Skip to Content.
Sympa Menu

b-hebrew - The MT and Intro to Eng LXX Psalter

b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org

Subject: Biblical Hebrew Forum

List archive

Chronological Thread  
  • From: Polychroni <upb_moniodis AT ONLINE.EMICH.EDU>
  • To: Biblical Hebrew <b-hebrew AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
  • Subject: The MT and Intro to Eng LXX Psalter
  • Date: Mon, 04 Oct 1999 09:40:02 -0400


The English translation of the LXX Psalter widely used in the Orthodox
Christian Church (_The Psalter, According to the Seventy_, Holy
Transfiguration Monastery, Boston Massachusetts, 1974, p 13-14) has the
following statement in its 'Translator's Introduction':

----------- begin quote-------

What is equally important is the fact that the present day Hebrew
version (also know as the Massoretic text) is itself the result of a
doctrinal upheaval which shook Judaism early in the ninth century A.D.
During this time, a sharp controversy broke out between the Rabbinical
scholars and the Karaite sect (the Hebrew from of the name is ~Beni
Miqra~, "Sons of Reading," i.e., of the Scriptures). As W. O. E.
Oesterey notes in his work ~The Psalms:~

The Karaites undertook a most minute and critical study of the
Biblical text; and in order to oppose and refute the Karaite
teaching, the Rabbis had to undertake a similar task. This dual
critical study developed into a very keen contest between the
Rabbinical and Karaite champions; and there is no doubt that
the bulk of the work . . . must be assigned to the heretical
Karaites.
(ibid. p. 114)

As a result, in his critical edition of the Hebrew Psalter,
Oesterley time and time again comes to the conclusion that, in a
countless number of verses, the Massoretic text is, as he puts it,
"hopelessly corrupt," and the Septuagint is repeatedly called upon in
the author's effort to shed some light on what the original hebrew
rendering may once have been.

---------end quote---------

My question is: does this group consider this a "fair" statement.
And, what might be a good reference source(s) that I could gather more
on the question for myself.

Thanks.

Polychroni Moniodis








Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.

Top of Page