Solomon clearly intends these opening and closing portions of Proverbs to provide a composite picture of wisdom. Feed the hungry and care for the poor (Prov. Build a house and care for their servants (Prov.Are difficult to find but are incomparable in worth (Prov.Solomon then closes Proverbs with wisdom embodied in the noble woman (often translated as wife). She delighted in God’s creation and in its people (Proverbs 8:22-31). Here we learn that lady wisdom was with God when he began the work of creation. The book opens with wisdom personified as a woman. The centerpiece of his writing, the book of Proverbs, is framed by literary bookends. Wisdom literature in the Hebrew tradition originates with King Solomon, who received divine wisdom as a gift from God (1 Kings 2-3). Moreover, the business is sufficiently profitable that it provides well for all its employees and other stakeholders, while allowing her to share its surplus with the poor and needy. Not some small-scale hobby business, but one deeply involved in the global supply chain of her day. In fact, Proverbs 31 portrays a particularly outstanding business leader - a woman of significance running a very profitable business. This wise executive has exceptional character and all the practices of excellent supply chain management. Maybe it’s not surprising then that when I come to this passage as a business scholar and supply chain professor, I see a portrayal of an outstanding business leader who happens to be a woman. On attentive reading, though, they quickly see that this noble woman does much that Donna never imagined. Pastoral teaching has led them to believe the passage describes the ideal biblical wife and homemaker - essentially Donna Reed with a spiritual gloss. Many Christians find themselves a bit perplexed by the noble (or valiant) woman of Proverbs 31:10-31.
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