Ben Sira: Chapters 33 to 42

Here is the last bunch of chapters in Ben Sira.  Now for this bunch.

CHAPTER 33

There are some nice moments in here, but nothing that great; nothing that memorable for me. 

Most notably, we get an extended section on property and servants, in which we’re told that if you have just one slave, treat him like yourself.  He never does tell us how to treat slaves if we have more than one, though.  Mostly, though, this highlights the primary difference in morality between then and now.  Then, slavery was part of life and taken for granted.  It was on how you acted to and with slaves.  Now?  Few things, if anything, seem more repugnant to us now that having slaves.

“Do not” tally: one.  So that’s #107 overall.

CHAPTER 34

This is a surprising one.  This one actually contradicts other parts of the Bible – and not small parts, either.  This contradicts key stories in Genesis, so that’s interesting.

What does it say?  Fuck dreams.  Essentially, yeah – that’s what it says.  He says, “Like one grasping at shadows or chasing the wind, so anyone who believes in dreams.”  He thinks it’s just our mind telling us what we want to think, and then says, “How can the unclean produce what is clean?  How can the false produce what is true?”  Those are nice lines, but very jolting.

Back in Genesis, Joseph worked his way from the prison to governorship based on his ability to read dreams.  Jacob had his famous dream of a ladder.  Dreams matter.  It sounds weird to modern ears, too, as we like to think that a person should follow their dreams (though the word dream is meant differently from how Ben Sira means it).

But he does give himself a catch, saying, “Unless they are specially sent by the Most High, do not fix your heart on [dreams].”  Unless.  Of course, how can we know which dreams come from there?  To me, this reads like a bit of ass covering by Ben Sira. 

But I can figure out another defense for his approach.  In olden days, you listened to dreams because that’s how God communicated with people.  Now?  We don’t need dreams, because the Lord has already given us the laws.  We just have to follow his laws.

Zero “do not” statements here.

CHAPTER 35

This is just all on God and man and how they related.  He makes a couple of statements that would dry a low, cynical laugh from Job: “For he is a God who always repays and will give back to you sevenfold,” for instance. 

But he has one point I found interesting.  He encourages us to not only follow God’s laws and given sacrifices and tithes, but do so with good cheer.  Makes sure you not only have the right action, but the right mindset to go with it.

“Do not” tally: 3 verses begin with, “Do not.”  That’s 110 so far. 

CHAPTER 36

The first line gets my attention, “Come to our aid, O God of the universe.”  I think that’s the first time he’s been called God of the entire universe.  Well, the first time using the specific word “universe” anyway.  We’ve seen other, similar statements many times in the Bible, but that word “universe” really rings out to me.  After all, the universe is truly everything that exists.

Actually, this is a very different chapter for Ben Sira.  It sounds so different from the others that I kept scribbling in the margins, “Same author?” and “Same guy?” because his attitude and interests here are very different.  Here, he urges God to intervene in daily life to help his people, the Jews. 

Uh, we’ve seen no signs like this from Ben Sira before.  He’s more about individual life and conduct, not some spokesperson for all Jews.  He wants to know and love God’s laws, but here he’s calling for actual miracles to come down.

I guess it’s the same guy, but it’s nothing like the first 35 chapters. 

He does shift focus back to more typically Ben Sira-esque matters two-thirds of the way through, but I left this verse scratching my head and wondering where the hell had Chapter 36 come from.  What inspired him to go off like this? 

CHAPTER 37

We get more advice on friends here.  And again, he’s warning against false friends: “there are friends who are friends in name only,” he reminds us. Yeah, Ben Sira had a rough go of it with his friends.

Ben Sira also gives us an interesting series of comments about how not to take advice from on certain subjects, like don’t ask a miser about generosity or a coward about war.  He also says don’t get advice, “from a merchant about business.”  Really?  They are to business what a coward is to war?  That’s ….odd.  He also tells us to avoid taking advice from your father-in-law, period.  No qualifications – just don’t do it.

“Do not” tally: 2. That gives us 112.

CHAPTER 38

Ben Sira is no Christian Scientist.  He tells us, “Make friends with the doctor, for he is essential to you.  God has also established him in his profession.  From God the doctor has wisdom.”  If you fall ill, sure go pray and stuff – but then go see a doctor. 

