The Septuagint of Proverbs: Jewish and/or Hellenistic Proverbs? Concerning the Hellenistic Colouring of LXX Proverbs

420 Pages·1997·53.523 MB·English

by  Johann Cook

THE SEPTUAGINT OF PROVERBS
SUPPLEMENTS
TO
VETUS TESTAMENTUM
EDITED BY
THE BOARD OF THE QUARTERLY
J.A. EMERTON - H.M. BARSTAD - PHYLLIS A. BIRD
R.P. GORDON - A. HURVITZ - A. VAN DER KOOI]
A. LEMAIRE - R. SMEND - Je. v ANDERKAM
H.G.M. WILLIAMSON
VOLUME LXIX
THE SEPTUAGINT OF PROVERBS
jEWISH AND/OR HELLENISTIC
PROVERBS?
Conceming the Hellenistic Colouring
rif LXX Proverbs
BY
jOHANNCOOK
BRILL
LEIDEN . NEW YORK' KOLN
1997
This book is printed on acid-free paper.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Bible. O.T. Proverbs. Greek. Septuagint. Selections. 1997.
The Septuagint ofProverbs : Jewish and/or Hellenistic Proverbs?
conceming the Hellenistic colouring of LXX Proverbs / by Johann
Cook.
p. cm. - (Supplements to Vetus Testamentum, ISSN 0083-5889
v.69)
Includes bibliographical references and indexes.
ISBN 9004108793 (cloth : alk. paper)
l. Bible. O.T. Proverbs. Greek-Versions-Septuagint.
2. Bible. O.T. Proverbs-Criticism, interpretation, etc.
1. Cook, Johann. II. Title. III. Series.
BS4l0.V452 vol. 69 BS1465.2
221 s-dc2l 97-37344
CIP
r972
ISSN 0083-5889
ISBN 90 04 10879 3
© Copyright 1997 by Koninklijke Britt NV, Leiden, The Netherlands
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PRINTED IN THE NETHERLANDS
CONTENTS
Preface ............................................................................................. xv
List of Abbreviations ....................................................... , ............. XIX
CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................... 1
1. History of research .. ........ ............ .............. ........ .............. .......... 3
2. Issues ofmethod ........................................................................ 12
2.1 The textual history of LXX Proverbs .............................. 12
2.1.1 Double Translations ................................................. 13
2.1.2 The hexaplaric text .................................................. 17
2.1.3 The available manuscript evidence ........................ 20
2.1.3.1 Uncials .................................................................... 21
2.1.3.2 Minuscules .............................................................. 23
2.1.3.3 Papyri ...................................................................... 26
2.2 The translation technique of LXX Proverbs .................. 29
2.3 The literary genre of Proverbs ......................................... 32
2.3.1 The Hebrew .............................................................. 32
Genre classifications ................................................ 32
2.3.2 The Septuagint ......................................................... 35
2.4 The Septuagint as exegetical writing ............................... 35
3. The research problem ............................................................... 37
4. Method and plan of research .................................................. 40
CHAPTER 2. ANALYSIS OF SELECTED CHAPTERS
FROM PROVERBS ......................................................................... 44
Proverbs 1 ................................................................................... 44
A. The text ...................................................................................... 44
1. Proverbs 1 verses 1-7 ......................................................... 44
Synopsis ............................................................................... 63
1. On the semantic (lexical) level ................................... 63
2. Syn tactic considerations ................................................ 64
3. Style and literary aspects .............................................. 64
II. Proverbs 1 verses 8-19 ....................................................... 65
Synopsis ............................................................................... 82
1. On the semantic (lexical) level ................................... 82
~ CONTENTS
2. Syntactic considerations .............................................. 82
3. Stylistics and literary perspectives ............................. 83
III. Proverbs 1 verses 20-33................................ ............. ...... 83
Synopsis ............................................................................. 97
1. On the semantic (lexical) level................................. 97
2. Syntactic considerations .............................................. 97
3. Stylistic and literary considerations .......................... 98
B. Conclusion .......... ..... ......................................................... ....... 99
1. Translation technique ......................................................... 99
1. On the semantical level: .............................................. 100
1.1 Application of Greek words ................................. 100
1.1.1 Hapax legomena ......................................... 100
1.1.2 Lexemes found only in Proverbs ............. 100
1.1.3 Lexemes used uniquely in Proverbs 1 ..... 100
1.1.4 The particles ................................................ 101
1.1.4.1 The Greek particles ....................... 101
1.1.4.2 The Hebrew particles .................... 102
1.1.5 Conclusion ................................................... 102
2. On the syntactic level: ................................................. 103
2.1 Macro-structural level ............................................ 103
2.2 Changed grammatical aspects .............................. 105
2.3 Singular for plural and vice versa ....................... 105
3. On the stylistic and literary level: .............................. 105
3.1 General stylistic features ....................................... 105
3.2 Word combinations ............................................... 106
3.3 Explication of passages ......................................... 106
4. Miscellaneous: ............................................................... 107
4.1 Relationship with other scriptural passages ...... 107
4.2 Relationship with the Peshitta ............................. 107
