Vetus Testamentum, Supplements – serie

This collection of thirteen articles in English by scholars from several countries concerns questions in the Pentateuch. Seven are on the book of Genesis: the use of 'ādām in Genesis i-v; the Toledot of Adam; Genesis x in the light of Babylonian geography; the site of Salem; the date and composition of Genesis xiv; Abraham's righteousness in Genesis xv 6; the Hagar tradition in Genesis xvi and xxi. Three are on Deuteronomy: "Yahweh is one"; return to Egypt in Deuteronomy xvii 16 and xxviii 68; the creed in Deuteronomy xxvi. There are also essays on the Elohistic depiction of Aaron; the wilderness itineraries and recent archaeological research; and the dietary laws of the Pentateuch. Substantial contributions are made to the study of different parts of the Pentateuch.

This volume publishes twenty-three papers given by invitation at the thirteenth Congress of the International Organization for the Study of the Old Testament, which was held at Leuven from 27 August until 1 September 1989 under the Presidency of C. Brekelmans. The articles cover a range of subjects relevant to the Old Testament: the Pentateuch (E.W. Nicholson, W.H. Schmidt, E. Blum, J. Van Seters, A. de Pury), the historical books (C. Brekelmans, Helga Weippert, R.D. Nelson, W. Thiel, Sara Japhet, K.-F. Pohlmann), the prophets (C. Hardmeier, D.L. Petersen, W.A.M. Beuken, R.P. Carroll, P.-M. Bogaert), the Psalms (J. Trublet, N. Füglister), textual criticism (E. Tov), the Targums (L. Díez Merino), the development of Israelite religion (N.P. Lemche), the Babylonian New Year Festival and the Old Testament (K. van der Toorn), and the Apocryphon of Jannes and Jambres (A. Pietersma).

This book investigates the composition of the book of Kings and its implications for the Deuteronomistic History (DH) of which it is a part.McKenzie analyses Kings on the basis of Noth's model of a single author/editor behind the original DH. He contends that the Deuteronomist (Dtr) wrote the series of oracles against the Northern royal houses without utilizing a prior, running prophetic document that some scholars have posited behind Samuel and Kings. He regards many other prophetic stories in Kings, including most of the Elijah and Elisha legends as later additions to the DH, in accord with Noth's recognition that the original DH was frequently supplemented by various writers. McKenzie illustrates Dtr's compositional techniques in a treatment of the accounts of Hezekiah and Josiah in Kings. He tentatively dates Dtr to Josiah's reign but believes that tensions among the many later additions to the work, including the report from Josiah's death on, suggest that they are not the result of systematic editing (e.g., Dtr2).The book offers the most up-to-date survey of research on the DH and the most recent detailed analysis of the lengthy variant version of Jeroboam's reign in LXXB at 1 Kings 12:24a-z. It offers a fresh perspective on the original shape of the DH based on recent scholarship and the author's own critical investigation.

Direct speech appears on nearly every page of the Hebrew Bible, and the large number of publications on direct discourse in the Bible highlights the importance of the subject for biblical studies. However, thus far only isolated aspects of the various problems that direct discourse presents have received attention.Studies of individual verbs introducing direct discourse, such as "answer", "speak", "say", and others are necessarily atomistic, even though appropriate in their own right. Other markers of direct discourse, such as "Thus said Yahweh", or "oracle of Yahweh", tend to be treated as theological constructs isolated from the larger issues of direct discourse marking in general. Speaking of Speaking aims to enrich the reading of the biblical text by offering a coordinated analysis of all such markers, not only in order to consolidate a considerable body of work that is often overlooked by scholars, but also to move further toward a synthesis that can permit informed generalizations not possible at the present time.The comprehensive index facilitates the use of this book as a valuable reference tool. The exegetical, literary, and theological findings of this book will be of great significance for all levels of research in biblical studies.

Das Buch versucht, zwei bislang unterschätzte Psalmen im Psalter, die dort weit auseinanderstehen, als 'Entwicklungszusammenhang' aufzufassen und so eine neue Art der Gruppierung — jenseits von Gunkel — zu initiieren. Zugleich wird ein besseres, adäquateres Verständnis beider Gedichte vorgestellt, eruiert teils in wechselseitiger Betrachtung, teils durch die Beleuchtung im Lichte der Traditionen. Im einzelnen stellt sich heraus, daß der Sinn der gruppierten Psalmen sich erst dann so recht zu erschließen beginnt, wenn — hier wie dort ziemlich gleicherweise — priesterliche und prophetische Überlieferungen als Verstehensschlüssel eingeführt werden. Was die beiden Texte im Psalter trotz genetischen Zusammenhangs voneinander unterscheidet, ist der Wechsel von einem historischen Ort zum andern: Das eine Gedicht ist gerade noch vor dem Umschwung zum Frühjudentum zustande gekommen, das andere setzt diesen Neuanfang schon voraus. Das Buch lenkt so die Aufmerksamkeit auf zwei markante Zeugnisse, die auch glaubensgeschichtlich wichtig sind.

