King James Version · Under the Greeks
Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 45
Touch any underlined name to see who or where it is.
1And he brought out of him a merciful man, which found in the sight of , even , beloved of and men, whose memorial is . 2He made him like to the , and magnified him, so that his stood in fear of him. 3By his words he caused the wonders to cease, and he made him in the sight of kings, and gave him a for his people, and shewed him part of his . 4He him in his faithfuless and meekness, and chose him out of all men. 5He made him to hear his voice, and brought him into the dark cloud, and gave him before , even of life and knowledge, that he might teach his , and Israel his judgments. 6He exalted , an man like unto him, even his brother, of the tribe of Levi. 7An he made with him and gave him the priesthood among the people; he beautified him with comely ornaments, and clothed him with a robe of . 8He put upon him perfect ; and strengthened him with rich garments, with breeches, with a long robe, and the . 9And he compassed him with pomegranates, and with many golden bells round about, that as he went there might be a sound, and a noise made that might be heard in , for a memorial to the children of his people; 10With an garment, with gold, and blue silk, and purple, the work of the embroiderer, with a breastplate of , and with ; 11With twisted scarlet, the work of the cunning workman, with precious stones graven like seals, and set in gold, the work of the jeweller, with a writing engraved for a memorial, after the number of the tribes of Israel. 12He set a of gold upon the mitre, wherein was engraved , an ornament of , a costly work, the of the eyes, goodly and beautiful. 13Before him there were none such, neither did ever any put them on, but only his children and his children’s children perpetually. 14Their shall be wholly consumed every day twice continually. 15 him, and him with oil: this was appointed unto him by an , and to , so long as should , that they should minister unto him, and execute the office of the priesthood, and the people in his name. 16He chose him out of all men living to offer to , , and a sweet savour, for a memorial, to make reconciliation for his people. 17He gave unto him his , and in the of judgments, that he should teach the testimonies, and inform Israel in his laws. 18Strangers conspired together against him, and maligned him in , even the men that were of ’s and Abiron’s side, and of , with fury and . 19This saw, and it displeased him, and in his wrathful were they consumed: he did wonders upon them, to consume them with the flame. 20But he made more honourable, and gave him an heritage, and divided unto him the of the increase; especially he prepared bread in abundance: 21For they eat of the of , which he gave unto him and . 22Howbeit in the land of the people he had no , neither had he any among the people: for himself is his and . 23The third in is the son of Eleazar, because he had in the , and stood up with good courage of : when the people were turned back, and made reconciliation for Israel. 24Therefore was there a of peace made with him, that he should be the chief of and of his people, and that he and his posterity should have the dignity of the priesthood for ever: 25According to made with son of , of the tribe of , that the of the king should be to his posterity alone: so the of should also be unto . 26 give you in to judge his people in , that their good things be not abolished, and that their may for ever.
The 1611 translation, public domain. Its original printing included the Apocrypha, which is why the deuterocanonical books can be read here. Notes and cards are EKLI’s own.
The world at this moment · Under the Greeks, 332 BC to 63 BC ›
Alexander's conquest and the kingdoms of his successors. Greek language and custom press in everywhere, and the crisis under Antiochus IV provokes the Maccabean revolt.
- The successors
- Alexander dies at thirty-two and his generals carve up the empire. Judea sits on the border between the Ptolemies in Egypt and the Seleucids in Syria, and is fought over by both for a century and a half, which is the ordinary condition of the corridor.
- Hellenism
- Not just conquest but a culture: the gymnasium, the theatre, Greek names, Greek dress, Greek as the language of anyone with ambitions. Some Jews embraced it, some resisted it, and the argument between them is the real subject of the Maccabean books. In Alexandria the Hebrew scriptures are translated into Greek, producing the Septuagint, which is the Bible most New Testament writers quote.
- The crisis
- Antiochus IV bans the practice of Judaism, plunders the temple, and sets up a pagan altar in it in 167 BC. The revolt under the Maccabees wins, the temple is rededicated in 164 BC, which is the origin of Hanukkah, and Judea has about eighty years of independence under the Hasmoneans before Rome arrives.
- Further afield
- Rome fights Carthage three times and ends up master of the Mediterranean. Euclid writes the Elements and Archimedes does his work at Syracuse. In China the Qin unify the country in 221 BC and the Han follow, opening what becomes the Silk Road.
All of Sirach (Ecclesiasticus)