By the word of the Lord he shut up the heavens: This refers to Elijah’s bringing on the drought. See 1 Kgs 17.1. By the word of the Lord may mean that Elijah spoke in obedience to God or that he spoke with God’s authority, or both.

And also three times brought down fire is rendered “and three times commanded fire to fall from heaven” by Contemporary English Version. See 1 Kgs 18.38; 2 Kgs 1.10-12.

An alternative model for this verse is:

• Elijah spoke with the Lord’s authority, and commanded the rain not to fall, and three times he made fire come down from heaven [or, the sky].

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Sirach. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.