Sirach
Chapter 47
After that, the Lord raised Nathan to prophesy during the time of David.
Just as fat is taken from the peace offering, so David was chosen from among the Israelites.
He played with lions and bears as if they were lambs or young goats.
He was still young when he defeated a giant to restore his people’s honor; using a sling, he hurled a stone that killed the proud Goliath.
He called upon the Lord Most High, who granted him the strength to defeat a mighty warrior, thereby honoring the power of his people.
So they praised him for his ten thousand and called him a blessing from the Lord when he was chosen king.
For he wiped out his enemies on all sides and defeated his adversaries, the Philistines, crushing their power forever.
In everything he did, he gave thanks to the Most High and expressed his love for his Maker by singing with all his heart.
He placed singers accompanied by harps before the altar to create beautiful music;
he added splendor to feasts and even greater magnificence to the more solemn occasions, exalting the holy name of the Lord and filling the Sanctuary with praise from early morning.
The Lord forgave David’s sins and established his power forever; he made a covenant with him for the benefit of the kings and gave him a glorious throne in Israel.
A wise son succeeded him and prospered because of him.
Solomon ruled during peaceful times, and God granted him rest from war so he could build a house for his name, a sanctuary that would last forever.
How wise you were in your youth, Solomon—full of understanding like a rushing river!
Your spirit reached throughout the earth, filling it with proverbs and parables.
Your reputation extended to distant islands, and you were loved for your peace.
Your songs, proverbs, parables, and interpretations gained worldwide admiration.
In the name of the Lord God, the God of Israel, you amassed gold like tin and gathered silver like lead.
But you gave your body to women and became the slave of your senses;
you stained your reputation and defiled your descendants, bringing wrath and disaster upon your children because of your foolishness.
So the nation was divided; Ephraim’s kingdom was in revolt.
But God’s mercy never fails, nor does He forget his promises; He did not deprive his chosen ones of descendants nor destroy the seed of those He loved. Instead, he gave a remnant to Jacob and preserved David’s family.
Solomon died and was buried with his ancestors, leaving one of his sons to rule after him—Rehoboam, who was the most foolish of men and lacked intelligence; he caused the people to rebel.
As for Jeroboam, son of Nebat, it was he who led Israel into sin and taught Ephraim the path of evil. From that point on, their sins grew worse and eventually caused their exile,
because they were determined to commit all kinds of evil until vengeance struck them.
Commentaries
History.
The hymn of praise to the Creator and the subsequent expression of thanksgiving and admiration for the wonders of creation serve as an introduction to this extensive praise or exaltation of the key figures in Israel’s history. The goal is to demonstrate how God’s power and greatness, as revealed through creation, ultimately find expression in Israel’s long historical journey, from Enoch to Simon (or Simeon), the high priest whom Ben Sirach deeply respects and reveres.
First Kings: David and Solomon.
The bridge between the judges’ period and the monarchy is Nathan (1), who is introduced to present the figure of David (1b-12) and to legitimize the transition, since Nathan is God’s prophet tasked with delivering divine messages to the king. David’s divine selection is emphasized (2s), but his actions in formalizing worship in Jerusalem are also noted (8-10); his sin is not concealed but used to showcase God’s infinite goodness and mercy. He is succeeded by his son, Solomon (13-23a), who ascended to the throne during a time of peace. The early days of his reign are recounted, highlighting his wisdom (14-17), but when it comes to the origins of Israel’s missteps as a monarchy, there is no hesitation in attributing these deviations to Solomon himself (18-20). Nonetheless, the goodness and faithfulness of God are once again emphasized, as he did not destroy His people because of Solomon’s sins. However, he did punish them severely by dividing the kingdom and exiling the inhabitants of the North first, and then those of the South.