Sirach · WEB-C
Sirach
45
Bible textSynthetic voice (AI)
He brought out of him a man of mercy, who found favor in the sight of all people, a man loved by God and men, even Moses, whose memory is blessed. He made him equal to the glory of the saints, and magnified him in the fears of his enemies. By his words he caused the wonders to cease. God glorified him in the sight of kings. He gave him commandments for his people and showed him part of his glory. He sanctified him in his faithfulness and meekness. He chose him out of all people. He made him to hear his voice, led him into the thick darkness, and gave him commandments face to face, even the law of life and knowledge, that he might teach Jacob the covenant, and Israel his judgments. He exalted Aaron, a holy man like Moses, even his brother, of the tribe of Levi. He established an everlasting covenant with him, and gave him the priesthood of the people. He blessed him with stateliness, and dressed him in a glorious robe. He clothed him in perfect splendor, and strengthened him with symbols of authority: the linen trousers, the long robe, and the ephod. He encircled him with pomegranates; with many golden bells around him, to make a sound as he went, to make a sound that might be heard in the temple, for a reminder for the children of his people; with a holy garment, with gold, blue, and purple, the work of the embroiderer; with an oracle of judgment—Urim and Thummim; with twisted scarlet, the work of the craftsman; with precious stones engraved like a signet, in a setting of gold, the work of the jeweller, for a reminder engraved in writing, after the number of the tribes of Israel; with a crown of gold upon the mitre, having engraved on it, as on a signet, “HOLINESS”, an ornament of honor, the work of an expert, the desires of the eyes, goodly and beautiful. Before him there never have been anything like it. No stranger put them on, but only his sons and his offspring perpetually. His sacrifices shall be wholly burned, twice every day continually. Moses consecrated him, and anointed him with holy oil. It was an everlasting covenant with him and to his offspring, all the days of heaven, to minister to the Lord, to serve as a priest, and to bless his people in his name. He chose him out of all living to offer sacrifice to the Lord— incense, and a sweet fragrance, for a memorial, to make atonement for your people. He gave to him in his commandments, authority in the covenants of judgments, to teach Jacob the testimonies, and to enlighten Israel in his law. Strangers conspired against him and envied him in the wilderness: Dathan and Abiram with their company, and the congregation of Korah, with wrath and anger. The Lord saw it, and it displeased him. In the wrath of his anger, they were destroyed. He did wonders upon them, to consume them with flaming fire. He added glory to Aaron, and gave him a heritage. He divided to him the first fruits of the increase, and prepared bread of first fruits in abundance. For they eat the sacrifices of the Lord, which he gave to him and to his offspring. However, in the land of the people, he has no inheritance, and he has no portion among the people, for the Lord himself is your portion and inheritance. Phinehas the son of Eleazar is the third in glory, in that he was zealous in the fear of the Lord, and stood fast when the people turned away, and he made atonement for Israel. Therefore, a covenant of peace was established for him, that he should be leader of the sanctuary and of his people, that he and his offspring should have the dignity of the priesthood forever. Also he made a covenant with David the son of Jesse, of the tribe of Judah. The inheritance of the king is his alone from son to son. So the inheritance of Aaron is also to his seed. May God give you wisdom in your heart to judge his people in righteousness, that their good things may not be abolished, and that their glory may endure for all their generations.
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Notes · Haydock (1859, public domain)21 notes
Notes in English 19th-century Catholic commentary by Fr. George Leo Haydock, shown as published.
These notes keep the polemics of their time: some speak harshly of the Jewish people or of other Christians. The Church teaches otherwise today. The Jewish people may not be blamed for the death of Christ (Nostra Aetate 4; Catechism 597–598), and Christians of other communities are our brothers and sisters in the Lord (Unitatis Redintegratio 3). Christian unity
Sirach 45:1
Ver. 1. Men. Pharao, Jethro, and the whole nation of the Hebrews, whom he governed as a father, being the mildest of men. Num. xii. 23. His life was a continued miracle, and he was honoured more than any prophet, (ib. vi. Acts vii. C.) seeing God's works more clearly, but not his substance. Ex. xxxiii. W.
↑ 1Sirach 45:2
Ver. 2. Saints, patriarchs or angels, as he saw God face to face. --- Enemies.
The Egyptians, Amalecites, and all who rebelled against God. --- Cease.
Removing the scourges which he had inflicted. His serpent devoured those of the magicians, who were confounded before him.
↑ 2Sirach 45:3
Ver. 3. Kings. Pharao, Og, &c. --- Glory, when he had passed by. Ex. xxxiii. 22.
↑ 3Sirach 45:4
Ver. 4. Meekness, giving him these necessary qualifications to rule a rebellious people. v. 1.
↑ 4Sirach 45:5
Ver. 5. Heard. Gr. "made him hear his voice."
