Biblical Hebrew Forum

[George Athas <George.Athas AT moore.edu.au>]

It could be that the LXX understood שׁם are ‘there’ rather than ‘name’, 
making the translator refer back to the cities mentioned. The apparent 
omission, therefore, might not be an accidental omission, but rather an 
intentional one.

Fred, the proto-MT is probably the oldest textual tradition of the Hebrew 
Bible we have. The close similarities (for the most part) between the MT and 
the LXX demonstrate that the proto-MT is older than the LXX. In any case, age 
is not always the most reliable factor in determining a ‘correct’ text (if 
that term is appropriate to use). I highly recommend that you read a book or 
two on the production of the Hebrew Bible and textual criticism. It will 
really illuminate your perspective.


GEORGE ATHAS
Moore Theological College (Sydney, Australia)
www.moore.edu.au
(currently in Cairo, Egypt)