Ecclesiasticus

1
Ecclesiasticus

• The Wisdom of Jesus Ben Sira

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Existing Texts

• Hebrew
• Qumran and Masada, Cairo Genizah, rabbinic
• Greek
• Uncials (short) minuscule 248 (longer)
• Latin
• Vetus Latina (1-43, 51) Vulgate (full)
• Syriac
• Peshitta (by Christian, based on Hebrew)

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Approximate Dates

• 190 BCE Ben Siras Hebrew
• 132 BCE Grandsons translation into Greek
• 50 BCE 150 CE Revised Hebrew text
• Probable source of Syriac
• 150-200 CE Greek from Revised Hebrew
• Possible source of Vetus Latina

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Outline

• Grandsons Prologue
• Other Prologue
• Part One Sir 1 24
• Part Two Sir 251 4214
• Works of the Lord Sir 4215 4333
• Famous Men Sir 44- 49
• Conclusion Sir 50
• Appendices Sir 51

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Siracides 11-4214

• Composition and structure
• Couplets and longer passages
• Shift to new section 2430-34
• Some subjects
• Physicians 381-15
• Mortality and Immortality 1411-19 4111-13
• Artisans and intellectual life 3824-3911
• Apocalyptic addition 361-22

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Wisdom in Siracides

• Introduction 11-10
• Hebrew Bible background
• Job 2812-28 Proverbs 822-36
• Other scriptural passages
• Baruch 39-44 1 Enoch 421-3 John 11-14
• Sirach
• Sirach 241-29

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Sirach 4215-4333
The Works of the Lord

• Similar Passages
• Psalm 104 1 Enoch 72-82 Job 3624 3930
• Concepts and images
• Preservation (4221ff) Pairs (4224-25)
• Modern use

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Ben Sira 44-49
Praise of the Fathers
Introduction 441-15 Pre-Abrahamic 44(16,)
17 Abraham Nehemiah 4418 4913 Mostly
Pre-diluvian 4914-16
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As Historical Sketch

• Other wisdom literature
• Wisdom of Solomon
• Other biblical tradition
• Psalm 78 Nehemiah 9 Acts 7 Avot 1
• Themes
• human heroes priests
• Connection to next chapter?

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Conclusion

• Simon the high priest
• Building
• Vestments
• Sacrifices
• Blessing
• Nun danket

• Plea for unity
• Three peoples
• Colophon

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Appendices

• Sirach 511-12
• Prayer of Jesus son of Sirach
• Hebrew addition
• Fourteen praises
• Sirach 5113-30
• Delight in wisdom