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

Double prologue (neither canonical)

• notice evidence for process of canonization in grandson's prologue
• notice second prologue in KJV

Structure

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.

• single couplets: 11:1-3
• double couplets: 11:4, 5-6
• larger structures: 4:29-5:3 ; 8:14-19

Some Subjects

• Physicians [38:1-15] (note variant readings)
• Death and afterlife [14:11-19; 40:1-11; 41:1-4, 11-13]
• Apocalyptic addition [36:1-"22"]
• The scribe and the crafts [38:24-39:11]

Figure of Wisdom

Sirach 1:1-10

Sirach 24

• remember Baruch 3:9-14, 29 -- 4:4; Job 28:12-28
• read Proverbs 8(:22-36)
• read 1 Enoch 42:1-3
• read John 1:1-5, 10-14
• more to come in Wisdom of Solomon

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

cf Job 36:24-39:30; Psalm 104; 1 Enoch 72-82

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

• other sketches: Acts 7; Avot 1; 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] [read 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)