Ben Sira

Ben Sira (flourished in the 2nd century BCE) a Hellenistic Jewish scribe, sage, and allegorist from Jerusalem. He is the author of the Wisdom of Sirach, also known as the Book of Ecclesiasticus.

Ben Sira is also known as Joshua ben Sirach, Shim`on ben Yeshu`a ben Sira, Jesus son of Sirach, or Jesus Siracides. He wrote his work in Hebrew, possibly in Alexandria, Egypt ca. 180–175 BCE, where he is thought to have established a school. This text had later been translated into Greek by his grandson. He also wrote about manners.

Some commentators claim Ben Sira was a contemporary of Simon the Just (Shim`on HaTzadik), although it is more likely that his contemporary was Simon II (High Priest) (219–199 BCE).

A medieval text, the Alphabet of Sirach, has been attributed to Ben Sira.

Name

The surname Sira may mean 'thorn' [Hebrew (Ecclesiastes 7:6, Hosea 2:6)], 'white of the eye' (Mishnaic Hebrew), or 'boat' [Hebrew, according to one reading of Amos 4:2]. Sira could also be an Aramaicized form of a family name ha-qots "the thorn" (Ezra 2:51).