The Canon and Masorah of the Hebrew Bible: An Introductory Reader by Sid Z. LeimanReview by: Dennis PardeeJournal of the American Oriental Society, Vol. 98, No. 3 (Jul. - Sep., 1978), pp. 312-313Published by: American Oriental SocietyStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/598728 .

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Journal of the American Oriental Society 98.3 (1978) Journal of the American Oriental Society 98.3 (1978) Journal of the American Oriental Society 98.3 (1978) Journal of the American Oriental Society 98.3 (1978)

The Theodotionic Revision of the Book of Exodus: A Contribution to the Study of the Early History of the Transmission of the Old Testament in Greek. By KEVIN G. O'CONNELL. (Harvard Semitic Monographs 3). Cambridge, Mass.: HARVARD UNIVERSITY PRESS. 1972. Pp. 329. $9.50.

The Theodotionic Revision of the Book of Exodus: A Contribution to the Study of the Early History of the Transmission of the Old Testament in Greek. By KEVIN G. O'CONNELL. (Harvard Semitic Monographs 3). Cambridge, Mass.: HARVARD UNIVERSITY PRESS. 1972. Pp. 329. $9.50.

The Theodotionic Revision of the Book of Exodus: A Contribution to the Study of the Early History of the Transmission of the Old Testament in Greek. By KEVIN G. O'CONNELL. (Harvard Semitic Monographs 3). Cambridge, Mass.: HARVARD UNIVERSITY PRESS. 1972. Pp. 329. $9.50.

The Theodotionic Revision of the Book of Exodus: A Contribution to the Study of the Early History of the Transmission of the Old Testament in Greek. By KEVIN G. O'CONNELL. (Harvard Semitic Monographs 3). Cambridge, Mass.: HARVARD UNIVERSITY PRESS. 1972. Pp. 329. $9.50.

In a Harvard dissertation done under F. M. Cross, O'Connell studies all of the extant Theodotionic material in Exodus in view of establishing the stylistic and chrono-

logical relationship of that version to the other major Greek translations of the Hebrew Bible. He concludes that: 1) Theodotion is a revision of the Old Greek toward a Hebrew text which is pre-Massoretic in character but essentially identical to the Massoretic text (illustrating the stability of the text of the Torah); 2) a considerable number of characteristics place it between the Old Greek version itself and the later, more literal, version of Aquila; 3) there is "limited but adequate evidence" (p. 292) that Aquila was aware of Theodotion's revision when preparing his own; 4) Theodotion's revision shares many important characteristics with the so-called kaige recension isolated by Barthelemy; 5) the version was in existence "at least by the end of the first century A.D." (p. 292), and cannot, therefore, be attributed to Theodo- tion of Ephesus, a second century figure.

The work is carefully done. One may only regret that it does not contain a verse index, for there are many detailed discussions of the versional variations in in- dividual passages-but they are very difficult to locate without an index.

DENNIS PARDEE THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO

The Biblical Text in the Making: A Study of the Kethib- Qere. By ROBERT GORDIS. Augmented edition with a prolegomenon. Pp. lvi + 219. New York: KTAV. 1971. $14.95.

Gordis' original thesis (the book was first published in 1937) was that the Qere/Kethiv of the Hebrew Bible did not originate as textual corrections nor as manu- script variants, but as actual instructions for reading the text. The purpose was to avoid pronouncing the tetra- grammaton and certain expressions which were considered blasphemous or indecent. It also provided guidance for reading the consonantal text in cases of ambiguous or rare orthographies. Only toward the end of its develop- ment did it include textual variants.

That the author maintains his general thesis unchanged is evident from his Foreword to the reprint edition (dated March 11, 1971) and from the Prolegomenon which is

In a Harvard dissertation done under F. M. Cross, O'Connell studies all of the extant Theodotionic material in Exodus in view of establishing the stylistic and chrono-

logical relationship of that version to the other major Greek translations of the Hebrew Bible. He concludes that: 1) Theodotion is a revision of the Old Greek toward a Hebrew text which is pre-Massoretic in character but essentially identical to the Massoretic text (illustrating the stability of the text of the Torah); 2) a considerable number of characteristics place it between the Old Greek version itself and the later, more literal, version of Aquila; 3) there is "limited but adequate evidence" (p. 292) that Aquila was aware of Theodotion's revision when preparing his own; 4) Theodotion's revision shares many important characteristics with the so-called kaige recension isolated by Barthelemy; 5) the version was in existence "at least by the end of the first century A.D." (p. 292), and cannot, therefore, be attributed to Theodo- tion of Ephesus, a second century figure.

