Biblical Hebrew Forum

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Probably Lamsa knew his topology.  The Aramaic _pum hirata/hirita_
literally
translates as "entrance [mouth] of cavernous rocks,"  or "entrance to
the place of
cavernous rocks."  I suppose that could refer to a canal, or entrance of
a canal.

Solomon Landers

Walter Mattfeld wrote:

> In studying Exodus 14:2 and Numbers 33:7-8, I note that George Lamsa's
> English translation of the Aramaic Peshitta (_Holy Bible From the Ancient
> Eastern Text_) renders the following-
>
> "...encamp by the INLET OF KHERITHA, between Migdol and the Sea, in front of
> Baal Zephon..." (Ex 14:2)
>
> "And they departed from Etham and encamped at the ENTRANCE OF HERITHA, THE
> CANAL, which is before Migdol. And they departed from THE ENTRANCE OF
> HERITHA and passed through the midst of the sea into the wilderness." (Nu
> 3:7-8)
>
> I recall reading somewhere that some scholars are not pleased with Lamsa's
> translations. Is he correctly tanslating the Aramaic, or is he taking
> liberties to interject his own views ?  Particularly, I want to know, does
> the Aramaic really call Kheritha/Heritha "a canal" ? The LXX renders mouth
> of Iroth (mouth being stoma in Greek).
>
> Pi-ha-hiroth (pronounced in Hebrew as pee-ha-cheeroth) is usually translated
> "mouth of Hiroth," where is Lamsa getting "entrance of Hiroth" or Hiroth THE
> CANAL if it isn't in the Aramaic Peshitta ? Are there Aramaic traditions it
> was a canal ???
> ******************************