Foreign Nations in the Wisdom of Ben Sira: A Jewish Sage between Opposition and Assimilation

300 Pages·2012·4.296 MB·English

by  Marko Marttila

Marko Marttila
Foreign Nations in the Wisdom of Ben Sira
Deuterocanonical and
Cognate Literature
Studies
Edited by
Friedrich V. Reiterer, Beate Ego, Tobias Nicklas
Volume 13
De Gruyter
Marko Marttila
Foreign Nations in the
Wisdom of Ben Sira
A Jewish Sage between Opposition
and Assimilation
De Gruyter
ISBN 978-3-11-027010-5
e-ISBN 978-3-11-027011-2
ISSN 1865-1666
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Marttila, Marko, 1974—
Foreign nations in the wisdom of Ben Sira : a Jewish sage between
opposition and assimilation / Marko Marttila.
p. cm. — (Deuterocanonical and cognate literature studies, ISSN
1865-1666 ; v. 13)
Includes bibliographical references and indexes.
ISBN 978-3-11-027010-5 (hardcover 23 x 15,5 : alk. paper)
1. Gentiles in the Old Testament. 2. Bible. O.T. Apocrypha.
Ecclesiasticus — Criticism, interpretation, etc. I. Title.
BS1199.N6.M37 2012
229'.406—dc23
2011043914
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.d-nb.de.
© 2012 Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co. KG, Berlin/Boston
Printing: Hubert & Co. GmbH & Co. KG, Göttingen
<» Printed on acid-free paper
Printed in Germany
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Preface
The very first lines of this book were written in spring 2005.1 had com-
pleted my doctoral thesis on the Psalms a few months earlier and
sought for a new topic. My supervisor, Prof. Dr. Timo Veijola (Univer-
sity of Helsinki), was personally interested in the Wisdom of Ben Sira
and he suggested that I should focus on this book. It was a decision that
I have not regretted. All these years that I have spent studying the work
of Ben Sira have been a fascinating time.
There are several people whom I would like to thank in this con-
nection. After Prof. Veijola's sudden death many scholars offered their
help by reading and commenting on my text. Professor Dr. Martti Nis-
sinen (University of Helsinki) followed with great interest the progress
of my work. The membership in Dr. Docent Juha Pakkala's research
project "Birth and Transmission of a Holy Tradition" funded by the
European Science Foundation enabled me to concentrate on research
without any other professional duties. Another important scholarship
was awarded to me by Alfred Kordelin Foundation.
During the years of research I have met many distinguished scho-
lars abroad. Discussions with them have remarkably affected the final
form of this study. I am very grateful to Prof. Dr. Christoph Levin (Mu-
nich), who invited me to stay a term in Munich. This stay took place in
autumn 2009. I enjoyed the friendly and encouraging scholarly atmos-
phere in Munich, and our local apartment at IBZ ("Internationales Be-
gegnungszentrum der Wissenschaft") pleased both me and my wife.
The personnel of the faculty library in Munich were always helpful.
From Munich it was easy to travel to other famous universities and
meet Ben Sira scholars. With gratitude I recall discussions with Prof.
Dr. Johannes Marböck (Linz), Prof. Dr. Friedrich V. Reiterer (Salzburg),
Prof. Dr. Renate Egger-Wenzel (Salzburg), Prof. Dr. Markus Witte (Ber-
lin), Prof. Dr. Christoph Bultmann (Erfurt) and Prof. Dr. Burkard M.
Zapff (Eichstätt-Ingolstadt). These scholars have provided me with
important books and articles. A real treasure house is the room at the
department of biblical studies in Salzburg that covers nearly all the
literature ever published on Ben Sira! Access to this material was a
fulfillment of my dreams.
VI Preface
Prior to my stay in Munich, I was able to have a short research pe-
riod at the University of Göttingen. This stay was hosted by Prof. Dr.
Hermann Spieckermann and funded by the Nordic-German Communi-
