Chapter XXIV · Location 24 of 51
Chapter 24 · Open to readFrom Ecclesiasticus · Douay–Rheims / Challoner (1749–1752)
What does Ecclesiasticus Chapter 24 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?
Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary
Wisdom speaks of origin, created status and Israel dwelling through images. Trees, aromas, fruit and covenant assertions retain their particular words. River doctrine and future teaching retain separately labeled Christ notes.
Chapter breakdown
Ecclesiasticus 24 introduces wisdom's self-praise and promised honor in God, her people, churches, holy assembly, elect and blessed. She says she came from the Most High's mouth, firstborn before creatures, made unfailing heavenly light and covered earth as cloud. Her dwelling is high and throne a cloud pillar; alone she circled heaven, penetrated deep, walked sea waves and stood everywhere with national chief rule. High and low hearts were trodden under her power as she sought rest and would abide in divine inheritance. The creator commanded, and her maker rested in her tabernacle, bidding her dwell in Jacob, inherit Israel and root among elect. She says she was created before the world and will not cease, ministered in holy dwelling, established Sion, rested in the holy city and had Jerusalem power among honorable people and saints. Created-before-world language is not replaced with a doctrine of eternal generation.
Exaltation resembles Libanus cedar, Sion cypress, Cades palm, Jericho rose plant, plains olive and street-water plane tree. Scent compares cinnamon, balm, myrrh, storax, galbanum, onyx, aloes, uncut frankincense and purest balm. Branches resemble turpentine honor and grace, vine odor and flowers' fruit honor and riches. She is mother of fair love, fear, knowledge and holy hope, containing grace of way and truth and hope of life and virtue. All desiring her are invited to fruits; spirit and inheritance exceed honey and honeycomb, memory endures generations, eaters and drinkers hunger and thirst still. Listeners will not be confused, workers through her will not sin and explainers gain everlasting life. These remain her claims.
All these things are called life's book, divine covenant and truth-knowledge. Moses commanded law, Jacob inheritance and Israel promises; a mighty king from David sits glory's throne forever. A separate edition note identifies Christ enriching earth by gospel like an overflowing river. Wisdom and understanding resemble Phison, Tigris at new fruits, Euphrates, Jordan at harvest and light/Gehon at vintage. The first knows perfectly, a weaker cannot search her; a separate note identifies Christ's first perfect heavenly-wisdom knowledge, without adding incarnation terminology. Thoughts exceed sea, counsel ocean depth. Wisdom pours rivers; brook, channel and aqueduct from paradise water garden and meadow, brook becomes river near sea. Doctrine shines morning light, will spread afar, penetrate lower earth, behold sleepers and enlighten divine hope. Prophetic doctrine continues seekers' offspring to holy age, labor benefiting all truth-seekers rather than self alone.
The story inside
Opening: Wisdom speaks of origin, created status and Israel dwelling through images. Development: Trees, aromas, fruit and covenant assertions retain their particular words. Conclusion: River doctrine and future teaching retain separately labeled Christ notes.
Lessons worth keeping
- 1Wisdom speaks of origin, created status and Israel dwelling through images.
- 2Trees, aromas, fruit and covenant assertions retain their particular words.
- 3River doctrine and future teaching retain separately labeled Christ notes.
Test your recall
Which images and requests does the speaker use, and what does the chapter leave unresolved?
Source edition and notes
Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.
Lines 75610–75611
24:5. I came out of the mouth of the most High, the firstborn before all creatures:
Lines 75633–75634
24:13. And he said to me: Let thy dwelling be in Jacob, and thy inheritance in Israel, and take root in my elect.
Lines 75690–75691
24:32. All these things are the book of life, and the covenant of the most High, and the knowledge of truth.
Lines 75699–75700
A most mighty king.... Viz., Christ, who by his gospel, like an overflowing river, has enriched the earth with heavenly wisdom.
