Nuria Calduch-Benages For Wisdom’s Sake Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft Edited by John Barton, Reinhard G. Kratz, Nathan MacDonald, Sara Milstein and Markus Witte Volume 499 Nuria Calduch-Benages For Wisdom’s Sake Collected Essays on the Book of Ben Sira ISBN 978-3-11-048650-6 e-ISBN (PDF) 978-3-11-049231-6 e-ISBN (EPUB) 978-3-11-049193-7 ISSN 0934-2575 Library of Congress Control Number: 2021931812 Bibliographic information published by the Deutsche Nationalbibliothek The Deutsche Nationalbibliothek lists this publication in the Deutsche Nationalbibliografie; detailed bibliographic data are available in the Internet at http://dnb.dnb.de. © 2021 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston Printing and binding: CPI books GmbH, Leck www.degruyter.com Preface Twenty-fiveyearshavepassedsinceIdefendedmydoctoralthesisonSir2,1–18 underthedirectionofProf.MauriceGilbertSJatthePontificalBiblicalInstitute inRome.Sincethen,myinterestinthebookofBenSirahasgrown,andmostof my research has concentrated onvarious aspects of this intriguing work. For Wisdom’s Sake brings together all my studies on Sirach that have been published in English from 1997 to 2018. Most have appeared in joint works or Festschrifts. I have also included the translation of two texts, a Spanish article first published in the journal Gregorianum (1997) and one in Italian that ap- peared in Ogni Scrittura è ispirata (2013), a collection of essays by professors from the Pontifical Biblical Institute and the Pontifical Gregorian University. Thus,althoughthevolumeisbasicallycomposedofstudiespublishedprevious- ly, it also offers some novelties, at least for English-speaking readers. Intryingtoorganizeall ofthematerial,Ihaveoptedforthefollowingclas- sification: studies that deal with introductory issues such as, for example, the canon and inspiration; thematic essays presented in chronological order (on trial,authority,divorce,animalimagery,womeninthepraiseofancestors,polyg- amy,goodandbadwives,garmentimagery,exodaltraditions);andstudiesthat concentrate on specific passages (Sir 2,1; 6,22; 21,1–10; 22,27–23,6; 23,27; 24,22; 31(34Hb),1–8;42,15–43,33;43,27–33). All of the articles in this collection faithfully reproduce the content of the originalpublications,buttheyhavebeencarefullyrevisedfromaformalandlit- erary point of view in order to give coherence to the volume. Some errors and inaccuracies in the original text have been corrected, some additional informa- tion has been added in footnotes between square brackets, and some outdated informationhasbeendeleted.However,repetitionsconcerningSir25,8and42,13 have been unavoidable.When quoting Sirach 33–36, I have followed the num- beringadoptedinJ.Ziegler’sedition.AlltranslationsoftextsinFrench,German, Italian, and Spanish are mine.Whenever possible, I have favoured the use of gender-neutral language. Thecompletionofthisbookwouldnothavebeenpossiblewithoutthehelp andsupportofmanypeoplewhofromthebeginninghaveencouragedandhelp- edmetocarryitout.MysincerethanksgofirsttoDr.MartinX.MoleskiSJ,who has had the patience and generosity to read and correct most of the texts, and also to professors Michael W. Duggan, Jeremy Corley, and Dean Bechard SJ for their corrections and very helpful suggestions. I am grateful to the publishers E. J. Brill,Walter de Gruyter, Catholic Biblical Association of America, Society ofBiblicalLiterature,andJ.B.C.Mohr(PaulSiebeck)forpermissiontorepublish https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110492316-001 VI Preface these articles. Avery special thanks goes to Dr. Sophie Wagenhofer, Senior Ac- quisitionsEditorforReligionatdeGruyter,whofromtheverybeginninghasen- couraged me to carryout this projectand has made possible the publication of this volume in Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft (BZAW). Iwould liketoconclude this prefacewith a message of encouragement ad- dressedtothenewgenerationsofBiblescholars,inparticularmydoctoralcan- didateswhoareworkingtirelesslytoattainthegoal.WithBenSira,Isaytoyou: “See that I have not worked for myself alone, but for all who seek wisdom” (Sir 24,34). Nuria Calduch-Benages Rome, 31st of July 2020 