If things don’t work out, Ben Sira provides some advice on how to mourn for the dead – and its rather jolting stuff.  At first it’s routine.  He tells us to grieve for the appointed time, and don’t overdue or underdue it, lest you become the subject of gossip.  But once the mourning period is over, “Do not turn your thoughts to him again.  Cease to recall him; think rather of the end.  Do not recall him, for there is no hope of his return.” 

Hey!  Some of us like recalling the dead.  It’s bad to dwell on the dead, sure, but he’s going to the opposite extreme here. 

Ben Sira mind wanders some more, and he decides to sing the glories of scribes.  It’s nice to see him find a topic he’s positive about, but he promotes the position of scribes but noting what they are not – manual laborers.  People that work manual labor jobs – potter, smiths, farmer, etc – they have to spend all their time working with their hands, and never get a chance to think about God and the Torah.  So hurrah for the scribe, who gets to focus on things above the other guys.  Yeah, it’s nice to see Ben Sira happy, but it’s annoying that he expresses his good thoughts for this job by denigrating other jobs.  He notes these other jobs have their place, but they are clearly beneath scribe.

Actually, reading this I remember thing of the philosophy of neo-Confucian scholar Wang Yangming.  He refuted much conventional thinking in China.  There, you had to study the Confucian classics to become a scholar and official.  Wang wasn’t anti-study, but he thought that missed the point.  The point wasn’t study but the truth, and he thought studying was just the vehicle to the truth.  But there were other vehicles as well.  You could understand the truth – The Way, as it was called in China – but going about your day-to-day life, and using your responsibilities to understand the truth.  It’s the concept of a calling; a job isn’t just a job, but a calling.  

Wang Yangming thought that you could learn this without necessarily studying, but clearly Ben Sira disagrees.  Then again, the truth for Ben Sira comes from God, and you have the Torah to learn God’s ways.  (Of course that can be flipped around – you can learn God from within – the Holy Spirit, to use a Christian term – instead of from the laws).

“Do not” tally: 2.  So it’s 114 and counting.

CHAPTER 39

Now Ben Sira really gets into the scholar.  He makes his case directly for why scribes are so great.  Scribes become judges.  They become diplomats.  They become the leaders.  So hurrah for the literate!  They memory of the scholar will not be blotted out.  Wait – just last chapter he said to forget people once they were dead.  Eh, I guess he meant we should forget our loved ones.  The big leaders, movers and shakers will be remembered.  At least that’s how he makes it sound.

God gets praised plenty.  That’s a natural segue.  You go from praising the people who are able to read God’s laws to God himself.  God is powerful and his glory can be seen in all his creation.  “All these were created to meet a need,” Ben Sira tells us.  That sounds like Alexander Pope right there.

CHAPTER 40

As we approach the end, Ben Sira is looking broader in his scope.  Here, he talks all about the joys and miseries of life in general.  He has an extended stretch about what makes life sweet.  He notes one thing that is great, but then points out something greater. It’s nice enough I’ll quote verses 18-26 in full:

“Wealth or wages can make life sweet, but better than either finding a treasure.  A child or a city will preserve one’s name, but better than either, finding wisdom.  Cattle and orchards make a person flourish, but better than either, a devoted wife.  Wine and strong drink delight the soul, but better than either, love of friends.  Flute and harp offer sweet melody, but better than either, a pure tongue.  Grace and beauty delight the eye, but better than either, the produce of the field.  A friends and a neighbor are timely guides, but better than either, a sensible wife.  Relatives and helpers for times of stress, but better than either charity that rescues.  Gold and silver make one’s way secure, but better than either, sound judgment.  Wealth and vigor make the heart exult, but better than either, fear of the Lord.”

I’m tempted to do a flow chart showing his priorities, but the key point is he ends on fear of the Lord.

Actually, despite saying how important charity is, he ends the chapter by saying “better to die than to beg.”  The life of a beggar isn’t worth living as far as he’s concerned.

CHAPTER 41

It’s more general advice from Ben Sira.  He has some really nice moments – “The good things of life last a number of days, but a good name, for days without number” with some horrible ones: “The children of sinners are a deplorable line.” 

