Single lesson
Sirach 46: Joshua and Caleb are praised for faithful courage
Sirach 46:1–10; Sirach 46:11–12; Sirach 46:13–20
Sirach 46:1–10 praises Joshua and Caleb for strong, faithful courage. The passage remembers leadership, prayer to God, resistance to sinful pressure, and a clear example for Israel about following the Lord. This lesson also brings together A blessing remembers the faithful judges, Samuel is praised for faithful prophecy and judgment.
Before you teach
In this part of Sirach, the writer speaks about Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh in words of praise. The passage highlights Joshua’s role after Moses, the Lord’s help in conflict, and the way Joshua and Caleb stood firm for the people’s good.
Explain the central teaching of Sirach 46: Joshua and Caleb are praised for faithful courage, using two details from the reading. This passage teaches that strength, mercy, and steadfast loyalty to the Lord are good and worthy of remembrance. This passage honours judges who did not turn away from the Lord and asks that their memory and name continue in blessing. Sirach 46:13–20 presents Samuel as faithful in leadership, prayer, integrity, and prophecy under the Lord’s care.
Welcome: Sirach 46: Joshua and Caleb are praised for faithful courage
5 minIntroduce “Joshua and Caleb are praised for faithful courage”, “A blessing remembers the faithful judges”, “Samuel is praised for faithful prophecy and judgment” and locate Sirach 46:1–10; Sirach 46:11–12; Sirach 46:13–20. This passage teaches that strength, mercy, and steadfast loyalty to the Lord are good and worthy of remembrance. Invite each learner to name a detail or question they will listen for.
Sirach 46:1, Sirach 46:6, Sirach 46:10
Read and explain the passage
12 minJoshua and Caleb are praised for faithful courage (Sirach 46:1–10): Sirach first describes Joshua as valiant in war and as Moses’ successor in prophecies. His greatness is tied to God’s saving work for God’s elect. The passage says he acted against rising enemies so that Israel might receive their inheritance. The focus is not only conflict, but God’s people receiving what was given to them.
A blessing remembers the faithful judges (Sirach 46:11–12): The passage opens, “Also the judges, every one by his name”. This gives personal honour to individuals rather than speaking only about a group. The line ends with a blessing: “may their memory be blessed!” In these words, remembrance itself is treated as something good and worthy.
Samuel is praised for faithful prophecy and judgment (Sirach 46:13–20): Samuel is called “the prophet of the Lord” and “loved by his Lord”. The passage says he established a kingdom and anointed princes over the people. It also says he judged the congregation “by the law of the Lord”, showing that the standard for his judging came from the Lord’s law.
Read the selected verses together, pausing at “Joshua and Caleb are praised for faithful courage”, “A blessing remembers the faithful judges”, “Samuel is praised for faithful prophecy and judgment”. Use the source reading below and check the explanation against the words of the passage.
Sirach 46:1, Sirach 46:11, Sirach 46:13, Sirach 46:14
Discuss the details and their meaning
8 minUse the three questions below. Begin with “How does Sirach connect Joshua’s courage with the Lord’s action?” and allow time to find the supporting verses. Sirach 46:13–20 presents Samuel as faithful in leadership, prayer, integrity, and prophecy under the Lord’s care. Ask learners to explain which details support their answer and to identify a question they would like to explore further.
Sirach 46:3, Sirach 46:5, Sirach 46:12, Sirach 46:19
Make and respond: Wisdom comparison cards
12 minWork on “Sirach 46: Joshua and Caleb are praised for faithful courage: Wisdom comparison cards”. Follow the materials and steps below, using “Joshua and Caleb are praised for faithful courage”, “A blessing remembers the faithful judges”, “Samuel is praised for faithful prophecy and judgment” as reading headings. Each learner should include at least two accurate details and their verse references. Share one observation from the finished sheet and explain how it connects with the central teaching.
Sirach 46:1, Sirach 46:11, Sirach 46:20
Closing: return to Samuel is praised for faithful prophecy and judgment
3 minRevisit Sirach 46:13–20. Invite a learner to summarise what the group has learned about Samuel is praised for faithful prophecy and judgment and another to support the summary with a verse. Give learners a moment to complete their response sheet. They can share a question or, if appropriate for the group, join the optional prayer.
Sirach 46:13, Sirach 46:17, Sirach 46:20
Questions to explore
How does Sirach connect Joshua’s courage with the Lord’s action?
Notice that Joshua stands firm and calls on the Most High, while the passage also says the Lord brought enemies to him and heard him.
Sirach 46:3, Sirach 46:5
How does verse 12 continue honour after death?
Notice the two wishes in Sirach 46:12, one about their bones and one about their name being renewed in their children.
Sirach 46:12
Which details in the passage show Samuel’s personal integrity?
Focus on what he says he did not take and on how others responded to that claim.
Sirach 46:19
Make, think or respond
Sirach 46: Joshua and Caleb are praised for faithful courage: Wisdom comparison cards
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or pens
- a Bible or the source reading on this page
Try it together
- Fold a sheet into three panels or draw three columns. Label them “What the passage commends”, “What it warns against”, “The reason or outcome stated”.
- Read Sirach 46:1–10; Sirach 46:11–12; Sirach 46:13–20. Use “Joshua and Caleb are praised for faithful courage”, “A blessing remembers the faithful judges”, “Samuel is praised for faithful prophecy and judgment” as your reading headings and add a short quotation or detail with its verse reference to each panel.
- Compare your notes with a partner. Check that every quotation is accurate and every conclusion has support in the passage.
- Write a proposed everyday example beside one teaching. Label it as your example and explain which words in the text guided it.
The finished sheet keeps the details of Sirach 46: Joshua and Caleb are praised for faithful courage connected to their Bible references and gives the group a way to explain what they noticed.
Adapt for your group
- For learners who need more support, prepare the reading headings “Joshua and Caleb are praised for faithful courage”, “A blessing remembers the faithful judges”, “Samuel is praised for faithful prophecy and judgment” and let them match short quotations to the correct heading.
- For confident readers, compare two sections of Sirach 46:1–10; Sirach 46:11–12; Sirach 46:13–20. Ask for a written explanation with two supporting references and one question that the text leaves open.
An optional closing prayer
“God, help us listen carefully as we read Sirach 46:1–10; Sirach 46:11–12; Sirach 46:13–20. Help us understand what we have read, ask thoughtful questions and respond with care for others. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Sirach 46
1 Joshua the son of Nun was valiant in war, and was the successor of Moses in prophecies. He was made great according to his name for the saving of God’s elect, to take vengeance on the enemies that rose up against them, that he might give Israel their inheritance.
2 How he was glorified in the lifting up his hands, and in stretching out his sword against the cities!
3 Who before him stood so firm? For the Lord himself brought his enemies to him.
4 Didn’t the sun go back by his hand? Didn’t one day become as two?
5 He called upon the Most High, the Mighty One, when his foes pressed in all around him, and the great Lord heard him.
6 With hailstones of mighty power, he caused war to break violently upon the nation, and on the slope he destroyed those who resisted, so that the nations might know his armor, how he fought in the sight of the Lord; for he followed the Mighty One.
7 Also in the time of Moses, he did a work of mercy— he and Caleb the son of Jephunneh— in that they withstood the adversary, hindered the people from sin, and stilled their wicked complaining.
8 And of six hundred thousand people on foot, they two alone were preserved to bring them into their inheritance, into a land flowing with milk and honey.
9 The Lord gave strength to Caleb, and it remained with him to his old age, so that he entered the hill country, and his offspring obtained it for an inheritance,
10 that all the children of Israel might see that it is good to follow the Lord.
11 Also the judges, every one by his name, all whose hearts didn’t engage in immorality, and who didn’t turn away from the Lord— may their memory be blessed!
12 May their bones flourish again out of their place. May the name of those who have been honored be renewed in their children.
13 Samuel, the prophet of the Lord, loved by his Lord, established a kingdom and anointed princes over his people.
14 By the law of the Lord he judged the congregation, and the Lord watched over Jacob.
15 By his faithfulness he was proved to be a prophet. By his words he was known to be faithful in vision.
16 When his enemies pressed on him on every side, he called upon the Lord, the Mighty One, with the offering of the suckling lamb.
17 Then the Lord thundered from heaven. He made his voice heard with a mighty sound.
18 He utterly destroyed the rulers of the Tyrians and all the princes of the Philistines.
19 Before the time of his age-long sleep, he testified in the sight of the lord and his anointed, “I have not taken any man’s goods, so much as a sandal;” and no one accused him.
20 Even after he fell asleep, 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.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.