Dr. Martin Luther Church class: January 21 & 28 and February 4, 2001

Ecclesiasticus

Names of book: Ecclesiasticus, Jesus ben Eleazar ben Sira(ch) (etc)

Indications of Jewish use:

• Quotations in rabbinic material
• Presence in Cairo and Dead Sea Scrolls

Double preface (neither canonical for anybody)

• evidence for process of canonization of scripture in grandson's preface
• additional preface in KJV

Much of Sirach is like the clusters of proverbs in the book of that name, but the clusters tend to be longer and more logical in their arrangement.

e.g., 4:29-5:3 ; 8:14-19

Figure of Wisdom

Sirach 1:1-10

Sirach 24

• Proverbs 8(:22-36)
• Baruch 3:9-14, 29 -- 4:4 [apocrypha] ; Job 28:12-28
• 1 Enoch 42:1-3 ["pseudepigrapha"]
• John 1:1-5, 10-14
• Wisdom of Solomon 6-9 [apocrypha] {7:24-30}

The Works of the Lord [42:15 - 43:33]

cf Job 36:24-39:30; Psalm 104; 1 Enoch 72-82 ["pseudepigrapha"]

Praise of the Fathers [chapters 44 - 49]

Introduction [44:1-15]

Noah as beginning [44:17] (witness of Masada text to Enoch only 49:14)

Historical sketch unusual in "wisdom" literature -- but cf Wisdom of Solomon 10:1-11:4 [apocrypha]

• other sketches: Acts 7; Avot 1 [Mishnah] ; Psalm 78; Neh 9:6-37
• importance of priests [notice that Simon comes as conclusion]
• unlike in Wisdom of Solomon, human figures are heroes

Conclusion [chapter 50]

• Simon the high priest [50:1-24]
  • His building [50:1-4]
  • His appearance vested [50:5-11]
  • The sacrifices [50:12-15]
  • Completion of ritual, with blessing [50:16-21]
  • Nun danket [50:22-24] [translation of Hebrew]
• Finale [plea for Israelite unity]
  • Three peoples [50:25-26]
  • Colophon [50:27-29]

Appendix [chapter 51]

• Sirach 51:1-12
  • praise to God for rescue from Sheol
• Sirach 51:12 addition
  • in Hebrew text [fourteen praises]
• Sirach 51:13-30
  • alphabetic acrostic
  • seduction by Wisdom [cf Proverbs 1:20-33; 9] - or is it?
  • Qumran Hebrew text [51:13-20a, 30] attributed to David in Psalms scroll
    • read Sanders' translation (1967, p115)

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Comments to: gto@nashotah.edu

This page last modified 6 February 2001.