The Praise of the Fathers ends with Simon the high priest, son of Onias, who repaired the temple and fortified the city. Coming out of the sanctuary he shone like the morning star, the full moon and the rainbow in the clouds. The liturgy is described: the sons of Aaron around him like palm trees, the libation poured at the altar, the silver trumpets, the people on their faces and the blessing from his lips. A doxology follows, then a curse on three peoples, those on the mountain of Samaria, the Philistines and the people of Sichem, and the author signs: 'Jesus the son of Sirach of Jerusalem.'
Sirach 50 - Summary
Summary
Read Sirach Chapter 50 Summary
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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
Jesus Christ
Son of God, Messiah, Savior
Places in This Chapter
Jerusalem
View on MapCity where Wisdom finds her rest, for which the author prays, and whose walls and temple the Praise of the Fathers recalls
The Temple
View on MapRebuilt after the exile and repaired by the high priest Simon, whose liturgy there crowns the Praise of the Fathers
Samaria
View on MapSamaria was the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel and later became the name for the entire region between Judea and Galilee. After the Assyrian conquest, the population became mixed, and the Samaritans developed their own form of worship. Jews and Samaritans had deep hostility. Jesus broke social barriers by speaking with the Samaritan woman at the well and telling the parable of the Good Samaritan.
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