The work is carefully done. One may only regret that it does not contain a verse index, for there are many detailed discussions of the versional variations in in- dividual passages-but they are very difficult to locate without an index.

DENNIS PARDEE THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO

The Biblical Text in the Making: A Study of the Kethib- Qere. By ROBERT GORDIS. Augmented edition with a prolegomenon. Pp. lvi + 219. New York: KTAV. 1971. $14.95.

Gordis' original thesis (the book was first published in 1937) was that the Qere/Kethiv of the Hebrew Bible did not originate as textual corrections nor as manu- script variants, but as actual instructions for reading the text. The purpose was to avoid pronouncing the tetra- grammaton and certain expressions which were considered blasphemous or indecent. It also provided guidance for reading the consonantal text in cases of ambiguous or rare orthographies. Only toward the end of its develop- ment did it include textual variants.

That the author maintains his general thesis unchanged is evident from his Foreword to the reprint edition (dated March 11, 1971) and from the Prolegomenon which is

In a Harvard dissertation done under F. M. Cross, O'Connell studies all of the extant Theodotionic material in Exodus in view of establishing the stylistic and chrono-

logical relationship of that version to the other major Greek translations of the Hebrew Bible. He concludes that: 1) Theodotion is a revision of the Old Greek toward a Hebrew text which is pre-Massoretic in character but essentially identical to the Massoretic text (illustrating the stability of the text of the Torah); 2) a considerable number of characteristics place it between the Old Greek version itself and the later, more literal, version of Aquila; 3) there is "limited but adequate evidence" (p. 292) that Aquila was aware of Theodotion's revision when preparing his own; 4) Theodotion's revision shares many important characteristics with the so-called kaige recension isolated by Barthelemy; 5) the version was in existence "at least by the end of the first century A.D." (p. 292), and cannot, therefore, be attributed to Theodo- tion of Ephesus, a second century figure.

The work is carefully done. One may only regret that it does not contain a verse index, for there are many detailed discussions of the versional variations in in- dividual passages-but they are very difficult to locate without an index.

DENNIS PARDEE THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO

The Biblical Text in the Making: A Study of the Kethib- Qere. By ROBERT GORDIS. Augmented edition with a prolegomenon. Pp. lvi + 219. New York: KTAV. 1971. $14.95.

Gordis' original thesis (the book was first published in 1937) was that the Qere/Kethiv of the Hebrew Bible did not originate as textual corrections nor as manu- script variants, but as actual instructions for reading the text. The purpose was to avoid pronouncing the tetra- grammaton and certain expressions which were considered blasphemous or indecent. It also provided guidance for reading the consonantal text in cases of ambiguous or rare orthographies. Only toward the end of its develop- ment did it include textual variants.

That the author maintains his general thesis unchanged is evident from his Foreword to the reprint edition (dated March 11, 1971) and from the Prolegomenon which is

In a Harvard dissertation done under F. M. Cross, O'Connell studies all of the extant Theodotionic material in Exodus in view of establishing the stylistic and chrono-

logical relationship of that version to the other major Greek translations of the Hebrew Bible. He concludes that: 1) Theodotion is a revision of the Old Greek toward a Hebrew text which is pre-Massoretic in character but essentially identical to the Massoretic text (illustrating the stability of the text of the Torah); 2) a considerable number of characteristics place it between the Old Greek version itself and the later, more literal, version of Aquila; 3) there is "limited but adequate evidence" (p. 292) that Aquila was aware of Theodotion's revision when preparing his own; 4) Theodotion's revision shares many important characteristics with the so-called kaige recension isolated by Barthelemy; 5) the version was in existence "at least by the end of the first century A.D." (p. 292), and cannot, therefore, be attributed to Theodo- tion of Ephesus, a second century figure.

The work is carefully done. One may only regret that it does not contain a verse index, for there are many detailed discussions of the versional variations in in- dividual passages-but they are very difficult to locate without an index.

DENNIS PARDEE THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO

The Biblical Text in the Making: A Study of the Kethib- Qere. By ROBERT GORDIS. Augmented edition with a prolegomenon. Pp. lvi + 219. New York: KTAV. 1971. $14.95.

