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100 nature of the material discussed and the technical character of the discus- sion. A detailed bibliography and an index enhance the value of this fine work. F. GARCÍA MARTÍNEZ REVIEW OF BOOKS Warren C. TRENCHARD, Ben Sira's View of Women. A Literary Analysis (Brown Judaic Studies 18), Scholars Press, Chico, Cal. 1982, x and 341 pp., large paperback $ 15.75 (members $ 10.50). Ben Sira's view of women has received only passing treatment in com- mentaries, monographs and articles. The present volume fills this void by analyzing the text passages in Sirach's book which deal with woman as good wife (ch. I), woman as mother and widow (ch. II), woman as bad wife (ch. III), woman as adulteress and prostitute (ch. IV), and woman as daughter (ch. V). By means of a careful exegesis of the relevant passages the author convincingly shows that Ben Sira does not merely reflect the low view of women that characterized his age, but that he was personally negative towards them. He is 'often not content to let traditional material about women, whether positive or negative, stand unaltered in the text. When he edits such material, he does so in a negative direction. He deals with negative topics about women that are not contained in the biblical wisdom or other literature. He makes remarks about women that are among the most obscene and negative in ancient literature. He shows himself to be negative towards women, no matter what type of woman he discusses. That is particularly true of his treatment of the bad wife and climaxes in his consideration of the daughter.' In order to limit the scope of his study, the author has chosen not to address questions like personal experiences which might explain Ben Sira's negative bias, the implications of his view for his academic teaching, the influence he had on later Jewish and Christian writers etc. The study, however, provides a solid basis for broaching these and similar questions. More than 130 pages of notes attest to the thoroughness of the work which is concluded by an up-to-date bibliography on reference works, texts and versions, commentaries, and monographs and articles on Sirach. An index of subjects and one on Sirach passages help as reference guides to the many texts and passages discussed in the course of the study. A fine piece of work! A. S. VAN DER WOUDE Geza VERMES, The Gospel of Jesus the Jew (Riddell Memorial Lectures 48), University of Newcastle upon Tyne 1981, viii and 64 pp., paper £ 2.- (copies may be purchased from the Registrar's office, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, 6 Kensington Terrace, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU).
Journal for the Study of Judaism – Brill
Published: Jan 1, 1983
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