ty of Research and Doctoral Education. Professor Spieckermann, Prof.
Dr. Reinhard G. Kratz (Göttingen) and their students have given me a
valuable feedback in numerous seminars throughout the years. I
learned to know Prof. Dr. Pancratius C. Beentjes (Utrecht) when he
gave a series of lectures in Helsinki in January 2008. We have often kept
in touch since then. My most active Nordic discussion partner has been
Prof. Dr. Karl W. Weyde (Oslo). At the latest stage of my work he in-
vited me to give two public lectures in Oslo. It was of great help that
two American scholars - Dr. Matthew J. Goff (Florida) and Dr. Karina
M. Hogan (New York) - sent me manuscripts of their articles before
they were published.
I would also like to thank the editorial board of the Deuterocanoni-
cal and Cognate Literature Studies for accepting my manuscript into
their series. Doctor Albrecht Döhnert and Mrs. Sabina Dabrowski from
Walter De Gruyter have patiently guided me in all sort of technical
details. At the latest stage of my work, MA Kirsi Valkama (University
of Helsinki) assisted me in creating correct layout. An important person
has also been Mrs. Marlene Broemer who revised my written English.
I conclude this long list of grateful thoughts by expressing special
thanks to my wife Ritva-Liisa. She has most closely followed all phases
of my research and encouraged me. "Happy is the husband of a good
wife!" (Sir 26:1).
Kouvola, December 2011 Marko Marttila
Table of Contents
Preface V
1. Introduction 1
1.1. The Historical Figure of Ben Sira 1
1.2. The Book of Ben Sira 10
1.3. Political Circumstances in Ben Sira's Time 17
1.4. Jerusalem in Ben Sira's Time 20
1.5. Ben Sira and Foreign Nations / Cultures: A Survey of Previous
Research 25
1.6. Research Aim 40
2. Covenant with Mankind according to Sirach 17 42
2.1. Introduction 42
2.2. Translation and Textual Criticism of Sir 16:24-17:24 43
2.3. Commentary on Sir 16:24-17:24 52
2.4. Short Overview of the Covenant Theology of the Old
Testament 69
2.5. Conclusion 78
3. Wisdom, Israel and Other Nations in Sirach 24 80
3.1. Introduction 80
3.2. Translation and Textual Criticism of Sir 24 82
3.3. The Tradition-Historical Background of Sir 24 91
3.4. Commentary on Sir 24:1-34 102
3.5. The People of Israel and Other Nations in Sir 24 114
3.6. Conclusion 117
4. "Put the Nations in Fear of You" - The National Prayer in
Sirach 36 119
VIII Table of Contents
4.1. Introduction 119
4.2. Translation and Textual Criticism of Sir 36:1-17 119
4.3. Previous Research of the Passage 124
4.4. Commentary on Sir 36:1-17 131
4.5. Ben Sira's View of Foreign Nations in Sir 36 154
4.6. Conclusion 156
5. Foreign Nations in Ben Sira's "Laus Patrum" (Sir 44-50) 158
5.1. Introduction 158
5.2. The Beginning of "Laus Patrum" (Sir 44:1-15) 161
5.3. From the Antediluvian Figures to Moses 164
5.4. Phinehas in Sir 45:23-26 172
5.5. From Joshua to David 182
5.6. From Solomon to Ben Sira's Own Time 189
5.7. Excursus: Why Did Ben Sira Omit Ezra? 192
5.7.1. Ben Sira's anti-Levitical Bias 192
5.7.2. Ben Sira's Interest in People Who Built Something 194
5.7.3. Ben Sira Was Unaware of Ezra Traditions 197
5.7.4. Ben Sira's Universalism versus Ezra's Particularism 199
5.7.5. Ben Sira's Aversion to Reforms 201
5.7.6. Ben Sira's Pan-Aaronite Attitude 202
5.7.7. Different Types of Scribes 205
5.7.8. Ezra's Political Quietism as a Reason for His Omission 205
5.8. Three Foolish Folks in Sir 50:25-26 206
5.9. Conclusion 215
6. Ben Sira and Foreign Rule: an Analysis of Short Passages 217
6.1. Sirach 4:15 217
6.2. Sirach 8:2 218
6.3. Sirach 10:1-5 219
6.4. Sirach 10:8 220
6.5. Sirach 10:14-18 221
6.6. Sirach 16:6-10 222
6.7. Sirach 39:23 223
6.8. Conclusion 224
7. Summary 225
Table of Contents IX
Bibliography 233
Index of Modern Authors 267
Index of Passages 273