Sirach 47:2-11
Chapter 47
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.
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.