Dr Simon Reads...

Ecclesiasticus 21-25 Conan, Shrews, and Deadly Swearing. Welcome to the next instalment of An Atheist Explores Sacred Texts (Apocrypha version). In this series I work my way chapter-by-chapter through the Old Testament Apocrypha, commenting on it from the point of view of the text as literature and mythology. For more detail, see the introductory post http://bit.ly/3aEJ6Q5 For the online KJV I use, see here http://bit.ly/2m0zVUP Ecclesiasticus 21 “ Flee from sin as from the face of a serpent: for if thou comest too near it, it will bite thee: the teeth thereof are as the teeth of a lion, slaying the souls of men” Although it’s got some good poetry in it, most of this chapter is about how stupid foolish people are, with a collection of colourful similes (e.g. “ He that buildeth his house with other men's money is like one that gathereth himself stones for the tomb of his burial ”). Which means, however, that there’s not much to talk about. I will say that...

Ecclesiasticus 16-20 Gollum, Silly Walks and Ruptured Perineums. Welcome to the next instalment of An Atheist Explores Sacred Texts (Apocrypha version). In this series I work my way chapter-by-chapter through the Old Testament Apocrypha, commenting on it from the point of view of the text as literature and mythology. For more detail, see the introductory post http://bit.ly/3aEJ6Q5 For the online KJV I use, see here http://bit.ly/2m0zVUP Ecclesiasticus 16 “ Desire not a multitude of unprofitable children, neither delight in ungodly sons” There are some amusing verses at the start of this chapter about not breeding loads of stupid children – “ better it is to die without children, than to have them that are ungodly ” because “ one that is just is better than a thousand ”. Don’t, says ben Sirach, multiply the godless so that cities are full of sinners. Clearly he’s been on a long haul flight with somebody else’s misbehaving children sat in the row behind him. T...

Ecclesiasticus 11-15 Foolish People Don’t Have Wisdom. Well… duh. Welcome to the next instalment of An Atheist Explores Sacred Texts (Apocrypha version). In this series I work my way chapter-by-chapter through the Old Testament Apocrypha, commenting on it from the point of view of the text as literature and mythology. For more detail, see the introductory post http://bit.ly/3aEJ6Q5 For the online KJV I use, see here http://bit.ly/2m0zVUP Ecclesiasticus 11 “ In the day of prosperity there is a forgetfulness of affliction: and in the day of affliction there is no more remembrance of prosperity.” There’s more of a mixed bag of sayings in this chapter, but there’s still an overall theme –all things come from God and so don’t put too much faith in material possessions or outward appearances since these can just as easily be lost as gained. Likewise therefore don’t judge people based on these either – “ Commend not a man for his beauty; neither abhor a man for his outward app...

Ecclesiasticus 6-10 Welcome to the next instalment of An Atheist Explores Sacred Texts (Apocrypha version). In this series I work my way chapter-by-chapter through the Old Testament Apocrypha, commenting on it from the point of view of the text as literature and mythology. For more detail, see the introductory post http://bit.ly/3aEJ6Q5 For the online KJV I use, see here http://bit.ly/2m0zVUP Ecclesiasticus 6 “ And if thou seest a man of understanding, get thee betimes unto him, and let thy foot wear the steps of his door.” There are three sections to this chapter. The first concerns friendship, advising that it is good to be pleasant to all that you meet because “ Sweet language will multiply friends: and a fairspeaking tongue will increase kind greetings ”, but also be particular about who you call a friend. It’s better to have one loyal and good friend in a thousand acquaintances than to rely on fair-weather friends who are “ a companion at the table, and will ...

Ecclesiasticus 1-5 AKA Ben Sirach Welcome to the next instalment of An Atheist Explores Sacred Texts (Apocrypha version). In this series I work my way chapter-by-chapter through the Old Testament Apocrypha, commenting on it from the point of view of the text as literature and mythology. For more detail, see the introductory post http://bit.ly/3aEJ6Q5 For the online KJV I use, see here http://bit.ly/2m0zVUP Ecclesiasticus 1 “ Who can number the sand of the sea, and the drops of rain, and the days of eternity? Who can find out the height of heaven, and the breadth of the earth, and the deep, and wisdom? Ecclesiasticus starts with a monster verse, practically a chapter in itself, that serves as a prologue. It tells how the writer is setting down and translating the works of his grandfather, Jesus son of Sirach (or Yeshua ben Sirach). The author explains that the translation may not carry all the intent, and it’s better in the original Hebrew – “ For the same things uttered in Hebrew, ...