“So,
The presidents
With the satraps
Conspired.
They came
To the king.
They said to him.
‘O King Darius!
Live forever!’”
Thus, these two other presidents and the various satraps conspired against Daniel. They went to the king and gave him his official greeting, hoping for a long life for the king.
“Hear the commandments of life!
O Israel!
Give ear!
Learn wisdom!
Why is it?
O Israel!
Why is it
That you are
In the land
Of your enemies?
Why are you growing old
In a foreign country?
Why are you defiled
With the dead?
Why are you counted
Among those in Hades?
You have forsaken
The fountain of wisdom.
If you had walked
In the way of God,
You would be living
In peace forever.
Learn
Where there is wisdom!
Learn
Where there is strength!
Learn
Where there is understanding!
Thus you may
At the same time
Discern!
Where is there length of days?
Where is there life?
Where is there light for the eyes?
Where is there peace?”
Now we have an introduction to a poem about wisdom. Israel was to hear about the commandments of life. They were to listen to learn about wisdom. Why were they growing old in the land of their enemies? Why were they defiled like dead people in Hades. Why were they forgotten, when they could have had wisdom if they had walked in the ways of God. They could be living in everlasting peace. They had to learn where wisdom, strength, and understanding were. Thus they could have a peaceful long life, with light for their eyes.
“‘You shall not
Build a house!
You shall not
Sow seed!
You shall not
Plant a vineyard!
You shall not
Own a vineyard!
You shall live
In tents
All your days!
Thus you may live many days
In the land where you reside.’
We have obeyed
This charge
Of our ancestor Jonadab
The son of Rechab,
In all that he commanded us.
Thus we ourselves,
Our wives,
Our sons,
Our daughters
Do not drink wine
All our days.
We do not build houses
To live in.
We have no vineyard.
We have no field.
We have no seed.
But we have lived in tents.
We have obeyed Jonadab.
We have done
All that our ancestor Jonadab
Commanded us.”
These Rechabites followed the commandments of Jonadab the son of Rechab. Thus they lived a unique nomad live style. Jonadab had commanded them not to build houses or sow seeds. They were to live in tents. They did not practice any kind of agriculture, so that they neither planted nor owned any vineyards or fields. They would live a long life, as long as they abstained from intoxicants, as they, their wives, and their children did not drink any wine. Since they did not cultivate grapes, they drank the milk of their animals. Thus they seem to be closer to the Hebrew Nazirites, who vowed a sacred separate life style, but only for a set time period, not cutting their hair, not drinking intoxicating liquids, and not touching unclean things. These Rechabites seem to be like a religious order or communal monks, actually like wandering desert Arabs.
“I am about to create new heavens.
I am about to create a new earth.
The former things
Shall not be remembered.
They shall not come to mind.
But be glad!
Rejoice forever In what I am creating!
I am about to create
Jerusalem as a joy.
I am about to create
Its people as a delight.
I will rejoice in Jerusalem!
I will delight in my people!
No more shall the sound
Of weeping be heard in it.
No more shall the sound
Of the cry of distress be heard in it.
No more shall there be in it
An infant that lives but a few days.
No more shall there be in it
An old person
Who does not live out a lifetime.
One who dies at a hundred years old
Will be considered a youth.
One who falls short of a hundred years old
Will be considered accursed.”
Yahweh was going to create a new heaven and a new earth. All the past things would be forgotten. Jerusalem was going to be a joy and a delight for its people, since there would be no more weeping or crying in distress. Infants would not die at child birth. Old people would live a long life. Anyone who died before 100 years of age would be considered a cursed youth. Good times would come to this new Jerusalem.
“Listen to me!
Your father!
O children!
Act accordingly!
Thus you may be kept in safety.
The Lord honors a father above his children.
The Lord confirms a mother’s right over her children.
Whoever honors their father
Atones for sins.
Whoever respects their mother is
Like one who lays up treasure.
Whoever honors their father
Will have joy in their own children.
When one prays
They will be heard.
Whoever respects their father
Will have a long life.
Whoever honors their mother
Obeys the Lord.
They will serve their parents as masters.
Honor your father by word.
Honor your father by deed.
Thus his blessing may come upon you.
A father’s blessing
Strengthens the houses of the children.
But a mother’s curse
Uproots their foundations.”
Now Sirach asks children to listen to their fathers. If they do so, they will be safe. The Lord has placed the father in charge of the children, so the children should respect their fathers. If they do, they will atone for their sins. They should respect their mothers because she is like an important treasure. If you honor your father, you will have joy in your own children. Their prayers will be heard. They will have a long life. If you honor your mother, you obey God. You should honor your parents by word and deed as if they were your masters. This is like the divine right of parents. Blessings will come upon you to strengthen the house of your children. However, watch out for the curse of your mother, which could uproot everything.
