01_Biblica_1_E_Kalimi_Layout 1 30/01/13 13:15 Pagina 495 01_B 495 KING SOLOMON bore a son, whom he named Solomon, at the bidding of the prophet Nathan”. However, according to 2 Sam 12,25 Nathan named the child: “Yedidyah”, while David (or Bathsheba) named him: “Solomon”. Is Josephus influenced by the Chronicler who recounts that it was the Lord who gave the name “Solomon” to the child, and thus never men- tions the name “Yedidyah”? 3. Ben Sira’s Word-Plays on the Names “Shelomoh” and “Yedidyah” In the last part of his book, the Praise of the Ancestors (Ben Sira 44-50), Joshua Ben Sira (ca. 180 B.C.E.) mentions several kings of Israel, among them Solomon. The author praises Solomon but in the same breath also rebukes him 43. He dedicates 20 verses to him (47,19-34; ET: 12-23a), almost equal to the space that he ded- icated to his father, David (18 verses; 47,1-18; ET: 1-11). What is relevant to our theme under review is Ben Sira’s word-plays (puns) on both names Shelomoh and Yedidyah. In Ben Sira 47,19 (ET: 13) he derives the name Shelomoh from the noun shalvah (“peace”, “serene”, “quietude”): hwlv ymyb $lm hmlv / bybsm wl xynh law (“Solomon reigned during an age of peace / be- cause God gave him rest [from his enemies] around”). This deri- vation is similar to that of the Chronicler, Shelomoh – shalom in 1 Chr 22,8-9 (see above). Later on, in the Hebrew text of Ben Sira 47,25 (ET: 18) the author connects Solomon’s name with the divine name, most likely referring to the name Yedidyah in 2 Sam 12,25: larfy l[ arqnh / dbknh ~vb tarqn (“You were called by the honored name which is called upon Israel”) 44. In fact, in several scriptures Israel was also called yedid (beloved) of the Lord or the one whom God loves (e.g., Jer 11,15; 14,9; Deut 28,10; Isa 63,9). On Solomon in the book of Ben Sira, see P.A. TORIJANO, Solomon the 43 Esoteric King. From King to Magus. Development of Tradition (JSJ Suppl. 73; Leiden 2002); P.C. BEENTJES, “‘The Countries Marveled at You.’ King Solomon in Ben Sira 47,12-22”, “Happy the One Who Meditates on Wisdom” (Sir. 14,20). Collected Essays on the Book of Ben Sira (CBET 43; Leuven 2006) 135-144 (= Bijdragen 45 [1984] 6-14); B.G. WRIGHT III, “Solomon in Chronicles and Ben Sira”, Rewriting Biblical History. Essays on Chronicles and Ben Sira in Honor of Pancratius C. Beentjes (eds. J. CORLEY – H. VAN GROL) (Deuterocanonical and Cognate Literature Studies 7; Berlin – New York 2011) 139-157. Compare, for example, P.W. SKEHAN – A.A. DI LELLA, The Wisdom of 44 Ben Sira. A New Translation with Notes, Introduction and Commentary (AB 39; New York 1987) 527. The Greek version offers a different interpretation. © Gregorian Biblical Press 2012 - Tutti i diritti riservati