4.3 Relationship with Ben Sira .................................. 107
4.4 Minuses ................................................................... 107
4.5 Other characteristics ............................................. 108
4.5.1 Confusion of consonantsjlexemes ............ 108
5. Conclusion concerning translation technique ......... 108
II. Conclusion concerning the exegesis ("theology") of
LXX Proverbs .......................................................................... 109
Proverbs 2 ........................................................................................ 111
A. The text .................................................................................... 111
CONTENTS VII
1. Proverbs 2 verses 1-5 ................................................. 112
Synopsis ...................................................................... 118
1. On the semantic (lexical) level ........................... U8
2. On the syntactic level ........................................... 118
3. On the stylistic level .............................................. 118
II. Proverbs 2 verses 6-12 ............................................... 118
Synopsis ...................................................................... 128
1. On the semantic (lexical) level ........................... 128
2. On a syntactic level ............................................... 128
3. On a stylistic level ................................................. 128
III. Proverbs 2 verses 13-16 ............................................. 128
Synopsis ...................................................................... 133
1. On a semantical (lexical) level ............................ 133
2. On the syntactic level ........................................... 133
3. Stylistics ................................................................... 133
IV. Proverbs 2 verses 17-22 ............................................. 134
Synopsis ...................................................................... 146
1. On the semantic (lexical) level ........................... 146
2. On the syntactic level ........................................... 146
3. On the stylistic/literary level ............................... 146
B. Conclusions .............................................................................. 147
1. Translation technique ......................................................... 147
1. On the semantic level: .............................................. 147
1.1 Application of Greek words ............................... 147
1.1.1 Hapax legomena ........................................ 147
1.1.2 Lexemes used uniquely in Proverbs 2 ... 147
1.1.3 The particles .............................................. 148
1.1.3.1 The Greek particles .................... 148
1.1.3.2 The Hebrew particles ................. 148
1.1.4 Conclusion .................................................. 149
2. On the syntactic level: ............................................... 149
2.1 Macro-structural level ......................................... 149
2.2 Variation of grammatical constructions ........... 149
2.3 Singular for plural and vice versa .................... 150
3. On the stylistic and literary level: ............................ 150
3.1 General stylistic features ..................................... 150
3.2 Word combinations ............................................. 151
3.3 Explication of passages ....................................... 151
4. Miscellaneous: ............................................................. 151
4.1 Relationship with other scriptural passages .... 151
VIII CONTENTS
4.2 Relationship with the Peshitta ........................... 151
4.3 Relationship with Ben Sira ................................. 151
4.4 Minuses ................................................................. 151
4.5 "Hexaplaric" text ................................................. 152
4.6 Other characteristics ........................................... 152
4.6.1 Confusion of consonants/lexemes .......... 152
4.6.2 InternaI relation of stichs/verses ............ 152
5. Conclusion translation technique ....................... 152
II. Conclusion concerning the exegesis ("theology") of
LXX Proverbs .......................................................................... 153
Proverbs 6 ...................................................................................... 154
A. The text .................................................................................... 154
1. Proverbs 6 verses 1-5 ................................................. 155
Synopsis 160
1. Semantics ................................................................ 160
2. Syntax ...................................................................... 161
3. Style ...................................................................... 161
II. Proverbs 6 verses 6-11 ............................................... 161
Synopsis 172
1. On the semantic level ........................................... 172
2. On the syntactic level ........................................... 173
3. On the stylistic/literary level ............................... 173
III. Proverbs 6 verses 12-19 ............................................. 173
Synopsis 173
IV. Proverbs 6 verses 20-35 ............................................. 179
Synopsis 193
1. On the semantic level ........................................... 193
2. On a syntactic level ............................................... 193
3. On a stylistic level ................................................. 193
B. Conclusions .............................................................................. 193
1. Translation technique ....................................................... 193
1. On the semantical level: ................................................ 194
1.1 Application of Greek words .................................... 194
1.1.1 Hapax legomena ............................................. 194
1.1.2 Lexemes found only in Proverbs 6 ............. 194
1.1.3 Lexemes used uniquely in
Proverbs 6 ....................................................... 194
1.1.4 The particles ................................................... 196