Against Wisdom

Ecclesiastes's Critique of Wisdom

When do we first find wisdom in the Bible?

The answer isn’t what you’d expect.

1. Pharaoh’s advisors are called wise. [Genesis 41:8]

2. Pharaoh plans to enslave the Israelites (“Come let us be wise...” [Exodus 2:10]

Another plot twist: Bezalel, Joshua, Solomon, and Daniel are called wise, but Moses is not.

So wisdom is associated with wielding power, bui…