Ben Sira 7:1-17: Some Observations on Composition, Text and Literary Features

Ben Sira scholars have been almost unanimous to date that the Hebrew text of Sir 7:1-17 is to be considered a passage without a well-defined structure. Moreover, a number of text-critical questions arise that are specifically found in the Hebrew text, as opposed to the Greek and Syriac. This essay makes a fresh attempt to adduce sufficient evidence that this pericope has, on the contrary, a carefully thought-out composition. It also pays attention to some text-critical problems, as well as to a stylistic feature that should be given more attention in biblical research.