6. Absence of Contraction. Many words are left uncontracted in the LXX which in Attic Greek would be contracted, e.g.—
Dt. 1811 ἐπαείδων ἐπαοιδήν. Prov. 38 ὀστέοις. Sir. 630 χρύσεος. Ps. 7317 ἔαρ.
The accusative plural of βοῦς is always βόας, e.g. Gen. 414. Similarly the accusative plural of ἴχθυς is left uncontracted wherever it occurs. Gen. 92: Nb. 115: Ps. 88, 10429: Hbk. 114: Ezk. 294. So also στάχυες, στάχυας Gen. 415, 7.
7. Feminine Forms of Movable Substantives. The form βασίλισσα for βασίλεια. was not approved by Atticists. It is common in the LXX, whereas βασίλεια does not occur. Cp. Acts 827. On the analogy of it we have Ἀράβισσα in Job 4217 c, Φυλάκισσα in Song 16. The following also may be noted: —
γενέτις Wisd. 712 A, τεχνῖτις 722, μύστις 84, ὑβρίστρια Jer. 2731.
8. Heteroclite Nouns.
αἰθάλη (Ex. 98, 10) for αἴθαλος, which does not occur.
ἅλων (Hos. 92), ἅλωνος (Jdg. 155) for ἅλως, ἅλω. Cp. Mt. 312, Lk. 317 τῂν ἅλωνα. In the LXX both ἅλων and ἅλως are of common gender. Thus Ruth 32 τὸν ἅλωνα, 314 τὴν ἅλωνα: Jdg. 637 τῇ ἅλωνι: i Chr. 2115 ἐν τῷ ἅλῳ, 2121 ἐκ τῆς ἅλω. Josephus (Ant. V 9 § 3) has τῆς ἅλωος.
γήρους, γήρει for γήρως, γήρᾳ, but nominative always γῆρας. For γήρους see Gen. 373: Ps. 709, 18: but in Gen. 4420 γήρως. For γήρει see Gen. 1515, Ps. 9115, Sir. 86, Dan. O’ 61. When one form is used, the other generally occurs as a variant. In Clement i Cor. 633 we have ἕως γήρους.
ἔλεος, τό for ἔλεος, ὁ. Plural τὰ ἐλέη (Ps. 167). The masculine form occurs in some dozen and a half passages (e.g. Ps. 8311: Prov. 316, 1422). In N.T. also and in the Apostolic Fathers the neuter is the prevailing form, e.g. ii Tim. 116, 18: Tit. 35: Hb. 416: Herm. Past. Vis. II 2 § 3, III 9 § 1, Sim. IV § 2: i Clem. 91, 141: ii Clem. 31, 162: Barn. Ep. 152. In Mt. 913, 127, 2323 the masculine form occurs, the two former being quotations from Hos. 66, where the LXX has the neuter.
ἔνεδρον (Jdg. 162) for ἐνέδρα. The former is quite common, the latter occurs only in Josh. 87, 9, Ps. 928.
λύχνος, τό (Dan. Ο’ 50).
νῖκος, τό (i Esd. 39) for νίκη. Cp. i Cor. 1555, 57: Herm. Past. Mdt. XII 2 § 5.
28 |
28 GRAMMAR OF SEPTUAGINT GREEK
The KT. and Apostolic Fathers afford other instances of hetero-clites, which do not occur in the LXX. Thus —
s, ro (Phil. 36: i Clem. 48' »>M, 61-2,91, 632, but in 52-5 St3t tfiX Ignat. ad?¥aZ. 42). ovs declined like /?ovS (Acts 2V: Mart. S. Ign. Ill
, r6 (ii Cor. 82: Eph. V, T, 38-16: Phil 4W: Col. I21, 22). to' (i Clem. 131).
9. Verbal Nouns in -pa. a. The abundance of verbal nouns in -^.a is characteristic of Hellenistic Greek from Aristotle onwards. The following instances from the LXX are taken at random—
Gen. 4312 (6 times in all), i K. 2528 (17 times in all).
Gen. 1511 (5 times in all).
Gen. 457 (20 times in all).
. ya.vpCa.fjM . . . xav^ij/xa Judith 159.
5. A point better worth noting is the preference for the short radical vowel in their formation, e.g. —
Svidena Lvt. 2728 etc. So in KT. Acts 23": Rom. 93: i Cor. 123, 1622: Gal. I8'9. In Judith 16M we have the classical form For the short vowel in the LXX, cp. 6(pa, tK0efw., a, TrapaBc/jua, irpocrOc/xa, (rvvOtfJia. a
i Mac. 928. So kMcim, Is. 319, Ezk. 1611. Gen. 25s etc. So in N.T. Sir. 209, 294. Gen. 25*> etc.
Gen. I10 etc. So dvaort/wt. In Judith 128 avda-rrjfw.. (for x™/xa) ii Mac. 224.
10. Won-Attic Forms of Substantives.
accusative plural (Jdg. 154) for aXwirexas.
(i K. 17s4) for a/jKxos, which does not occur. Cp. Rev. 132 apKOv.
Siva (Job 13U, 2810) for hivV. i (Dt. 183) for rjwcTTpov. So in Jos. Ant. IV 4 § 4.
29 |
ACCIDENCE 29
cmxotSos (Ex. 7U) for «tto)8os, which does not occur.
KA.tj8a.vos (Ex. 728) for Kpifiavvi. So also in N..T.
fj.6Xj.fiog (Ex. 1510), the Homeric form, for p.6Xv/38og.
To./j*iov (Ex. 728: Jdg. 324, 151,1612) for To/meW, which also occurs
frequently. The shorter form is common in the Papyri, vyeta (Tob. 821) for iyUux. In later Greek generally vyela is usual,
but the fuller form prevails in the LXX.
^et/xappos (i K. 17*) for ^ei/xappow.
11. Non-Attic Forms of Adjectives.
€v$rjs, evOes for €vOvwhich also occurs frequently, ijf/iuo-vs, -v is an adjective of two terminations in the LXX. fmUreux does not occur. Cp. Nb. 34M to rj/uo-v
Jos. Ant. IV 7 § 3 koL tyjs MavaCTo-mSos 17/xtcreia.
s, -a, -ov, the Homeric form, occurs in Jdg. 16n, i Esd. I38, 5 times in Job, and in Sir. 2820 for ^uXkovs, xa^KV> xa^K°w> which is very common.
yvpiKos i Esd. 824 only. Cp. Aristeas § 37, who has also cXai-kos, o-mKOs, xapitrrtKOs (§§ 112, 37, 227).
os Sir. 2615, 3510, 421 only, o's Prov. 1818, Sir. 2614 only.
Tob. 213 only. aioi often used in the neuter for ' a corpse/ e.g. iii K. 132S.
12. Comparison of Adjectives.
ayaOayrepos (Jdg. II25., 152) is perhaps an instance of that tendency to regularisation in the later stages of a language, which results from its being spoken by foreigners.
alo-xporepos (Gen. 4119) is good Greek, though not Attic. Ata^iW does not seem to occur in the LXX.
iyyuav and lyyioros are usual in the LXX, e.g. Ruth 312, iii K. 202, 'EyyvT£po9 does not seem to occur at all, and iyyvTaros only in Job 615, 1914.
trXija-uarepov adv. for irXrjcnaiTepov (iv Mac. 123).
13. Pronouns, a. Classical Greek has no equivalent for our unem-phatic pronoun 'he.' One cannot say exactly 'he said' in the Attic idiom. Autos t
i K. 1742 kcu cTSev PoXiaS rbv AauttS /cat tjtlixxutcv avrov, oti avros rjv 7ra.18dpt.ov Kal avrbs iruppaK-qi jxera KaAAovs St
30 |
30 GRAMMAR OF SEPTUAGINT GREEK
In the above the repeated airoi is simply the nominative of the avrdv preceding. In a classical writer avrds so used would necessarily refer to Goliath himself. For other instances see Gen. 315-l6, 3923: Nb. 175, 22s2: Jdg. 135'16, 14<-w: i K. 172,1816. Winer denied that this use of awds is to be found in the N.T. But here we must dissent from his authority. See Mt. 55 and following: Lk. 620: i Cor. 712.
b. As usual in later Greek the compound reflexive pronoun of the 3d person is used for those of the 1st and 2d.
Gen. 43s2 Kal apyvpuiv ertpov rjviyKa.fj.tv /xt6' lavriov. Dt. 37 kcu to. tSv iroXeiav €irpovo/A£waju,£v eavTOis. i K. 17 iKe£aa6e avBpa.
So also in Aristeas §§3, 213, 217, 228 (lavrw = veavrov), 248. This usage had already begun in the best Attic. Take for instance—
Plat. JPhcedo 91 C O7rs fir] €ykavrov T£ koI ii/aSs ltj,aTraxrf-cras, 78 B 8ei -jj/u-Ss tpicrOai cavrovs, 101 D crv St SeStws av ■ • . rrjv iavrov ctkuxv.
Instances abound in N.T. Acts 23M aveOefMTicraixev laurous, 5s5 irpocr^ere cavrots.
c. A feature more peculiar to LXX Greek is the use of the personal pronoun along with the reflexive, like the English ' me myself/ ' you yourselves/ etc.
Ex. 6' Kal jfjLpOfJuu e/ActUT<3 v/tas Xaov ifioi, 2023 ov 7ronjo-£T£
So also Dt. 416'23: Josh. 2216.
As there is nothing in the Hebrew to warrant this duplication of the pronoun, it may be set down as a piece of colloquial Greek.
d. The use of iStos as a mere possessive pronoun is common to the LXX with the N.T. e.g. —
Job 710 ovS' ov fir) eVwrpei/'g £is rbv IBmv oJkov. Mt. 22s aTrrjXOov, 6 /xiv £is tov iStov aypov, o 8e eirl ttjv i/XTropiav avrov.
