Sirach 45:23 - And Phinehas the son of Eleazar is the third in glory, In that he was zealous in the fear of the Lord, And stood fast in the good forwardness of his soul when the people turned away, And he made reconciliation for Israel.
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What does "Sirach 45:23" mean?
This verse from Sirach 45:23 praises Phinehas, grandson of Aaron and son of Eleazar (both high priests), for his righteous zeal and its positive consequences for the Israelites. Let's break it down:
"And Phinehas the son of Eleazar is the third in glory...": This establishes Phinehas' importance in the lineage of the priesthood. He is ranked highly, likely after Aaron and Eleazar. "Glory" here refers to his honorable reputation and position.
"...In that he was zealous in the fear of the Lord...": This is the key reason for his glory. "Zealous" means he was passionate and uncompromising in his devotion to God and upholding God's law. "Fear of the Lord" doesn't mean being scared of God, but rather having a deep reverence, respect, and obedience to God's will. He wasn't lukewarm; he acted with conviction.
"...And stood fast in the good forwardness of his soul when the people turned away...": This refers to a specific incident described in Numbers 25. The Israelites were engaging in sexual immorality and idolatry with Moabite women. Phinehas, seeing this transgression, boldly and righteously intervened. "Good forwardness of his soul" emphasizes his courage, determination, and proactive righteousness in a difficult situation. He didn't passively watch; he took action to stop the sin. The people "turned away" from God through their actions.
"...And he made reconciliation for Israel.": This is the result of Phinehas's action. By his zealous act against the sin, he averted God's wrath and atoned for the people's transgression. "Reconciliation" means restoring the broken relationship between God and Israel. Phinehas's action was seen as a righteous act that pleased God and restored favor to the nation. It prevented a greater calamity and possibly stopped a plague that had already started.
In summary, the verse highlights Phinehas as a model of righteous zeal and courageous action in defense of God's law. His actions not only demonstrated his own devotion but also brought reconciliation and averted God's judgment upon Israel. The verse emphasizes that true piety isn't just about internal belief, but also about actively standing up for what is right, even when it's difficult or unpopular. It's a testament to the power of individual righteousness to impact an entire community.
Sirach 45:23 - And Phinehas the son of Eleazar is the third in glory, In that he was zealous in the fear of the Lord, And stood fast in the good forwardness of his soul when the people turned away, And he made reconciliation for Israel.
What does "Sirach 45:23" mean?
This verse from Sirach 45:23 praises Phinehas, grandson of Aaron and son of Eleazar (both high priests), for his righteous zeal and its positive consequences for the Israelites. Let's break it down:
"And Phinehas the son of Eleazar is the third in glory...": This establishes Phinehas' importance in the lineage of the priesthood. He is ranked highly, likely after Aaron and Eleazar. "Glory" here refers to his honorable reputation and position.
"...In that he was zealous in the fear of the Lord...": This is the key reason for his glory. "Zealous" means he was passionate and uncompromising in his devotion to God and upholding God's law. "Fear of the Lord" doesn't mean being scared of God, but rather having a deep reverence, respect, and obedience to God's will. He wasn't lukewarm; he acted with conviction.
"...And stood fast in the good forwardness of his soul when the people turned away...": This refers to a specific incident described in Numbers 25. The Israelites were engaging in sexual immorality and idolatry with Moabite women. Phinehas, seeing this transgression, boldly and righteously intervened. "Good forwardness of his soul" emphasizes his courage, determination, and proactive righteousness in a difficult situation. He didn't passively watch; he took action to stop the sin. The people "turned away" from God through their actions.
"...And he made reconciliation for Israel.": This is the result of Phinehas's action. By his zealous act against the sin, he averted God's wrath and atoned for the people's transgression. "Reconciliation" means restoring the broken relationship between God and Israel. Phinehas's action was seen as a righteous act that pleased God and restored favor to the nation. It prevented a greater calamity and possibly stopped a plague that had already started.
In summary, the verse highlights Phinehas as a model of righteous zeal and courageous action in defense of God's law. His actions not only demonstrated his own devotion but also brought reconciliation and averted God's judgment upon Israel. The verse emphasizes that true piety isn't just about internal belief, but also about actively standing up for what is right, even when it's difficult or unpopular. It's a testament to the power of individual righteousness to impact an entire community.