If King Solomon did not write Proverbs, then who did?

Proverbs is a book in the Old Testament that is widely attributed to King Solomon, who was known for his wisdom and knowledge. However, there is some debate among scholars about whether or not Solomon actually wrote the book. In this blog post, we will explore some of the different theories about who may have written Proverbs if Solomon did not.

One theory is that the book of Proverbs was written by a group of sages or wise men who lived during the time of Solomon. This theory suggests that the book is a collection of wisdom sayings and teachings that were passed down through generations of wise men. This would explain why the book contains different perspectives and styles of writing.

Another theory is that the book of Proverbs was written by King Hezekiah, who ruled over Judah in the 8th century BC. This theory is based on a verse in Proverbs 25:1 which says, “These are more proverbs of Solomon, copied by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah.” This verse suggests that Hezekiah may have gathered and compiled a collection of Solomon’s proverbs.

A third theory is that the book of Proverbs was written by a group of scribes or editors who compiled and edited the wisdom sayings and teachings of different authors over a period of several centuries. This theory suggests that the book is a collection of wisdom literature that was compiled and edited by different authors and editors over time.

Some scholars also suggest that the book of Proverbs may have been influenced by other ancient Near Eastern wisdom literature, such as the Egyptian Instruction of Amenemope and the Babylonian Instructions of Shuruppak.