'Then stood up Elias the prophet as fire, and his word burned like a lamp.' He brought famine, shut the heaven, called down fire three times, raised a dead man, heard the Lord at Sinai and Horeb, and was taken up in a chariot of fiery horses, ordained to turn the heart of the father to the son. Eliseus was filled with his spirit, and even his dead body prophesied. Yet the people did not repent and were scattered. Ezekias fortified his city and brought water into it; when Sennacherib threatened Sion, the Lord delivered them by Esay, who made the sun go backward.
Sirach 48 - Summary
Summary
Read Sirach Chapter 48 Summary
Original
Characters in This Chapter
Noah
Found perfect and righteous, kept as a remnant when the flood came, with an everlasting covenant
Abraham
Father of many nations, faithful when tested, to whom God swore to bless the nations in his seed
Moses
Beloved of God and men, brought into the cloud and given the law of life; the law he commanded is identified with Wisdom
Aaron
Given an everlasting priesthood; his vestments are described at length
David
Chosen out of Israel, slayer of Goliath, singer who set singers before the altar, given a covenant of kings
Solomon
Wise king of peace who built the temple, then stained his honour through his women
Elijah
Prophet 'as fire', taken up in a chariot of fire and appointed to turn the heart of the father to the son
Ben Sira
Author and sage of Jerusalem, who signs the book, praises the fathers and closes with his own prayer
Jacob
Father of the Twelve Tribes of Israel
Places in This Chapter
Position in Book
The Fear of the LordChapters 1-2
Parents, the Poor and Wisdom's DisciplineChapters 3-4
Speech, Friendship and PrudenceChapters 5-9
Pride, Wealth and GenerosityChapters 10-14
Free Will and God's MercyChapters 15-18
The Tongue and the FoolChapters 19-23
Wisdom Praises HerselfChapters 24
Wives and the HouseholdChapters 25-26
Honest Dealing and ForgivenessChapters 27-32
God's Order, True Worship and a Prayer for IsraelChapters 33-36
Counsellors, Physicians and the ScribeChapters 37-39
Life, Death and the Glory of CreationChapters 40-43
The Praise of the FathersChapters 44-50
Israel's heroes from Enoch, Noah and Abraham through Moses, Aaron, Joshua, David, Elijah and the prophets, ending with the high priest Simon son of Onias.
Thanksgiving and the Search for WisdomChapters 51