To: Biblical Hebrew <b-hebrew AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
Subject: Re: Text of Isaiah
Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2001 11:43:24 +0000
On Tue, 21 Aug 2001 09:11:14 -0400 klbarney AT yahoo.com (Kevin L. Barney) wrote:
>I understand that the LXX of Isaiah is considered to be rather
>periphrastic and developed; that it is largely concerned with adapting
>Isaiah to issues and concerns of the translator's own time. My question
>is, is it sufficient to deal only with Hebrew sources to establish the
>text of Isaiah (esp. MT and 1QIsa(a))? Or are there places where the LXX
>or other ancient versions do seem to establish the original text? Can
>anyone give specific examples where the LXX or other ancient versional
>evidence seems to be superior to the Hebrew?
>
>Kevin Barney
>klbarney AT yahoo.com
>Hoffman Estates, Illinois
>
A basic principle of textual criticism is that even the most inferior text
could preserve an original reading. Every single variant must be weighed.
See E Tov, Textual Criticism of the Hebrew Bible, especially chapter 6.