“There is an evil
That I have seen under the sun.
It lies heavy upon humans.
God gives wealth.
God gives possessions.
God gives honor to people.
Thus they lack nothing of all that they desire.
Yet God does not enable them
To enjoy these things.
But a stranger enjoys them.
This is vanity.
It is a grievous illness.
If a man beget a hundred children,
If a man lives many years,
However many are the days of his years,
But he does not enjoy life’s good things,
If he has no burial,
I say
That a stillborn child is
Better off than he.
‘It comes into vanity.
It goes into darkness.
In darkness
Its name is covered.
Moreover it has not seen the sun
It does not know anything.
Yet it finds rest rather than him.’
Even though he should
Live a thousand years twice over,
Yet enjoy no good,
Do not all go to the one place?”
Qoheleth finds another evil under the sun in his pessimistic mood. What happens to those who have everything that they desire? Somehow they are not able to enjoy all their wealth. Instead a stranger seems to enjoy them. This is another useless vain thing, another grievous illness among us. Even if someone had 100 children and a long life, but cannot enjoy them, what is the point of all this? If he does not even get a burial, this wealthy person with a large family and a long life is no better off than a stillborn child. This is an amazing comparison. He maintains that the stillborn is better off because it lives in darkness with no name, never seeing the sun, or knowing anything, but finds a better rest than this old rich guy with the large family. Even though this person might live 2,000 years, he would not enjoy any good things. After all, the stillborn and this old guy, as well as everyone else, will end up in the same place, dead.
“Happy is one who is never without fear.
But whoever is hard hearted
Will fall into calamity.
Like a roaring lion
Is a wicked ruler over a poor people.
Like a charging bear
Is a wicked ruler over a poor people.
A ruler who lacks understanding
Is a cruel oppressor.
But one who hates unjust gain
Will enjoy a long life.
If someone is burdened with the blood of another,
Let that killer be a fugitive until death.
Let no one help him.”
The wicked ruler is a reality. However, if you always have fear, you will be happy. Remember that fear of Yahweh was the beginning of wisdom. If you are hard hearted then things will go bad for you. The wicked ruler is like a roaring lion or a charging bear. Do not get in his way. If he lacks understanding he will be a cruel oppressor. If you are willing to not accept an unjust gain, you will enjoy a long life. However, if you killed someone, you are a fugitive for life. No one will help you.
“Grey hair is a crown of glory.
It is gained in a righteous life.
Whoever is slow to anger
Is better than the mighty.
The one whose temper is controlled
Is better than one who captures a city.
The lot is cast into the lap.
But the decision is Yahweh’s alone.”
Grey was a crown of glory because you had to be righteous to live a long life. If you were slow to anger, you were stronger than the mighty ones. You were better than someone who captured a city. Finally, the lot that was chosen from the priestly ephod was really the decision of Yahweh alone. Thus casting lots was a way of putting the decision in God’s hands, not human hands.
“Evil plans are an abomination to Yahweh.
But gracious words are pure.
Those who are greedy for unjust gain
Make trouble for their household.
But those who hates bribes
Will live.
The mind of the righteous
Ponders how to answer.
But the mouth of the wicked
Pours out evil.
Yahweh is far from the wicked.
But he hears the prayer of the righteous.
The light of the eyes rejoices the heart.
Good news refreshes the body.”
Wicked evil plans are an abomination to Yahweh. Gracious words, on the other hand, are pure. The greedy seek after an unjust gain or profit as they make trouble for their family. If you hate bribes, you will have a long life. The righteous ponder how to answer questions, while the mouths of the wicked pour out evil things. Yahweh stays far away from the wicked, but he hears the prayers of the righteous. The light in your eyes rejoices your heart, just as good news refreshes your body.
“Hear!
My child!
Accept my words!
Thus the years of your life may be many.
I have taught you the way of wisdom.
I have led you in the path of uprightness.
When you walk,
Your step will not be hampered.
If you run,
You will not stumble.
Keep hold of this instruction!
Do not let go!
Guard her!
She is your life.”
This parental instruction continues. This time if they follow his advice, they will have a long life. This father has taught them the way of wisdom and the path of righteousness. When they walked, they would not be interfered with. If they ran, they would not stumble. He reminds them to hold fast to his instruction and not let it go. They were to guard his advice on wisdom so that lady wisdom would lead them to a long productive life.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 