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

• Baruch 3:9-14, 29 -- 4:4; Job 28:12-28
• Proverbs 8(:22-36)
• 1 Enoch 42:1-3
• John 1:1-5, 10-14

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]
• 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
  • in Hebrew text [fourteen praises]
• Sirach 51:13-30
  • alphabetic acrostic
  • seduction by Wisdom [cf Proverbs 1:20-33; 9]
  • Qumran Hebrew text [51:13-20a, 30] attributed to David in Psalms scroll

Wisdom of Solomon

Structures and Forms

original composition in Greek [claim for Hebrew original no longer maintained]

Main parts

1. Book of judgment [1:1-6:11] apparent address to rulers of earth/kings [1:1-15; 6:1-11] possibly connected with implied authorship by Solomon [9:7-8] spirit possibly reflects stoic notion of pneuma
2. Book of wisdom [6:12-9:18]
3. Book of history [10-19]

Justice and Immortality

• The ungodly: Wis 2:1-5, 10-20
• 2:1-5 provides clear statement of teaching of Qoheleth
• competing "Solomonic" statements
• The righteous: Wis 3:1-9
• Reversal Wis 4:10-15; 5:1-8 [note parallels with Isa 52:13-53:12]
  • several other passages influenced by Isaiah's language
• traditional "wisdom" view of rewards and punishment, but with immortal life now available

Figure of Wisdom

Wisdom 6-9

• Connection with immortality [Wis 6:17-21; 8:17-21a]
• Attributes of Wisdom [Wis 7:7,22 - 8:1]
• Appropriate attribution to Solomon for this section [Wis 9:1-12]

Historical sketch

• Adam through wilderness wandering
• Wisdom acts through people [contrast human activity in Sirach sketch]
  • individuals not named
• Wisdom as savior

Israel and the Nations

• Idolatry [Wis 13:1-15:17] [cf Letter of Jeremiah]
• contrasts of Egypt with Israel at time of Exodus [Wis 11:5-14]
• cf the contrast between unrighteous and godly -- what is the relationship?
• reference to Pax Romana in 14:22 ??

2 Esdras

In the Latin Vulgate, this book is 4 Esdras. This book, an appendix to scripture in the Roman church, is made up of a Jewish text (chapters 3-14, known in the Slavonic Bible as 3 Esdras, and here as 4 Ezra) and two Christian writings (5 Ezra [chapters 1-2] and 6 Ezra [chapters 15-16]).

4 Ezra

Related to the pseudepigraphal book 2 Baruch (Syriac Apocalypse of Baruch) - it is quite possibly a refutation of this work

One Outline

• Three dialogues about theodicy
  1. 3:1-5:20
  2. 5:21-6:35
  3. 6:36-9:26
• Transition piece [prayer and vision]: 9:27-10:59
• Three visions
  1. 11-12 - exposition of Daniel 7 [cf also Revelation]
  2. 13 - vision of man from the sea
  3. 14 - Ezra as second Moses

Possible indication of adapted original: 2 Esd 3:1 "I, Salathiel, who am also called Ezra"

Shealtiel, as Zerubbabel's father, would have fit the fictional chronology.

2 Esd 7:36-105 was missing in most Latin manuscripts of the book, dependent on one 9th century manuscript. The torn out portion may have been removed because v. 105 could be read as forbidding prayers for the dead. read 2 Esdras 7:26-44, 104-126

Items and Issues

Torah and Pseudepigrapha

• 2 Esd 14:1-6, 19-22, 37-48
• the place of the hidden books -- and which ones are they?
• the scriptures as final answer to question of God's justice?

Visions

• 2 Esd 11:1-17, 36-42; 12:7-16, 31-36
• based on Dan 7; cf Rev 13 (& 2 Bar 36-40)
• what are the roles of vision and interpretation in the church?

Suffering and God's Justice

• evil heart which God doesn't take away: 2 Esd 3:20-27
• successful nations no better: 2 Esd 3:28-33
  • Uriel's answer like God's in Job: 2 Esd 4:1-6; 5:34-40
• human righteousness and sin
  • plight of wicked: 2 Esd 7:17-25
  • few and many: 2 Esd 7:52-61
• In this genre of literature, does the angel always speak for the author?
• relationship between national and individual destinies?

5 Ezra

Rejection of Jews and acceptance of Church

• 2 Esd 1:24-27, 33-37; 2:33, 42-48
• Denies both questions and answers of 4 Ezra
  • cf denial of Holocaust/Shoah
• Contrast with Paul's letter to Rome; Non-canonicity of 5 Ezra

6 Ezra

Although late (mid 3rd cent AD?) Christian document, no specifically Christian teachings.

2 Esd 16:18-34

Comments to: gto@nashotah.edu

This page last modified 15 October 2002.