Do not be ashamed of rendering judgment to acquit the wicked? On Sirach 42:2

Guy Darshan*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The literary unit Sir 42:1-8 opens with the instruction not to be ashamed of keeping the Torah and commandments (42:2), and proceeds to list a series of actions that one should perform without embarrassment. Oddly enough, the second half of 42:2 instructs not to be ashamed “of rendering judgment to acquit the wicked,”. While this verse cannot be explained by the hermeneutic maneuver of changing the simple meaning of the Hebrew term or the syntactic function of the lamed in, I propose employing a text-critical approach in order to resolve the difficulty it presents. The emendation suggested in this paper subsequently helps us identify the biblical verses that served as the source of inspiration for the verse in Sirach (Ps 82:2-3), and the midrashic interpretation this verse was given in a later text (Rom 4:5).

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)173–182
Number of pages10
JournalVetus Testamentum
Volume72
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 2022

Keywords

  • Ben Sira
  • Prov 28:3, 15
  • Ps 82
  • Rom 4
  • Shame
  • Sir 41:14-42:8

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