He then lists many things people should be ashamed of, ranging from admiring another man’s wife (hey man, that’s a commandment you’re breaking there) to bad table manners (be ashamed, “of stretching your elbow at dinner”).  Once again, Ben Sira is the only Bible author to care about table manners. 

“Do not” tally: 1.  115 and counting. 

CHAPTER 42

Ben Sira flips himself around.  Instead of telling us things to be ashamed of, it’s now time for things not to be ashamed of.  Most is pretty much boilerplate Bible stuff – God’s laws, for instance.  Some deal with Ben Sira’s fixation on wealth – it’s OK it help share business expenses.  Some are both – Ben Sira notes that it’s good to have accurate scales and measures, something repeated more than once in previous Bible books.  Oh, and it’s also find to beat up your servant.

(cue the sound of the needle scratching off a phonograph).  Wait – what?  It’s OK to beat servants?  Absolutely: “beating the sides of a wicked servant” is fine.  Oh, so it has to be a wicked one at least, but boy – that one sure sounds bad in the 21^st century. 

Then, after a sustained stretch of general talk on life and God and all the big stuff, Ben Sira pushes his attention back to the particular.  It’s especially noteworthy because as near as I can tell, it’s the last time he veers into particular matters in the entire book.  At that last particular matter he decides to focus on: daughters.  He says that daughters are a worry, and you should do whatever is possible to make sure they don’t bring shame and disgrace to themselves, you, and the family.  “A frightened daughter [is better] than any disgrace.”  So tyrannize them.  Boy, I hope he didn’t have many daughters, but I fear that he did.

Oh, and we get on more “do not” here.  In fact, I’m pretty sure it’s the last “Do not” in Ben Sira.  There are 10 more chapters, but the focus will soon shift and never shift back. 

So, for posterity’s sake, in full here is the 116^th verse in the entire book to begin “Do not”: “”Do not let her reveal her beauty to any male, or spend her time with married women.”  So the ancient Jews liked their women to wear the veil, too – and didn’t think they could trust older women to successfully look after their daughters.

Odds are, the 116^th “do not” verse will be the last.

Click here for the final blast of Ben Sira.

Ben Sira: Chapters 23 to 32

Here is the previous chunk of Ben Sira.

CHAPTER 23

We finally get it – “Do not” #100!  Here it is: “Do not accustom your mouth to oaths or habitually utter the Holy Name.”  Actually, that Do Not serves as the opening on a section about how taking the Lord’s name in vain is a gateway drunk, “Just as a servant constantly under scrutiny will not be without bruises, so one who swears continually by the Holy Name will never remain free from sin.” 

“Do not” tally: 2.  So that’s 101 and counting.

Aside from cussing out the Lord, we’re also told to avoid “sins of the flesh.”  Both men and women are warned against, but he really goes off about women preserving their sexual modesty.  Yeah, you’d expect that, wouldn’t you?

CHAPTER 24

No “Do nots” here.  They would be out of place, actually.  In a major change of pace, this chapter is on what Ben Sira likes instead of what he dislikes.  Yes, that’s right – it’s an entire chapter singing the praises of wisdom. 

In praising it, Ben Sira nearly makes it a physical object.  It’s the line of communication between God and man.  It’s the essence of God that resides in the ark in the holy tabernacle. 

Nice line: “The first human being never finished comprehending me, nor will the last succeed in fathoming her.”  I hope that’s not an excuse for writing so many of these damn wisdom books.  Wisdom may be beyond us, but describing it all starts to sound the same after a while.  And that while was a book or two ago.

CHAPTER 25

Again, no “Do not” statements here.

Our author is still in one of his rare good moods.  In fact, he decides to list nine people who come to his mind as blessed.  It’s nice to see him in such a chipper, positive mood. His nine are: 1) a man who finds joy in his children (aww, how sweet), 2) a man who lives to see the downfall of his enemies, and --- wait, wait – what?  WHAT?  Did I read that right?

“the one who lives to see the downfall of his enemies.”  Yup, that’s what it says.  Holy moly!  The Bible is literally telling us to take joy in our enemies’ problems.  Mind you, this is the opposite of the message in other parts of the Bible.   And it sounds so … wildly inappropriate.  That doesn’t sound like the Bible.  That sounds like the dialogue to Conan the Barbarian.  Actually it is: Gut talking to Conan:  “Conan! What is best in life?” Conan: “To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women.”  Other guy: “That is good! That is good.”