Gordis' original thesis (the book was first published in 1937) was that the Qere/Kethiv of the Hebrew Bible did not originate as textual corrections nor as manu- script variants, but as actual instructions for reading the text. The purpose was to avoid pronouncing the tetra- grammaton and certain expressions which were considered blasphemous or indecent. It also provided guidance for reading the consonantal text in cases of ambiguous or rare orthographies. Only toward the end of its develop- ment did it include textual variants.

That the author maintains his general thesis unchanged is evident from his Foreword to the reprint edition (dated March 11, 1971) and from the Prolegomenon which is

also from his pen (it is the English translation of an article originally published in Hebrew in Tarbiz 27 [1958] 144-69).

DENNIS PARDEE

THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO

also from his pen (it is the English translation of an article originally published in Hebrew in Tarbiz 27 [1958] 144-69).

DENNIS PARDEE

THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO

also from his pen (it is the English translation of an article originally published in Hebrew in Tarbiz 27 [1958] 144-69).

DENNIS PARDEE

THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO

also from his pen (it is the English translation of an article originally published in Hebrew in Tarbiz 27 [1958] 144-69).

DENNIS PARDEE

THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO

Essays in Old Testament Ethics (J. Philip Hyatt, In Memoriam). Edited by JAMES L. CRENSHAW and JOHN T. WILLIS. Pp. xxxvi + 287. New York: KTAV. 1974. $12.50.

In 1972, Professor Hyatt died at work in his office at the age of sixty-three. This memorial volume contains fourteen original essays by various authors (and a bib- liography of Prof. Hyatt's works). Apparently none of the authors is a specialist in philosophical or theological ethics; thus the relationship of a given study to the field of ethics sometimes has to be stated explicitly by the author. What impressed itself most clearly on my mind while reading this collection was that the situation of Old Testament ethics is very analogous to that of Old Testament theology: there is no systematic presentation of either in the Old Testament itself; and the thought- world of the Old Testament is as far removed from philosophical theology or ethics as one could imagine (this side of amorality!). That the authors were not specialists in philosophical ethics usually means that they were looking for what was ethical or moral according to their value systems in various domains of biblical studies. Moreover, this was usually done from their own perspectives (theology, form criticism, sociology, etc.).

As a non-specialist in either area, it appears to me that Old Testament ethics as reflected in this collection is decades behind Old Testament theology in terms of the definition of the discipline and of scholarly energy devoted to it. If the image this book projects is correct, it will serve the very useful purpose (beyond the intrinsic value of the individual studies) of high-lighting the present situation in what has been an undeservedly minor area of Old Testament studies.

DENNIS PARDEE THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO

The Canon and Masorah of the Hebrew Bible: An In- troductory Reader. Edited by SID Z. LEIMAN. Pp. x X- 877. New York: KTAV. 1974. $29.50.

Professor Leiman has gathered here thirty-seven studies on the canon and Masorah (i.e., in most cases, the so-called Masoretic text) of the Hebrew Bible. They range in date from 1891 to 1970; twenty-six are dated in

Essays in Old Testament Ethics (J. Philip Hyatt, In Memoriam). Edited by JAMES L. CRENSHAW and JOHN T. WILLIS. Pp. xxxvi + 287. New York: KTAV. 1974. $12.50.

In 1972, Professor Hyatt died at work in his office at the age of sixty-three. This memorial volume contains fourteen original essays by various authors (and a bib- liography of Prof. Hyatt's works). Apparently none of the authors is a specialist in philosophical or theological ethics; thus the relationship of a given study to the field of ethics sometimes has to be stated explicitly by the author. What impressed itself most clearly on my mind while reading this collection was that the situation of Old Testament ethics is very analogous to that of Old Testament theology: there is no systematic presentation of either in the Old Testament itself; and the thought- world of the Old Testament is as far removed from philosophical theology or ethics as one could imagine (this side of amorality!). That the authors were not specialists in philosophical ethics usually means that they were looking for what was ethical or moral according to their value systems in various domains of biblical studies. Moreover, this was usually done from their own perspectives (theology, form criticism, sociology, etc.).

As a non-specialist in either area, it appears to me that Old Testament ethics as reflected in this collection is decades behind Old Testament theology in terms of the definition of the discipline and of scholarly energy devoted to it. If the image this book projects is correct, it will serve the very useful purpose (beyond the intrinsic value of the individual studies) of high-lighting the present situation in what has been an undeservedly minor area of Old Testament studies.