14. Numerals, a. 8v
Svelv occurs in Job 1320, SvoTv in iv Mac. I28,152. Sometimes Svo is indeclinable, e.g. Jdg. 1628 tS>v Svo o<£0aA/xw.
b. The following forms of numerals differ from those in classical use: —
Sv'o Ex. 2821: Josh. 2140, 1824: i Chr. 6®, 1510, 2510ff-. So in N.T. Acts 197, 2411. Cp. Aristeas § 97.
31 |
ACCIDENCE 31
Gen. 1725: Josh. 196. 8«a reWapes Josh. 1536: Tob. 820. So in N.T. ii Cor. 122, Gal. 21.
Q>. Diog. Laert. VII § 55.
8«a Trevre Ex. 2715: Jdg. 810: ii K. 19". So in N.T. Gal. I18. l| Gen. 4618: Ex. 2625: Josh. 15* Iittc£ Gen. 372,17®.
<5ktg id="iv.i.i.iv.p72.1"> Gen. 4G22: Josh. 24s3 b: Jdg. 3M, 108, 20": i Chr. 1231: ii Chr. II21.
The above numerals occur also in the regular forms —
Gen. 5s.
Kal 8e/ca, Tpicnau'SeKa Nb. 2913'M. T£O"O"apes Kal Se/ca Nb. 16*9.
/caj 8«a Lvt. 277: ii K. 910. i ScW Nb. 3140'46'62. Jer. 399. okto) Kai 8«a ii K. 813. eroea «at SeW ii K. 230 only.
c. The forms just given may be written separately or as one word.
This led to the riatrape; in Te
ii Chr. 255 mbvs
The same license is extended in the LXX to 8oNb. 29^ d/ivovs tvuLVcrlovs Sexa Tc'crcrapes d/AU/Mws.
The indeclinable use of rea-aapcarKaiSeKa is not peculiar to the LXX. Hdt. VII 36 Tcacrapco-KcuSeKa (rpnfceas). Epict. Much. 40 oltto T£
TccrcrapOTKatSeica eOvr], 189, IV 2 § 1 iOvtov T«r
d. The alternative expressions o eh kcu cikoo-tos (ii Chr. 24lr) and 6 cikocttos irp&Tos (ii Chr. 2528) are quite classical: but the following way of expressing days of the month may be noted —
Haggai 21 /ua ko.1 eixaSt tov /atjvos. i Mac. I5' Tn^m? Kai eiVaSi tov fiijvos. Cp. 459. ii Mac. 105 rrj Ttkp.'mrj kcu etxaSi tov airov
VERBS, 15-33
15. The Verb Etvoi. ^fi-qv the 1st person singular of the imperfect, which is condemned by Phrynichus, occurs frequently in the LXX. It is found also in the N.T. —i Cor. 13U: Gal. I10'22: Acts 1030, II5-17,
32 |
32 GRAMMAR OF SEPTUAGINT GREEK
2219.2": Mt. 25s5: Jn. II15. According to the text of Dindorf it occurs even in Eur. Hel. 931. It is a familiar feature of Hellenistic Greek, being common in Philo and Josephus, also in the Pastor of Hermas, and occurring moreover in such authors as Epictetus (Diss. I 16 § 19), Plutarch {Pomp. 74), Diogenes Laertius (VI § 56), Lueian (Asinus 46).
•§s for v)v$a., which is condemned by the same authority, occurs in Jdg. II35: Ruth 32: Job 384: Obd. I11. Op. Epict. Diss. IV 1 § 132.
fOTGKTav is the only form for the 3d person plural imperative, neither Iot
yrw for?
■qixeOa for rjf>.cv occurs in i K. 25™: Baruch I19. This form appears in the Revisers' text in Eph. 23.
16. The Termination -o-av. a. Probably the thing which will first arrest the attention of the student who is new to the Greek of the LXX is the termination in -
There are in Greek two terminations of the 3d person plural of the historic tenses— (1) in -v, (2) in -aav. Thus in Homer we have e/3av and also eftrjo-av- In Attic Greek the rule is that thematic aorists (i.e. those which have a .connecting vowel between the stem and the termination) and imperfects take v, e.g. —
e-Xv
while non-thematic tenses and the pluperfect take -ow, e.g. —
e-So-trav, e-ri-$E-cray, i-Xc-XvK-t-aav.
In the Greek of the LXX, which in this point represents the Alexandrian vernacular, thematic 2d aorists and imperfects may equally take -trav.
Of 2d aorists we may take the following examples —
£iSo(TOv or ISocrav,, ei7ro
poa-av (= 2d aor.), tcftayoo-av, i
(Josh. 314).
Compounds of these and others abound, e.g. — aTrijXBoa-av, Str/XOocrav, elarjXOoorav, iijrjXOoaav, iraprjX&ocrav, TrtpirjXOo-
crav, KaTeXtVoCTaVj aTrtOdvoaaV) etcrryyayocrav.
33 |
ACCIDENCE 33
b. Instances of imperfects, which, for our present purpose, mean historic tenses formed from a strengthened present stem, do not come so readily to hand. But here are two —
eXa/x/Javoaav Ezk. 2212. Z
These seem to be more common in the case of contracted vowel verbs —
iyevvSxrav Gen. 64 ev&rpidvovy Lam. I5.
iirrj^ovovaav ~Nh. I18. rjvojj.ov
eirotovcrar Job 1*. Karevoovaav Ex. 33s.
ira-n-eivovvav Judith 49. oiKoSo/xowrav ii Esd. 1418.
evXoyova-av Ps. 61s. irap£Trjpov
Cp. Herm. Past. Sim. VI 2 § 7 cvoratfowai/, IX 9 § 5 ISokoCow.
Such forms occur plentifully in Mss. of the N.T., but the Revisers' text has only iSoXiovaav in Romans 313 (a quotation from Ps. 133) and TrapeXa/Jocrav in ii Thes. 36.
c. The same termination -vav sometimes takes the place of -ev in the 3d person plural of the optative.
alv£
Ps. 34s5. tSoiaav Job 2120.
Pl'OV. 2452. Kara^ayotcrav PrOV. 3017.
Ps. 10335. 6A«Vato-av Job 18", 2010.
Dt. 3316: Job 189'u. we/otiroT^aaiouv Job 2026.
iveyKaicrav Is. 6620. 7rotijo"aicrav Dt. I44.
euAoy^fraicrav Ps. 342S. Tru/xxewaicrav Job 2010.
cvpourav Sir. 339. ifrr]Xa.(f>y
d. In Hellenistic Greek generally -ow is also the termination of the 3d person plural of the imperative in all voices, e.g. —
i K. 3022 airaytaOuHjav koa. a7rooTpe<£€T<0(rai'.
Tor instances in N.T. see i Cor. 79'36: i Tim. 54: Tit. 3": Acts 2420, 255.
17. Termination of the 2d Person Singular of Primary Tenses Middle and Passive. In the LXX, as in Attic, the 2d person singular of the present and futures, middle and passive, ends in -y, e.g. ap£g,
34 |
34 GRAMMAR OF SEPTUAGINT GREEK
The full termination of the 2d person singular of primary tenses middle and passive (-o-ai), which in Attic Greek appears only in the perfect of all verbs and in the present of -/u verbs, as Ae-Au-crai, 8t-8o-crat; is occasionally to be found in the LXX in other cases.
iii K. 146. Dt. 3118 (A).
ktSo-ou Sir. 67.
mWi Dt. 28s9: Buth 29-14: iii K. 174: Ps. 1272: Jer. 2913 (A):
Ezk. 4U, 1218, 23s2-34. 4,dy£(Tai, Ruth 214: Ezk. 1218. So in N.T. —
Ron*. 2a7'23: i Cor. 47.
Rom. 9IS. <58wS
tf>6.ye
The Pastor of Hermas yields US iirunravai., 7rAava(rai, xpa
In theory -crcu is the termination of every 2d person singular in the middle and passive voices, as in 8i-So-aai, kf-Xv-aai, so that iri-e-aai is a perfectly regular formation. But in Attic Greek the o- has dropped out wherever there is a connecting vowel, and then contraction has ensued. Thus 7rt£crai becomes first meat, and finally ircy. Confirmation of this theory is to be found in Homer, where there are many examples of the intermediate form, e.g. avaCpeai, Bevijaeai, epx^h e^x60-^ lhrp.1, neXeai, A«£««, AiXcuecu, //.atvecu, ve/ieai, oSvpeu, viakuu. It is an interesting question whether m'eom and <£ayeo-at are survivals in the popular speech of pre-Homeric forms, or rather revivals, as Jannaris and others think, on the analogy of the perfect middle and passive of all verbs and of the present middle and passive of -)ju verbs.
In /cauxacrou and the like, contraction has taken place in the vowels preceding the o- (Kavxaeom = Kavxo-crai). a.Tre£evov
As against these fuller forms, we sometimes find contracted forms in the LXX, where the -o-at is usual in Attic.
Sv'vjj for SuWcu. Dan. 0' 516. So in N.T. Lk. 162: Eev. 22. In Eur. Hec. 253 Porson substituted Suva for Bvvy, as being more Attic. SuVao-cu itself occurs in Job 1013,35s-",' 422: Wisd. II28: Dan. © 226, 415, 516: Bel ®24.
hr'vtrr-Q for ivUrrujax. Wo. 2014: Dt. 222: Joskl46: Job384: Jer. 17": Ezk. 374.
