Suffering and Comfort in the Ashes of the Fathers
Sirach 44 names a long line of faithful fathers—from Enoch and Noah to Abraham—who endured under God's hand, kept the covenant, and were not forgotten.
Let us now praise famous men, and our fathers in their generations. The Lord apportioned to them great glory, his majesty from the beginning. There were those who ruled in their kingdoms, and were men renowned for their power, giving counsel by their understanding, and proclaiming prophecies; leaders of the people in their deliberations and in understanding of learning for the people, wise in their words of instruction; those who composed musical tunes, and set forth verses in writing; rich men furnished with resources, living peaceably in their habitations— all these were honored in their generations, and were the glory of their times. There are some of them who have left a name, so that men declare their praise. And there are some who have no memorial, who have perished as though they had not lived; they have become as though they had not been born, and so have their children after them. But these were men of mercy, whose righteous deeds have not been forgotten; their prosperity will remain with their descendants, and their inheritance to their children’s children. Their descendants stand by the covenants; their children also, for their sake. Their posterity will continue for ever, and their glory will not be blotted out. Their bodies were buried in peace, and their name lives to all generations. Peoples will declare their wisdom, and the congregation proclaims their praise. Enoch Enoch pleased the Lord, and was taken up; he was an example of repentance to all generations. Noah Noah was found perfect and righteous; in the time of wrath he was taken in exchange; therefore a remnant was left to the earth when the flood came. Everlasting covenants were made with him that all flesh should not be blotted out by a flood. Abraham Abraham was the great father of a multitude of nations, and no one has been found like him in glory; he kept the law of the Most High, and was taken into covenant with him; he established the covenant in his flesh, and when he was tested he was found faithful. Therefore the Lord assured him by an oath that the nations would be blessed through his posterity; that he would multiply him like the dust of the earth, and exalt his posterity like the stars, and cause them to inherit from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth. Isaac and Jacob To Isaac also he gave the same assurance for the sake of Abraham his father. The blessing of all men and the covenant he made to rest upon the head of Jacob; he acknowledged him with his blessings, and gave him his inheritance; he determined his portions, and distributed them among twelve tribes.
Sirach 44:1–20 is a eulogy of the 'famous men' of Israel's sacred memory. The sage contrasts those who left a living name with those who 'perished as though they had not lived,' but the true honor belongs to those 'men of mercy, whose righteous deeds have not been forgotten.' Three exemplars are singled out: Enoch (who 'pleased the Lord and was taken up'), Noah (who was 'found perfect and righteous' and 'taken in exchange' in the time of wrath), and Abraham (the 'great father of a multitude of nations' who kept the law and was 'taken into covenant'). The text connects suffering and comfort: God's people suffer under judgment, yet the covenant mercy upholds them, and the faithful are remembered forever.