The remembrance of Josias is sweet as honey and like music at a banquet, for he took away abominations. Except David, Ezekias and Josias, all the kings of Juda forsook the law, and the chosen city was burnt, as Jeremias, sanctified in his mother's womb, had prophesied. Ezekiel saw the glorious vision upon the chariot of the cherubims, and the twelve prophets comforted Jacob. After the exile Zorobabel was 'as a signet on the right hand', Jesus the son of Josedec rebuilt the temple, and Neemias raised the walls. The list returns to the beginning: Enoch, Joseph, Sem, Seth and Adam.
Sirach 49 - Summary
Summary
Read Sirach Chapter 49 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
Ezekiel
The Prophet of Exile
Jacob
Father of the Twelve Tribes of Israel
Jesus Christ
Son of God, Messiah, Savior
Enoch
The Man Who Walked with God and Was Not
Joseph of Arimathea
The One Who Buried Jesus
Seth
Third Son of Adam and Eve
Adam
First Man
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