The Wisdom of Ben Sira

The Wisdom of Ben Sira / Patrick W. Skehan & Alexander A. Di Lella......Page 1
Preface......Page 10
Contents......Page 14
Principal Abbreviations......Page 18
INTRODUCTION......Page 26
1. The Original Hebrew Title......Page 28
2. Contents of the Book......Page 29
II. Ben Sira and His Times......Page 33
III. Canonicity of the Book and Place in the Canon......Page 42
1. Māšāl......Page 46
2. Hymn of Praise......Page 52
4. Autobiographical Narrative......Page 53
6. Didactic Narrative......Page 54
V. Wisdom Traditions in the Old Testament......Page 56
1. Recipe Wisdom......Page 57
2. Existential Wisdom......Page 58
3. Hermeneutical Implications of Existential Wisdom and Recipe Wisdom......Page 61
VI. Ben Sira and the Other Books of the Old Testament......Page 65
VII. Ben Sira and Non-Jewish Literature......Page 71
1. Discovery of the Hebrew Text......Page 76
B. Schirmann\'s Leaves of MSS B and C......Page 77
F. Scheiber\'s Fragment of MS C and Leaf of MS F......Page 78
2. Authenticity of the Geniza MSS......Page 79
A. The Greek Witnesses: GI and GII......Page 80
B. The Old Latin......Page 81
D. The Hebrew MSS......Page 82
4. Textual Criticism of the Book......Page 84
A. The Hebrew Fragments......Page 85
B. The Ancient Versions......Page 87
IX. The Poetry of Ben Sira......Page 88
1. Assonance, Alliteration, and Rhyme......Page 89
2. Chiastic Patterns......Page 92
3. Inclusio......Page 98
4. Twenty-two- and Twenty-three-Line Poems......Page 99
1. Wisdom, Fear of God, and the Law......Page 100
2. Doctrine of God......Page 105
3. Sin and Free Will......Page 106
4. Teaching on Retribution......Page 108
5. Prayer, Temple Worship, and Personal Morality......Page 112
6. Social Justice......Page 113
7. Attitude Toward Women......Page 115
1. Geniza, Qumran, and Masada MSS of Ben Sira......Page 118
Old Latin:......Page 119
B. Commentaries and Special and General Studies on Ben Sira......Page 120
C. Concordances, Dictionaries, Grammars, and Lexica......Page 142
D. Wisdom Elsewhere in the Old Testament and Ancient Near East and Other Proverbial Literature......Page 144
E. Qumran, Textual Criticism, and Other Pertinent Works......Page 147
F. Histories of the Period......Page 151
TRANSLATION, NOTES, AND COMMENTARY......Page 154
Foreword......Page 156
1. Introduction: The Origin of Wisdom (1:1-10)......Page 161
2. Fear of the Lord Is Wisdom for Humankind (1:11-30)......Page 165
3. Trust in God (2:1-18)......Page 173
4. The Honor Due Father and Mother (3:1-16)......Page 178
5. Humility (3:17-24)......Page 183
6. Docility, Almsgiving, Social Conduct (3:25-4:10)......Page 187
7. Wisdom\'s Rewards and Warnings (4:11-19)......Page 194
8. Against Cowardice (4:20-31)......Page 199
9. Presumption, Duplicity in Speech, Unruly Passions (5:1-6:4)......Page 204
10. True and False Friendship (6:5-17)......Page 211
11. Encouragement to Strive for Wisdom (6:18-37)......Page 215
12. Conduct Toward God and Neighbor (7:1-17)......Page 222
13. Maxims for Family Life, Religion, and Charity (7:18-36)......Page 228
14. Prudence in Dealing with Others (8:1-19)......Page 234
15. Advice Concerning Women and the Choice of Friends (9:1-16)......Page 240
16. About Rulers and the Sin of Pride (9:17-10:18)......Page 246
17. True Glory (10:19-11:6)......Page 252
18. Providence and Trust in God (11:7-28)......Page 260
19. Care in Choosing Friends (11:29-12:18)......Page 267
20. The Rich and the Poor (13:1-14:2)......Page 274
21. The Use of Wealth (14:3-19)......Page 282
22. The Search for Wisdom and Its Blessings (14:20-15:10)......Page 287
23. Free Will and Responsibility (15:11-16:23)......Page 292
24. Divine Wisdom and Mercy as Seen in the Creation of Humankind (16:24-18:14)......Page 301
25. Prudential Warnings (18:15-19:17)......Page 312
26. Wisdom and Folly in Word and in Deed (19:18-20:32)......Page 320
27. Sin and Folly of Various Kinds (21:1-22:18)......Page 329
28. The Preservation of Friendship (22:19-26)......Page 340
29. Warning Against Destructive Sins (22:27-23:27)......Page 343
30. Praise of Wisdom (24:1-33)......Page 352
31. Gifts That Bring Happiness (25:1-12)......Page 364
32. Wicked and Virtuous Women (25:13-26:18[27])......Page 368
33. Hazards to Integrity and to Friendship (26:28-27:21)......Page 378
34. Malice, Anger, Vengeance and the Evil Tongue (27:22-28:26)......Page 384
35. Loans, Alms, and Surety (29:1-20)......Page 393
36. Frugality and the Training of Children (29:21-30:13)......Page 398
37. Health, Cheerfulness, and Riches (30:14-31:11)......Page 403
38. Food, Wine, and Banquets (31:12-32:13)......Page 409
39. The Providence of God (32:14-33:18)......Page 418
40. Property and Servants (33:19-33)......Page 427
41. Trust in the Lord and Not in Dreams (34:1-20)......Page 432
42. True Worship of God and His Response (34:21-36:22)......Page 436
43. Choice of Associates (36:23-37:15)......Page 449
44. Wisdom and Temperance (37:16-31)......Page 459
45. Sickness and Death (38:1-23)......Page 463
46. Vocations of the Skilled Worker and the Scribe (38:24-39:11)......Page 470
47. Praise of God the Creator (39:12-35)......Page 479
48. Joys and Miseries of Life (40:1-41:13)......Page 487
49. True and False Shame; a Father\'s Care for His Daughter (41:14-42:14)......Page 501
50. The Works of God in Creation (42:15-43:33)......Page 509
51. Praise of Israel\'s Great Ancestors (44:1-16)......Page 522
52. The Early Patriarchs (44:17-23e)......Page 528
53. Praise of Moses, Aaron, and Phinehas (44:23f-45:26)......Page 531
54. Joshua, Caleb, the Judges, and Samuel (46:1-20)......Page 540
55. Nathan, David, and Solomon (47:1-22)......Page 547
56. The Northern Kingdom: Elijah and Elisha (47:23-48:15d)......Page 554
57. Judah: Hezekiah and Isaiah (48:15e-25)......Page 561
58. Josiah and the Prophets; Heroes Early and Late (49:1-16)......Page 565
59. Simeon, Son of Jochanan (50:1-24)......Page 571
60. Judah\'s Neighbors; Postscript to the Book (50:25-29)......Page 581
61. Ben Sira\'s Prayer (51:1-12)......Page 585
62. Hymn of Praise from the Time of Ben Sira (51:12 i-xvi)......Page 593
63. Autobiographical Poem on Wisdom (51:13-30)......Page 597
INDEXES......Page 606
Authors......Page 608
Subjects......Page 618