35 |
ACCIDENCE 35
18. Aorist in -a. a. Another inflexional form for the frequency of which the classical student will hardly be prepared is the aorist in -a in other than semivowel verbs. Attic Greek offers some rare instances of this formation, as etW-a, yjvtyK-a, «?xe-a, ^d in Homer we have such stray forms as Kr/avTes (Od. IX 231), aXeacrOu (Od. IX 274), ceva (II. XX 189). Nevertheless this is the type which has prevailed in the modern language.
b. In Attic the aorist eura occurs more frequently in the other moods than in the indicative (e.g. Plat. Soph. 240 D ehaiixev, Prot. 353 A eiWrov imperative, Phileb. 60 D dirdru), Meno 71 D &tov imperative).
In the LXX this aorist is equally common in the indicative.
Dt. I2": Ps. 405.
Gen. M28: Judith 16". dp. Horn. II. 1106,108. etira/*ev Gen. 4231, 4422.26. el-rare Gen. 43s9, 44s8, 459.
elimv Jdg. 1415'18: i K. 1014: ii K. 1720, 1912: iv K. I6: Tob. 75: Jer. 492.
Gen. 4517: Dan. 0' 27.
Dan. ® 27.
(imperative) Gen. 507. dp. Horn. Od. Ill 427. curas Gen. 462.
c. While the classical aorist rjXdov is common in the LXX, the form with -a also occurs, especially in the plural.
Wo. 1328.
e Gen. 26s7, 4212: Dt. I20: Jdg. II7.
Gen. 4718: Jdg. 121: ii K. 1720, 247: ii Chr. 2518: Dan. © 22.
Esther 54-8: Is. 519: Jer. 1715.
PrOV. 95.
&crt66.T
This aorist is common in Mss. of the N.T., but has not been admitted into the Revisers' text. Cp. Herm. Past. Vis. 14 § 1 rj8av, § 3 a.7rrj av: i Clem. 383 dcrrjXOafiev.
d. By the side of efSov we have an aorist in -a, especially in the^Sa person plural, where its advantage is obvious. (See h belpw.)
' tZSa/nev i K. 10". cT8av Jdg. 628,162*: i K. 619: ii K. 10"-19.
36 |
36 GRAMMAR OF SEPTUAGINT GREEK
e. Similarly by the side of tlXov we have parts formed as though from efAa.
Ko.0«Aav Gen. 44": iii K. 1914. itXaro Dt. 2618. ivelXaro Ex. 25. 6.
SietXavTO Josh. 228.
i&UMv i K. 1018.
i(dXaro Ex. 184-8: Josh. 2410: i K. 12U, 1737, 3018.
TtapdhxTO Nb. II25.
/. The aorist en-ecra occurs frequently in the 3d person plural, but is rare in other parts.
?7r«ra Dan. 0' 817. mad™ Jer. 4420 (AS), 492 (AS),
lirecras ii K. 3s4. Trc'trare Hos. 108.
Among compounds we find a.7ro;rea-aTcD<7av, Sien-eaaVj cvoreouv, iTreirccrav. So in KT. —
lireo-a E,ev. I17.
Rev. 514, 613, II16, 1710: Hb. II30. ^ Gal. 54.
j. Polyb. Ill 19 § 5 .ivTeVecrav.
gr. Other aorists of the same type are —
. 39. lAajffov ii K. 2316.
ii Chr. 296. i
iii K. 63. ' l^uyav Jdg. 721.
Gen. 441.
7i. The frequency of the 3d person plural in this form is' no doubt due to a desire to differentiate the 3d person plural from the 1st person singular, which are confounded in the historic tenses ending in -ov. It also secured uniformity of ending with the aorist in -era. In ii K. 1014 we have this collocation —
elSav . . . e
In Jdg. 6s we find the anomalous form aviftaivav followed by
19. Augment, a. The augment with the pluperfect is at times omitted by Plato and the best Attic writers. Instances in the LXX are — |8e/3po5K«i i K. 3012. !v8eS«K« Lvt. 1623.
v ii K. 18". im/Se^Ka Nb. 22®.
iii K. 1013. ^oka i K. 3012.
Job 2914.
37 |
ACCIDENCE 37
So in N.T. —
ScSutca Mk. 1444. jUfi£vr}Kiurav i Jn. 219.
SeSu/ceto-av Jn. II57: cp. Mk. 1510. irnncrrevKturav Acts 14s3.
Mk. 169. 7re7TO^/
Acts 2016.
But in the LXX we occasionally find other historic tenses without the augment, e.g. ii Esd. 1418 okoSo/xoCo-av. This is especially the case with eTSov.
Z&s Lam. 359. ZW Gen. 37s5, 405.
ffiev Gen. 379, 406. ,rpot8ov Gen. 3718
b. In Attic Greek, when a preposition had lost its force and was felt as part of the verb, the augment was placed before, instead of
after, it, as iKaOevhov, ZKaBitpv, iKadyii.y]V.
The same law holds in the Greek of the LXX, but is naturally extended to fresh cases, e.g. to xpovo/xeiW, which in the Alexandrian dialect seems to have been the common word for ' to ravage.' Dt. 2s5, 37. r/vcxypaaav Job 243.
. 319.
c. The aorist ijvoi&i is already found in Xenophon. In the LXX it is common, though by no means to the exclusion of the form with internal augment. Besides rjvoi4a itself, which is conjugated throughout the singular and plural, we have also the following — m>. 16s2: Ps. 10517, 1081. ^voiyov i Mac. II2.
v Ezk. I1. rjvoiycro iii K. 7a.
Is. 4220.
SoalsoinN.T.— Tjmie Acts 12", 1427: Kev. 81. 8njvoiy/iei/o«s Acts 7s6.
S«Jvoi& Acts 16M. yvoCyr) Eev. II19.
Besides the Attic form with double internal augment, dve'a>|a, the LXX has also forms which augment the initial vowel of this, and so display a triple augment — rtvii^e Gen. 86: iii Mac. 618.
k Gen. 7": Sir. 4314: Dan. 710.
iii K. 8s9: ii Chr. 620-40, 715: Neh. I6.
iii K. 852.
o in N.T. — rjvca>yiJ.£vov Rev. 10s.
38 |
38 GRAMMAR OF SEPTUAGINT GREEK
d. In irpo^-qreoav the internal augment is wrong, since the verb is formed on the noun irpo^n/r?;?. In the LXX vpoe(j>^reva-ev occurs only in i K. 1810 (A) and Sir. 4620. Nevertheless this is the form which has been everywhere preferred in the Eevisers' text of the N.T.
Trpoefprjrevov Acts 196.
■7rPoe4>rJTcv
Trpoe
7rpoe
e. Instances of double augment in the LXX are — aireKaTiaTi) Ex. 1527.
a.ire.Ka.Ti
yvtoxWrr i K. 3
20. Reduplication, a. In verbs compounded with a preposition reduplication is sometimes applied to the preposition.
KeKarapa^vos Dt. 2123: Sir. 316. Op. EDOoh 272. 7reTrpovofj*.v/J.lv&; Is. 422. Qp. § 19 6.
&. In the form KeKar-^pavrai (Nb. 22", 249. Op. Enoch 271'2.) we have what may be called double reduplication.
c. With ptpLjj.fj.evoi (Jdg. 422) and CK/otpt/A/xcVijv (Jdg. 15W) may be compared Homer's ptp
ru>ij.h/a. (Od. YI 59). p€pt'
d. The reduplicated present iKSiSwKetc occurs in four passages — i K. 318': ii K. 2310: Neh. 4s3: Hos. 71. It is used also by Josephus. Ktx/oSv, 'to lend/ occurs in three passages—i K. Is8: Prov. 13U: Ps. 1115. Kixpriiu is used in this sense by Demosthenes.
e. The verb Kpa£eiv has a reduplicated weak aorist, i^pa^a, which is very common, especially in the Psalms; also a reduplicated strong aorist, though this is very rare.
tKtKpaytv Is. 6s. eKCKpayov Is. 6*.
21. Attic Future, a. What is called the Attic future, i.e. the future out of which
39 |
ACCIDENCE 39
There is no apparent reason for the contraction in the future of verbs in -l£uv. The retention of
iSi Jer. 312. fx,rjvim Lvt. 1918.
d Ps. 1029.
b. In Attic Greek there are a few instances of verbs in -dropping the o- and contracting in the future. Thus /3i/3d£av, litTolfiiv have the futures /3t/8fi, i£erG> in addition to the full forms. In the LXX the former of these sometimes retains the o- in the future (Dt. 67: Ps. 31s: Is. 4018: Wisd. 63: Sir. 13"), the latter always: but the tendency which they exemplify is carried out in the case of other verbs in -a£ety. Hence we meet with the following futures —
dpTra Lvt. 1918.
dp-rruifiai Hos. 514.
iKSiKarai Lvt. 1918: Dt. 3243: Judith II10.
ipya Gen. 412, 2927: Ex. 209, 3421: Lvt. 2540: Dt. 51S, 1519: ii K 910. ipykrat Lvt. 2540: Job S329. ipyZVTIs. 510: Jer. 378-9, 2213, 41": Ezk. 4819. Karepya Dt. 2839. m Dt. 3116. Job 8lr.
c. Both in the LXX and in the 3ST.T. semivowel verbs, i.e. those with A, p, ju,, v, have a contracted future, as in Attic, e.g. f/a5>, cnrtptls, Te/Aeis, pavet.
d. In Attic Greek the future of x«« is still x
e/c^ects,
The 1st person plural does not seem to occur.
e. To the contracted futures the LXX adds the post-classical ekS>, fronHaie same stem as elAov. This future occurs both in the active and the middle voices, e.g. a<} id="iv.i.i.iv.p244.1">i;S> (Nb. II17), «&Xub-& (Josh. 213).
SoinN.T.—
ii Th. 28.
