Prelude to the praise of the ancestors, Sirach 44:1-15
Past commentators have interpreted verses 3—6 of Sirach 44 as cataloging different kinds of heroes praised in the next chapters. They, in turn, understand the poet to be praising both the ability of the ancestors in their respective professions as well as their piety. However, scrutiny of this poem&...
| Published in: | Hebrew Union College annual / Jewish Institute of Religion |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Print Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
College
2001
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| In: |
Hebrew Union College annual / Jewish Institute of Religion
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| RelBib Classification: | BH Judaism HB Old Testament |
| Further subjects: | B
Bible. Jesus Sirach 44,1-15
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| Parallel Edition: | Electronic
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| Summary: | Past commentators have interpreted verses 3—6 of Sirach 44 as cataloging different kinds of heroes praised in the next chapters. They, in turn, understand the poet to be praising both the ability of the ancestors in their respective professions as well as their piety. However, scrutiny of this poem's syntax and rhetoric suggests that the prelude does not simply illustrate two praiseworthy aspects of the ancestors, but instead emphasizes the necessity of piety in the acquisition of eternal glory. Specifically, verses 3—6 detail those who are honored "in their generation." These same verses explicate that this honor is a result of the ancestors' "might"; in other words it is not a result of their piety, though this type of honor does not preclude piety. Verse 9 explicitly states that some of those listed in the preceding verses were forgotten, which, in the context of Ben Sira, implies that they were not pious. The correspondences between the first and second halves of the text, including repetitions of the words שם,כבד and דור, throw into relief the differences between glory based exclusively on power and glory based in piety. |
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| ISSN: | 0360-9049 |
| Contains: | In: Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Hebrew Union College annual / Jewish Institute of Religion
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