And here it is in the Bible.

Anyhow, the others are more mundane: 3) a man with a sensible wife, 4) “the one who dose not plow with an ox and a donkey combined.”  That’s got to be a euphemism for something.  Yeah, the footnotes say it’s about someone with two wives who are very different.  Huh.  It’s been so long since the historical section, I forgot they practiced polygamy.  I wonder when they switched to monogamy? 

The rest: 5) someone who doesn’t “sin with the tongue.”  After the last chapters, I think this means gossip and taking the Lord’s name in vain, 6) not serving an inferior.  (That sounds bad to our democratic ears, but have you ever worked for someone you think isn’t as good as you? It can be a chore).  7) someone with a good friend, 8) someone who finds wisdom, and 9) someone who fears God.

That’s a nice list – but with one really wild one in there. 

We’re then given an extended section on bad women.  We get a classic bit of Catholic theology thrown in, too: “With a woman sin had a beginning, and because of her we all die.”  Eve.  Here we see the beginning of blaming Eve for everything. 

CHAPTER 26

We get a big on a good wife here.  It’s rather telling about Ben Sira’s approach that he had an extended section on bad women at the end of last chapter, and then when we get a part on good women, it lasts just four chapters.  And then he goes back to bad women.  It isn’t so much that he’s negative toward women, it’s that he’s negative toward anyone.  He’s drawn to the negatives through all of this. 

Oh, and he’s apparently a leg man: “golden columns on silver bases – so her shapely legs and steady feet.” 

He ends the chapter by moving onto friendship, and Ben Sira being Ben Sira he’s talking about the dangers of blown friendships, saying, “To things bring grief to my heart, and a third arouses my anger: The wealthy reduced to want, and the intelligent held in contempt.”  (Note: there is no third item; that’s just a stylistic thing in some of the wisdom books).

So, the wealthy cast down and the intelligent held in contempt?  We’ve heard things like this throughout the book.  I really get the feeling we’re learning about Ben Sira’s personal life when he says those are his main concerns.  Maybe he was born with wealth and blew it?  Maybe he knows the Torah but doesn’t know how to conduct practical economic affairs, and people mocked him?  I’m guessing, but I can see it.

CHAPTER 27

Hey – a “do not!”  Remember when I was sick of seeing these things all the time?  Now they are so rare I’m happy to see them.  Just one “do not” – but that’s still better than most of these chapters. 102 and counting.  Keep in mind, after 11 chapters we had 85, so it’s been about one per chapter since then.

We get some talk about wealth and friendship: “For the sake of profit many sin, and the struggle for wealth blinds the eyes.”  Yes, it does.  Then he notes how it ends friendships.  Is that what happened to you, Ben Sira? 

I like this line: “Birds nest with their own kind, and honesty comes to those who work at it.” 

There is more denouncing of the stupid – he really needs to lay off on that.  (But with 25 chapters more to go, I doubt he will). 

How about this section: “Whoever has shifty eyes plots mischief and those who know him will keep their distance.  In your presence he uses honeyed talk, and admires your words.  But later he changes his tone and twists the words to your ruin.  I have hated many things, but not as much as him.”

Yeah, there are a lot of themes here that tell us about him.  He’s horrified by the wealthy who have become poor and the wise who are scorned.  He things you should test your friends and that true friends are rare.  Now this.  Beware the flattering con man who sweet talks you into dropping your guard – and then strikes.  “I have hated many things, but not as much as him.”  I thing I may have found out how he lost his money and became mocked.  It’s the line about his hate that really serves as the linchpin here.  (Also, what does that mean for his earlier statement in Chapter 25 that one of the lives to see the downfall of his enemies is one of the truly happy?  Yea, Ben Sira might be wise, but he’s been burning from his disgrace for years and hasn’t really let it go.

And “I have hated many things” is a troubling sentence.  You wouldn’t expect that in the wisdom books. 

CHAPTER 28

This chapter has a very different feel.  Ben Sira begins by telling us how we shouldn’t hold grudges, “The vengeful will face the Lord’s vengeance, indeed he remembers their sins in detail.  Forgive your neighbor the wrong done to you, then when you pray, your own sins will be forgiven.”  That actually contradicts a lot of the previous points he’s made in recent chapters.  But I’ll accept it, because it’s a nice thought. 

