A new and ground-breaking study of the nature and origins of the earliest material in the book of Proverbs in the Bible, drawing on evidence from Israel and neighbouring countries. The conclusions have important implications for the future study of this material, and for our understanding of ancient Israel's society and history. Every once in a while a book comes along that challenges the assured results of a particular field of inquiry. So impressive are the challenges of the book that one's perspective on the field of inquiry is significantly altered. Certainly, Stuart Weeks has presented such a challenge to the assured results of Israelite wisdom studies.