1. κραταιὸς ἐν πολέμῳ Ἰησοῦς Ναυη καὶ διάδοχος Μωυσῆ ἐν προφητείαις ὃς ἐγένετο κατὰ τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ μέγας ἐπὶ σωτηρίᾳ ἐκλεκτῶν αὐτοῦ ἐκδικῆσαι ἐπεγειρομένους ἐχθρούς ὅπως κατακληρονομήσῃ τὸν Ισραηλ
2. ὡς ἐδοξάσθη ἐν τῷ ἐπᾶραι χεῖρας αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐν τῷ ἐκτεῖναι ῥομφαίαν ἐπὶ πόλεις
3. τίς πρότερος αὐτοῦ οὕτως ἔστη τοὺς γὰρ πολέμους κυρίου αὐτὸς ἐπήγαγεν
4. οὐχὶ ἐν χειρὶ αὐτοῦ ἐνεποδίσθη ὁ ἥλιος καὶ μία ἡμέρα ἐγενήθη πρὸς δύο
5. ἐπεκαλέσατο τὸν ὕψιστον δυνάστην ἐν τῷ θλῖψαι αὐτὸν ἐχθροὺς κυκλόθεν καὶ ἐπήκουσεν αὐτοῦ μέγας κύριος ἐν λίθοις χαλάζης δυνάμεως κραταιᾶς
6. κατέρραξεν ἐπ’ ἔθνος πόλεμον καὶ ἐν καταβάσει ἀπώλεσεν ἀνθεστηκότας ἵνα γνῶσιν ἔθνη πανοπλίαν αὐτοῦ ὅτι ἐναντίον κυρίου ὁ πόλεμος αὐτοῦ
7. καὶ γὰρ ἐπηκολούθησεν ὀπίσω δυνάστου καὶ ἐν ἡμέραις Μωυσέως ἐποίησεν ἔλεος αὐτὸς καὶ Χαλεβ υἱὸς Ιεφοννη ἀντιστῆναι ἔναντι ἐκκλησίας κωλῦσαι λαὸν ἀπὸ ἁμαρτίας καὶ κοπάσαι γογγυσμὸν πονηρίας
8. καὶ αὐτοὶ δύο ὄντες διεσώθησαν ἀπὸ ἑξακοσίων χιλιάδων πεζῶν εἰσαγαγεῖν αὐτοὺς εἰς κληρονομίαν εἰς γῆν ῥέουσαν γάλα καὶ μέλι
9. καὶ ἔδωκεν ὁ κύριος τῷ Χαλεβ ἰσχύν καὶ ἕως γήρους διέμεινεν αὐτῷ ἐπιβῆναι αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τὸ ὕψος τῆς γῆς καὶ τὸ σπέρμα αὐτοῦ κατέσχεν κληρονομίαν
10. ὅπως ἴδωσιν πάντες οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ ὅτι καλὸν τὸ πορεύεσθαι ὀπίσω κυρίου
11. καὶ οἱ κριταί ἕκαστος τῷ αὐτοῦ ὀνόματι ὅσων οὐκ ἐξεπόρνευσεν ἡ καρδία καὶ ὅσοι οὐκ ἀπεστράφησαν ἀπὸ κυρίου εἴη τὸ μνημόσυνον αὐτῶν ἐν εὐλογίαις
12. τὰ ὀστᾶ αὐτῶν ἀναθάλοι ἐκ τοῦ τόπου αὐτῶν καὶ τὸ ὄνομα αὐτῶν ἀντικαταλλασσόμενον ἐφ’ υἱοῖς δεδοξασμένων αὐτῶν
13. ἠγαπημένος ὑπὸ κυρίου αὐτοῦ Σαμουηλ προφήτης κυρίου κατέστησεν βασιλείαν καὶ ἔχρισεν ἄρχοντας ἐπὶ τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ
14. ἐν νόμῳ κυρίου ἔκρινεν συναγωγήν καὶ ἐπεσκέψατο κύριος τὸν Ιακωβ
15. ἐν πίστει αὐτοῦ ἠκριβάσθη προφήτης καὶ ἐγνώσθη ἐν ῥήμασιν αὐτοῦ πιστὸς ὁράσεως
16. καὶ ἐπεκαλέσατο τὸν κύριον δυνάστην ἐν τῷ θλῖψαι ἐχθροὺς αὐτοῦ κυκλόθεν ἐν προσφορᾷ ἀρνὸς γαλαθηνοῦ
17. καὶ ἐβρόντησεν ἀπ’ οὐρανοῦ ὁ κύριος καὶ ἐν ἤχῳ μεγάλῳ ἀκουστὴν ἐποίησεν τὴν φωνὴν αὐτοῦ
18. καὶ ἐξέτριψεν ἡγουμένους Τυρίων καὶ πάντας ἄρχοντας Φυλιστιιμ
19. καὶ πρὸ καιροῦ κοιμήσεως αἰῶνος ἐπεμαρτύρατο ἔναντι κυρίου καὶ χριστοῦ αὐτοῦ χρήματα καὶ ἕως ὑποδημάτων ἀπὸ πάσης σαρκὸς οὐκ εἴληφα καὶ οὐκ ἐνεκάλεσεν αὐτῷ ἄνθρωπος
20. καὶ μετὰ τὸ ὑπνῶσαι αὐτὸν προεφήτευσεν καὶ ὑπέδειξεν βασιλεῖ τὴν τελευτὴν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀνύψωσεν ἐκ γῆς τὴν φωνὴν αὐτοῦ ἐν προφητείᾳ ἐξαλεῖψαι ἀνομίαν λαοῦ
Footnotes:
46:1-2 - Joshua is praised for his leadership and unwavering faith in leading Israel to the conquest of the Promised Land. He is seen as an example of obedience to God's will (see also Joshua 1:6-9 and Hebrews 11:30).