Contents First Publications XI Abbreviations XIII Part I. Introductory Questions Ben Sira and the Canon of the Scriptures 3  The Textual History of the Book of Ben Sira 3  The Book of Ben Sira in Rabbinic Judaism 6  The Book of Ben Sira in the Primitive Church 9  Concluding Reflections 13 Sirach and Inspiration 15  Brief History of the Evolution of the Text 15  The Content of the Book and Inspiration 17  The Testimony of Tradition 22  Concluding Reflections 23 Part II. Thematic Essays Trial Motif in the Book of Ben Sira with Special Reference to Sir 2,1–6 27  Prepare Yourself for Testing (Sir 2,1–6) 27  Testing asan Educational Strategy (Sir 4,11–19) 31  Trial of Endurance (Sir 6,18–37) 33  Trial of Travelling (Sir 31[34Hb],9–17) 35  Trial of Abraham (Sir 44,19–21) 36  Ben Sira’s Trial (Sir 51,1–12) 38  Conclusion 39 Fear of the Powerful or Respect for Authority in Sirach 40  A Hidden Conflict 40  The Audience of Ben Sira and the Power of the Word 41  The Relationship with Authority 45  Conclusion 52 VIII Contents “Cut Her Away from Your Flesh”: Divorce in Ben Sira 54  Women in the Book of Ben Sira 54  The Syriac Version and Women 55  Ben Sira and Divorce 56  Conclusion 67 Animal Imagery in the Hebrew Text of Ben Sira 69  Animal Imagery and Reprehensible Behavior 69  Animal Imagery and Social Categories 75  A New Wisdom Paradigm 79  A Controversial Image 80  Conclusion 83 The Absence of Named Women from Ben Sira’s Praise of the Ancestors 84  Hellenistic Encomiastic Literature 84  Encomia and Lists of Personages in the Bible 86  The Feminine Presence in Sirach 44–50 87  Conclusion 95 Polygamy in Ben Sira? 98  Rivalry between Wives (Sir 26,6; 37,11a) 99  Some Other Disputed Texts 103  Conclusion 106 Good and Bad Wives in the Book of Ben Sira: A Harmless Classification? 108  Ben Sira and Women 108  Two Main Categories of Wives 110  Conclusion 121 Garment Imagery in the Book of Ben Sira 124  Garments as Symbols of Theological and Spiritual Realities 125  The Crown as a Social Reward 135  Two Significant Comparisons 137  Conclusion 141 The Exodus Traditions in the Book of Ben Sira 143  The Praise of Moses (Sir 44,23fg–45,5) 143 Contents IX  Aaron and Korah’s Rebellion (Sir 45,18–19) 147  The Doctorand the Miracle of the Sweetening of the Waters (Sir 38,5) 150  Conclusion 153 Part III. Essays on Specific Passages Amid Trials: Ben Sira 2,1 and James 1,2 157  Previous Research on the Book of Ben Sira and the New Testament 157  Ben Sira 2,1–18 and James 1,2–12: Two Exhortations in Times of Crisis 158  Ben Sira 2,1 and James 1,2: Two Promising Openings 160  Conclusion 162 A Wordplay on the Term mûsar (Sir 6,22) 164  The Search for Wisdom (Sir 6,18–37) 164  Proposed Etymologies of the Term רסומ 168  Conclusion 172 Poetic Imagery in the Book of Ben Sira: A Case Study of Sir 21,1–10 174  Text, Delimitation and Structure of Sir 21,1–10 174  Poetic Imagery in Sir 21,1–10 178  Conclusion 187 Emotions in the Prayer of Sir 22,27–23,6 189  Survey of Research on Sir 22,27–23,6 189  Text, Translation and Textual Notes 191  A Prayer for Self-control 193  The Language of Emotion 194  The Function of Emotions 198 Ben Sira 23,27—A Pivotal Verse 202  Previous Studies on Sir 23,22–27 202  Text, Translation and Textual Notes 204  Literary Composition 206  The Last Verse (Sir 23,27) 208  The GkII Addition (Sir 23,28) 214 X Contents Ben Sira 24,22—Decoding a Metaphor 215  Wisdom’s Discourse (Sir 24,1–22) 215  Wisdom’s Final Exhortation (Sir 24,19–22) 217  From Metaphorical to Decoded Language (Sir 24,22) 224  Conclusion 229 Dreams and Folly in Sir 31(34Hb),1–8 230  Translation and Textual Notes 231  Dreams and Travels 235  Dreams and Deceit 236  A Single Exception 238  True Wisdom 239  Conclusion 241 The Hymn to Creation (Sir 42,15–43,33): A Polemic Text? 242  Introduction 242  The Jewish Wisdom Tradition 244  The Enochic Apocalyptic Circles 246  The Graeco-hellenistic Culture 255  Conclusion 259 God, Creator of All (Sir 43,27–33) 260  The Creatorand His Work in Ben Sira 261  Sir 43,27–33: Text and Context 265  Sir 43,27–33: Praise to the Creator 269  Conclusion 279 Bibliography 281 Index of Authors 308 Index of References 313 Index of Subjects 336