In interpreting the wisdom literatures of the ancient Near East one question looms large. Who were the sages, scribes, and seers who composed this literature? Other issues emerge from this question and the variety of answers set forth. These include the locations of the wise in socio-political and religious institution in which they may have functioned. The thesis of this collection is that the sapiential literature of the ancient Near East views the sages, scribes, and seers as social groups of educated men and women with identifiable linguistic and rhetorical features, world views, and sets of virtues.This collection of essays brings into a single volume a number of comprehensive studies concerning the social character of the wise in the ancient Near East.