Chapter Forty-Five

The glorification of the Lord’s providence in humanity through Moses, Aaron, and Phinehas, son of Eleazar.

Sirach 45:1. Moses, beloved by God and men, whose memory is blessed. Sirach 45:2. He made him equal in glory with the holy ones and made him great through deeds to frighten his enemies; Sirach 45:3. By his word he brought the miraculous signs to pass, glorified him before the face of kings, gave commands through him to his people and showed him from his glory. 2–3. This refers to the awesome manifestations of the Lord’s glory and might during the departure of the Hebrews from Egypt and their journey to the land of Canaan.

Sirach 45:4. For his faithfulness and gentleness He sanctified him, chose him from all men, Sirach 45:5. allowed him to hear his voice, led him into the cloud; 5. Cf. Exod 19:16-20.

Sirach 45:6. and gave him face to face the commandments, the law of life and knowledge, so that he might teach Jacob the covenant and Israel his ordinances. Sirach 45:7. He exalted Aaron, a holy one like him, his brother from the tribe of Levi, — Sirach 45:8. established an eternal covenant with him and gave him the priesthood among the people; He blessed him with special adornment and girded him with a belt of glory; Sirach 45:9. He clothed him with supreme adornment and dressed him in rich garments: Sirach 45:10. in the inner garment, in the ephod and breastplate; Sirach 45:11. and surrounded him with golden pomegranates and with many bells, so that when he walked they would make a sound, so as to make a sound in the temple for the remembrance of the sons of his people; Sirach 45:12. he clothed him in a holy garment of gold and hyacinth wool and twisted fine linen of artistic work, with the breastpiece of judgment, with the Urim and the Thummim, Sirach 45:13. with scarlet work of artistic work, with precious stones carved as on a seal, in gold settings of engraved work, with the names carved in remembrance according to the number of the tribes of Israel; Sirach 45:14. on his mitre — a golden crown, a sign of holiness, the glory of honor: a magnificent ornament, a work of art, desirable for the eyes. 8–14. Here are described the high priestly garments of Aaron. Cf. Exod 28.

Sirach 45:15. Before him there was not such a thing from of old: Sirach 45:16. not belonging to his tribe did anyone clothe himself thus, only his sons and his descendants in all times. Sirach 45:17. Their offerings are presented each day, always twice a day. 17. Their offerings, that is, through the agency of the descendants of Aaron, must be presented, according to the law, twice each day — morning and evening.

Sirach 45:18. Moses filled his hands and anointed him with holy oil: 18. Cf. Exod 29, Lev 8.

Sirach 45:19. for him it was established in an eternal covenant and to his seed for the days of heaven, so that they would serve Him and together perform the priestly office and bless his people with his name; Sirach 45:20. He chose him from all living, to bring a sacrifice to the Lord, incense and a pleasant odor in remembrance of atonement for his people; Sirach 45:21. He gave him his commandments and authority in the ordinances of judgment, to teach Jacob his revelations and instruct Israel in his law. Sirach 45:22. Strangers rose up against him, and were jealous of him in the wilderness — the men who followed Dathan and Abiram, and the congregation of Korah in anger and wrath; Sirach 45:23. The Lord saw, and it displeased him — and they perished in the fury of his wrath. Sirach 45:24. He performed wonders upon them, destroying them with the flame of his fire. 24. Cf. Num 16.

Sirach 45:25. And he increased the glory of Aaron and gave him an inheritance — he separated for them the first fruits of the produce: Sirach 45:26. first he prepared for them bread in abundance, for they eat the sacrifices of the Lord, which he gave to him and to his seed; Sirach 45:27. but he was not to have an inheritance in the land of the people and had no portion among the people, for the Lord himself is his portion and inheritance. 27. The tribe of Levi did not receive such portions of land as the other tribes received in Canaan. The portion of the Levites was — to serve the Lord their God at his holy temple and thereby satisfy the religious needs both of their own and of the rest of the people. The tithes, first fruits, portions of sacrificial animals and other sacred offerings of the faithful served to provide the Levites with sufficient sustenance for their bodily needs.

Sirach 45:28. Also Phinehas, son of Eleazar, third in glory, because he was zealous in the fear of the Lord and, at the falling away of the people, stood firm in the good disposition of his soul and made atonement for Israel; 28. Third in glory, after Moses and Aaron. Of the feat of religious zeal of Phinehas see Num 25.

Sirach 45:29. therefore a covenant of peace was established with him, that he should be a leader of the holy ones and of his people, that he and his seed should have the dignity of the priesthood forever. Sirach 45:30. Just as by the covenant with David, son of Jesse, of the tribe of Judah, the royal inheritance passed from son to son, so the inheritance of the priesthood belonged to Aaron and to his seed. Sirach 45:31. May God give us wisdom in our heart — to judge his people with justice, so that their good things do not perish and their glory remains in their generations. 31. The writer of the book invites his contemporaries and followers to imitate in life the piety and wisdom of the righteous, and thereby spread and establish on earth the good and glory inherited from the great teachers of faith and piety.