6. Jesus, son of Sirach, and holy history. Unlike other hakamas, Seerah does not limit himself to thinking about God and life. He also speaks of the appearance of the Lord in history. However, this is primarily the story of the biblical people who received the light of Wisdom from God. Sirach severely condemns the inhabitants of Palestine who have fallen into the power of paganism: the Edomites, the Philistines, and the Samaritans, who, according to him, are not a people at all. Thus, the writer asserts himself as a confessor of strict Judaism.

In his doxology to the "fathers" (chapters 44-50), Jesus, the son of Sirach, speaks of the great men of old, who lived according to reason and the law, and to whom God revealed his will. They are buried in the world, but their names live on from generation to generation. They are the forefathers of mankind, the patriarchs and pious kings, the prophets and teachers of Israel. Sirach gives each of them a brief description and concludes the procession of the saints of the Old Testament with Simon the Righteous, the high priest of Jerusalem. But the book says nothing about the future, about the Messiah. The sage only believes that the time will come when the pagans will also know the true God. He prays:

Speed up time and remember the oath, and let them proclaim Thy great works... Hear, O Lord, the prayer of Thy servants, by the blessing of Aaron, for Thy people; And all who dwell on the earth shall know; that Thou art the Lord, the God of the ages. (36,9,18-19)

In an era when the Church of the Old Testament was facing severe trials, it needed teachers like Jesus, the son of Sirach. Bypassing eschatology and messianism, Sirach teaches people to live in everyday life, guided by common sense and the Law of God. His instructions embodied that side of religious ethics that fostered the integrity of the soul, steadfastness of will and moral purity.

Review Questions

1. Who was the author of the book?

2. In what language is it written, and who translated it into Greek?

3. What features characterize Book. Siracha?

4. What is Sirach's teaching about creation, Wisdom, and man?

5. How did Sirach understand the sinfulness of man?

6. According to Sirach, what are the characteristics of a righteous man?

7. What is the relation of this book to holy history, eschatology, and messianism?

Apocalyptic Writings and the Struggle for Faith in the IV-II Centuries BC

§26 The First Apocalyptics. The Gospel of the Resurrection (IV century B.C.)