CHAPTER 29

There is a lot here about difficulties in handling and getting loans.  Again, there is so much material here on financial matters, that I have to assume Ben Sira lost his money or something.  He probably feels duped by a so-called friend or stabbed in the back by a business associate. 

It seems like a funny thing to put in a holy book, but then again a book about life and what it all means should give you some sort of guide on how to handle yourself with others, and financial interactions are always part of that.

“Do not” tally: 1.  It’s the first one sense Chapter 23.  We’re up to 102 and counting.

CHAPTER 30

Now from money to raising children.  First a quick note: just last chapter I defended the interest in financial matters in Ben Sira because that’s always an important part of life.  Well, with this chapter’s early focus on child rearing I realize we haven’t seen too much on that.  We’ve seen plenty on financial matters but not much on child raising. That just reinforces my sense of what Ben Sira’s main interests are and how his life story impacted how he approached this work.

Anyhow, his views on child rearing would likely caused him to be visited by the child services department, as he openly proclaims: “Bow down his head in his youth, beat his sides while he is still young.  And later: “Make heavy his yoke.”  Yeah, that won’t fly.  He thinks he need to discipline your son to make him a man and to make him learn responsibility.

He shifts gears at the end of the chapter, and has a delightful section on health and cheerfulness.  In short, he urges everyone to have a positive attitude, as that can help your health.  Oh, and health is extremely important.  That is some really sound advice – though a bit surprising from a man whose views often seem more negative than positive.

In fact, at one point it sounds like he’s advocating euthanasia, as he proclaims, “Better is death than a wretched life, everlasting sleep than constant illness.”  In fact, that is an advocacy of euthanasia, if he means it to be so or not.

But instead, he starts hammering home his message of good cheer: “Do not give in to sadness, or torment yourself deliberately.  Gladness of heart is the very life of a person and cheerfulness prolongs his days.”  Those are quite literally words to live by.  He then makes the reverse point: “For grief has killed many, and nothing is to be gained from resentment.  Envy and anger shorten one’s days.”  Again, he speaks truth here people.

“Do not” tally: two.  That puts us at 104 in all.

CHAPTER 31

Once again, we have a Ben Sira chapter focusing on the subject of material wealth.  This time, his concern is people who are so anxious over acquiring more money and having money that they never enjoy life.  They are always in the pursuit, and never in the pause.  Basically, he wants people to stop and smell the roses. Yup, it’s good advice.  And yes – it sure applies to modern day life as well.

Then, in a better of an oddity, he has an entire section called “Table Etiquette.”  Yes, the Bible really does have a Miss Manners section, and it’s the second half of Chapter 31 in the Book of Ben Sira.

To be fair, a lot of it goes beyond just basic table etiquette.  In fact, some of the best points in the Bible get made in this section, most notably: “In whatever you do, be moderate, and no sickness will befall you.”  That is some serious words of wisdom.  Who knew that a damn good life philosophy would be found in a portion called “Table Etiquette”? 

Oh, and in some really good news for many people, the Bible explicitly endorses drinking booze.  Here’s the full quote: “Wine is very life to anyone if taken in moderation.  Does anyone really live who lacks the wine which from the beginning was created for joy?  Joy of heart, good cheer, and delight is wine ought, drunk at the proper time.” 

So there you go.  Again, the key word is moderation – but if you’re being reasonable about it – enjoy! 

CHAPTER 32

This chapter is primarily more table manners, and while they generally aren’t that interesting, it does cause me to partially revisit my earlier assumptions about what sort of person Ben Sira was.  Earlier I thought he might be an introvert more at home with the Torah than in social interaction.  While he may be an introvert, he does have some idea how to handle social interactions.  Actually, all his focus on money and business indicates that as well.

This book has unexpectedly grown on me some.  It isn’t a highlight of the Bible, but it isn’t a lowlight, either.  It’s much better than the Book of Wisdom (another one of them books only found in the Catholic Bible). 

Oh, and then he moves on to other material, and gives us this gem: “Do nothing without deliberation, then once you have acted, have no regrets.”  Again, sound wisdom indeed.

