What Is The Book of Ahikar?
This is an original retelling (paraphrase) of the Wisdom of Ahikar, originally posted on Steemit.com about four years ago. This is updated and reposted content for a new audience and for a new platform (HIVE).
The Wisdom of Ahikar is one of the most ancient sources of human thought and wisdom. There are elements of this story within the scriptures, both the Torah and the Gospels and Epistles.
The date of this story has been a subject of lively discussion. Scholars finally put it down about the First Century when they were proved in error by the original story turning up in an Aramaic papyrus of 500 B. C. among the ruins of Elephantine.
I've decided, for your reading pleasure, to paraphrase the ancient story and wisdom here on the HIVE blockchain.
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five
Part Six
Part Seven
Park Eight
The book of Ahikar is not in the Biblical canon, but has some credentials that lend it some biblical authority. The story of Ahikar fits within the Biblical story of the Assyrian conquest of Israel. One story, preserved in the Catholic canon, is the Book of Tobit. This man Tobit was of the tribe of Naphtali, a Hebrew
This book tells the story of Tobit, son of Tobiel, son of Hananiel, son of Aduel, son of Gabael, son of Raphael, son of Raguel, of the family of Asiel and the tribe of Naphtali. Tobit 1:1
The book of Tobit mentions Ahikar and his son Nadan by name and even includes elements of this story. Clearly the author of Tobit was familiar with the story of Ahikar, since the text of Tobit lists Ahikar as being the nephew of Tobit.
Ahikar the son of my brother Anael, was appointed chancellor of the exchequer for the kingdom and given the main ordering of affairs. Ahikar then interceded for me and I was allowed to return to Nineveh, since Ahikar had been chief cupbearer, keeper of the signet, administrator and treasurer under Sennacherib king of Assyria, and Esarhaddon had kept him in office. He was a relation of mine; he was my nephew. Tobit 1:21-22
The book of Tobit can be read here.
The book of Ahikar can be read here.
The Proverbs of Ahikar
Here resumes the proverbs of Ahikar.
My son, a small fortune is better than a scattered fortune.
Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the appetite: this also is vanity and a striving after wind. Ecclesiastes 6:9
My son, a living dog is better than a dead poor man.
But he who is joined with all the living has hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion. Ecclesiastes 9:4
My son, a poor man who does right is better than a rich man who is dead in sins.
No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. Matthew 6:24
My son, keep a word in your heart and it shall be much to you and beware lest you reveal the secret of your friend.
The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. Deuteronomy 29:29
My son, do not let a word issue from you mouth until you have taken counsel with your heart. Do not stand in between people who are arguing because from a bad word there comes a argument and from an argument there comes war and from war there comes fighting and you will be forced to bear witness. No, run away from this and be at peace.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10
My son, do not withstand a man who is stronger than you, but acquire a patient spirit and endurance and an upright conduct, for there is nothing more excellent than that.
YHVH is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him. Exodus 15:2
My son, do not hate your first friend, for the second one may not last.
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24
My son, visit the poor in his affliction and speak of him in the Sultan's presence and do your diligence to save him from the mouth of the lion.
But YHVH stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. 1 Timothy 4:17
My son, do not rejoice in the death of your enemy, for after a little while you shall be his neighbor. Respect and honor the one who mocks you and go beforehand and greet him.
Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles. Proverbs 24:17
I hope you are enjoying these wise proverbs.
May we learn together the wisdom of Ahikar. Will he teach these things to his son, or will his son be deaf and blind to these truths and turn astray. We shall find out!
This concludes this portion of the Proverbs of Ahikar. Much more to come! Let us bless His Holy Name in fear and reverence.
Bless the Most High!
Bless the Most High!
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