Chapter 46

Praise of Joshua, Caleb, and Samuel

Illustration for Sirach Chapter 46: Praise of Joshua, Caleb, and Samuel

46. Joshua the son of Nun was mighty in war, and the successor of Moses in prophecies, who according to his name was made great for the saving of the elect of God, and to take vengeance of the enemies that rose up against them, that he might set Israel in their inheritance, for how did he bravely fight in the wars of the Lord! And when he cried unto the most High, the Lord heard him, and sent a mighty hailstones, and the sun stood still, and one day became as two, for the Lord made haste to help them against the enemy, and he drove out the nations, and he gave them their portion in the land, and he made their strength to cease, and the memory of them that troubled them was rooted out. Caleb also was one of the two that withstood the people, and he received an inheritance, for he stood against the people when they sinned, and the Lord saved him from the danger, and the Lord gave him an inheritance in the land, and his seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and his name shall be a great one, for he lived and died in peace. The Judges were all great, and they were all blessed, and their names shall be remembered forever, but Samuel was beloved of the Lord his God, a prophet of the Lord, for he anointed the mighty men of the people, and established the kingdom, and gave judgment to the people, and established the kingdom, for he judged the people in his righteousness, and the Lord was with him, and the Lord established his kingdom, and the memory of them that troubled them was rooted out. Before his death he made an oath in the sight of the Lord and his anointed, saying, I have not taken any man's money or anything, and the people could not accuse him, and after he slept, he prophesied and showed the king his end, and lifted up his voice from the earth in prophecy, to blot out the wickedness of the people.