Bogoslovska smotra, Vol. 80 No. 1, 2010.
Original scientific paper
»Covenant« in the Book of Ecclesiasticus/Ben Sira
Goran Kühner
orcid.org/0000-0002-5502-9180
; Pontificio Istituto Biblico, Roma, Italia
Abstract
The subject of this paper is the notion of the »covenant« in the Book of Ecclesiasticus/ Ben Sira. The Hebrew term בְּרִית, or the Greek διαθήκη, in the Old Testament virtually became terminus technicus for God's covenant with his chosen people. The Greek translation of the Book of Ecclesiasticus/Ben Sira does not always coincide these two terms but cites διαθήκη as a translation of two Hebrew words: בְּרִית and חֺק. This discrepancy in the title and Ben Sira's belief lead to difficulties in comprehending the writer's understanding of the notion of the covenant. A comparison of various translations of the Book of Ecclesiasticus/Ben Sira which itself contains several deviations often express Ben Sira's beliefs. An analysis of the most significant texts that mention the covenant show that Ben Sira looks upon the covenant generally made with all people and especially with the chosen people. For Ben Sira the covenant is God's eternal gift which exists from the beginning of the world which is evident in Si 17. In Laus patrum, particularly in Si 44 - 45, Ben Sira deals with earlier models of theology of the covenant in its overview of the history of salvation. A covenant is always preceded by temptation and successfully overcoming it. The actual making of the covenant is at the same time God fulfilling his promise and call to his people to be obedient. Ben Sira mentions the covenant mostly in priestly context, often using texts from priestly writings (P) and particularly emphasising priestly covenant. In other sections of his book, Ben Sira relates the notion of the covenant with the topic of the creation and wisdom.
Keywords
Book of Ecclesiasticus/Ben Sira; Laus partum; Covenant; Law/Torah; promise
Hrčak ID:
50803
URI
Publication date:
14.4.2010.
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