Fear of Yahweh // Top of knowledge (daat H1847)
Wisdom (chokmah H2451) and discipline (musar H4148) // Fools despise
The parallel concepts are synonymous rather than antithetical. On the other hand, the first is positive, and the second is negative. In a chiastic structure, knowledge is compared synonymously with wisdom and discipline, where fools are antithetical to fear of Yahweh. That’s one way to see it anyway.
Greg leaned back, pulled his glasses off and rubbed his eyes. His face, lit by the light of his laptop, was covered in stubble in the patches left by his unruly beard. He sighed deeply and let his hands fall to his sides, one still holding his glasses. He stared at the ceiling.
He closed his eyes and rolled his head around, stretching his neck, pausing at one point to pull tight muscles. Facing the screen again, he replaced his glasses, and his long slender fingers went to the keyboard once more.
The sound of feet sliding along carpet behind him announced the arrival of his sleepy roommate, Frank. Greg didn’t look up as Frank shuffled by in a stupor.
“I can’t believe you’re still up working on that stupid paper,” Frank said as he opened the fridge.
“I’m almost done.”
Glass bottles clinked in the fridge as Frank shut the door. He reached into the sink and pulled out a glass tumbler. After a bleary inspection, he poured the milk into it.
“Well, you missed a great party last night.”
“Oh, I’m sure.” Greg glanced over at Frank. “You hung over?”
“Duh, I said it was a fun party.”
“So, is your paper done?”
“No.”
“When are you planning on doing it?”
The silence was broken only by Frank slurping and gulping his milk. He wiped his mouth, and looked at Greg, blinking.
“When’s it due?”
Greg looked at Frank with wide eyes.
“Seriously? It’s due today, bone head.”
“I’ll do it,” Frank said rubbing his eyes. “After breakfast.” He looked at Greg and smiled. “In the library, with the candlestick.”
Greg sighed and looked back at his screen.
“Yeah, you do that.”
“What’s it supposed to be on again?”
Greg was silent for moment as his shoulders tightened in a shrug, and he frowned deeply.
“It’s on a parable of Jesus that does not refer to the Kingdom of God.”
“Easy peasy.” Frank flopped on the couch behind Greg. “I’ll do it on the one about the Sower.”
“That’s about the kingdom of God, you dope.”
“Oh, right.” Frank scratched his head. “How about the one about the pearl of something or another?”
“Still the Kingdom of God.”
“Coins?”
“Have you even taken notes in class?”
Frank was silent. He sat up and sniffed. His hair stuck up in several, incoherent directions. He frowned.
“Does that help?”
Greg shook his head.
“You’re doomed.”
“Nah, I’ll be fine.” Frank shrugged. “I mean, what can they do to me?”
“Flunk you?”
“Nope, I paid good money for this course.”
Greg twisted around in his chair and stared at his disheveled roommate.
“Wow. I mean, first, you didn’t pay anything, your parents did.” Greg held up a finger. “And second, that only pays for access to the learning, not to pass.” He held up his second finger. “It’s up to you to actually learn anything.”
Greg turned back to his laptop and continued typing. He shook his head and sighed.
“You sound like my dad,” Frank said. “He says he’s not paying for another semester if I don’t pass this one.”
“I wouldn’t either.”
“Yeah, that’s what I mean,” Frank mumbled as he rubbed his face. “You sound like my dad.”
There was silence as Greg typed and Frank pondered the carpet between his slippers.
“What parable are you doing?” Frank asked finally.
“The parable of the unjust judge.”
“How is that not about the Kingdom of God?” Frank asked staring at the back of Greg’s head.
“It’s about prayer.”
“Like nobody prays in the kingdom of God.”
Greg twisted around to stare at Frank in silence. Frank continued to stare at the floor.
“You really didn’t pay attention, did you?”
Frank didn’t respond.
“We’re supposed to write about a parable that does not begin with, ‘The Kingdom of God is like…’,” Greg said, slowly.
“What do you think of Emily?” Frank asked suddenly. He looked up at Greg.
Greg blinked silently.
“I met her at the party you skipped last night.” Frank ran his fingers through his hair. “I don’t think she goes here, I think Brian picked her up at a bar.”
Greg blinked again, chewed his bottom lip for a second, and turned back around. He continued typing.
“I think I’m going to ask her to marry me.” Frank stood up. “She’s cool.” He stretched his hands toward the ceiling. “My mom would hate her.” He chuckled as he bent over and tried to reach the floor, but barely reached above his ankles.
Greg cringed in his seat and continued to type.
“Well, you have fun,” Frank said. “I’m going back to bed.”
Greg looked at Franks back as he shuffled back to his room.
“And I’ve decided to go into real estate!”
Greg rolled his eyes and turned back to his laptop screen.
Knothole Theology 