the theodotionic revision of the book of exodus: a contribution to the study of the early history of...
TRANSCRIPT
The Theodotionic Revision of the Book of Exodus: A Contribution to the Study of the EarlyHistory of the Transmission of the Old Testament in Greek by Kevin G. O'ConnellReview by: Dennis PardeeJournal of the American Oriental Society, Vol. 98, No. 3 (Jul. - Sep., 1978), p. 312Published by: American Oriental SocietyStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/598725 .
Accessed: 12/06/2014 18:10
Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at .http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp
.JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range ofcontent in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new formsof scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected].
.
American Oriental Society is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Journal ofthe American Oriental Society.
http://www.jstor.org
This content downloaded from 62.122.76.45 on Thu, 12 Jun 2014 18:10:17 PMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
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
This content downloaded from 62.122.76.45 on Thu, 12 Jun 2014 18:10:17 PMAll use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions