Kitab Yashue ben Sayrakh [The Book of Sirach].

8vo (104 x 156 mm). 98 ff. Arabic manuscript on paper. Black naskh script with markers and titles in red. Contemporary full morocco ruled and stamped in blind. The Book of Sirach: a manuscript copy of this Hellenistic Jewish work, written not in Hebrew, but in Arabic. Originally composed in the 2nd century BCE, the Book of Sirach had a marked influence on later Jewish and Christian doctrine, though it is only considered canonical by some Christians (Catholics, for example, include it in the canon, while churches rooted in the Reformation do not). It was first translated into Koine Greek by the author's grandson, but later Arabic translations such as this manuscript also circulated among Arabic-speaking Jews and Christians. The present manuscript is a wonderful example of exactly this type of cross-cultural tradition. - In the preamble of the manuscript, the scribe states that his book contains the first twenty chapters (roughly the first half) of the Book of Sirach. The manuscript is complete, as the scribe intended (the 20th chapter is titled "the last"), and covers the major themes of the work, including Creation, death, sin, social justice, and the role of women. - Covers a touch rubbed; ownership marks and notes on endpapers, and one chipped leaf (no loss to text). In good condition.