40 |
40 GRAMMAR OF SEPTUAGINT GREEK
/. In Attic reXeiv and Kakuv are in the future indistinguishable from the present. In the later Greek of the LXX this ambiguity is avoided by the retention of the full form of the future. Thus we have—
crwrtXeaere, crwrcXecrovcriv, and
KaXetms, KaXccret,
KaXecrowiv.
g. The future oX«ro>, ■which is common in Homer but rare in Attic, does not occur in the LXX5 which has only the contracted forms —
6£ Prov. I32. 6XovvTw. Prov. 2s2,132,155,1633, 25W.
oXemu Job 813.
h. On the other hand, «Xdcms in Ex. 25" is the only instance of the future of IXavva in the LXX.
i. In Attic o-Ke&Wu/xi has future o-keSu), but in the LXX it retains the o-, e.g. SuwrKeSao-w Jdg. 21.
22. Retention of Short Vowel in the Future. As a rule in Greek a and e verbs lengthen the vowel in forming the future. Exceptions are o-rrdo) and xiXao) among a verbs, and among e verbs aive'eo, KaXew, TtXew. When the vowel is short in the future, it is also short in the 1st aorist.
To the e verbs which have the vowel short in the future and 1st aorist we may add from the LXX iraviiv,
i
23. Aorist of Semivowel Verbs. In Attic Greek semivowel verbs with a in their stem lengthen the a into 17 in forming the 1st aorist (as
In the LXX many such verbs lengthen into d when the a of the stem is preceded by a consonant. Hence we meet with such forms as eyXwavas, CKK&Oapov, i^eKadapa, iireyjapas, iiriffmvov, iitoifua.vf.v, ecnj^ia-vev, ayjjAvri, v^davai, v
The form «a6apgs is read in Dindorf's text of Xen. CEc. 18 § 8,
41 |
ACCIDENCE 41
and in Hermann's text of Plato Laws 735 we have Ka.6a.py in B followed by Kodriptitv in D. The aorist ic-Zj/Mva is found as early as Xen-ophon. Cp. Aristeas §§ 16, 33. 'EKfpSava was always regarded as good Attic.
Such forms are also to be found in the N.T., e.g. —
lfia.aKa.vev Gal. 31. la-qpawai Kev. I1.
24. The Strong Tenses of the Passive. The Greek of the LXX displays a preference for the strong over the weak tenses of the passive, i.e. for the tenses which are formed directly from the verbal stem, namely, the 2d aorist and the 2d future. Thus r/yyiX-qv, which is not to be found in classical authors, except in a disputed reading of Eur. I. T. 932, occurs frequently (in compounds) in the LXX, and the future passive, when employed, is the corresponding form in -rjo-ofuii,
e.g. Ps. 2181 avayyeX-qaerai, Ps. 5813 huxyyeX-qarovTai.
So again from piVra we find only the 2d aorist and 2d future passive, e.g. Ezk. 1912 Zppfyrj, ii K. 2021 pi^-qatrai.
The following are other instances of the same formation: —
fip^ (f$px)
ypa
Budpv^r]crav Nahum I6.
iKXcrfvai Dan. O'll35.
eXiyrjatrai Is. 344.
ive^piyy, Ps. 6212.
i£ai
imo-KeTrrjCrav i Chr. 2631. rjKa.TaarTa.Tr]crav Tobit I15. 6pvyrj Ps. 9318. TrtpieTrXoiKTjo-av Ps. 11861.
25. The Verbs imvav and Sn|»av. In Attic Greek these two verbs contract into -q instead of d. In the LXX they contract into d, and iravaco further forms its future and aorist in d instead of -q.
eav irava . . . iav Bupa PrOV. 2521. eiretvas Dt. 2518. rtoltf (ind.) Is. 298.
$he parts of weivSv which occur in the future and aorist are -rrava.-crei, Travacrere, ir£ivacroi)(7t, lireivaaev, eTravacrav, ireivd
42 |
42 GRAMMAR OF SEPTUAGINT GREEK
So also in N.T. — ■n-avav Phil. 412. ■KtwS. (ind.) i Cor. 11s1. Treiva . . . Sujja (subj.) Rom. 1220 (quoted from Prov. 2521).
eav Tts Sii/fa Jd. 73'.
For the future and aorist of mwav in KT. see Mt. 122-3, 25s5: Lk. 42: Jn. 6s5: Rev. 716.
26. The Perfect of iii«iv. "Hk£iv in the LXX has a perfect fJKa, which occurs however only in the plural.
■qKapev Gen. 474: Josh. 912.
fare Gen. 427-9: Dt. 129: i Chr. 1217.
■^Kacri(v) 18 times. This form occurs once in the N.T. —
^a
Op. i Clem. 122 in a quotation from Josh. 23.
The aorist i?£a, which is found iu late authors, is not used in the LXX.
Wherever the form tJkc occurs, it is either imperative, as in ii K. 14s2, or imperfect, as in ii Mac. 431, 8s3, 144'26.
27: Presents formed from Perfects, a. From the perfect Iot^ko. there was formed a new present o-nj/co), which occurs in two or three passages of'the LXX.
Jdg. 162e. '
(imper.) Ex. 1413 (A).
So in N.T. —
Rom. 144. (ind.) Phil. I27.
(imper.) i Cor. 1613: Gal. 51: Phil 41: ii Thes. 215.
b. Similar to this is the verb ypijyopetv, formed from iypyyopa. We may conjecture that the pluperfect iyp-qyopu came to be regarded as a contracted imperfect, and so gave rise to yprjyopS>.
eypyyopovv Jer. 3828.
yp-qyopdv i Mac. 122r.
yprjyopowT
ypTjyopycro) Jer. 3828.
iyprfyopt}(rc(v) Jer. 56: Bar. 29: Dan. © 9".
Lam. I14.
43 |
ACCIDENCE 43
From this verb in its turn was formed a new verbal noun ois Dan. © 5U> M. Op. also the proper name Fptjyopws. So in N.T. —
yprjyopuifiev i Tn. 56.
yprjyopelre (imper.) i Cor. 1613: Mk. 1337.
yp7)yoprj
c. Of like Origin is the aorist iveiroCO-qa-a, which occurs in Job 3124. From -TrtiroiOeiv again we have the noun ireirolOrjo-K iv K. 1819.
d. The tendency to form new presents from perfects is already exhibited in Homer. Thus we have avwya (Od. V 139 etc.) formed from avuiyoL, and yeywvav (II. XII 337) from yeyuva; also the imperfect ifiepriKov (Od. IX 439) from faip.i]Ka.
28. The Verb Io-tcLvcu and its Cognates. By the side of the forms in -/u there existed from Homer downwards alternative forms in -u>. Some of these present themselves in the LXX. Thus we have the following parts of the transitive verb to-raw. UrrSxriv i Mac. 81.
£otw ii K. 22s4: Job 62: Ps. 1733: Sir. 27s6: Is. 4426: i Mac. 2*. Among its compounds we may notice the following — Ka0ta-TS>v Dt. 17": Dan. O' 4s4. Op. Aristeas § 228.
^ButtS. Dan. ® 2a. Kadio-rav Dan. 0' 221.
i Mac. 818.
ItS.v iii Mac. 6M. So in N.T.—
Rom. 331. o-vnorfiv ii Cor. 1018.
a Mk. 912.
The form laravuv, also transitive, occurs in Ezk. 17". Op. Aristeas §§ 280, 281 xadujTavuv.
So in N.T.—
(jLtdurrdvuv i Cor. 132. crwiorarav ii Cor. 31. Cp. 512, 1012.
Cp. Herm. Past. Vis. I 3 § 4 jkBujtovu.
Later Greek has a transitive perfect e
iu4a.Ka.fx.ev i Mac. II84. A
i Mac. 1020. Qp. Aristeas § 37.
44 |
44 GRAMMAR OF SEPTUAGINT GREEK
So in N.T. — e£e
In Josh. 1019 there occurs the irregular perfect imperative ia with connecting vowel a instead of e. With this form may be compared ■nero&arc Ps. 145s: Is. 5010: Jer. 94.
29. The Verb -ntevai and its Cognates. This verb does not offer much scope for remark. The imperfect is formed, so far as it occurs, from the alternative form ti&'w.
iri&as Ps. 4918>w. kr'&u Prov. 8s8.
This is in accordance with classical'usage, which however has fri&jv in the 1st person. 'ErtOrj is read by A in Esther 44.
The strong and weak aorists active seem to be about equally frequent. The only person of the latter that is missing is the 2d person plural. 'E0»jKa/Aei> is found (ii Esd. 1510: Is. 2815) and t&riKav is common.
The 2d person singular of the strong aorist middle is always l#ov, as in Attic.
In i Esd. 430 we find ormfloway formed from the thematic
30. The Verb SiSdvoi ana its Cognates. The present tense runs thus—
SiSojui, 8i8«)s, ShSgkh,
StSoacriv.
In Ps. 3621 we find 3d person singular StSoI from the cognate The imperfect runs thus —
iSiSovv or
as 3d person plural occurs in ii Chr. 275: iii Mae. 380; in Judith 7a: Jer. 4421: Ezk. 2342: iii Mac. 282. The imperative active Si'Sou is found in Tobit 416: Prov. 99, 22*. The 1st aorist is common in the singular and in the 3d person plural of the indicative, cSojkciv.
The 2d aorist subjunctive runs thus —
8u)T£, 8£
Of the above forms only St8ot, 3d person plural cSt'Sow, and ZSuKav are non-Attic.
45 |
ACCIDENCE 45
The optative of the 2d aorist has the stem vowel long — 8^s Ps. 847, 1203. • .'.
B
SoinKT.— Swi) ii Th. 316: Rom. 155: Eph. 1": ii Tim. I16-18, 2s5.
