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WISDOM IN THE THRONE

Wisdom as an hypostasis and cosmogenic agent

Proverbs 1-9 is the primary fountainhead for later elaboration about Wisdom.

According to Prov. 3:13-18, She is more precious than any possession in the world. (Job 28:12-28)

In several passages She is vividly personified as a woman whose speech is recorded in the 1st person. (Prov. 1:20-33; 8: 1-36; 9:3-6)

She is described as a primordial figure who enjoyed a close relationship with G-D in the creating of the World. (8: 22-31)

She is shown to be fairly distinct from G-D and the rest of creation. (Prov. 8: 22-312 ; cf Sir 1:9)

She is depicted as intimately involved in the act of creating the world, even having cosmogenic functions. (Prov. 8:27-31 cf 3:19-20)

These later 3 elements are present in the most exalted presentation of Wisdom found in Proverbs 8:22 : "YHWH begot me, as the beginning of His ways, the first of His acts of old."

Ages ago I was installed, at the first, before the beginning of the earth.

When there are no depths, I was bought forth, when there were no springs around with water.

When he established the heavens, I was there, when he drew a circle on the face of the deep.

Then I was beside Him, like a master craftsman, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before Him always ... Rejoicing in His inhabited world and delighting in the Sons of Man.

Unlike other personifications of Wisdom in Proverbs, the assertion in this text portray her as an hypostasis, an aspect of G-D that has some degree of independent personhood.

Wisdom speaks in the 1st person and refers to G-D in the 3rd person several times. (8:22-29)

A distinction exists between the origins of Wisdom and those of G-D; Wisdom is also distinct from the rest of creation. Furthermore, the position of Wisdom in relation to G-D also indicates a degree of independent personhood : Wisdom is "beside Him" and "in His presence". (8:30)

The latter position is typical of descriptions of angels standing before G-D. (Dan 7:10)

Wisdom's place with the angels is discussed also in 1 Enoch 42 which is an encapsulation of the Wisdom descent tradition. Wisdom could not find a place in which to dwell; but a place was found for her in the Heavens. Then Wisdom went out to dwell with the children of the people, but she found no dwelling place so Wisdom returned to her place and she settled among the angels.

Sirach also depicts Wisdom in the midst of G-Ds angelic host: "in the assembly of the Most High, she will open her mouth, and in the presence of the host she will glory." (24:2)

The preposition "beside Him" in Prov. 8:30a, however is indicative of more than a typical angel (cf Sir 1:8-9) Such language is used of ones position next to or on, the Throne of G-D in Jewish and Christian literature.

The force of the verb ... (to pour, anoint, install, cf Ps 2:6) ( Prov. 8:23) supports the understanding of Wisdom's enthronement.