The epoch from the eighth century B.C.E. up to the exile is marked by a great transformation in the society of ancient Judah, as reflected especially in the texts of the pre-exilic prophets. A relatively egalitarian society transforms into a class society, wherein a class of wealthy landowners is opposed to a growing class of impoverished farmers. The main factor in this development is the indebtedness of the farmers. All the forces of society and state are afflicted by this transformation.This book endeavours to describe this transformation as precisely as possible, by examining the prophetical texts , and other biblical and epigraphical materials. Unlike the theories of "annuity capitalism" or "antique development" the work especially stresses the role of the state and its organs in this transformation.Die Zeit vom 8. Jahrhundert bis zum Exil ist die Zeit eines gewaltigen gesellschaftlichen Umbruchs im antiken Juda, wie er sich vor allem in den Texten der vorexilischen Propheten widerspiegelt. Eine relativ egalitäre Gesellschaft transformiert sich in eine Klassengesellschaft, bei der wenige Grundbesitzer einer größer werdenden Klasse verarmter Bauern gegenüberstehen. Von diesem Umbruch, dessen Hauptfaktor die Überschuldung der kleinen Bauern ist, werden alle Kräfte der Gesellschaft und des Staates erfaßt.Die vorliegende Arbeit versucht, anhand der einschlägigen prophetischen Texte, des übrigen biblischen sowie des epigraphischen Materials diesen Umbruch möglichst umfassend zu beschreiben. Anders als bei den gegenwärtig vertretenen Theorien des "Rentenkapitalismus" und der "antiken Entwicklung" wird dabei besonderes Gewicht auf die Rolle des Staates und seiner Organe bei der gesellschaftlichen Umwälzung gelegt.Das Buch wendet sich an Exegeten, die auf dem Feld der Sozialgeschichte Israels, der vorexilischen Prophetie und der althebräischen Epigraphik arbeiten.

Le présent ouvrage tente la mise en oeuvre de l'analyse structurelle pour vingt psaumes, soit les Pss. 52, 54-60, 108, 62, 64-66, 78-80, 91-92, et le grand Ps. 119. Son ambition est de montrer à quel point l'architecture de ces textes en conditionne et en ouvre l'interprétation. Les considérer comme des ensembles structurés, faisant jouer entre les diverses unités des rapports multiples et ordonnés, est nécessaire à leur compréhension. A l'occasion on montre comment l'analyse structurelle permet de mieux saisir l'enchaînement des psaumes consécutifs dans le Psautier, ou encore les rapports entre psaumes opérant entre eux d'importants emprunts (57, 60, 108). Ici sera donc pris en compte en priorité le texte lui-même tel qu'il se présente à nous, afin de saisir ces clefs d'interprétation qui y sont inscrites. L'ouvrage devrait retenir l'attention non seulement des spécialistes des Psaumes, mais encore de quiconque entend les connaître de près. Les études qu'il contient ont été à cette fin basées sur une traduction littérale de chaque psaume, sans renoncer pour autant à recourir, chaque fois que cela s'est avéré nécessaire, au texte hébreu.

The present volume was compiled as a respectful tribute to A.S. van der Woude and presented to him on the occasion of his 65th birthday, which coincided with his retirement as professor of Old Testament and Intertestamental Studies at the University of Groningen, a chair he held for more than thirty years.The title of this Festschrift, The Scriptures and the Scrolls, reflects the two fields of study to which he has devoted his scholarly life, not only by doing research himself, but also by stimulating many of his colleagues to collaborate in publications initiated by him.The contributions, a mélange of studies covering the wide range of Van der Woude's interests, have been arranged according to the order: Hebrew Bible (following the sequence of the books), Apocrypha, Dead Sea Scrolls, and Rabbinic Tradition.From the Contents:E. Tov, '4QLevd (4Q26)'C.J. Labuschagne, ''You Shall not Boil a Kid in its Mother's Milk'. A New Proposal for the Origin of the Prohibition.'J.A. Emerton, 'The Translation of Isaiah 5,1.'J.T.A.G.M. van Ruiten, 'The Intertextual Relationship between Isa 11, 6-9 and Isa 65, 25.'W.A.M. Beuken, 'Isa 29, 15-24: Perversion Reverted.'W. McKane, 'Jeremiah 30, 1-3, Especially 'Israel.''R.P. Carroll, 'Night without Vision. Micah and the Prophets.'C. van Leeuwen, 'The 'Northern One' in the Composition of Joel, 2, 19-27.'G. Wallis, A Note on Ps 45, 7aα.'M.J. Mulder, 'Does Canticles 6, 12 Make Sense?'B. Otzen, 'Michael and Gabriel. Angelological Problems in the Book of Daniel.'J.P.M. van der Ploeg, 'Some Remarks on a Newly Found Syriac Text of the Book of Judith.'A. Hilhorst, 'The Speech on Truth in 1 Esdras 4, 34-41.'P.R. Davies, 'Redaction and Sectarianism in the Qumran Scrolls.'M.A. Knibb, 'A Note on 4Q372 and 4Q390.'F. García Martínez, 'The Last Surviving Columns of 11QNJ.'G. Stemberger, 'The Maccabees in Rabbinic Tradition.'J. Neusner, 'How the Bavli Shaped Rabbinic Discourse: The Case of Sifra.'J.W. Rogerson, 'Writing the History of Israel in the 17th and 18th Centuries.'F. García Martínez, 'Bibliography of A.S. van der Woude.'

