Questions of vocation and character formation become important to students as they continue to receive higher education. Jesus Ben Sira combines secular wisdom from Near Eastern wisdom sources and divine revelations from the Hebrew Bible to create the Book of Sirach. By applying form criticism to Ben Sira's book, Daniel J. Harrington provides students with historical information of the psychological and sociological context underlying Ben Sira's teachings, as well as an understanding of how Ben Sira's ancient wisdom can contribute to personal and social formation in the 21st century.
Chapters include Ben Sira and His Book, Ben Sira and Other Wisdom Books, Reading Ben Sira's Book, Ben Sira's Ways of Teaching, Ben Sira's Social World, Ben Sira's Abiding Wisdom, as well as references, suggestions for further study, and an index.
Daniel J. Harrington, S.J., Ph.D., is a professor of New Testament at the Weston Jesuit School of Theology in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He has written numerous scholarly works, including Paul on the Mystery of Israel, The Gospel of Matthew, and The Gospel According to Matthew published by the Liturgical Press.
This book is part of the series Interfaces.
Industry Reviews
It is an excellent primer on this wisdom text that is unfamiliar to many readers of the Bible. . . . Harrington demonstrates that the book is a valuable source to anyone seeking a more comprehensive understanding of the genre of biblical wisdom literature.Christian Reflection
. . . a solid introduction to a wisdom book that in recent times is appreciated more and more.International Journal in Philosophy and Theology
Harrington draws together themes from Ben Sira's work into spiritual exercises that can serve as a guide to personal and social formation in wisdom for modern readers.Old Testament Abstracts
Ben Sira has found a worthy and congenial interpreter for his wide-ranging thought in H., and in the Interfaces series, an informative and readable text to raise questions in a new context.The Catholic Biblical Quarterly
The book is easy to read. It has a somewhat unexpected structure, and that method of surprise helps to make it a stimulating teaching tool for introducing the book of Ben Sira. The author's success in giving such a comprehensive presentation of both the history of transmission and the important themes within the book is very satisfying.Review of Biblical Literature Newsletter
Harrington's excellent focus of these teachings will open the body of Ben Sira's work to novice Scripture scholars and reintroduce these writings to more seasoned Biblical scholars. . . .Students of ancient civilization, Jewish history and culture, as well as the general liberal arts student will enjoy this book, either as a text or supplemental material.Catholic Library World
. . . is one of the best books available as an intorductory study to the Book of Sirach."Catholic Studies An Online Journal
This is vintage Harrington: profound, clear, challenging, and creative. It more than merits inclusion in this fine series.The Bible Today