31. The Verb Uvoi and its Cognates, a. The simple verb livai does not occur in the LXX. It has therefore to be studied in its compounds. The regular inflexion of the imperfect in Attic is supposed to be Ztjv, Uus, ?a, though in Plat. Euthyd. 293 A we have 1st person singular ■ij^kw. 'H<£ias therefore (Sus. O'53) may be considered classical.
b. The following two passages will set before us the points that have to be noticed with regard to dc/uevai —
Ex. 32s2 d fih> d<^€i9 . . . a<£es. i Esd. 47 eurev a.
In the former of these d
In the latter we have a new formation which treats the reduplication as though it were itself the stem. Of this new verb we have the following parts —
&.
d^tW Eccl. 511.
In the N.T. also we find d^ets (Rev. 220) and jfa«(i>) (Mk. 1st, II16) the imperfect of &4>l<». Op. Herm. Past. Vis. Ill 7 § 1
&.<] id="iv.i.i.iv.p358.1">IOV(TIV.
The weak aorist occurs in the singular and in the 3d person plural a^Kav, e.g. Jdg. I34.
c. A thematic verb crwiav existed in classical Greek. Theognis 565 has the infinitive crwtetv: Plat. Soph. 238 E uses fuvieis. Of this verb we find the following parts in the LXX, if we may trust the accentuation —
uv iii K. 39-u. (rmnovcnv (dat. pi.) Prov. 89.
i&v ii Chr. 3412.
^o also in N.T. —
'b o-wtSv Rom. 3U. In Mt. 1323 the R.V. text has
46 |
46 GRAMMAR OF SEPTUAGINT GREEK
d. In addition to this we find a verb of new formation like d<£t'u id="iv.i.i.iv.p366.1"> —
■
In ii Chr. 265 owiwros and ii Esd. 816 crunwras the accent seems to be misplaced.
The new participle o-unW has not entirely ousted the -fu form in the LXX. We have awitfe Ps. 3215: oi ovnevres Dan. 12s: awtevras Dan. © 14: r5r crwtivraiv Dan. 11s5.
e. The 3d person plural of the 1st aorist fJKav, which occurs in Xen. Anab. IV 5 § 18, is used in the LXX in its compound a
f. The verb awCuv is to be met with also in the Apostolic Fathers —
tninoi Herm. Past. Mdt. IV 2 § 1, X 1 § 3.
oWa IV 2 § 2.
truvioixrti' X 1 § 6.
awe VI 2 §§ 3, 6: Sim. IX 12 § 1.
trwtW Barn. Ep. 1210.
g. The 2d person singular present middle irpoiy in Job 719 is doubtless formed on the analogy of Ai%, but might be reached from irpokaai by loss of cr and contraction.
32. The Imperatives dvdo-Ta and airoo-ro, etc. It is the by-forms in -co which account for these imperatives (dvocrra = dvacrTa-t). 'Avcutto. in the LXX is used interchangeably with avaxTTrfit.. Thus in Dan. 75 0' has avaxTTa, while © has dvacro?0i. But the same writer even will go from one to the other. Thus in iii K. 19 we have avdo-r-rjOi in v. 5 and avdara in v. 7, and again in iii K. 20 dvaora in v. 15 and. avd-
in Job 716, 146, 21".
So in N.T., where we find in addition the 3d person singular and the 2d person plural.
ivdcrra A-CtS 127: Eph. 5". Kara/Sara. Mt. 2742.
Rev. 41. dvaj3
Gp. Herm. Past. Mdt. VI 2 §§ 6, 7 d^i-oWa . . . diroa-Tjjft, Vis. 2 § 8 avTiara.
47 |
ACCIDENCE 47
Similar forms are to be found even in the Attic drama and earlier. I^Sa Eur. Elec. 113: ,Ar. Ban. 377. imfia Theognis 845. tafia Eur. Plioen. 193. Kai-a/3a Ar. Ban. 35, Vesp. 979.
a Eur. Ale. 872: Ar. Adi. 262.
33. Special Forms of Verbs.
denominative from
v iv K. I?9: Job 29", 3119 (in 405 i^Uaai) = f^ 6.7TOKT&VUV Ex. 4s8: iiK. 412: ivK. 1725: Ps. 77s4, 1008: Wisd.
16": Hab. I17: Is. 663: Dan. © 21S: iii Mac. 7". awoTiwiuv Gen. 3139: Ps. 685: Sir. 2012.
iXeav for a«Tv. Ps. 3626, 1146: Prov. 139,1421-31, 2126, 28s: Sir. 18": Tobit 132: iv Mac. 612, 93. So in N.T., Jude22'23. Op. iClem. 132: Barn. Ep. 202. rj? Ezk. 16*.
ii K. 1811. Maintained by some to be the true Attic form. ipprjycas for eppcoyws- Job 3219. ivQuv for icrOCuv. Lvt. 715, 11« 17W; 198'26: Sir. 2015. Old poetic
form. Horn. II. XXIV 415: Od. IX 479, X 273. k<£0ov for UeWo. Gen. 38n: Jdg. 1710: Ruth 318: i K. I23, 225-»: iv K. 22'4-6: Ps. 1091: Sir. 97. Formed on the analogy of Xvov. KdOrja-o itself occurs in ii Chr. 2519. In Ezk. 2341 we have imperfect !k<£0ov. So in N.T., Mt. 22": Mk. 1236: Lk. 2042: Acts 2s4: Hb. I18 (all quotations from Ps. 1091): James 23.
Jer. 419.
Dt. 92. Cp. Eur. Ion 999 (Dindorf).
d£uv for in(t,uv. Song 215: Sir. 2321. Tiiit,av occurs only in Micah 615 in the original sense of ' to. press.' Jer. 2339 and eight other passages.
34. Adverbs. Hellenistic Greek supplied the missing adverb to 'Aya&Ss occurs in Aristotle R7i. II 11 § 1. In the LXX it is found in i K. 207: iv K. II18: Tob. 1310.
Among adverbs of time we may notice «/c TrpwWev and airo irptoWev as peculiar to the LXX. For the former see ii K. 227: iii K. 1826: i Mac. 1080; for the latter Ex. 1818'": Ruth 27: Job 420: Sir. 1826: i M^.c. 9W. Similar to these among adverbs of place is dbro /MKpoOtv, Ps. 1382. Such expressions remind us of our own double form 'from whence,' which purists condemn.
48 |
48 GRAMMAR OF SEPTUAGINT GREEK
In the Greek of the LXX 7ro5 is used for ttoi, just as we commonly say ' where' for < whither.'
Jdg. 1917 Hov iropcvy, koX Trodev epXV '■>
Cp. Gen. 3781: Josh. 25, 810: Jdg. 1917: i K. 10": Zeeh. 22.
IIoi occurs only in a doubtful reading in Jer. 228, and has there the sense of irov.
Similarly ov is used for ot, which is not found at all.
Jer. 51s5 ov lav /SaStcnjs CKa.
Cp. Gen. 403: Ex. 2113: iii K. 1810: Ezk. 1216.
SoinN.T.—
ttov = ttoT i Jn. 2", 38, 814: Hb. II8. ottov = ottoi James 34.
oiroi does not occur in Biblical Greek.
35. Homerisms. The Ionic infusion which is observable in the Greek of the LXX may possibly be due to the use of Homer as a schoolbook in Alexandria. This would be a vera causa in accounting for such stray Ionisms as kuvo/Wj;;, ftaxa^PXIi wi^cjSijkui^s, and the use of o~ire[p-r]'s in the Papyri; possibly also for ycuSv, yawus. Such forms also as £7rao<.Sos, ZoOu-v, erdwa-av (Sir. 4312), ju.oA.i/3os, ^s, have an Homeric ring about them.
36. Movable Consonants, v ifaXxvo-TiKov is freely employed before consonants, as in Gen. 3115, 4155: Dt. 191: Ruth 23: Jdg. 16U.
To axpt and ix-expt- s is sometimes appended before a vowel and sometimes not.
Jdg. II33 axpts "Apvwv. Josh. 423
Job 3211 ctxpi ou. i Esd. I54
ii Mac. 1415 axpi- atSvos. Job 3212 fi.ipi vp,S>v.
v and cLvtXkpvs differ from one another by more than the
text only once, iii Mac. 516 avriKpus dva/cAi^rjvai avrov.
In the Revisers' text of the isf.T. we find axpt before a consonant in Gal. 42; SXp« ov i Cor. II26, 1525: Gal. 319, 419: Hb. 313; ^XP^ ^ Mk. 1330; jae'xpis al/taTC* Hb. 124 ; dvn/cpi; Xt'ou Acts 2015.
37. Spelling. In matters of spelling Dr. Swete's text appears to reflect variations in the Mss.
49 |
ACCIDENCE 49
a. The diphthong ei is often replaced by i, as in i Esd. I11 xuAkiocs compared with ii Chr. 3513 ^oA/cetou. This is especially the case with feminine nouns in -eux, as
dtartoAia, ocmAta, Aarpta, irXwBia, crvyytvta, vyia,
Neuters plural in -iia also sometimes end in -ia with recession of accent, as —
oiyyw Gen. 4225. ^pia Gen. 4517.