46:9-10 - Caleb, because of his loyalty and trust in God, receives a special inheritance in the land. His courage serves as a testimony of faith and perseverance in God's promises (see also Numbers 14:24 and Joshua 14:13-14).
46:11-12 - Israel's judges are remembered for their faithfulness in times of crisis, defending the nation against enemies and maintaining their covenant with God. This highlights the importance of righteous, God-guided leadership (see also Judges 2:16-18 and 1 Samuel 12:11).
46:13-14 - Samuel, the last of the judges, is exalted for his prophetic role and his exemplary life of service to God. His intercession and devotion inspired the people to follow God's will (see also 1 Samuel 7:9 and 1 Samuel 12:23).
46:19-20 - Samuel's death is marked by signs of his faithfulness, and even after his death, his prayer is effective. This highlights the power of intercession and the lasting impact of a life dedicated to God (see also 1 Samuel 25:1 and 1 Samuel 28:11-19).
Verses related to Eclesiástico, 46:
Ecclesiastic chapter 46 honors Joshua, Caleb and the Judges. How does God use leaders to accomplish His purposes? This inspiring text recounts the achievements of these heroes of faith, highlighting their courage, fidelity and leadership. The chapter emphasizes how God works through individuals to accomplish His will and protect His people. Ecclesiasticus 46 also mentions Samuel, highlighting his role as prophet and judge. Investigate with us five biblical passages that complement the lessons in this uplifting chapter.
Joshua 10:12-13: "Then Joshua spoke to the Lord on the day that the Lord delivered the Amorites into the hands of the Israelites; and he said in the presence of the Israelites: Sun, stay at Gibeon, and you, moon, in the valley of Aijalon. And the sun stood still, and the moon stood still, until the people took revenge on their enemies." - This excerpt from Joshua directly relates to Ecclesiasticus 46:4-6, which praises Joshua for his faith and power in making the sun and moon stand still.
1 Samuel 7:9: "Then Samuel took an unweaned lamb and offered it whole as a burnt offering to the Lord. He cried out to the Lord on behalf of Israel, and the Lord answered him." - This passage exemplifies Samuel's role as intercessor, reflecting the praise given to him in Ecclesiasticus 46:16-20.
Judges 4:4-5: "Deborah, prophetess, wife of Lapidoth, led Israel at that time. She sat under the palm tree of Deborah, between Ramah and Bethel, in the mountains of Ephraim, and the Israelites sought her out so that she could decide their issues." - This excerpt illustrates the leadership of Deborah, mentioned in Ecclesiasticus 46:11-12 as one of the judges of Israel.
1 Samuel 12:3-4: "Here I am. Testify against me before the Lord and before his anointed: Whose ox did I take? Whose donkey did I take? Who did I defraud? Whom did I oppress? From whose hands did I accept a bribe to close my eyes? Say, I will pay you back. They replied: You have not defrauded us or oppressed us, nor have you taken anything out of anyone's hands." - This passage reflects Samuel's integrity, praised in Ecclesiasticus 46:19.
Hebrews 11:32-33: "What else will I say? I don't have time to talk about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, practiced justice, achieved the fulfillment of promises, closed the mouths of lions," - This excerpt from the New Testament mentions several judges and leaders praised in Ecclesiasticus 46, showing the continuity of their importance in the Christian tradition.
FAQ:
Who was Eleazar and what was his role in the history of Israel?
Eleazar, son of Aaron, was a priest who played a crucial role in leading the people of Israel through difficult times, maintaining the sanctity of God's worship. (Sirach 46:13-17)
What is Joshua, son of Nun, remembered for in Ecclesiasticus 46?
Joshua was commended for his bravery and leadership, leading Israel to conquer the Promised Land, obeying God's will, and being faithful to the covenant. (Sirach 46:1-5)
How does Ecclesiasticus 46 describe the deeds of Moses?
Moses is exalted as the leader who freed Israel from slavery in Egypt, received God's Law, and led the people through the wilderness in obedience to God's will. (Sirach 46:1-4)
What can we learn from Ecclesiasticus 46 about Israel's leadership?
Leadership in Israel is characterized by faithfulness to God, courage in difficult times, and the ability to guide the people according to divine principles. (Sirach 46:6-17)
How important is Eleazar in relation to the priesthood?
Eleazar was an example of piety and wisdom in the priesthood, diligently carrying out religious duties and faithfully serving God. (Sirach 46:12-17)
