The Jerusalem Bible groups chapters 28-35 together as a collection of "poems on Israel and Judah".

[2] Fragments containing parts of this chapter were found among the Dead Sea Scrolls (3rd century BC or later): There is also a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint, made in the last few centuries BCE.

Extant ancient manuscripts of the Septuagint version include Codex Vaticanus (B;

Cited in Romans 9:33, Ephesians 2:20, 1 Peter 2:6,8[8][9] Verses 23–29 constitute a parable or mashal drawn from the "wisdom of the countryman".

[10] He first of all claims the attention of his audience as a teacher of wisdom, next shares his illustration from the approach of the farmer, then "leaves his hearers to interpret and apply the parable themselves".