Abstract
This article examines the use of Scripture and tradition in Sirach 16:24�17:14, which is a retelling of the creation stories. Ben Sira as an interpreter of Scripture utilised interpretive traditions or exegetical motifs that were in circulation during his time to provide instruction for his generation. His indebtedness to Scripture is evident from the quotations from Scripture and his use of scriptural language. In his retelling of the creation stories, he made use of the exegetical motifs that were in circulation, adapting them within the wisdom interpretive framework. He also rejected the tendency to blame evil on external agencies such as fallen angels and downplayed the gap between the creation process and the giving of the law at Sinai.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The article is an exegetical inquiry of the extra-biblical text of Ben Sira in dialogue with Scripture and with other exegetical traditions which were in circulation in the Second Temple period. The article highlights the indebtedness of Ben Sira to both Scripture and tradition, and also noting Ben Sira�s own creativity in the use of Scripture and tradition in his retelling of creation story
Highlights
During the Second Temple period, several documents were produced from the different social and intellectual movements. Sheppard (1980:13) highlights that ‘wisdom became a theological category associated with understanding of canon
That wisdom as a hermeneutical construct or a literary genre did not belong to a single intellectual movement, rather, it was utilised within the various intellectual movements within Second Temple Judaism
It is reasonable to conclude that for Ben Sira, the law of life, which was revealed to humanity in general, found its unique expression in Israel as it was given by Moses to the honoured people (Sir 45)
Summary
During the Second Temple period, several documents were produced from the different social and intellectual movements. Sheppard (1980:13) highlights that ‘wisdom became a theological category associated with understanding of canon. The focus in this study is on Ben Sira’s use of existing interpretive traditions in the retelling of creation in Sirach 16:24–17:14.
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