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Sirach / Chapter 46

Sirach 46

23 verses • Latin Vulgate (Jerome)

Translator's Introduction

What This Chapter Is About

The Praise of the Ancestors continues with Joshua, the warrior who led Israel into the promised land; Caleb, who stood firm with Joshua against the faithless spies; the Judges as a collective; and Samuel, the prophet-judge who established the monarchy and whose integrity was unimpeachable even after death.

What Makes This Chapter Remarkable

The portrait of Joshua (vv. 1-8) emphasizes him as both military commander and successor to Moses' prophetic office. The description of the sun standing still (v. 5) treats the miracle at Gibeon (Joshua 10:12-13) as the supreme example of prayer-empowered warfare. The tribute to Samuel (vv. 16-23) is notable for its claim that Samuel prophesied even from beyond death (v. 23), a reference to the necromancy episode at Endor (1 Samuel 28).

Translation Friction

The celebration of military conquest -- especially the extermination of enemies -- creates moral difficulty for modern readers. Ben Sira presents holy war without qualification, reflecting the theology of his sources in Joshua and Judges.

Connections

Joshua 10:12-14 (the sun stands still); Numbers 13-14 (the spies and Caleb's faithfulness); Judges 2:16-19 (the cycle of judges); 1 Samuel 3 (Samuel's call); 1 Samuel 12 (Samuel's farewell speech); 1 Samuel 28 (the witch of Endor).

Sirach 46:1

Fortis in bello Iesus Nave successor Mosi in prophetis qui fuit magnus secundum nomen suum.

Mighty in war was Joshua son of Nun, the successor of Moses in the prophetic office, who was great according to his name.

Notes & Key Terms 1 term

Key Terms

Iesus Nave
"Joshua son of Nun"

The Latin 'Iesus' transliterates the Greek Iesous, which renders the Hebrew Yehoshua. The name is identical to Jesus of Nazareth in its Greek form.

Translator Notes

  1. Joshua's name (Yehoshua, 'the Lord saves') is noted as prophetically fulfilled in his career. He is explicitly called Moses' successor 'in the prophets,' not merely in military command.
Sirach 46:2

Maximus in salutem electorum Dei expugnare insurgentes hostes ut consequeretur hereditatem Israhel.

He was greatest in the deliverance of God's chosen ones, overthrowing the enemies that rose against him, so that Israel might obtain its inheritance.

Notes & Key Terms 1 term

Key Terms

hereditatem Israhel
"inheritance of Israel"

The promised land as nahalah -- Israel's divinely guaranteed inheritance, for which Joshua fought.

Translator Notes

  1. Joshua's military conquests are framed as 'salvation' (salus) -- deliverance of God's people -- not mere territorial expansion.
Sirach 46:3

Quam gloriam adeptus est in tollendo manus suas et iactando contra civitates romphaeam.

What glory he gained when he raised his hands and brandished the sword against cities!

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The raised hands evoke both military command and the Mosaic gesture of intercession (Exodus 17:11-12), combining warrior and intercessor roles.
Sirach 46:4

Quis ante illum sic restitit nam hostes ipse Dominus adduxit.

Who before him stood so firm? For it was the Lord himself who brought the enemies before him.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Joshua's victories are attributed to God delivering the enemies into his hands -- the theological principle of holy war.
Sirach 46:5

An non in iracundia eius inpeditus est sol et una dies facta est quasi duo.

Was not the sun held back by his wrath, so that one day became like two?

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The miracle at Gibeon (Joshua 10:12-14): the sun standing still to allow Israel to complete its victory. Ben Sira treats it as the supreme demonstration of prayer's power over nature.
Sirach 46:6

Invocavit Altissimum potentem in obpugnando inimicos undique et audivit illum magnus et sanctus Deus in saxis grandinis virtutis valde fortis.

He called upon the Most High, the Mighty One, when enemies pressed from every side, and the great and holy God heard him, with hailstones of exceedingly great force.

