Sirach
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| + | [[Image:Alle Weissheit ist bey Gott dem Herrn...by anonymous.jpg |thumb|right|200px|''[[Alle Weissheit ist bey Gott dem Herrn...]]'' (1654), informal title of a calligraphy of the [[Sirach]] by an anonymous artist]] | ||
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| - | '''The Alphabet of Ben-Sira''' (''Alphabetum Siracidis'', ''Othijoth ben Sira'') is an anonymous [[medieval]] text, attributed to [[Ben Sira]] (Sirach), the author of ''[[Ecclesiasticus]]''. It is dated to anywhere between AD 700 and 1000. It is a compilation of two lists of [[proverb]]s, 22 in [[Aramaic]] and 22 in [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]], both arranged as alphabetic [[acrostic]]s. Each proverb is followed by an [[Haggadic]] commentary. The work has been characterized as [[satire|satirical]], and it contains references to [[masturbation]], [[incest]] and [[flatulence]]. The text has been translated into [[Latin]], [[Yiddish]], [[Judeo-Spanish]], [[French language|French]] and [[German language|German]]. A partial English translation appeared in Stern and Mirsky (1998). | + | :''For the medieval text, see [[Alphabet of Sirach]]. For the scholar, see [[Jesus ben Sirach]].'' |
| + | '''''Sirach''''', by [[Ben Sira]], also known as '''''Wisdom of Jesus son of Sirach''''', the '''''Wisdom of Ben Sira''''', or '''''Ecclesiasticus''''', is a work from the early second century BC, originally written in [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]]. | ||
| - | ''[[The Alphabet of Ben-Sira]]'' is considered to be the oldest form of the story of [[Lilith]] as [[Adam]]'s first wife. Whether or not this certain tradition is older is not known. Scholars tend to date Ben Sira between 8th and 10th centuries. Its real author is [[anonymity in publishing|anonymous]], but it is falsely attributed to the sage [[Ben Sira]]. The [[amulet]]s used against Lilith that were thought to derive from this tradition are in fact, dated as being much older. While the concept of Eve having a predecessor is not exclusive to Ben Sira or new and can be found in [[Genesis Rabbah]], the idea that this predecessor was Lilith is. According to Gershom Scholem the author of the Zohar, R. Moses de Leon, was aware of the folk tradition of Lilith, as well another story, possibly older, that may be conflicting. | + | The book is included in the [[Septuagint]] and is accepted as part of the [[biblical canon]] by [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholics]], [[Eastern Orthodoxy|Eastern Orthodox]], and most [[Oriental Orthodox]] but not by most [[Protestantism|Protestants]], and is listed in among the [[Deuterocanonical books]] in ''Article VI'' of the [[Thirty-Nine Articles]] of the [[Church of England]]. Although it was not accepted into the [[Tanakh]], the [[Jew]]ish biblical canon, ''Sirach'' is occasionally quoted in the [[Talmud]] and works of [[rabbinic literature]] (as "ספר בן סירא", e.g., Hagigah 13a). The Greek [[Church Fathers]] also called it "The All-Virtuous Wisdom," while the Latin Church Fathers, beginning with [[Cyprian]] , termed it ''Ecclesiasticus'' because it was frequently read in [[Church (building)|churches]], leading to the title ''liber ecclesiasticus'' ([[Latin]] and Latinised [[Greek language|Greek]] for "church book"). |
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| - | ===Lilith=== | + | |
| - | The text is best known because of its reference to [[Lilith]], and it is the fifth of Ben Sira's responses to [[King Nebuchadnezzar]]. It is reproduced here in its entirety: <!--source? translator?--> | + | |
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| - | :Soon afterward the young son of the king took ill. Said Nebuchadnezzar, "Heal my son. If you don't, I will kill you." Ben Sira immediately sat down and wrote an amulet with the Holy Name, and he inscribed on it the angels in charge of medicine by their names, forms, and images, and by their wings, hands, and feet. Nebuchadnezzar looked at the amulet. "Who are these?" | + | |
