suggests that Abshalom lay with his father's concubines, so that all of Israel may know that Abshalom is now detested by his father, thus making it very clear that the divide between them is real and irreparable. Abshalom listens to this advice, despite the fact that it is clearly forbidden to lay with your fathers wives, or with the wives of a king. Ahitofel suggests that Abshalom sin not for lust, which is usually the cause of such sins, but for practical reasons. Right after this, Ahitofel suggests that Abshalom chase after David that same night, in order to end the war and defeat David while he is weak. Ahitofel's advice is accepted at first, but David then asks God to cause Abshalom to reject Ahitofel's advice, and Abshalom and his people are then convinced that different advice, suggesting that they wait until David settles down and then attack him, is better. Ahitofel then goes to his home and kills himself, not even waiting to see the outcome of the rejection of his suggestion, because he knew that Abshalom would fail after having rejected his advice. This is indeed the case, and Abshalom is killed when his famous long hair gets caught in a tree and he is cornered by Yoab's men, enabling David to regain the thrown and return to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 17-18).

Abshalom's Death

Have a great week!
The Biblical Hebrew Online Team.