Biblical Hebrew Forum

["David Stabnow" <dstabno AT lifeway.com>]

In 2 Sam 12:14 MT reads "Because in this deed you treated the enemies of
YHWH with contempt ..."

One LXX MS (c=376?) reads "Because in this deed you treated YHWH with
contempt ..."

DSS reads "Because in this deed you treated the word of YHWH with contempt
..."

If the one LXX MS reflects the original (which would make sense in
context), the others are attempts to mitigate the language regarding the
Name.

Robert Bergen's commentary on Samuel mentions 1 Sam 25:22, and cites
McCarter, II Samuel, p. 296 (McCarter, in turn, cites Mulder, 1968:109-110
and Dalman, 1960:109).

The fact that two different euphemisms appear in the textual evidence for
v. 14 supports the proposal that the ancient text had none (McCarter).
Note, also, that some MSS omit "word" in v. 9, evidence that it, too, might
be euphemistic (McCarter).  "Enemies" may also be euphemistic in 1 Sam
20:16 (McCarter).

Thus, the euphemisms in Samuel protect not only the Name, but also David.
That is, it is not only the tetragrammaton that has such "traditions," but
anything or anybody held in high honor by scribes.

Dave Stabnow