In the pluperfect of "ott^i again we sometimes find i for u —
l(TT^KCL Jdg. 1629. *
irapiaTrJKCi. (jren. 4o . So also in the future and 1st aorist of Aei'xw, as —
On the other hand dSau for ISeu (nom. pi. of ISea) occurs in Dan. ©I13.
b. v in composition is sometimes changed into //. before a labial and sometimes not, as —
Before a guttural or tr, v is often retained, instead of being turned into y, as —
But on the other hand —
c. In the spelling of Xap.f36.vav /* appears in parts not formed from the present stem, as —
X-qpApopal) Xrjfujrrj, X^fufr£
This may indicate that the syllable in which the ft. occurs was pronounced with /3. In modern Greek /xir stands for &.,• and we seem to find this usage as early as Hermas (Vis. Ill 1 § 4), who represents the Latin subsellium by o-vp.ip£Xiov. Cp. lAp.f$aKovp, for HabaTckuk.
d. The doubling of p in the augment of verbs is often neglected, as —
i$epi
e. The following also may be noticed— ipavvav for ipewav Dt. 1314.
pxep6<;, p,upo<$ id="iv.i.i.iv.p440.1">a.y!a, niepo
50 |
SYNTAX
CONSTRUCTION OF THE SENTENCE, 38-43
38. The Construction of the LXX not Greek. In treating of Accidence we have been concerned only with dialectical varieties within the Greek language, but in turning Jo syntax we come unavoidably upon what is not Greek. For the LXX is on the whole a literal translation, that is to say, it is only half a translation — the vocabulary has been changed, but seldom the construction. We have therefore to deal with a work of which the vocabulary is Greek and the syntax Hebrew.
39. Absence of p&v and 8«. How little we are concerned with a piece of Greek diction is brought home to us by the fact that the balance of clauses by the particles /xey and Se, so familiar a feature of Greek style, is rare in the LXX, except in the books of Wisdom and Maccabees. It does not occur once in all the books between Deuteronomy and Proverbs nor in Ecclesiastes, the Song, the bulk of the Minor Prophets, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel; and in each of the following books it occurs once only — Leviticus (277), Numbers (22s3), Tobit (1410), Haggai (I4), Zechariah (I15), Isaiah (62). Where the antithesis is employed, it is often not managed with propriety, e.g. in Job 326. As instances of the non-occurrence of one or both of the particles "where their presence is obviously required we may take —
Gen. 27K 'H cf>a>vr) (f>mvr] 'IaKO>j3, al Si X"Pes X^P65 'Htrav. Jdg.
1629 xai iKpaTrjcrcv eva rfj Se^c'a avrov koI era rrj aptcrrepa avrov.
ii K. II25 7TOT6 /X€V OVT(OS Kal TTOTi OVTti)S- Hi K. 186 fUa . . .
sxxv.
40. Paratactical Construction of the LXX. Roughly speaking, it is true to say that in the Greek of the LXX there is no syntax, only parataxis. The whole is one great scheme of clauses connected by Kai, and we have to trust to the sense to tell us which is to be so emphasized as to make it into the apodosis. It may therefore be laid down as a general rule that in the LXX the apodosis is introduced
50
51 |
SYNTAX 51
by Kcu. This is a recurrence to an earlier stage of language than that which Greek itself had reached long before the LXX was written, but we find occasional survivals of it in classical writers, e.g. Xen. Cyrop. I 4 § 28 Kal 68ov t« ovirm troXXrjv BirjvwrBcu. avrots Kal tov MrjSov fiKttv- Here it is convenient to translate Kal ' when,' but the construction is really paratactical. So again Xen. Anab. IV 2 § 12 Kat tovtov Tt TrapeXyXvOtaav oi "EAAi/ves, Kal ertpov opfitriv e/j/irpoo~6ev Xocjiov KaTeX6/ievov. Gp. Anab. I 8 § 8, II1 § 7, IV 6 § 2; also Verg. JEn. II 692 —
Vix ea fatus erat senior, subitoque fragore
intonuit laevom.
In the above instances the two clauses are coordinate. But in the LXX, even when the former clause is introduced by a subordinative conjunction, W still follows in the latter, e.g. —
Gen. 4429 eav ovv d/3r)T£ . . . Kal Karaite ktX. Ex. 1314 tav Se kpiOTtjarj . . . Kal epfis kt. Cp. 79. Josh. 41 Kal cjra crwtTC-
eo~ev Tras 6 Xaos StaySatVcov tov 'lophdvrjv, koX etnev Kvpios.
Sometimes a preposition with a verbal noun takes the place of the protasis, e.g. —
Ex. 312 iv t
In Homer also km is used in the apodosis after limC (Od. V 96), V>s (II. I 477: Od. X 188), or Srt (Od. V 391,401: X145,157, 250).
The difficulty which sometimes arises in the LXX in determining which is the apodosis amid a labyrinth of ko.1 clauses, e.g. in Gen. iu, 3910, may be paralleled by the difficulty which sometimes presents itself in Homer with regard to a series of clauses introduced by &e, e.g. Od. X 112,113; XI 34-6.
41. Introduction of the Sentence by a Verb of Being. Very often in imitation of Hebrew idiom the whole sentence is introduced by eye-vero Or torou.
Gen. 3919 eycWro Se tbs rjKovcrev . . . Kal iOv/xdOr; opyfj. Op. VS. 5, 7, 13. iii K. 1812 Kal ?
In such cases in accordance with western ideas of what a sentence ought to be, we say that «at introduces the apodosis, but it may be that, in its original conception at least, the whole construction was paratactical. It is easy to see this in a single instance like —
Gen. 418 cycVero Se wpoil Kal tTapaj)(drj rj ^v ] airov,
52 |
52 GRAMMAR OF SEPTUAGINT GREEK
but the same explanation may be applied to more complex cases, e.g. —
Nb. 219 Kal kyivero orav eSaKvev ot^ts avOpanrov, Kal i-n-ifiXaj/tv iirl tov 54>lv tov xa^-«ovv, koL ll-q. And there vjos when a serpent bit a man, and he looked on the brazen, serpent, and lived. Cp. Gen. 42s5, 432-21: Jdg. 14".
42. Apposition of Verbs. Sometimes the ko.1 does not appear after iyivcro, iyev^Orj, or lo-Tat, thus presenting a construction which we may denote by the phrase Apposition of Verbs.
Jdg. 1930 Kal lyevero iras 6 fSXeirtnv eXeyev ... i K. 318 Kal eye-
vr)6t] rrj iiravpiov, tpxovrai ot aX6[
In two versions of the same Hebrew we find one translator using the ko.C and the other not.
iv K. 19l Kal iyevtTO <«9 rjKowrev f$a
43. Li in the Apodosis. The use of U to mark the apodosis, which is found occasionally in classical authors from Homer downwards, is rare in the LXX.
Josh. 28 Kal eycrero
THE ARTICLE, 44, 45
44. Generic Use of the Article. This is due to following the Hebrew, i K. 1734 6 Xiwv ko1 ■r] apKos = ' a lion or a bear,' 1736 ko! rqv tTwrrev 6 SovAds crov Kal tov Xeovra. Amos 519 ov rpmov 4>'vyu av^po)7ros ek irpocrui'irov tov X£ovtos, Kal ifjurtcrr] cvt<£ ij Is. 714 I8ov rj napdevoi iv yaxrTpl
45. Elliptical Use of the Feminine Article. The use of the feminine article with some case of x"Pa or yi understood is not due to the influence of the Hebrew.
ij vtt ovpavov Job 184.
t^v w ovpavov Job I7, 22, 510, 9°, 282*, 3413, 3824.
t^9 vtto tov oipavov Ex. 174: Prov. 828: ii Mac. 218.
t^s vtt' ovpavov Job 3818.
rrj vtt ovpavov Esther 4W: Baruch 53.
53 |
SYNTAX 53
So in N.T. —
Lk. 172i fi acrrpmrrj aorpa7rroi>cra Ik rrjs wro tov ovpavov els rrjv vtt' ovpavov Xdfjaru.
GENDER, 46, 47
46. Elliptical Use of the Feminine Adjective. There is nothing about the feminine gender which should make ellipse more frequent with it than with the masculine or neuter. Only it happens that some of the words which can be most easily supplied are feminine. This elliptical use of the feminine adjective (or of adv. = adj.) is a feature of Greek generally. It is not very common in the LXX. Instances are —
err' evdeias (6SoS) Josh. 8W.
h rjj evOuq. Ps. 14210.
■nj's 7rA
tt)v crvfiTraxrav (yfjv) Job 22, 252.
£ios rfjs arjfupov (^/xepas) ii Chr. 3525.
tyjv avpiov iii Mac. 5s8.
i/36r]
In the N.T. this idiom occurs much more frequently. Take for instance Lk. 1247'48 Sap^o-erai TroAXas . . . oAtyas (?rAijyas). Op. also—
rrjv Trpos Oolvoltov (68ov) EuS. H.E. II 23.
ovk eis /MKpav Philo Leg. ad C. § 4.
Itt' tvdeMs Philo Q.O.P.L. § 1.
i-n-l £evr}s (x<* id="iv.i.i.iv.p500.1">pas or y^s) Philo Leg. ad C. § 3.
TreBias re Kal opeiyi] ibid. § 7.
rrj Trarptm (yAwcrcrg) Jos. B. J. Prooem. 1.
rets irepioUovs (irdAets) ibid. 8.
47. Feminine for Neuter. The use of the feminine for the neuter is a pure Hebraism, which occurs principally in the Psalms.
Jdg. 157 lav iroiyarrjTt outids ravrrjv, 21s eis ti . . . iyev/jd-rj oxtt] ; i K 47 yiyovtv roiavrr] «^es «at TpiT7jv. Ps. 263 fy ravrrj iylo
, 264 juuiv r]TT]
Tai/njs
I
7rpcxr£v£tTai vag otrtos, 11723 Tropa Kuptbu tyei/ero avriy, 11850 /«.e TrapEKaAetrev, 118^ auTry iytyTjOrj fioi.
In the N.T. this license only occurs in Mk. 12", Mt. 2142 in a quotation from Ps. 11723.
