FOREWORD
This book actually has an official forward. It’s not part of the Bible chapters, but its
also more than just the intro notes.
The grandson of the original author apparently wrote this, saying his
dad loved wisdom, read all the Bible writings, and felt inspired to churn this
out, which his descendents now present to all.
The author (not of the foreword, but the main author) was
Yeshua (Jesus) son of Eleazar, son of Sira.
That’s where Ben Sira comes from.
It’s a naming practice – I don’t claim to know exactly how it goes. It’s also called Ben Sirach, which is just a
Greek version of it. For a long time it
was called Liber Ecclesiasticus, which is Greek for “Church Book.” Fortunately, it’s no longer call that, as
that is way too similar to Ecclesiastes.
And both those names are hard to spell.
CHAPTER 1
The beginning of the last book of wisdom sounds a lot like
much of what I’ve already read. This is
just a bunch of words about how wonderful wisdom is. Yeah, I’m not disagreeing, but I’ve read this already. Repeatedly.
Let’s see – wisdom comes from God. It was here before all other things. Fear of the Lord is the root of wisdom. Yup, we’ve seen all those points before. Repeatedly.
Actually, this book does place an unprecedented amount of
attention upon fearing God. The phrase
“fear of the Lord” shows up about 10 times.
It’s like an incantation. It’s
central to wisdom.
The line that really stuck with me is: “The fear of the Lord
drives away sins.” Yeah, there is some
truth to that, obviously. But it is
also a negative view of human nature.
We’re less inspired to do good than we afraid made afraid of doing
bad. Again, I’m not necessarily
agreeing, but this book sounds like it fits really well for denominations that
take a bleak view of human nature. And
that typically has been the Catholic view.
CHAPTER 2
This chapter’s title is, “Trust is God.” It’s an anti-Job chapter, in that it goes
against a lot of the lessons there. The
chapter asks us, “has anyone trusted in the Lord and been disappointed? Has anyone persevered in his fear and been
forsaken? Has anyone called upon him
and been ignored?”
Guess what – the answer to all of those questions is a clear
and unambiguous, “YES!” That was the
whole point of Job. Sometimes bad
things happen to good people. Life
isn’t a moral wonderland. But this book
is telling us the opposite. So I’m
having trouble with it already.
In fact, this book tries to cover its tracks from the above,
and really infuriates me all the more when it does so. Now we’re told, “Woe to the timid hearts and
drooping hands to the sinner who walks a double path! Woe to the faint of heart!
For they do not trust, and therefore have no shelter! Woe to you that have lost hope! What will you do at the Lord’s visitation?”
So …..the Lord doesn’t forsake those that call for him. Just have faith and it’ll happen. You might have to wait, but it’ll
happen. Oh, and if it doesn’t happen –
keep faith and keep faith and keep faith.
And if you should lose your faith -
then it’s all your fault! It’s
all on you!
This is a confidence game.
Always assume that God will rectify it.
Always believe it. And if your
hope falters, then we can blame you for it not happening. But of course it’s human nature to have
doubts. And the world isn’t a moral
wonderland – but we’ve just found a way to blame people for the problems. We’ve just blamed the victim.
So far, I’m not liking this book very much.
CHAPTER 3
Here we get some general advice. It’s good advice for the most part, but it’s fairly generic
common sense. We are to treat our
parents well. We are to act humble –
and the greater we become, the most humble we should be. Also, we should avoid stubbornness (and the
way to do that is through studying wisdom).
Finally, give alms to the poor.
I can see how Jews developed into a studious culture from
books like this. They are constantly
told the glories and wonders of studying.
CHAPTER 4
There is more talk about how you should act. Treat the poor and needy well. Act with sincerity and justice. Oh, and if you act well, wisdom will reward
you. Also, wisdom will punish you if
you don’t act well: “But if they turn away from me [re: wisdom], I will abandon
them and deliver them over to robbers.”
This is veering a little too closely into notions that earth works by
moral laws. That’s the notion that Job
rather effectively smacked down. The
advice here is good but the bigger picture is a tad wanting.
One other thing I note.
Almost all of the advice here tells us what Not to do. They phrase “Do not” kicks off eight of the
31 verses. The trick to acting properly
is less a matter in what you do well.
It’s more about avoiding poor actions.
When you put it that way, it doesn’t sound so bad. That said, I’m reminded of some advice I
once got when I began teaching. I had a
list of paper instructions, and the first page was some grammar rules to
follow. It read “Do not do X” and “Do
not do Y.” Do not do not do not. A teacher looked at it and advised that I
try a different approach. To many
“don’t” can create an adversarial relationship.
CHAPTER 5
Heh. As soon as I
note that one chapter has a lot of “Do not”s, I hit the motherload here. Each of the first 10 verses starts off, “Do
not.” The basic idea is don’t be a big
shot. If you have wealth and power and
prestige, that’s no excuse to be a dick.
God notices, and he’ll punish you.
Again, the Book of Job’s power comes from the acknowledgment that this
doesn’t always work. To be fair, often
in life people do get their comeuppance, so I suppose there is some room for
both. But the problem is when you say
the Lord will be angry with them, well, that’s rather absolute. It makes it sound like the world really is a
moral wonderland.
CHAPTER 6
This one has some nice thoughts about being a friend. “Do not be a foe instead of a friend. A bad
name, disgrace, and dishonor you will inherit.
Thus the wicked, the double-tongued.”
Frenemies: not approved of by God.
We’re told to be nice and pleasant to all, but “one in a
thousand your confidant” only. Test
your friends to make sure that they really are true. While part of me thinks this is a negative view of human nature,
a larger part of me agrees. Who hasn’t
had someone treat them nice for their own self-serving reasons?
Some are friends when it suits them only. Others become enemies. Others, “are friends, table companions, but
they cannot be found in time of affliction.”
I like that phrase – “table companions.” It’s a different way of saying acquaintance. And I don’t mind if someone falls into that
category. That’s someone who is your
friend – but not a deep friendship, just a casual one. There is nothing wrong with that, but this
book is aiming deeper, obviously.
If you’ve food a true friend, you’ve hit the jackpot. They are beyond price and “are life-saving
medicine.” Yeah, this is really
smashing stuff on friendship. Oh, I’m a
little annoyed at how it ends – “Those who fear the Lord enjoy stable
friendship.” I don’t doubt that’s true,
but you know what? So do most who don’t
fear the Lord. Most people have a few
really good friends they can keep, regardless of their beliefs.
CHAPTER 7
It’s more general good advice. There is little to argue with, but then again there is little
that really makes you go “wow, that’s brilliant!” And it’s an especially tough chore of the last of the wisdom
books. It’s plowing the same ground as
Proverbs, just with less style and originality.
There is a section that reminds us that the ancient Hebrew
were a patriarchal culture, as the book says to make sure to keep your
daughters chaste and don’t indulge them too much. Oh, and then there’s this:
“Give your daughter in marriage, and a worry comes to an end; but give her to a
sensible man.”
Also, I’m beginning to see what the professor told me when
she advised me to avoid saying “Do not” too much in my instructions to
students. This book keeps on with the
“do nots” and it really does get old.
We get 17 do nots here – all in the first 20 chapters.
Let’s start a tally.
Chapter 1: three do nots.
Chapter 2: None! (A
few “woe”s but no Do nots.
Chapter 3: 1
So early on, there weren’t many. But then the fun begins.
Chapter 4: 8
Chapter 5: 10
Chapter 6: 2
Chapter 7: 17
So that’s 51 – and counting. I’m not even one-seventh the way through this book you know.
Click here for the next batch of Ben Sira.
Click here for the next batch of Ben Sira.
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