The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Jesus, son of Sirach

JESUS, SON OF SIRACH, mentioned in the book of Ecclesiasticus (1, 7) as the author of that book. In the Septuagint Ecclesiasticus is called the “Wisdom of Jesus, Son of Sirach,” or the “Wisdom of Sirach.” He was a native of Jerusalem, the son of Eleazer, and the book reveals its Palestinian origin. He was a scribe and G. Margoliouth argues (from li, 23) that he was “in the latter part of his life the head, and probably founder and sole teacher of an academy for the moral instruction of youth at Jerusalem.”