[13] Evidence for the statements here given is omitted, partly because they are matters of general agreement among modern students of the Bible, but still more because the full evidence has been repeatedly set forth in works accessible to any who may have inclination to consider the subject in detail. Reference may conveniently be made to C. H. Toy, _Proverbs_, or to the same writer’s article _Book of Proverbs_, in the _Encyclopædia Britannica_ (11th edition); or to G. F. Moore, _Literature of the Old Testament_, ch. xxii. (Home University Library). [14] Cp. also 10^{1} _The proverbs of Solomon_; 22^{17} _Words of the Wise_; 24^{23}, _These are also words of the Wise_; 25^{1} _These are also proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, copied out_; 30^{1}, _Sayings of Agur, son of Jakeh_; 31^{1}, _Sayings of Lemuel, king of Massa_. The last two of these titles rest on an uncertain Hebrew text. For the allusion to Solomon see pp. 71, 72. [15] Perhaps almost all, in their present polished form. Thus Toy (_Proverbs_, p. xi.) declares that “none of the aphorisms are popular proverbs or folk-sayings. They are all reflective and academic in tone, and must be regarded as the productions of schools of moralists in a period of high moral culture.” This observation is generally true, and of great importance; but it is not to be understood as meaning that the Book, or even the several sections, sprang out of nothing. In and behind the finished product there may well be a great deal of earlier material. [16] _i.e._, any subsequent changes were of a minor character, introduced occasionally by some scribe or copyist. The year 200 B.C. may reasonably be taken as the lower limit of date, partly because _Proverbs_ has features (notably its attitude to the Mosaic Law) which suggest that it was finished earlier than _Ecclesiasticus_, a work composed about 190 B.C. This argument, though strong, is not conclusive; but in any case the peaceful, comfortable, tone which pervades _Proverbs_ indicates that it is not later than the years of persecution preceding the Maccabean revolt in 167 B.C. [17] See for _Ecclesiastes_ the volume _Pessimism and Love_ by D. Russell Scott; and for _Job_, _The Problem of Pain_, by J. E. McFadyen. [18] _N.B._ =Hereafter the abbreviation “E,” will constantly be used for Ecclesiasticus, and “Pr.” for Proverbs.= [19] The dots indicate words missing from the Hebrew text or of unknown meaning. [20] Cp. also E. 25^{1, 2}; 26^{5}. [21] lit. “the character of Sodom.” [22] _i.e._, He thinks the world requires nothing more than the interchange of commodities. As to the way of putting it, be it remembered that in the Orient business transactions are, politely, “gifts”; cp. Gen. 23^{10-16}. [23] A. R. Wallace, _Natural Selection_. [24] G. A. Smith, _Early Poetry of Israel_, p. 33; and cp. Kinglake, _Eothen_, ch. 17. [25] Cohen, _Ancient Jewish Proverbs_, 88. [26] _op. cit._ 13.