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Who Were Agur and King Lemuel?

By March 1, 1999November 9th, 2022No Comments

Q.

I was under the impression that Solomon wrote Proverbs, but what about the names of Agur and King Lemuel in chapters 30 and 31?

A.
There are differing views as to just who Agur and, especially, King Lemuel really were. Proverbs 30:1 states that Agur was the son of Jakeh. Little or nothing else is known about him. Chapter 31 is stated to be the words of King Lemuel, as taught by his mother (see verse 1). Many identities have been offered, especially the idea that “King Lemuel” is indeed another name for Solomon. But it is not for certain. Proverbs 25:1 shows that various proverbs of Solomon were copied down by the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah. And Hezekiah is another person suggested as Lemuel. But in both cases, Agur and King Lernuel do not have to be noms de plume (pen names).

This article appeared in the “Q & A” column of the Baptist Bulletin (March 1990) by Norman A. Olson. 

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