Ben Sira—Biblical Sage, Rabbi, and Payyeṭan: The Figure and Text of Ben Sira in Rabbinic Judaism

The text of the book of Ben Sira, in both its content and material presentation, became increasingly similar to the Hebrew Bible in the course of its transmission. This can be better understood by appreciating the portrait of Ben Sira in rabbinic literature as a חכם from biblical times, an exegete of scripture not unlike the rabbis themselves, but who lived in an earlier period, from the days described in the Bible itself. The additions to the end of the book (Sir 51) suggest Ben Sira was also regarded as a producer of hymnic texts. This suggests that he may have also been regarded as a payyeṭan, a liturgical poet from the days of the Temple.