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Bribery and the Informal Economy in Proverbs
in Biblical Interpretation, Professor of Biblical Studies, George Fox University, rnam@emory.edu
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Abstract
In most cases, the Hebrew Bible unequivocally condemns the use of a bribe-gift (שחד, מתן), declaring such an economic transaction as contradictory to the ways of YHWH. But three verses in Proverbs (17:8; 18:16; 21:14) advocate for a morally positive outlook in the usage of such gifts. Commentators account for this divergent view of bribery through a variety of creative solutions, though none of these explanations align with the most straightforward reading of the text to encourage bribery. Through the lens of economic anthropology, this paper suggests that the moral endorsement of the bribe-gift is a direct result of the development of a local informal economy. The economy of Yehud centered on redistribution, creating robust informal networks. Within redistributive economies, social scientific studies suggest that the bribe can broaden access. As a result, these three verses in Proverbs challenge older understandings of bribes in light of a new economic reality.
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| Insgesamt | Letzte 365 Tage | In den letzten 30 Tagen | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aufrufe von Kurzbeschreibungen | 254 | 0 | 0 |
| Gesamttextansichten | 381 | 86 | 20 |
| PDF-Downloads | 615 | 100 | 9 |
Bribery and the Informal Economy in Proverbs
in Biblical Interpretation, Professor of Biblical Studies, George Fox University, rnam@emory.edu
Search for other papers by Roger S. Nam in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Abstract
In most cases, the Hebrew Bible unequivocally condemns the use of a bribe-gift (שחד, מתן), declaring such an economic transaction as contradictory to the ways of YHWH. But three verses in Proverbs (17:8; 18:16; 21:14) advocate for a morally positive outlook in the usage of such gifts. Commentators account for this divergent view of bribery through a variety of creative solutions, though none of these explanations align with the most straightforward reading of the text to encourage bribery. Through the lens of economic anthropology, this paper suggests that the moral endorsement of the bribe-gift is a direct result of the development of a local informal economy. The economy of Yehud centered on redistribution, creating robust informal networks. Within redistributive economies, social scientific studies suggest that the bribe can broaden access. As a result, these three verses in Proverbs challenge older understandings of bribes in light of a new economic reality.
| Insgesamt | Letzte 365 Tage | In den letzten 30 Tagen | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aufrufe von Kurzbeschreibungen | 254 | 0 | 0 |
| Gesamttextansichten | 381 | 86 | 20 |
| PDF-Downloads | 615 | 100 | 9 |