Notes & Key Terms 1 term

Key Terms

saxis grandinis
"hailstones"

Literally 'stones of hail'; the divine bombardment from heaven that killed more of the enemy than Joshua's army did (Joshua 10:11).

Translator Notes

  1. The hailstorm that destroyed the fleeing Amorites (Joshua 10:11) -- God's own artillery supplementing Joshua's army.
Sirach 46:7

Impetum fecit contra gentem hostilem et in descensu perdidit contrarios.

He made an assault against the hostile nation, and in the descent he destroyed the adversaries.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The pursuit down the pass of Beth-horon, where the hailstorm completed the rout.
Sirach 46:8

Ut cognoscant gentes potentiam eius quia contra Deum pugnare non est facile et secutus est a tergo potentis.

So that the nations might know his power, that it is not easy to fight against God. And he followed in the footsteps of the Mighty One.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Joshua's campaigns had a revelatory purpose: the nations were to learn that Israel's God fights for his people.
Sirach 46:9

Et in diebus Mosi misericordiam fecit ipse et Chaleb filius Iephonne stare contra hostem et prohibere gentem a peccatis et perfringere murmur malitiae.

And in the days of Moses he acted faithfully -- he and Caleb son of Jephunneh -- standing against the enemy, restraining the people from sin, and breaking down the murmuring of malice.

Notes & Key Terms 1 term

Key Terms

Chaleb filius Iephonne
"Caleb son of Jephunneh"

The faithful spy who, with Joshua, brought back a positive report from Canaan and was rewarded with entry into the promised land.

Translator Notes

  1. Caleb's faithfulness during the spy episode (Numbers 13-14): he and Joshua alone opposed the defeatist majority and urged trust in God.
Sirach 46:10

Et ipsi duo constituti a periculo liberati sunt a numero sescentorum milium peditum inducere illos in hereditatem in terram quae manat lac et mel.

And these two alone were preserved from danger, delivered from among six hundred thousand foot soldiers, to bring the people into their inheritance, into a land flowing with milk and honey.

Notes & Key Terms 1 term

Key Terms

lac et mel
"milk and honey"

The iconic description of the promised land's abundance (Exodus 3:8); pastoral wealth (milk) and natural sweetness (honey) representing comprehensive blessing.

Translator Notes

  1. Of the entire Exodus generation (600,000 men), only Joshua and Caleb survived to enter the land -- a staggering mortality rate that underscores the cost of faithlessness.
Sirach 46:11

Et dedit Dominus ipsi Chaleb fortitudinem et usque in senectutem permansit illi virtus ut ascenderet in excelsum terrae locum et semen ipsius obtinuit hereditatem.

And the Lord gave Caleb strength, and it remained with him into old age, so that he ascended to the heights of the land, and his descendants obtained their inheritance.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Caleb's vitality in old age is recorded in Joshua 14:10-12, where at 85 he requested the mountain territory of Hebron and conquered it.
Sirach 46:12

Ut viderent omnes filii Israhel quia bonum est obsequi sancto Deo.

So that all the children of Israel might see that it is good to follow the holy God.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Caleb's reward is a public lesson: obedience to God produces tangible blessing visible to the entire community.
Sirach 46:13

Et iudices singuli suo nomine quorum non est corruptum cor qui non aversi sunt a Domino.

And the judges, each by his own name, whose hearts were not corrupted, who did not turn away from the Lord --

Notes & Key Terms 1 term

Key Terms

iudices
"judges"

The shoftim -- charismatic military leaders raised up by God during the period between Joshua and the monarchy.

Translator Notes

  1. The judges are treated collectively rather than individually. Only those who remained faithful are honored.
Sirach 46:14

Ut sit memoria illorum in benedictionibus et ossa eorum pullulent de loco suo.

May their memory be blessed, and may their bones flourish from their resting place.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. A funeral blessing: may the judges' burial sites remain honored, and may their legacy continue to produce life even from the grave.
Sirach 46:15

Et nomen eorum permaneat in aeternum permanens ad filios illorum sanctorum virorum gloria.