54 |
54 GEAMMAR OF SEPTUAGINT GREEK
NUMBER, 48, 49
48. Singular for Plural. Sometimes in imitation, of Hebrew idiom we find the singular used in the sense of the plural. When the article is employed along with a singular noun, we have the Generic Use of the Article (§ 44), but the presence of the article is not necessary.
Ex. 8s avepLfiajvOri 6 /JaT/xr^os {— frogs), 818 l^aya-yeiv tov
This throws light on an otherwise startling piece of grammar — Jdg. 1510 exirav avqp 'WSa.
49. Singular Verb with more than One Subject. In accordance with Hebrew idiom a singular yerb often introduces a plurality of subjects, e.g. —
iv K. 1826 Kal eiirev 'EAicucajU. . . . kcu 2oju.vas koX 'Icilas, 1837 ml
Bev 'EXuxKelfJL xr. This may happen also in Greek apart from Hebrew.
Xen. Anab. II 4 § If) "'Eirefuj/e fj£ 'Aptacos Kal 'ApTtio£os.
CASE, 50-61
50. Nominative for Vocative, a. The use of the nominative for the vocative was a colloquialism in classical Greek. It occurs in Plato, and is common in Aristophanes and Lucian. When so employed, the nominative usually has the article. As in Hebrew the vocative is regularly expressed by the nominative with the article, it is not surprising that the LXX translators should often avail themselves of this turn of speech.
iii K. 1718 tl ifiol Ko.1 (7Oi, 6 avdpanros tov Oeov; 1836 iiraKOvaov y/x-Siv, 6 BdaX. Cp. iii K. 2020: Ps. 211, 422.
For an instance of the nominative without the article standing for the vocative take —
Baruch 45 Oapo-ure, Xaos nov.
The nominative, when thus employed, is often put in apposition with a vocative, as —
iii K. 1720 Ki5pt€, 6 pxiprv^ rrji XVPa:;> ^2X Kv/ne, o ©eos /xov.
55 |
SYNTAX 55
b. In the N.T. also the nominative with the article is often put for the vocative.
Mt. II26 vat, 6 varr/p. Lk. 8s* fj mus, iytipov. Mk. 9s5 to Trvevfux. to SXaXov . ■ . Z£(6z. Lk. Q25 oval v/xiv, oi eya7reirA^o"/a€vot vw. Col. 318 ai yuyaixes, VTroTaiTcreo-Oe. Eph. 61, Col. 320 to. tUvo.,
The use of the nominative without the article for the vocative is rare in the N.T., as it is also in the LXX. In Lk. 1220 and i Cor. 1536 we find a
As instances of apposition of nominative with vocative we may take —
Rom. 21 to avOpanrt Tras 6 Kpivw. Eev. 153 Kiip6£ 6 ©eds, o TTO.VTO-Kpdraip.
In Eev. 1820 we have vocative and nominative conjoined — ovpavt, /cat oi aytot.
51. Nominative Absolute. Occasionally we get a construction in the LXX, which can be described only by this name.
Nb. 2224 Kal eor?7 6 ayyeXos tov dtov iv rats avAa|tv t£v d/ure'Aiov, (^pay/xos ivrtvOtv Kal
As this construction arises out of a literal following of the Hebrew, it would be superfluous to adduce Greek parallels. Like effects might be found, but the cause woiild be different.
52. Nominative of Reference. What is meant by this term will be best understood from the examples —
Job 287 rplfios, ovk tyvui olvttjv ttctuvov. j?S. 102 5 S.vBpunro's, wtil X< id="iv.i.i.iv.p539.1">pTos at yjfxipai avrov.
To throw out the subject of discourse first, and then proceed to speak about it, is a Hebraism, but at the same time it is a common resource of language generally. So in N.T. —
Acts 7* 6 yap Meocnjg outos • ■ . ovk olBafiev ri eyej/eTO airtS. Rev. 3 6 vik
' 53. Nominativus Pendens. The nominative which is left without a verb owing to a sudden change of construction is a familiar feature
56 |
56 GRAMMAR OF SEPTUAGINT GREEK
in classical Greek, especially if this be at all colloquial. It is not however very common in the LXX.
Dan. 0' 7l0 Kal d/e^SidVas *7"> • • • eTapacrtrdv fie.
Such cases can generally be explained on the principle of construction according to the sense.
It is seldom that we meet with so violent an anacoluthon as the following in the KT. —
Mk. 920 Kal ISwv avrov, to irvevfux tv6vs
54. Accusative for Vocative. The accusative for vocative might seem an impossibility, yet here is an instance of it.
Ps. 516 rjyoTTTjcras iravra to. prifxara KaTairovriajMrn, yXSxrcrav SoXiav.
55. Accusative of Time When. In connexion with classical Greek we think of Time When as being expressed by the genitive or dative, rather than by the accusative, though the latter also is used. The employment of the accusative became more frequent after the classical period, and alone survives in the modern language.
Gen. 4316 per' i/uyv yap < id="iv.i.i.iv.p552.1">6.yovTai ol av8pa>iroi aprovs t^v /j.tar]ix(3piav. Ex. 918 IBov iyu) vu> TavTrjv rrjv Copav avpiov ^aXatfiv. Dan. ® 921 &crel wpav ^vcri'as ecnrepwrjs (0' has iv <2joa).
So also sometimes in N.T. —
Jn. 452 x#cs wpav i^SofirjV a.
56. Cognate Accusative, a. By a Cognate Accusative is here meant that particular form of the Mgura JEtymologica in which a verb is followed by an accusative of kindred derivation with itself, irrespective of the question whether it be an accusative of the external or of the internal object. We have both kinds of accusative together in the following verse, where Or/pav = venison.
Gen. 273 e^ia-Trj Se 'IcraaK eWracnv fieydXtjv cr
b. The great frequency of the cognate accusative in the LXX is due to the fact that here the genius of the Hebrew and of the Greek language coincides. Besides being a legitimate Greek usage, this construction is also one of the means employed for translating a constantly recurring Hebrew formula. Sometimes the appended accusative merely supplies an object to the verb, as in such phrases
57 |
SYNTAX 57
as 8a.vi.ov Savtit,eLv, SuxOeadai BiaOrjKrjv, Sirjytio-Oai. Birjyrf/ja, ivvvnov ivvTrvia-£eir0ai, iTnOv/xuv ewiOvfuav, Ovuv 6v
Nb. 186 Xurovpyeiv ras Xurovpyias T^s ovoyvijs toC fiaprvplov. Dan. II2 irXovrrfo~a ttXovtov fi.£yav. i Mac. 2s8 iv tS £t].S)
VO/J.OV.
c. Sometimes the cognate accusative is conveyed in a relative clause, as —
Ex. 39 rbv OXl/jlixov ov ol Alyvrmoi 8Xlfiov
d. By other changes of construction we have still the figura ety-mologica, but no longer a cognate accusative. Thus, starting from the common phrase Bovvai Sofia, we have StSo/xei/ot 86/m (Nb. 39) and 80/xa SeSo/xeVov (Nb. 186).
e. In one instance the cognate accusative is reinforced by a still further application of the etymological figure —
Gen. 47s2 iv Socret yap?Sa)K£v 8o;ua rots leptvmv.
This is not due to the Hebrew.
/ In a wider sense the term ' cognate accusative' includes an accusative of kindred meaning, though not of kindred derivation, as —
Jdg. 158 iirara^ev • • ■ irXrjyrjV fi.tya.XfjV.
g. Instances of cognate accusative are common enough in the N.T., e-9- —
i Jn. 516 af/japTOLVOVTa &fuxpTca.v /u/i) 7rpos 6o.vo.tov. Mt. 210 i^a.prja'av XpLpav fAeydXrfV a(jy68pa. Jn. 7M Tr/v SiKcuav Kpcaiv Kpivarc.
There also it occurs sometimes in a relative clause—
Mk. 1038 to fid-TTTicrfw. 0 eyf3aTrTit,opjo.i. Jn. 1726 7] ayaTT-q rjv vjya-ttijkcis fxc. Eph. 41 rrjs KXrjo-ews 77s iKX-tjOrfrt.
h. We have a triple use of the etymological figure in — Lk. 85 e£rjX$ev 6 CTreCptov rov cnrclpai rbv anopov avrov.
i. That the playing with paronymous terms is in accordance with the -spirit of the Greek language may be seen from the frequent employment of the device by Plato, e.g. —
> Prot. 326 D fixnrtp ol ypafifiarto-Tal tois firjiroi Scivots ypa
58 |
58 GRAMMAR OF SEPTUAGINT GREEK
Soao-t. Hip. Maj. 296 C "AAAa /a<(vtoi Swa/i« yc SwavTai ol oWdp.£voi • ov yap ttov dSwa/ua ye.
57. Accusative in Apposition to Indeclinable Noun. In the LXX an
indeclinable noun is sometimes followed by an accusative in apposition to it, even though by the rules of grammar it is itself in some other case, e.g. —
Is. 37s8 eV t<£ olk(o Nacrapax tov Trd.Tpa.pxov olvtov. iv K. I2 iv T<5 BaaA. /xviav debv AKKapwv.
Perhaps it would be more satisfactory if this and § 54 were thrown together under a head of Bad Grammar, a category which the reader might be inclined to enlarge.
58. Genitive Absolute. Strictly speaking, a Genitive Absolute is a clause in the genitive which does not affect the general construction. It ought not therefore to refer either to the subject or the object of the sentence. Even in classical authors however the so-called genitive absolute is sometimes not employed with the precision which grammarians might desire, e.g. —
Plat. Hep. 547 B /3ia£o/*ev
Tj-ore arriXeiire. tov tta.TfKov. Xen. Andb. I 2 § 17 Oajjcrov Trpo'iov-twv . . . 8pd/xos iyevtTo rots crTpartooTais.
