The Strand Study Bible

LUKE LUKE Found among the Dead Sea Scrolls along with the book of Tobit , the book of Sirach is so called from a Greek word that signifies a preacher (Eccl 1:1). Because it was written 225 years after the close of the Old Testament, the book of Sirach did not make it into the Jewish canon ( Genesis – Malachi ). It is, however, part of the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox biblical canon. Question is: Why isn’t the book of Sirach found in any of our modern versions today? The answer is threefold: 1. Jesus didn’t include it in what He called Scripture (Lk 11:51) 1651

2. It was never included in the Hebrew canon 3. The author’s grandson said it wasn’t Scripture

The closest extra-biblical book we have to Scripture was said not to be Scripture. Jesus, the grandson of Jesus (son of Sirach), said in his Prologue to his grandfather’s work called the book of Sirach (or, Ecclesiasticus ; the Wisdom of Sirach ):

The knowledge of many and great things hath been shewn us by the law, and the prophets, and others that have followed them: for which things Israel is to be commended for doctrine and wisdom, because not only they that speak must needs be skilful, but strangers also, both speaking and writing, may by their means become most learned. My grandfather Jesus, after he had much given himself to a diligent reading of the law, and the prophets, and other books, that were delivered to us from our fathers, had a mind also to write something himself, pertaining to doctrine and wisdom: that such as are desirous to learn, and are made knowing in these things, may be more and more attentive in mind, and be strengthened to live according to the law. I entreat you therefore to come with benevolence, and to read with attention, and to pardon us for those things wherein we may seem, while we follow the image of wisdom, to come short in the composition of words… Therefore I thought it good, and necessary for me to bestow some diligence and labour to interpret this book; and with much watching and study in some space of time, I brought the book to an end, and set it forth for the service of them that are willing to apply their mind, and to learn how they ought to conduct themselves, who purpose to lead their life according to the law of the Lord. 2

About the book: Consisting of 51 chapters and beautifully written in much the same way as Proverbs and Ecclesiastes , the Wisdom of Sirach is one of the few extra-biblical book that actually claim an author. A Jew by the name of Jesus, the son of Sirach, penned it approximately 200 years before the time of Christ. The book of Sirach was, no doubt, one of the books included in the books that Paul had requested of Timothy (II Tim 4:13). 3. Baruch (or, 1 Baruch – c. 150 BC) Found within in the Septuagint (the Greek version of the Hebrew Scriptures) and said to have been written by Jeremiah’s secretary, Baruch ben Neriah (Jere 32:12 & 36:1-4,32 & 45:1), over in Babylon c. 593 BC (five years after the second invasion of Jerusalem in which King Nebuchadnezzar took King Jehoiachin/Jechonias/Coniah into captivity – II Ki 24:10-16/Jere 22:24- 30), the book of Baruch is loaded with historical and biblical errors. J. Alberto Soggin, a leading Italian Biblical scholar, in Introduction to the Old Testament notes:

The mention of Jehoiachin and the fact that temple worship appears to be functioning (2.26) has suggested to some scholars that the exile mentioned is that of 597, so that the fifth year would be 593, and therefore a little while after the events narrated in Jer. 27:28. Difficulties begin when we try to see whether, and when, Baruch was in Babylon; there is nothing to support this, and the information that we have tells against this theory. In Jer. 43:5f. Baruch still appears at his master’s side, even after the fall of Jerusalem in 587, and it seems most probable that he was deported with Jeremiah to Egypt. 3

Not only, according to the book of Jeremiah, was Baruch never in Babylon ( Baruch 1:1 ), but according to Josephus, Baruch was with Jeremiah in Mizpah after the final invasion and fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC. Then, according to Jerome, Baruch was carried off to Egypt with Jeremiah (Jere 44). Thus, Baruch was never in Babylon. Baruch 1:2-5 then states that Jerusalem was burned in the fifth year, and in the seventh day of the month, which clearly contradicts II Kings 25:8. Add to that the strange narrative found in Baruch 1:6-11 , which states that some of the temple vessels were handed back to the Jews in Babylon and were sent back to Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, and you have even further proof that UIF CPPL PG Baruch JT MPBEFE XJUI CJCMJDBM JODPOTJTUFODJFT That event (the returning of the temple vessels to Jerusalem) was a result of the edict of Cyrus, king of Medo-Persia (Ezra 1:1-8 – 536 BC), not Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. Because the book of Baruch was written over 275 years after the close of the Old Testament, it did not make it into the Jewish canon ( Genesis – Malachi ). It is, however, part of the Catholic canon. Question is: Why isn’t the book of Baruch found in any of our modern versions today? The answer is fourfold: 1. Jesus didn’t include it in what He called Scripture (Lk 11:51) 2. It was never included in the Hebrew canon 3. It was a deliberate fabrication, published by an unknown author 4. It didn’t line up with Scripture (Baruch was never in Babylon during the time of King Jehoiachin) About the book: Consisting of 5 chapters, there is some evidence that this work actually came from three different authors. The prayer (1:1-3:8) echoes the language found in Daniel 9, while the poem about wisdom (3:9-4:4) is based on Job 28, and the poem of consolation uses material from Isaiah 40-66 (4:5-5:9). Thus, there is little to go on in attempting to fix a date for any of the material in this work. 4. Letter of Jeremiah (or, Epistle of Jeremy – c. 307-317 BC) Found among the Dead Sea Scrolls along with the books of Tobit and Sirach , the Letter of Jeremiah is often included as chapter six of the book of Baruch , although it does occasionally stand alone in some versions. Because it was written 100 years after