Oh, and we finally get a few more “do nots” thrown at us.

“Do not” tally: two.  Grand total: 106.

Click here for the next 10 chapters of Ben Sira.

Ben Sira: Chapters 15 to 22

Click here for the previous installment of Ben Sira.

CHAPTER 15

This is a short chapter, but one with a huge, huge point.  He talks about free will, and his ideas have some pretty serious staying power.  He denounces those who claim their misdeeds were the Lord’s doing. The Lord doesn’t do misdeeds.   People do. 

And here comes the important passage: “God in the beginning created human beings, and made them subject to their own free chose.  If you choose, you can keep the commandments; loyalty is doing the will of God.”  You here that – part of the divine plan is free will! 

This concept has been implied throughout.  Hell, in East of Eden, John Steinbeck notes that the ancient Hebrew version of the story of Cain and Abel includes the key word “may” – that we may do right or wrong.  The covenants only make sense if there is free will; otherwise Abraham is just a pawn in God’s game.  But we’ve never seen it directly and baldly stated.  Here it is. 

Is there where the concept of free will comes from?  I imagine some Greek philosophers had noted it already, in their pursuit of reason.  And Ben Sira was originally written in Greek, so those ideas probably bled in.   But this is an application of free will into the Jewish religion, and that will leave a lasting impact. 

“Do not” tally: two.  We’re up to 92.  At this rate, I’m not entirely sure we’ll get to 100.  It’s just drip-drip-drip, and who knows when the faucet will stop. 

CHAPTER 16

Most of this is on how God will punish the sinners.  Ben Sira insists that God will show no mercy or forgiveness on the sinners.  Yeah, stuff like this just reinforces my sense that Ben Sira is more at home with books than people.  We’re all sinners.  We all screw up.  You can’t be too holier than thou.  You must have some understanding.  Not here, though.

Ben Sira then doubles down on his lack of familiarity with the real world and real people as he claims the stuff Job refuted: “Criminals do not escape with their plunder; the hope of the righteous, God never leaves unfulfilled.  Whoever does good has his reward; each receives according to their deeds.” 

Now, to be fair, you can work with that in Christian theology – heaven and hell.  But the Jews are typically more earthbound in their thoughts.  And while it’s one thing to say things usually work out, Ben Sira specifically uses the word “never” there, now doesn’t he?  And we can all name a few criminals who escaped with their plunder.

“Do not” tally: three.  So we’re up to 95 now.  We just might make it to 100 yet.

CHAPTER 17

Much of this rehashes the early Bible, noting what God has done.  God’s pretty awesome apparently.

I don’t have much to say about this chapter, but I did like this part near the end: “Is anything brighter than the sun?  Yet it can be eclipsed.  How worthless then the thoughts of flesh and blood.”  That’s a nice way of showing God’s grandeur – and our comparative puniness. 

“Do not” tally: none.  We get skunked here and stay at 95 for the book so far.

CHAPTER 18

This just picks up where the last one left out, reveling in the glory and might and power of God.  Compared to him, “What are mortals? What are they worth?”  BAH!  Puny humans! 

We’re also told to be prudent and have self-control.  Duly noted. 

“Do not” tally: we get back on track with three more.  That’s 98 for the book so far.  At this point, it would be quite the upset not to get to 100.  We’re nowhere near the pace of the earlier chapters, but Ben Sira still likes to speak in the negative from time to time.

CHAPTER 19

The man theme here is to avoid gossip.  Again, we’re mostly talking in negatives.  The guide on conduct is on what to not do.  I wonder how it would work if you had someone with a sunnier disposition write this book.  There would probably be more talk on loving your neighbor.  You might be told to run the risk of being screwed over – but always put yourself out there to help your fellow person.  (That would the opposite of Ben Sira, who counsels us to play things close to the vest, test our friends, and don’t be too trusting of others). 

This chapter has one great line: “Let anything you hear die with you; never fear, it will not make you burst!  Heh.  I get a kick of that second part – and the first part is well put, too.

“Do not” tally: zero.  Though he talks about behavior to avoid, he never uses his favorite two-word phrase.  He does, stick in a “Never,” though.  But the “Do not” tally is stuck at 98 for now.