And may their name endure forever, the glory of these holy men passing to their children.

Sirach 46:16

Dilectus Domino Deo suo Samuhel propheta Domini constituit regnum et unxit principes in gentem suam.

Beloved of the Lord his God, Samuel the prophet of the Lord established the kingdom and anointed princes over his nation.

Notes & Key Terms 1 term

Key Terms

Samuhel
"Samuel"

The last judge and first prophet of the monarchic period; his name means 'heard by God' (1 Samuel 1:20).

Translator Notes

  1. Samuel's dual role: prophet and king-maker. He anointed both Saul and David, establishing the monarchy that would define Israel's political life.
Sirach 46:17

In lege Domini congregationem iudicavit et vidit Deus Iacob et in fide sua probatus est propheta.

By the law of the Lord he judged the assembly, and the God of Jacob looked favorably upon him, and by his faithfulness he was proven as a prophet.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Samuel's authority was validated by three marks: his administration of justice according to Torah, divine approval, and prophetic accuracy.
Sirach 46:18

Et cognitus est in verbis suis fidelis quia vidit Deum lucis.

And he was known to be faithful in his words, because he saw the God of light.

Notes & Key Terms 1 term

Key Terms

Deum lucis
"God of light"

A rare divine title suggesting revelatory illumination; Samuel's prophetic sight was characterized by clarity and truth.

Translator Notes

  1. 'God of light' -- an unusual title that may refer to Samuel's visionary experiences, beginning with his childhood call (1 Samuel 3).
Sirach 46:19

Et invocavit Dominum omnipotentem in obpugnando hostes circumstantes undique in oblatione viri inviolati.

And he called upon the Lord Almighty when enemies pressed from every side, with the offering of an unblemished lamb.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The event at Mizpah (1 Samuel 7:7-11): Samuel offered a suckling lamb while the Philistines attacked, and God answered with thunder.
Sirach 46:20

Et intonuit de caelo Dominus et in sonitu magno auditam fecit vocem suam.

And the Lord thundered from heaven and made his voice heard with a mighty sound.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The theophanic thunder that routed the Philistines -- God's voice as a weapon of war.
Sirach 46:21

Et contribulavit principes Tyriorum et omnes duces Phylistim.

And he crushed the leaders of Tyre and all the rulers of the Philistines.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The inclusion of Tyre alongside the Philistines may reflect a broader reading of Samuel's influence or a textual conflation.
Sirach 46:22

Et ante tempus finis vitae suae et saeculi testimonium praebuit in conspectu Domini et christi pecunias et usque ad calciamenta ab omni carne non accepit et non accusavit illum homo.

And before the end of his life and his time, he gave testimony before the Lord and his anointed: 'From no one have I taken money or even sandals.' And no one accused him.

Notes & Key Terms 1 term

Key Terms

christi
"his anointed"

Christus renders the Hebrew mashiah (anointed one) -- here referring to King Saul, before whom Samuel makes his public accounting.

Translator Notes

  1. Samuel's farewell speech (1 Samuel 12:1-5) is one of the great moments of prophetic integrity. He invites accusation and receives none -- his hands are clean.
Sirach 46:23

Et post hoc dormivit et notum fecit regi et ostendit illi finem vitae suae et exaltavit vocem suam de terra in prophetia delere impietatem gentis.

And after this he fell asleep, and he made known to the king and showed him the end of his life; and he raised his voice from the earth in prophecy, to blot out the wickedness of the nation.

Notes & Key Terms 1 term

Key Terms

de terra
"from the earth"

From the underworld; Samuel's voice rises from Sheol to deliver a final oracle. Ben Sira accepts the historicity of the Endor appearance without hesitation.

Translator Notes

  1. The most remarkable claim in the chapter: Samuel prophesied after death, appearing to Saul at Endor (1 Samuel 28:15-19) to pronounce the king's doom. Ben Sira treats this episode as genuine prophecy, not necromantic fraud.
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