Today, we read of a passage in the Book of Ben Sirach which was written in Greek and was included in Septuagint. The Catholic Bible includes this book in their Old Testament while the Protestant one rejected it because there was no Hebrew version of Ben Sirach.
Greek books cannot be ignored. They hand down God's revelation during the Greek Empire. It is the link between the Persian Empire and the Roman Empire, a transition from Hebrew Scripture to Greek New Testament. They also show us how the Jews understood the Hebrew Scripture during this era. The passage we read today is a good example.
Then the prophet Elijah arose like a fire, and his word burned like a torch.
He brought a famine upon them, and by his zeal he made them few in number.
By the word of the Lord he shut up the heavens, (Sirach 48:1-3a)
This is the famous famine which lasted for three years (1 Kings 18:1).
"and by his zeal he made them few in number". We have no record of how severe the famine was and how many people perished. But this famine must have starved many (1 Kings 18:2). Moreover, many others died in Jehu's campaign against Ahab (1 Kings 19:17).
and also three times brought down fire (Sirach 48:3b).
Elijah brought down fire for the first time when he held a contest against the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:38).
Ahaziah succeeded Ahab to be king of Israel (1 Kings 22:51). He did evil things in the sight of God. Once he fell through the lattice in his upper chamber. Instead of praying to God, King Ahaziah sent messengers to inquire Baalzebub, the god of Ekron (2 Kings 1:1). Of course, God was furious and sent Elijah to intercept the messengers to send them back. Twice, King Ahaziah sent 50 soldiers and their captains to arrest Elijah. Twice, Elijah called down fire from heaven to consume them (2 Kings 1:10, 12). The third time, an angel of the Lord advised Elijah to follow the captain to see King Ahaziah (2 Kings 1:15). From Ben Sirach, we can see clearly that the Jews were very fond of Elijah's behaviours.
How glorious you were, O Elijah, in your wondrous deeds! And who has the right to boast which you have? (Sirach 48:4)
Early Christians still hanged on to the Jewish tradition. Like their fellow Jews, they expected Elijah to appear before the coming of Christ. They recognized Jesus as the Messiah because the miracles of Jesus reminded them of the miracles worked by Elijah.
Once Jesus and his disciples passed by a Samaritan village. The people would not receive them. James and John wanted to repeat Elijah's miracle to destroy the village but Jesus rebuked them (Luke 9:52-56). It seems that Jesus did not quite approve of Elijah's action. However, the key issue was that the disciples had abused the power of miracles. Miracles are signs of God's presence, God's mercy. Vengeance and punishment belong to God, not men.
You who raised a corpse from death and from Hades, by the word of the Most High (Sirach 48:5).
This is the story of Elijah raising the dead son of the widow in Zarephath (1 Kings 17:17-24). Jesus too raised the dead son of the widow in Nain (Luke 7:11-17).
who brought kings down to destruction, and famous men from their beds (Sirach 48:6).
This refers to Ahab and his sons. Elijah had always been a "trouble-maker" for Ahab in Israel. His son, Ahaziah, never left his bed and died after his fall (2 Kings 1:16-17).
who heard rebuke at Sinai and judgments of vengeance at Horeb
who anointed kings to inflict retribution, and prophets to succeed you (Sirach 48:7-8).
This refers to God's epiphany to Elijah on Mount Horeb when Elijah ran away from the death squad of Jezebel (1 Kings 19:9-18). First came a strong wind, then an earthquake, then a fire. When he heard a still small voice, Elijah knew that God had come (1 Kings 19:11-12). Then God instructed Elijah to anoint Hazael the Syrian king, Jehu the king of Israel and Elisha his successor.
You who were taken up by a whirlwind of fire, in a chariot with horses of fire (Sirach 48:9).
This is the famous story of Elijah being taken up to heaven (2 Kings 2:1-11). Like the Enoch in Genesis, Elijah had not tasted death (Genesis 5:24). That was why the Jews expected Elijah to return at the end of the world to prepare the way for the Messiah. This was clearly expressed by the prophets and Ben Sirach.
you who are ready at the appointed time, it is written, to calm the wrath of God before it breaks out in fury, to turn the heart of the father to the son, and to restore the tribes of Jacob (Sirach 48:10).
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes.
And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the land with a curse." (Malachi 4:5-6 RSV, 3:23-24 MT)
These are the last two verses of the Old Testament, the end of the Prophets section of the Hebrew Scripture.
As for Elisha, the successor to Elijah, his miracles were too numerous and impressive. Even his bones worked miracles!
As in his life he did wonders, so in death his deeds were marvelous (Sirach 48:14).
This took place after the death of Elisha.
So Elisha died, and they buried him. Now bands of Moabites used to invade the land in the spring of the year.
And as a man was being buried, lo, a marauding band was seen and the man was cast into the grave of Elisha; and as soon as the man touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood on his feet (2 Kings 13:20-21).
No wonder a cult of martyrs and relics flourished ever since the birth of Christianity. We can trace its root to the bones of Elisha!
Ben Sirach is an important Greek book. It hands down God's revelation during the Greek Empire.
Dear Lord, may we study the Bible diligently so that we may learn from the experience of our forefathers in their spiritual journey. Amen.
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