CHAPTER 20

This chapter is about the conduct of the wise and foolish, and it’s the same sort of stuff we’ve heard in psalms, proverbs, and other books.  The foolish are blowhards who talk too much, take too much credit, and are essentially, well, fools. 

Being wise is not just what you do, but why you’re doing it.  How is this for a memorable line: “Like a eunuch lusting to violate a woman, is the one who does right under compulsion.”  That’s a memorable analogy! 

Interesting end line: “Better are those who hide their folly than those who hide their wisdom.”  Yeah, but the trick is knowing which is which. 

“Do not” tally: zero.  That’s two chapters in a row and three times in the last four chapters. The old man is losing his touch.

CHAPTER 21

The Bible comes out against home mortgages here: “Those who build their houses with someone else’s money are like those who collect stones for their funeral mounds.”  Nice line, actually. 

Most of this chapter just contrasts the wise with fools.  He’s pretty damn nasty on fools.  “A fool’s mind is like a broken jar: it cannot hold any knowledge at all.”  Later: “To the senseless, education is fetters on feet, like manacles on the right hand.” 

He has some nice zingers, but he’s pretty damn mean towards fools.  People can be dumb but still goodhearted.  Maybe he means something more than just dumb when he talks of fools.  Maybe fool means something deeper – someone who is unaware of his own limits and blunders into things.  Maybe it’s someone who is a boorish jerk, and does it because he’s too dumb to know any better.

Maybe.  But he doesn’t make that clear. 

“Do not” tally: once again, none.  We’re still stuck on 98.

CHAPTER 22

Ben Sira shifts from dumping on fools to dumping on the lazy.  “The sluggard is like a lump of dung; whoever touches it shakes it of his hands.”  Heh – I like that mental image – some people shaking hands with a sluggard and then reaching for the sanitary wipes. 

He takes more shots at the dim, because that’s what he does.  “Do not talk much with the stupid, or visit the unintelligent.”  Or: “Sand, salt, and an iron weight are easier to bear than the stupid person.”  Please note that the stupid are even more looked down on than the sinful here.  Doesn’t that strike anyone as odd?  Heck, stupidity seems to be the ultimate sin.  Then again, if wisdom is the most praised virtue, that would lead to stupidity being the most denigrated trait. 

Saying “stupid” has a different feel than “fool,” too.  As I noted last time, being a fool has a connotation that goes beyond intelligence, but stupid is just lack of intelligence.  

Click here for the next 10 chapters.

“Do not” tally – one.  Actually, I quoted it two paragraphs ago.  So now we’re on 99; right on the edge of #100!

Ben Sira: Chapters 8 to 14

Last time, Ben Sira began (and told people "Do not" so much I had to keep a running tally going).  Let's see what happens in this chunk.

CHAPTER 8

Another chapter, another 17 verses beginning: “Do not.”  That ties last chapter, but at least that was 36 verses long.  This is just 19.  Anyhow, that’s 68 “Do nots” and counting.

It’s just general good advice on how to get along with people.  Don’t quarrel, don’t insult, don’t rejoice when someone dies.  Don’t defy the quick-tempered.  If I’m Dale Carnegie, I’m not afraid of this writer driving me out of the market.

CHAPTER 9

10 more verses beginning “Do not.”  That’s 78.  At this rate, the entire book will have 442.  There are so many, it doesn’t even make a good drinking game.

Much of this is about women.  The basic message is keep your pants zipped.  Taken too literally, this really will cut down on any male-female contact.  Not only are you told not to go to prostitutes or look at “a shapely woman” but you’re also told to “not go near a strange woman.”  That all depends on how you define strange woman, now doesn’t it. 

Oh, and you’re also told, “Do not give a woman power over you.”  Yeah, that goes against the entire social order.

The next part gives advice on picking friends.  Keep your friends close, and don’t hang out with hellraisers. 

One thing I will note in general.  All the morality being discussed is public morality.  What makes you a good person is less what you think and believe, and more what you do and how you act.  The morality that counts is your public morality.

CHAPTER 10

Just one “do not” this time.  Aw, I for a bit there I thought we could have an entire chapter with out one.  That gives us 79 in all. 