| - | :"The [[angel]]s who are in charge of medicine: Snvi, Snsvi, and Smnglof (In English: Senoy, Sansenoy and Semangelof). After God created [[Adam (Bible)|Adam]], who was alone, He said, 'It is not good for man to be alone' ([[Genesis]] 2:18). He then created a woman for Adam, from the earth, as He had created Adam himself, and called her Lilith. Adam and Lilith immediately began to fight. She said, 'I will not lie below,' and he said, 'I will not lie beneath you, but only on top. For you are fit only to be in the bottom position, while I am to be the superior one.' Lilith responded, 'We are equal to each other inasmuch as we were both created from the earth.' But they would not listen to one another. When Lilith saw this, she pronounced the Ineffable Name and flew away into the air. Adam stood in prayer before his Creator: 'Sovereign of the universe!' he said, 'the woman you gave me has run away.' At once, the Holy One, blessed be He, sent these three angels to bring her back. | + | |
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| - | :"Said the Holy One to Adam, 'If she agrees to come back, what is made is good. If not, she must permit one hundred of her children to die every day.' The angels left God and pursued Lilith, whom they overtook in the midst of the sea, in the mighty waters wherein the [[Egypt]]ians were destined to drown. They told her God's word, but she did not wish to return. The angels said, 'We shall drown you in the sea.' | + | |
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| - | :"'Leave me!' she said. 'I was created only to cause sickness to infants. If the infant is male, I have dominion over him for eight days after his birth, and if female, for twenty days.' | + | |
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| - | :"When the angels heard Lilith's words, they insisted she go back. But she swore to them by the name of the living and eternal God: 'Whenever I see you or your names or your forms in an amulet, I will have no power over that infant.' She also agreed to have one hundred of her children die every day. Accordingly, every day one hundred demons perish, and for the same reason, we write the angels names on the amulets of young children. When Lilith sees their names, she remembers her oath, and the child recovers." | + | |
| - | ==Editions== | + | |
| - | *Salonica, [[1514]], two known surviving copies | + | |
| - | *Constantinople, 1519, one known complete copy in the [[British Library]], and a defective one at the [[Bodleian]] | + | |
| - | *Venice, 1544, reprinted by Steinschneider, 1854; most later editions are based on this one. | + | |
| + | In [[Egypt]], it was translated into Greek by the author's grandson, who added a prologue. The Prologue to Ben Sira is generally considered the earliest witness to a canon of the books of the prophets, and thus the date of the text as we have it is the subject of intense scrutiny. | ||
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- For the medieval text, see Alphabet of Sirach. For the scholar, see Jesus ben Sirach.
Sirach, by Ben Sira, also known as Wisdom of Jesus son of Sirach, the Wisdom of Ben Sira, or Ecclesiasticus, is a work from the early second century BC, originally written in Hebrew.
The book is included in the Septuagint and is accepted as part of the biblical canon by Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, and most Oriental Orthodox but not by most Protestants, and is listed in among the Deuterocanonical books in Article VI of the Thirty-Nine Articles of the Church of England. Although it was not accepted into the Tanakh, the Jewish biblical canon, Sirach is occasionally quoted in the Talmud and works of rabbinic literature (as "ספר בן סירא", e.g., Hagigah 13a). The Greek Church Fathers also called it "The All-Virtuous Wisdom," while the Latin Church Fathers, beginning with Cyprian , termed it Ecclesiasticus because it was frequently read in churches, leading to the title liber ecclesiasticus (Latin and Latinised Greek for "church book").
In Egypt, it was translated into Greek by the author's grandson, who added a prologue. The Prologue to Ben Sira is generally considered the earliest witness to a canon of the books of the prophets, and thus the date of the text as we have it is the subject of intense scrutiny.
Unless indicated otherwise, the text in this article is either based on Wikipedia article "Sirach" or another language Wikipedia page thereof used under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License; or on research by Jahsonic and friends. See Art and Popular Culture's copyright notice.
