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The Book of Sirach is the longest extant book of [[wisdom]] preserved from ancient times, as written between roughly 200 and 175 B.C. by Yeshua ben Eleazar ben Sira (Ben Sira). He was a [[Hellenistic]] Jewish scribe who lived during the era of the [[Second Temple]].

The Book of Sirach is the longest extant book of [[wisdom]] preserved from ancient times, as written between roughly 200 and 175 B.C. by Yeshua ben Eleazar ben Sira (Ben Sira). He was a [[Hellenistic]] Jewish scribe who lived during the era of the [[Second Temple]].

The Book of Ben Sira advocates a system of reward and punishment in this world, and there is no mention of afterlife - the world to come or the resurrection of the dead. It was controversial for certain parts in the book.

The Book of Ben Sira advocates a system of reward and punishment in this world, and there is no mention of afterlife - the world to come or the resurrection of the dead. Several parts in the book are considered controversial in [[Judaism]], aligning more with views of the [[Sadducees]] than with the [[Pharisees]].

Ben Sira's grandson translated the text into [[Koine Greek]] and added a prologue sometime around 117 BCE. This prologue is generally considered to be the earliest witness to a tripartite canon of the books of the Old Testament and thus the date of the text is the subject of intense scrutiny by biblical scholars. The ability to precisely date the composition of Sirach within a few years provides great insight into the historical development and evolution of the Jewish canon. Although the Book of Sirach is not included in the Hebrew Bible, it is included in the [[Septuagint]].

Ben Sira's grandson translated the text into [[Koine Greek]] and added a prologue sometime around 117 BCE. This prologue is generally considered to be the earliest witness to a tripartite canon of the books of the Old Testament and thus the date of the text is the subject of intense scrutiny by biblical scholars. The ability to precisely date the composition of Sirach within a few years provides great insight into the historical development and evolution of the Jewish canon. Although the Book of Sirach is not included in the Hebrew Bible, it is included in the [[Septuagint]].