DENNIS PARDEE THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO

The Canon and Masorah of the Hebrew Bible: An In- troductory Reader. Edited by SID Z. LEIMAN. Pp. x X- 877. New York: KTAV. 1974. $29.50.

Professor Leiman has gathered here thirty-seven studies on the canon and Masorah (i.e., in most cases, the so-called Masoretic text) of the Hebrew Bible. They range in date from 1891 to 1970; twenty-six are dated in

Essays in Old Testament Ethics (J. Philip Hyatt, In Memoriam). Edited by JAMES L. CRENSHAW and JOHN T. WILLIS. Pp. xxxvi + 287. New York: KTAV. 1974. $12.50.

In 1972, Professor Hyatt died at work in his office at the age of sixty-three. This memorial volume contains fourteen original essays by various authors (and a bib- liography of Prof. Hyatt's works). Apparently none of the authors is a specialist in philosophical or theological ethics; thus the relationship of a given study to the field of ethics sometimes has to be stated explicitly by the author. What impressed itself most clearly on my mind while reading this collection was that the situation of Old Testament ethics is very analogous to that of Old Testament theology: there is no systematic presentation of either in the Old Testament itself; and the thought- world of the Old Testament is as far removed from philosophical theology or ethics as one could imagine (this side of amorality!). That the authors were not specialists in philosophical ethics usually means that they were looking for what was ethical or moral according to their value systems in various domains of biblical studies. Moreover, this was usually done from their own perspectives (theology, form criticism, sociology, etc.).

As a non-specialist in either area, it appears to me that Old Testament ethics as reflected in this collection is decades behind Old Testament theology in terms of the definition of the discipline and of scholarly energy devoted to it. If the image this book projects is correct, it will serve the very useful purpose (beyond the intrinsic value of the individual studies) of high-lighting the present situation in what has been an undeservedly minor area of Old Testament studies.

DENNIS PARDEE THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO

The Canon and Masorah of the Hebrew Bible: An In- troductory Reader. Edited by SID Z. LEIMAN. Pp. x X- 877. New York: KTAV. 1974. $29.50.

Professor Leiman has gathered here thirty-seven studies on the canon and Masorah (i.e., in most cases, the so-called Masoretic text) of the Hebrew Bible. They range in date from 1891 to 1970; twenty-six are dated in

Essays in Old Testament Ethics (J. Philip Hyatt, In Memoriam). Edited by JAMES L. CRENSHAW and JOHN T. WILLIS. Pp. xxxvi + 287. New York: KTAV. 1974. $12.50.

In 1972, Professor Hyatt died at work in his office at the age of sixty-three. This memorial volume contains fourteen original essays by various authors (and a bib- liography of Prof. Hyatt's works). Apparently none of the authors is a specialist in philosophical or theological ethics; thus the relationship of a given study to the field of ethics sometimes has to be stated explicitly by the author. What impressed itself most clearly on my mind while reading this collection was that the situation of Old Testament ethics is very analogous to that of Old Testament theology: there is no systematic presentation of either in the Old Testament itself; and the thought- world of the Old Testament is as far removed from philosophical theology or ethics as one could imagine (this side of amorality!). That the authors were not specialists in philosophical ethics usually means that they were looking for what was ethical or moral according to their value systems in various domains of biblical studies. Moreover, this was usually done from their own perspectives (theology, form criticism, sociology, etc.).

As a non-specialist in either area, it appears to me that Old Testament ethics as reflected in this collection is decades behind Old Testament theology in terms of the definition of the discipline and of scholarly energy devoted to it. If the image this book projects is correct, it will serve the very useful purpose (beyond the intrinsic value of the individual studies) of high-lighting the present situation in what has been an undeservedly minor area of Old Testament studies.

DENNIS PARDEE THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO

The Canon and Masorah of the Hebrew Bible: An In- troductory Reader. Edited by SID Z. LEIMAN. Pp. x X- 877. New York: KTAV. 1974. $29.50.

Professor Leiman has gathered here thirty-seven studies on the canon and Masorah (i.e., in most cases, the so-called Masoretic text) of the Hebrew Bible. They range in date from 1891 to 1970; twenty-six are dated in

312 312 312 312

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Brief Reviews of Books Brief Reviews of Books

the two decades 1950-70, and the others are old standards now often hard to obtain. The collection is ideal for class-room use or for use by scholars in ancillary disci- plines who need a reasonably complete overview of the

questions covered. I found the collection particularly satisfying since the articles are arranged in such a fashion that various views of a problem are presented in sequence; often a given article is built in one or more of the preceding selections. Though the choice will vary from one specialist to another, as the author forthrightly notes, one definitely has the impression that the most important studies have been collected here.