The highlight of this chapter is a section called “The sin of pride.”  It doesn’t think that people should be too  pride, giving us the memorable line: “Why are dust and ashes so proud?”  Heh – he’s got a good line there.  Oh, and he’s willing to push it even further, too.  Did he say dust and ashes?  Well how about: “When a people die, they inherit corruption and worms, gnats, and maggots.”  Maggot pride! 

The next section (called “Human Glory”) starts off with a nice contrasting pair of points.  First is: “Whose offspring can be honorable? Human offspring.”  And then a little later: “Whose offspring can be disgraceful?  Human offspring.” 

Earlier I was getting on Ben Sira for his style of writing, but he’s got a few nice moments here.

CHAPTER 11

Yeah, I don’t have much to say about this one.  It’s more general advice, just like Wisdom.  And Proverbs.  It’s better than the former and worse than the latter.

“Do not” tally: six.  That gives us 85 and counting.

The best part: “the day of prosperity makes one forget adversity; the day of adversity makes one forget prosperity.”  That’s nicely put.

And there is a bit here that works really well for Christianity: “For it is easy for the Lord on the day of death to repay mortals according to their conduct.”  Yup, that is straight up Christian theology right there.

CHAPTER 12

The opening lines gave me a jolt.  I’m perhaps being unfair, but they strike me as excessively judgmental.  We’re told, “If you do good, know for whom you are doing it., and your kindness will have its effect.  Do good to the righteous and reward will be yours, if not from them, from the Lord.  No good comes to those who give comfort to the wicked, nor is an act of mercy that they do.  Give to the good but refuse the sinner.”

Refuse the sinner?  No good comes to giving comfort to the wicked?  That’s a bit much.  Aren’t we all sinners?

I guess it could just mean don’t enable the wicked.  Don’t help them be bad.  But flatly states don’t help them – man, aren’t we supposed to help each other?  Isn’t this something churches pride themselves on? 

I get the feeling this guy has been burnt before.  He later says, “Never trust your enemies” and in an earlier chapter he gave detailed instructions for dealing with friends.

He has one great part in this chapter: “In prosperity we cannot know our friends; in adversity an enemy will not remain concealed.”  Yeah, I think this guy has been burnt before in his relations with other humans.

“Do not” tally: two.  We’re up to 87 and counting.

CHAPTER 13

Here’s another guess about the life of Ben Sira: at some point, he was really screwed over by a wealthy man.  Much of this chapter is just a tirade about what a bunch of assholes the rich are.  We heard, “the rich do wrong and boast of it, while the poor are wronged and beg forgiveness.  As long as the rich can use you they will enslave you.”  Later on we heard, “They will embarrass you at their dinner parties and finally laugh at you.” 

This goes on for a while.  Hell, with the exception of a few stray verses here and there, it’s the entire chapter.  Yeah, I think this guy is riffing on his life experiences.  So he’s had bad luck in friends and been treated shabbily by those with power.  It’s frankly cartoonish. 

“Do not” tally: two.  89 and counting, but the pace has really slackened off.

CHAPTER 14

The focus shifts a bit, from the wealthy to wealth itself.  Oftentimes, Ben Sira sounds like he’s channeling Ecclesiastes, as he says, “My son, if you have the means, treat yourself, well, and enjoy life as best as you can.  Remember that death does not delay, and you have not been told the grave’s appointed time.  Before you die, be good to your friends; give them a share in what you possess.  Do not deprive yourself of good things now.” 

That said, he sounds like his typical dour self at other moments.  He denounces the misers.  He denounces the greedy.  So far, the main thrust of this become has been denouncing and decrying.  You have a much better idea what he’s against than what he’s for.  His interests are more in the dark side of human nature than anything uplifting.  He is a pessimist on the human condition.

At the end of the chapter, we come into a subject he does warm up to: wisdom itself.  This is interesting.  He doesn’t find much joy in people.  True friends are rare, and you’re more likely to be burnt.  Those with money and power are going to taunt you.  But thank the Lord for sweet, sweet books and laws! 

Many writers of the wisdom books come off like introverts who have trouble dealing with people.  That’s certainly the case here.  The path to salvation is through introversion!  Hey, hey – I’m gonna be saved!  Well, except for that whole not believing in God thing.  That’ll still get in my way.

“Do not” tally: One.  90 and counting.  The glory days of do not-ing seem to be gone.

Click here for the next chunk of Ben Sira.