This book is published as a Festschrift on the occasion of the 70th birthday of professor Eduard Nielsen (Copenhagen). In accordance with the main themes of Eduard Nielsen's scholarly works the articles concentrate on the history of early Israel, i.e. Israel before the classical prophets in the 8th century B.C., and on literary traditions referring to this phase of Israelite history. The articles are concerned with topics in the Books of the Pentateuch, with the epoch of King David, as well as with archaeology, Canaanite traditions etc. Eduard Nielsen's bibliography is included at the end of the book.

This book focuses on the interpretation of Malachi 2:10-16, which censures the lax marital practice of its contemporaries. In particular, Hugenberger investigates Malachi's identification of marriage as a "covenant" in response to recent scholarly challenges to this identification.Taking the issues raised by Malachi as his point of departure, Hugenberger examines the nature of covenant and oath (including verba solemnia and oath-signs), and, in light of these findings, explores the theory of marriage implied elsewhere in the Old Testament. Included in this investigation are an analysis of the concentric literary structure of Malachi and a study of the Old Testament's ethical perspectives on divorce, polygamy, and sexual fidelity.An extensive bibliography and indices complete the book.

This volume is concerned with the origin and development of the Targum to the Prophets, focusing for this purpose upon the Twelve Prophets (from Nahum to Malachi).A wide-ranging introductory chapter sets current research in context by surveying almost two centuries of Targumic study. It is argued that the evidence in the extant text for a Second Commonwealth phase in the Targum's history is meagre and that, in particular, the Qumran Habakkuk pesher is not dependent upon the Targum to Habakkuk.Other issues discussed are the Hebrew Vorlage of the Targum, incipit formulae, 'Additional Targum' and the standard Targum, the haggadah in the Targum to Zechariah 3 in the light of a (so-called) Eastern Aramaic linguistic element, Targum and Peshiṭta, land and divine presence, and the final redaction of the Targum.

Scribes and Translators is a critical reflection on the textual pluralism as reflected in the book of Kings.The first part of the book examines the diverse texts transmitted by the manuscripts. Special attention is paid to the Antiochene text of the Septuagint that is being edited in Madrid. The second part is devoted to the analysis of Old Latin readings, transmitted by a Spanish family of Vulgate Bibles, with no support in any of the known manuscripts. Finally, the whole evidence is discussed in the frame of the plurality of texts confirmed by the Qumran documents for those books.Based on Old Latin material recently published it sheds light on the text transmission of Kings and on the translation techniques and the history of the Biblical texts in general.

Studies in Deuteronomy was compiled as a respectful tribute to Professor C.J. Labuschagne and was presented to him on the occasion of his 65th birthday. The choice of the book of Deuteronomy as a fitting topic for a collection of commemorative essays reflects the focus of Professor Labuschagne's own research on this part of the Bible in recent years.The essays, which employ a variety of methodological approaches to the study of Deuteronomy, deal with such subjects as Masoretic, Septuagintal and Qumran variations in the text of Deuteronomy, Deuteronomic elements in other biblical books, and the reception history of Deuteronomy in the Jewish and Christian worlds. Included also is a first edition of some Deuteronomy manuscripts from Qumran, Masada and Nahal Hever.

Josua und Salomo puts forward the thesis that the literary figure of the successor was created by circles who strongly relied on the book of Deuteronomy. In order to construct the ideal of a successor they used the characters of Joshua and Solomon and implemented the results of their theological reflection which were unleashed by the complete destruction of the pre-exilic political, social and religious organization of the nation. The figure of Joshua combines all the treats of their theological conception of an ideal political leader, whereas the figure of Solomon demonstrates the dangers which are implied in monarchical succession. From the theological perspective of deuteronomism “Solomon” and “Joshua” are opposite characters. The deuteronomic concepts of God and authority play a central role for the reflection on both characters.

Ezekiel and the Leaders of Israel explores the attitudes expressed in the Book of Ezekiel towards the various different leadership groups within Judean society: the monarchy, the priests and Levites, the prophets, and the lay leadership (including zᵉqēnîm, śārîm and other ruling classes). The thesis is advanced that there is a coherent and connected attitude taken toward these leadership groups throughout the book: those singled out for the most reproach in Ezekiel's critique of the past are marginalized in his plan for the future, while those who escape blame are assigned positions of honour. It is not simply a matter of tinkering with the status of a single group in society, but rather a radical and complete restructuring, designed to avoid repetition of the sins of the past.