BOOK OF, an apocryphal book of Scripture, so called on account
of the wise maxims contained in it. This book has been commonly ascribed
to Solomon, either because the author imitated that king’s manner of
writing, or because he sometimes speaks in his name. But it is certain
Solomon was not the author of it; for it was not written in Hebrew, nor
was it inserted in the Jewish canon, nor is the style like that of
Solomon; and therefore St. Jerom observes justly that it smells strong
of the Grecian eloquence; that it is composed with art and method, after
the manner of the Greek philosophers, very different from that noble
simplicity so full of life and energy to be found in the Hebrew books.
It has been ascribed by many of the ancients to Philo.
of the wise maxims contained in it. This book has been commonly ascribed
to Solomon, either because the author imitated that king’s manner of
writing, or because he sometimes speaks in his name. But it is certain
Solomon was not the author of it; for it was not written in Hebrew, nor
was it inserted in the Jewish canon, nor is the style like that of
Solomon; and therefore St. Jerom observes justly that it smells strong
of the Grecian eloquence; that it is composed with art and method, after
the manner of the Greek philosophers, very different from that noble
simplicity so full of life and energy to be found in the Hebrew books.
It has been ascribed by many of the ancients to Philo.