DENNIS PARDEE THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO

Die neubabylonischen harrdnu-Geschdftsunternehmen. By HUGO LANZ. Pp. xvi - 209. (Miinchener Universitits- schriften: Juristische Fakultat; Abhandlungen zur rechtswissenschaftlichen Grundlagenforschung, Band 18). Berlin: J. SCHWEITZER VERLAG. 1976.

This study appeared initially as a Ph.D. dissertation submitted to the juristische Fakultat of the Ludwig- Maximilians-Universitfit in Munich in 1972. Like the several specialized studies of Dubberstein (AJSL 56), Petschow (Pfandrecht), Dougherty (YOR 5/11) and others already published, this work treats a cross-section of Neo Babylonian economic documents. An attempt is made here to collect and analyze information relating to the harranu, or "business venture," as it functioned in the Chaldean period. The evidence is, essentially, discussed phraseologically (pp. 7-66), legally (pp. 68-131) and (to perhaps a lesser degree) historically (pp. 134-183). All pertinent texts are conveniently categorized in the introduction, and variant writings are noted throughout the volume. Selected texts in transliteration and transla- tion appear at the end, along with subject and text indexes.

The title of the book is somewhat misleading. Actually, only about one-half of the work is devoted to a study of the actual content or substance of this group of documents in an attempt to determine what a harranu actually was. The remaining ninety-odd pages discuss the gram- matical structure of the texts. Unfortunately, these are somewhat of a disappointment in that they provide the student of the Geschdftsurkunden with literally nothing new. The format and phraseology employed here are well-known, as are the lexical aids used by Assyriologists. As a consequence, it is particularly distressing to find a large number of seemingly pointless references to the Chicago Assyrian Dictionary and other works. As one example, one need only note a total of 34 citations from

the two decades 1950-70, and the others are old standards now often hard to obtain. The collection is ideal for class-room use or for use by scholars in ancillary disci- plines who need a reasonably complete overview of the

questions covered. I found the collection particularly satisfying since the articles are arranged in such a fashion that various views of a problem are presented in sequence; often a given article is built in one or more of the preceding selections. Though the choice will vary from one specialist to another, as the author forthrightly notes, one definitely has the impression that the most important studies have been collected here.

DENNIS PARDEE THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO

Die neubabylonischen harrdnu-Geschdftsunternehmen. By HUGO LANZ. Pp. xvi - 209. (Miinchener Universitits- schriften: Juristische Fakultat; Abhandlungen zur rechtswissenschaftlichen Grundlagenforschung, Band 18). Berlin: J. SCHWEITZER VERLAG. 1976.

This study appeared initially as a Ph.D. dissertation submitted to the juristische Fakultat of the Ludwig- Maximilians-Universitfit in Munich in 1972. Like the several specialized studies of Dubberstein (AJSL 56), Petschow (Pfandrecht), Dougherty (YOR 5/11) and others already published, this work treats a cross-section of Neo Babylonian economic documents. An attempt is made here to collect and analyze information relating to the harranu, or "business venture," as it functioned in the Chaldean period. The evidence is, essentially, discussed phraseologically (pp. 7-66), legally (pp. 68-131) and (to perhaps a lesser degree) historically (pp. 134-183). All pertinent texts are conveniently categorized in the introduction, and variant writings are noted throughout the volume. Selected texts in transliteration and transla- tion appear at the end, along with subject and text indexes.

