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The series Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft (BZAW) covers all areas of research into the Old Testament, focusing on the Hebrew Bible, its early and later forms in Ancient Judaism, as well as its branching into many neighboring cultures of the Ancient Near East and the Greco-Roman world.

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This volume brings together twenty-four articles of Prof. Calduch-Benages´ work on the book of Ben Sira over the last two decades. Some were written originally in English and others have been translated from Spanish and Italian originals. They are divided in three groups: introductory, thematic, and exegetical essays.

The exegetical articles offer a detail study of several passages of the book, some of them pivotal in the structure of the book (Sir 2,1; 4,11-19; 6,22; 22,27-23,6; 23,27; 24,22; 27,30-28,7; 34,1-8; 34,9-12; 42,15-43,33; 43,27-33).

The thematic essays deal with important theological issues such as canon and inspiration, wisdom, fear of the lord, trial, cult, prayer, forgiveness, and creation. Other no less important issues such as power and authority, dreams, travels, perfumes, animals and garments are discussed as well. Special attention is given to topics related with women, for instance, Ben Sira´s classification of wives, divorce, polygamy, and the absence of named women in the Praise of the Ancestors (Sir 44-50).

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Nuria Calduch-Benages, Päpstliche Universität Gregoriana, Rom, Italien.

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Nuria Calduch-Benages, Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, Italy.

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