The Beginning of the Biblical Canon and Ben Sira

✍ Scribed by Alma Brodersen

• Publisher: Mohr Siebeck
• Year: 2023
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 273
• Series: Forschungen zum Alten Testament, 162
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

The Book of Ben Sira, written in Hebrew in the early second century BCE, is often regarded as containing the earliest references to the canon of the Hebrew Bible / Old Testament. In contrast, Alma Brodersen examines methodological and historical issues regarding the beginning of the biblical canon and Ben Sira, and demonstrates that the book itself - as distinct from the later Prologue to its Greek translation - does not actually refer to texts as canonical. In addition, a systematic analysis of key passages in Ben Sira 38-39 and 44-50 in Hebrew and Greek uncovers similarities with other ancient texts which are not canonical today but preserved in the Dead Sea Scrolls. Far from proving the existence of the biblical canon in his day, Ben Sira's book indicates instead the importance of oral teaching and the relevance of a wide range of traditions.

✦ Table of Contents

Cover
Title
Preface
Table of Contents
Abbreviations
1. The Beginning of the Biblical Canon and Ben Sira
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Languages
1.2.1 Versions of the Book of Ben Sira
1.2.2 Comparative Study of Hebrew and Greek
1.3 Canonical Categories
1.3.1 History of the Canon of the Hebrew Bible
1.3.2 Canon
1.3.3 Bible
1.3.4 Scriptures
1.3.5 Authoritative Texts
1.3.6 Criteria for Textual Authority
1.3.7 Ben Sira and Canonical Categories
1.3.8 Study of Authoritative Texts
1.4 Intertextual References
1.4.1 References to the Hebrew Bible in Ben Sira?
1.4.2 Lists for Ben Sira
1.4.3 Intertextuality
1.4.4 Criteria for Intertextuality
1.4.5 Ben Sira and Texts outside the Hebrew Bible
1.4.6 Study of Historical Contexts including Dead Sea Scrolls
1.5 Aim and Structure of the Study
2. Historical Contexts of Ben Sira
2.1 Date and Historical Setting of Ben Sira
2.2 Writing at the Time of Ben Sira
2.2.1 Orality and Literacy
2.2.2 Materiality
2.2.3 Literature
2.2.4 1 Enoch and Jubilees
2.3 Writing in the Book of Ben Sira
2.3.1 Teaching Setting
2.3.2 Hebrew Book of Ben Sira
2.3.3 Greek Book of Ben Sira
2.3.4 Orality and Literacy and Ben Sira
2.3.5 Materiality and Ben Sira
2.4 Conclusion
3. Greek Prologue to Ben Sira
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Greek Text and Translation
3.3 Analysis
3.3.1 Manuscripts and Date
3.3.2 Context
3.3.3 Genre
3.3.4 Structure
3.4 Key Terms: Law, Prophets, and Writings
3.4.1 Greek Prologue to Ben Sira
3.4.2 Hebrew and Greek Terms
3.4.3 Hebrew Book of Ben Sira
3.4.4 Greek Book of Ben Sira
3.4.5 Summary of Uses
3.5 The Prologue and the Question of Canon
3.5.1 Canonical References?
3.5.2 Tripartite Canon?
3.5.3 Bipartite Canon?
3.5.4 One-Part Canon?
3.5.5 No Canon?
3.5.6 Open Canon including Ben Sira?
3.5.7 Greek Canon?
3.6 Conclusion
4. Ben Sira 38:24–39:11
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Hebrew Text and Translation
4.3 Greek Text and Translation
4.4 Comparative Analysis
4.4.1 Manuscripts and Date
4.4.2 Context
4.4.3 Genre
4.4.4 Structure
4.5 Sir 38:24–39:11 and the Question of Canon
4.5.1 Canonical References?
4.5.2 Tripartite Canon?
4.5.3 Bipartite Canon?
4.5.4 One-Part Canon?
4.5.5 No Canon?
4.5.6 Open Canon including Ben Sira?
4.5.7 Greek Canon?
4.6 Conclusion
5. Ben Sira 44–50: Survey
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Textual Basis
5.3 Comparative Analysis
5.3.1 Manuscripts and Date
5.3.2 Context
5.3.3 Genre
5.3.4 Structure
5.4 Sir 44–50 and the Question of Canon
5.4.1 Canonical References?
5.4.2 Tripartite Canon?
5.4.3 Bipartite Canon?
5.4.4 One-Part Canon?
5.4.5 No Canon?
5.4.6 Open Canon including Ben Sira?
5.4.7 Greek Canon?
5.4.8 Summary of Arguments
5.5 Figures and the Question of Quotation
5.5.1 Order of Figures in Sir 44–50
5.5.2 Question of Quotation in Sir 48:10
5.5.3 Beyond the Hebrew Bible
5.6 Conclusion
6. Ben Sira 44–50: Case Studies
6.1 Selection of Case Studies
6.2 Enoch (Sir 44:16; 49:14)
6.2.1 Hebrew and Greek Text
6.2.2 References to Genesis 5:21–24?
6.2.3 Comparison with the Hebrew Bible and the Greek Septuagint
6.2.4 Comparison with the Dead Sea Scrolls
6.2.5 Comparison within the Book of Ben Sira
6.2.6 Conclusion
6.3 Judges (Sir 46:11–12)
6.3.1 Hebrew and Greek Text
6.3.2 References to the Book of Judges?
6.3.3 Comparison with the Hebrew Bible
6.3.4 Comparison with the Greek Septuagint
6.3.5 Comparison with the Dead Sea Scrolls
6.3.6 Comparison within the Book of Ben Sira
6.3.7 Conclusion
6.4 Isaiah (Sir 48:17–25)
6.4.1 Hebrew and Greek Text
6.4.2 References to the Book of Isaiah?
6.4.3 Comparison with the Hebrew Bible
6.4.4 Comparison with the Greek Septuagint
6.4.5 Comparison with the Dead Sea Scrolls
6.4.6 Comparison within the Book of Ben Sira
6.4.7 Conclusion
6.5 Job (Sir 49:9)
6.5.1 Hebrew and Greek Text
6.5.2 References to the Books of Ezekiel and Job?
6.5.3 Comparison with the Hebrew Bible
6.5.4 Comparison with the Greek Septuagint
6.5.5 Comparison with the Dead Sea Scrolls
6.5.6 Comparison within the Book of Ben Sira
6.5.7 Conclusion
6.6 Twelve Prophets (Sir 49:10)
6.6.1 Hebrew and Greek Text
6.6.2 References to the Book of the Twelve Prophets?
6.6.3 Comparison with the Hebrew Bible
6.6.4 Comparison with the Greek Septuagint
6.6.5 Comparison with the Dead Sea Scrolls
6.6.6 Comparison within the Book of Ben Sira
6.6.7 Conclusion
6.7 Conclusion
7. Results
7.1 The Beginning of the Biblical Canon and Ben Sira
7.1.1 Hebrew and Greek Sources
7.1.2 Anachronism of Biblical Canon
7.1.3 Key Passages: Greek Prologue, Sir 38:24–39:11, Sir 44–50
7.2 Implications
7.2.1 Historical Implications
7.2.2 Methodological Implications
7.3 Concluding Summary
Bibliography
Index of Sources
Index of Subjects