more to the ritual and less to teaching, left a great need in the life of
Judaism which called to the front the wise. At the same time the problems
of the individual became more and more complex and insistent. Especially
was this true during the Greek period when Hellenic civilization, with its
corrupting influences, swept over Palestine and the lands of the
dispersion. It was a period when the principles enunciated by the earlier
prophets had been in general adopted by the Jewish race. The task,
however, of interpreting these principles simply and practically into the
every-day life of the people was left to these lovers and teachers of men,
the wise. The evidence of the voluminous writings of Ben Sira, as well as
of the books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, makes it quite clear that it
was during the Greek period, and possibly in part under the intellectual
stimulus of Greek thought, that the wise attained their greatest
prominence and influence.

V. The Aims of the Wise. The aims of the wise are in part defined in the
remarkable preface to the book of Proverbs, which was intended primarily
to describe the purpose of the collection of proverbs which embodies their
teachings. Four distinct classes commanded their attention: (1) The
ignorant, those who were unacquainted with the moral, religious,
and practical heritage received from preceding generations. (2) The
inexperienced, those who had not yet learned in the school of life the art
of adjusting themselves successfully to their environment. (3) The
scoffers, who openly rejected the counsel of the sages. And (4) the
disciples who were eager to learn and profit by the teachings of the wise.

The definite aims of the wise must be inferred from their teachings. They
were concerned with the development of the individual, not the nation.
Their first aim was to instruct the ignorant in the fundamental moral and
religious principles already laid down by earlier priests and prophets.
In the words of the preface to the book of Proverbs they taught,

That men may learn wisdom and instruction,
May understand intelligent discourses,
May receive instruction in wise dealing,
In justice, judgment, and equity.

Their second aim was to point out the pitfalls that lay in the path of the
inexperienced, and to save them from moral wreck by inspiring within them
right ideals and ambitions. This aim is also well stated in the preface to
the book of Proverbs:

That discretion may be giv