↑ 5Sirach 45:6
Ver. 6. Face, familiarly. --- Life, by observing which, the Hebrews might live.
Thus the trees of life and of knowledge were a sort of remedy against death and ignorance. Gen. ii. 9. C.
↑ 6Sirach 45:7
Ver. 7. His. Gr. "holy, like to himself his brother of the," &c. H. Ps. cv. 16. --- He was the interpreter of Moses, and honoured with the high priesthood. Aaron and his posterity were bound to be faithful to the law. v. 19. C. --- Their priesthood was to last till Christ appeared, a priest forever of the order of Melchisedech.
↑ 7Sirach 45:9
Ver. 9. Robe. Lit. "stole," (H.) which was a long robe, used in the East by both sexes. ---
Crowned. Gr. "confirmed" him in his dignity. C.
↑ 9Sirach 45:10
Ver. 10. To the. Gr. "enclosing his legs, (H. breeches. C.) and the robe hanging down to the feet, ( poderé) and the garment over the shoulders," (H. ephod) which met at the breast, where the rational were fixed. See Ex. xxviii. C. ---
Many. Gr. "spheres, (H. or pomegranates. Ex. xxviii.
23. C.) with many little bells," (H.) to admonish the people of his coming.
↑ 10Sirach 45:12
Ver. 12. Man. Beseleel, who made the greatest part. C. --- Gr. "of an embroiderer, with the rational of judgment, and the signs ( manifestation. C.) of truth. H. --- Thus the Sept. commonly describe the Urim and Thummim. Ex.
xxviii. 6. C.
↑ 12Sirach 45:13
Ver. 13. Tribes. Gr. "sons." H. --- Their names were engraven on 12 stones.
↑ 13Sirach 45:14
Ver. 14. Holiness, or "holy to the Lord." Ex. xxviii. C. --- Work. Gr. "works very rich." H. ---
This regards all his attire. The high priest only used it in the temple, on grand festivals. C.
↑ 14Sirach 45:17
Ver. 17. His. Gr. Comp. "their." H. --- Some of the ordinary priests offered the daily holocausts.
↑ 17Sirach 45:18
Ver. 18. Filled. Consecrated. Lev. viii. 26.
↑ 18Sirach 45:19
Ver. 19. Testament. It prefigured that of Christ, which lasts for ever. Heb. vii. C.
--- Execute.
Gr. "serve him, both by executing the priestly office, and by blessing the people," &c. H. --- This was one of the high priest's functions. Num. vi. 23. The rest might offer sacrifice and incense, except on the day of expiation, (Lev.
xvi.) and on solemn festivals, though the Scripture is silent on the latter head.
↑ 19Sirach 45:21
Ver. 21. Law. The most important causes were to be tried before the high priest, who, with this brethren, were the interpreters of the law. Matt. ii. 6.
↑ 21Sirach 45:24
Ver. 24. Fire. Thus consuming 250 men. Num. xvi. 30.
↑ 24Sirach 45:26
Ver. 26. Eat. The skin of holocausts were along given to the priests.
↑ 26Sirach 45:27
Ver. 27. People. Having only 2,000 cubits round their cities. Num. xxxv. The priests were thus interested to keep the people to their duty, as their own subsistence depended on the devotion and gifts of the latter. C. --- They had no distinct territory, like the rest of the tribes. W.
↑ 27Sirach 45:28
Ver. 28. Imitating. Gr. "by shewing a zeal in the fear of the Lord." Num. xxv. 11.
↑ 28Sirach 45:31
Ver. 31. That he. Or so he made a covenant with Aaron, that he, &c. C. --- Gr.
"and (Grabe puts according to) the covenant made to David...that the king's son successively should alone inherit, the inheritance of Aaron was for his posterity. May he impart wisdom to your heart," &c. --- He made. Gr. "glory during their age." H. --- The sacred writer pours forth this prayer for God's ministers, (C.) that their good things and glory may never end, as long as the Jewish dispensation should last. He is equally solicitous for the priesthood as for the sceptre of David. In both the families of Aaron and David children succeeded to their father's dignity, and God had made a covenant for that purpose. H. --- David assisted the priests, and greatly advanced God's service.
1 Par. xxiii. W. --- His eulogy is given C. xlvii.; and he is here only mentioned (C.) as a comparison. H.
↑ 31License: Notes by Fr. George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), from the Douay-Rheims Bible with Haydock's commentary (first ed. Thomas Haydock, Manchester/Dublin, 1811–1814; New York: Edward Dunigan & Brother, 1859); New Testament notes compiled with Fr. Benedict Rayment. Public domain. Digital text: "The Haydock Bible", Internet Archive (archive.org/details/TheHaydockBible), uploaded 2011 under the Public Domain Mark. · Credits and licenses