The title of the book is somewhat misleading. Actually, only about one-half of the work is devoted to a study of the actual content or substance of this group of documents in an attempt to determine what a harranu actually was. The remaining ninety-odd pages discuss the gram- matical structure of the texts. Unfortunately, these are somewhat of a disappointment in that they provide the student of the Geschdftsurkunden with literally nothing new. The format and phraseology employed here are well-known, as are the lexical aids used by Assyriologists. As a consequence, it is particularly distressing to find a large number of seemingly pointless references to the Chicago Assyrian Dictionary and other works. As one example, one need only note a total of 34 citations from

the CAD in the first 45 pages alone; others from AHw and NRV also abound. It has long been the opinion of this reviewer that grammatical analyses of such docu- ments, unless they are meant to treat something new or unusual, are largely a waste of time and effort. They ac- complish little more than the filling of several pages. As Reiner and Biggs have already pointed out, citations from the standard "tools" of Assyriology should be avoided unless the author presents a different interpreta- tion. These differences of opinion (such as that expressed in footnote 276, pp. 44-5) are, regrettably, few and hard to come by here. An example of this needless repetition can be seen in footnote 307, p. 49 where (when discussing the phrase itti ahames ana harrani iSkunu) no less then seven translations of the same phrase are listed, with at least three of them authored by the same person and, consequently, indentical word for word. It would, in short, have been more profitable if the author had simply written a concise bibliographical essay noting the oc- currence of variant phraseological interpretations as they specifically apply to harranu documents. The end result would have been more valuable and far less confusing.

Fortunately for the reader, the second part of the volume is more rewarding, despite the fact that the same uncritical listing of references to various passages (as in footnote 1230, p. 185) continues. It is here that the actual nature of the harranu is examined and, in addition, analyzed with reference to specific families prominent in such undertakings. Since the publication (1938) of Saul

Weingort's Das Haus Egibi in den neubabylonischen Rechtsurkunden, very little has been done in the way of

treating the activities of these "banking" firms. Such a

study or reexamination of all the operations controlled or run by such prominent "families" as Egibi and Nfr- Sin is long overdue; the author's discussion makes strides in the right direction. Aspects of the formation, opera- tion, duration and dissolution of the harranu enterprises, supervised by such men as Nabu-ahhe-iddina, Iddina- Marduk, are taken up, with appropriate text references

conveniently included. It would have been helpful, however, if a personal name register had been included, so that the reader could easily be aware of all the per- sonalities involved, even down to the last witness. Since all the texts referring to a harranu are categorized at the

beginning, why not include a prosopography at the end? Dr. Lanz is to be thanked for providing what is, by and

large, a very useful commentary. It is hoped, however, that in the future such studies will devote more attention to substance and less to idiomatic phraseology.

RONALD H. SACK NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY, RALEIGH.

the CAD in the first 45 pages alone; others from AHw and NRV also abound. It has long been the opinion of this reviewer that grammatical analyses of such docu- ments, unless they are meant to treat something new or unusual, are largely a waste of time and effort. They ac- complish little more than the filling of several pages. As Reiner and Biggs have already pointed out, citations from the standard "tools" of Assyriology should be avoided unless the author presents a different interpreta- tion. These differences of opinion (such as that expressed in footnote 276, pp. 44-5) are, regrettably, few and hard to come by here. An example of this needless repetition can be seen in footnote 307, p. 49 where (when discussing the phrase itti ahames ana harrani iSkunu) no less then seven translations of the same phrase are listed, with at least three of them authored by the same person and, consequently, indentical word for word. It would, in short, have been more profitable if the author had simply written a concise bibliographical essay noting the oc- currence of variant phraseological interpretations as they specifically apply to harranu documents. The end result would have been more valuable and far less confusing.

Fortunately for the reader, the second part of the volume is more rewarding, despite the fact that the same uncritical listing of references to various passages (as in footnote 1230, p. 185) continues. It is here that the actual nature of the harranu is examined and, in addition, analyzed with reference to specific families prominent in such undertakings. Since the publication (1938) of Saul

Weingort's Das Haus Egibi in den neubabylonischen Rechtsurkunden, very little has been done in the way of

treating the activities of these "banking" firms. Such a

study or reexamination of all the operations controlled or run by such prominent "families" as Egibi and Nfr- Sin is long overdue; the author's discussion makes strides in the right direction. Aspects of the formation, opera- tion, duration and dissolution of the harranu enterprises, supervised by such men as Nabu-ahhe-iddina, Iddina- Marduk, are taken up, with appropriate text references

conveniently included. It would have been helpful, however, if a personal name register had been included, so that the reader could easily be aware of all the per- sonalities involved, even down to the last witness. Since all the texts referring to a harranu are categorized at the

beginning, why not include a prosopography at the end? Dr. Lanz is to be thanked for providing what is, by and

large, a very useful commentary. It is hoped, however, that in the future such studies will devote more attention to substance and less to idiomatic phraseology.

RONALD H. SACK NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY, RALEIGH.

313 313

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