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Verse 1. Judge. Greek “instruct.” Challoner.—The example of rulers is very powerful. Worthington.
EXPLANATIONS
Sirach 10
Historical chapter commentary
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Verse 2. Therein. Regis ad exemplum totus componitur orbis. Claud.—As a whole city is infected with the vices of princes, so it may be corrected by their good behaviour, (continentiâ.) Cic. Leg. 3.
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Verse 3. Rulers. All who wish to live under just kings. Proverbs 29:4.
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Verse 4. It, as he did David. Job 34:30. Daniel 2:20. Calmet.
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Verse 5. The scribe. That is, the man that is wise and learned in the law. Challoner.—It also denotes an officer. Judges 5:14. God must give light and success. Calmet.
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Verse 6. Injury, out of revenge. Bible. Leviticus 19:18.—“Cæsar used to forget nothing but injuries.” Cic. Ligar.—This at least is the character of a great man. Saint Augustine ep. 138. and 54.
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Verse 7. Men. It invades the rights of the former, and disturbs the repose of mankind.—All. Greek is obscure, “and from both proceeds injustice;” ( Calmet.) or, “it shall act unjustly.” Bible.—Pride attacks both God and man. Grot.
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Verse 8. Deceits. Hence kingdoms are changed. Worthington.—The ambition and luxury of subjects (Cato) and the negligence of the rulers, bring on confusion. Saint Augustine de Civ. Dei. verse 13.
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Verse 9. Man. The desire of plunder, or of glory, occasions revolutions. Bible.—Covetousness is the root of all evils, and causes people to abandon the faith. 1 Timothy 6:10. Worthington.
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Verse 10. Bowels, and would have no compassion for others or for himself. Some Greek copies leave out as far as sale, but Grabe replaces the omission from the Comp.
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Verse 14. Beginning, or summit; αρχη. Calmet.—Thus Lucifer and Adam fell by pride. Saint Augustine de Civ. Dei. xii. 6. All sin, being a contempt of God, springs from pride, (Prosper. contemp. iii. 3.) and from an inordinate self-love. Calmet.
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Verse 15. Sin, because man abandons God’s law, and falls into all misery. Worthington.—The proud easily yield to all sorts of iniquity. Menochius.
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Verse 16. Disgraced. Greek “hath taken an exemplary vengeance, and hath,” and so forth Bible.—Them, as he did the giants, Sodom, Nabuchodonosor, and so forth
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Verse 17. Stead. Lu. 1:52. Calmet.—“Thales being asked what was difficult to be seen; replied, a tyrant grown old.” Laert. 1.
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Verse 18. Nations, the Chanaanites, who submitted to the yoke: or rather the Hebrews. Calmet.—Greek “instead of them.”
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Verse 19. Foundation: overturning Sodom, Babylon, and even Jerusalem, for their sins. Calmet.
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Verse 28. Wise. When Diogenes was exposed to sale, and asked what he could do, he answered, “I know how to command free men.” Laert. 6.—Joseph and Daniel obtained authority by their wise conduct. Calmet.
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Verse 31. Desert. Let not avarice deprive thee of the necessities of life, nor do any thing beneath thy dignity. Lu. 21:19.
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Verse 33. Glorified. Greek “honoured on account of his knowledge, and the rich is, “and so forth Bible.
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Verse 34. And. Greek omits this sentence: ( Calmet.) yet Grabe has, And the man who is without honour in wealth, how much more so will he be in poverty? Bible. Eccle. 7:12.
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Two lines of this verse are here omitted by the best authorities.
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Verse 21 is omitted by the best authorities: Fear of the Lord is the beginning of acceptance, but obstinance and pride are the beginning of rejection.