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  • From: "Joseph Brian Tucker" <music AT riverviewcog.org>
  • To: b-hebrew
  • Subject: Re: Tiqqune sopherim
  • Date: Sat, 20 May 2000 11:49:55


Looking at Gen. 18:22 the MT in the text says, 'Abraham still stood before
Yahweh.'versus the Tiq. soph. 'And Yahweh still stood before Abraham.'Why
may have the MT as it stands been corrected?

'R. Simon said: "This is a correction of the scribes for the Shekhinah was
actually waiting for Abraham." It is unlikely that the original text would
have read "while the Lord remained standing before Abraham," as claimed by
the Masorah.' (Tov, 66)

This explanation is not fully satisfying, does anyone have a clearer
explanation as to why this proposed correction was offered?

Looking at 1 Sam 3:13 the MT in the text says, 'because his sons were
blaspheming for themselves.' versus the Tiq. soph. 'because his sons were
blaspheming God.' Tov argues that this may be an example of a change
because of respect for God. (66) Do you agree with this, or is there
another reason why the reading occurred?

Jim West wrote:

<<I think it is absolutely true. That scribes often changed texts is fairly
self evident when one simply sets two texts side by side. The tiq. soph.
are described by the Masoretes themselves. So why wouldnt we believe it
when they themselves confess to changing the text? >>

Tov (65) writes: "For these verses the rabbis use two main terms, "the
verse uses a euphemism," and "correction,"...The two terms may reflect
ancient conflicting views of the phenomenon, that is, either euphemisms or
ancient textual corrections. However, since the terms are used in lists of
different dates, it is more likely that the differences in terminology
reflect a development in conception. Probably the tradition originally
referred to mere 'euphemisms' and only afterwards were they taken as
corrections."

"Even though many scholars accept the tradition about the corrections made
by the soferim as basically correct, in all probability these corrections
were not carried out in reality, and the tradition actually reflects an
exegetical Spielelement and a midrashic fancy..." Do you agree?


Thanks
Brian Tucker
Riverview, MI
music AT riverviewcog.org




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