The genitive absolute is often employed in the same loose way in the LXX.
Tob. 41 ore ijfuqv iv rrj X^Pt /JiOV • ■ ■ vcarripov fxov ovtos.
Dt. 15 ov XvrrqOrjrry rrj KapSta crou SiSovtos crov avr<3.
Ex. 2™ aSpvvOivTos 8e tov iraiBCov, elariyaytv avro.
Ex. 520
So in N.T. —
Mt. I18 fn/T)
59. The Genitive Infinitive of Purpose. The genitive of the verbal noun formed by prefixing the article to the infinitive, which we may call for convenience the Genitive Infinitive, is one of the regular ways of expressing purpose in Biblical Greek, corresponding to our use of 'to.' The construction is not entirely unknown to classical authors (e.g. Plat. Gorg. 457 E tov Kara^aves yev£o-6ai) and is especially
59 |
SYNTAX 59
favoured by Thucydides. There is nothing in the Hebrew to suggest it. The following will serve as examples —
Jdg. 165 /cat Sjjcro/net/ airbv tov rairavuxraL avroi/. Ps. 930 iveSpeva tov apTrdacu ttto))(6v. Job I19 rjX6ov tov airayyuXcu troi.
So also frequently in N.T., e.g. —
Mt. 133 i$rjX6cv 6 cnrtipvtv tov cireipeiv. James 5W Trpoa-qv^aTO tov . fir} ftpeiai.
60. Other Uses of the Genitive Infinitive, a. The genitive infinitive of purpose is only one use out of many to which this syntactical device is applied. Take for instance —
Ex. 145 Tt tovto eTrot^cra/zcv tov 2£aTro
Purpose is not expressed in either of these cases. In the former we have what may be called the Explanatory Use of the Genitive Infinitive; in the latter we have something which represents ' from serving us' in the original, but which we shall nevertheless class as a Genitive Infinitive of Consequence, since it is only thus that the Greek can be explained.
b. The Explanatory Use of the Genitive Infinitive is common in the LXX, e.g. —
Gen. 322 'I8oi> 'ASa//. yiyovev ££ ■tjp.uiv, tov yiyvu>o~Keiv KaXbv Kal Trovrjpov. Ex. 820 fjirj irpoo-&rjs en, $apaai, l£airaTr}(r(u tov /at) i£(nroo-TeiXca tov Xaov. Ps. 264 Tavrrjv (§ 47) ek^t^o-o) • tov
KOTOLKW /JL£ KtX.
SoinN.T.—
Acts 719 eKaxaxre tovs Trarepas ij/U,Sv, row ttoiuv e
c. As an instance of the Genitive Infinitive of Consequence we may take —
Ex. 714 /3e(3aprp-ai t) /capStct $apai> tov ixrj l£o.Tro
So in N.T. —
Hb. II5 'Eva)j( [jicTeTeOr] toC pirj Ihuv 6d.va.Tov.
d. What is called in Latin Grammar the 'prolative infinitive' aftpr"* extensible' verbs, or more simply, the latter of two verbs, is also,commonly expressed in the LXX by the genitive infinitive, e.g. —
7Ps. 3913 ova 7j8vvd.trd-rjv tov /JAeirciv. ii Chr. 31 rjp£aTO tou olxoSo-
fittv- Gen. 187 iTa^vvtv tov irocijo-ai. avTO.
60 |
60 GRAMMAR OF SEPTUAGINT GREEK
SoinN.T.—
Acts 312 a>s . . . ireiroiijKotri toS ircpiiraTtiv avrov, 1520 eirurrctXat . . . t) 271 eKplOt] rov airoirXciv.
61. Cognate Dative, a. Another form of the jigura etymologica which abounds in the LXX may be called Cognate Dative. As in the ease of the cognate accusative its frequency is in great measure dne to the coincidence of idiom in this particular between Greek and Hebrew. Let us first show by a few examples from Plato that this construction is in accordance with the genius of the Greek language.
Orat. 385 B Xoyio Xeyuv. Phdr. 265 C muSio. 7r£mu
b. But while we have to search for this idiom in classical Greek, it thrusts itself upon us at every tarn in the Greek of the LXX, owing to its aptness for rendering a mode of expression familiar in the original.
c. Corresponding to the cognate dative in Greek, we find in Latin also a cognate ablative as a rare phenomenon, e.g. —
curriculo percurre Ter. Heaut. 733. Cp. Plaut. Most. 349
qui non curro curriculo domum. occidione oceisum Cic. Fam. XV 4 § 7. Op. Liv. II 51 § 9.
d. The instances of eognate dative of most frequent occurrence in
the LXX are dKog aKove.iv, £,u>fj fcfjv, 0avd.Ta> a/iroOavelv, OavixTw 6avaTovar6ai,
, craXm^ctv. But besides these there are many others, as —
dycwrTjcrei aycnracrGaL aXaXay/jua a}vaat,£iv
fiStXvo-cretv einOvfiLa
Secr/xw Setv tincrKOTrrj
SuxXwet StaXvetv BtXrjcru dtXeiv
Sia/xapTvpia SiafiapTvpuv Ka&xtparci Ka.0a.Cpuv
oui.<{ id="iv.i.i.iv.p633.1">6cip£iv cj>6opa! KaBapurfXiS Ka8api£eiv
Biktj eKSiKcty KaKia KaKOTrouiv
iKfiaXXuv iKfioXrj KaKia kclkovv
OXiflrj Kardpats Karapacrdai.
61 |
SYNTAX 61
kXclvO[Ma KAcu'ety |
irXr)fJ./j.eXia TrXijfitJ.iXuv |
Xrj6y Xa6e2v |
-rpovopifj TrpovofievBrjvat. |
Allots Xi6of$oXeZv |
7rpOO~0)(6lO-fXa.Tl TTpOVO^ttfiLV |
Xvrpotq Xvrpovv |
■KTU>O~U TTlirTUV |
fwuq. ixvrjcrdrjvai |
TaXanrmpia TaXaiirinpeiv |
olaivioiAui olwvCt,e(r6ax |
rapa^ij rapdaareiv |
dpyifceadai opyfj |
vtre.popa.o~u virepiSeiv |
irapaSdcret 7rapa8o6rjvai |
|
•ntpiiriTrruv TrepnrTai/jMTi |
^aipeiv X'^PQ |
e. From the foregoing instances it is an easy step to others in which the substantive is of kindred meaning, though not of kindred derivation with the verb.
Gen. I16 fauna
/xe avaiptaa, 3526 t£68(f> i£tX6r]. Ezk. S327 6a.va.Tia
f. Instances of the cognate dative are to be found also in the N.T., though not with anything like the frequency with which they occur in the LXX.
Jn. 3s9 xapa yaipa. Lk. 2215 iiriOvfLia. CTreW^cra. Acts 417
d.7T€iXy (margin) airetA^croi/xe^a, 528 irapayyeAta irapTjyyeiXa/j^v, 2314 ava.6e.iM.Ti. ava#£/uaT«ra/AO'. James 517 irpo
g. The expression in ii Pet. 33 «v i/xTraiy/jiovrj ifiiraiKTai, while not exactly parallel with the foregoing, belongs to the' same range of idiom; so also Rev. 2^ ootoktcvS iv 6o.vo.tu.
ADJECTIVES, 62-65
62. i]|ii
Plat. Phcedo 104 A o ^wrus tov ApiO/uni axas. Thuc. V 31 § 2
^im. Trj fjiua-da. ttJs yrjs. Demosth. p. 44, iv 16 rots ^/xi'trecrt twv
hnriiav.
This idiom is kept up by Hellenistic writers, such as Philo, Strabo, and the translator of Josephus' Jewish War. It is how-
62 |
62 GRAMMAR OF SEPTUAGINT GREEK
ever very rare in the LXX, occurring only in the following pas-
iii K. 169 6 apxw rrjs rjplaovs (§ 11) rfc "nnrov. Josh. 412, i Chr. 5s3 oi -Jj/xtVets Mavao-cnf. Tob. 1010 ra f/fuo-v (sic) twv
virap)(OVT
Elsewhere instead of the Attic idiom we find to yjfuo-v or Tjpiav, irrespective of the gender and mimber of the noun which follows, e.g.—
to tffucrv tov tikXov Ex. S92. ^purv apx6vTu>v ii Esd. 4 .
to rjpurv avrijs Lvt. 6 . ev Tjfilcrci ^/xepGv Ps. 101 .
to tfiMcrv tov ai/AaTos Ex. 24°. to tjjlutv ra>v rnrap^ovToyv Tob. 8 .
63. iras. a. In classical Greek the rule for itSs in the singular is that with the article it is collective, without the article it is distributive —
iracra 7j woXts = all the city.
irao-a 7roAcs = every city.
was differs from ordinary adjectives in taking the predicative position in-an attributive sense. Thus while dya#ij 17 iro'Xts means 'the city is good/ ■koxto. y 7roA.is means 'all the city.' was may however also take the attributive position, like any other adjective. When it does so, the collective force is intensified —
Tacra. f/ wdXts = all the city. fj Tracra jroAts = the whole city.
Thus Plato's expression (Apol. 40 E) 6 ttSs x°°vots is rendered by Cicero (T.D. I § 97) perpetuitas omnis consequentis tem-poris. For other instances of this use in classical authors we may take —
Hdt. VII 46 6 tSs avOpdirivos /8ws. Plat. Sep. 618 B o s-Ss xlv-8wos, Phileb. 67 B of ttoVtcs /Joes = all the oxen in the world.
Xen. A.ndb. V 6 § 5 ol wavTes avOpwrroi.
In such cases there is an additional stress gained by the unusual position assigned to irSs.
. 6. In the LXX the same distinction seems to be maintained. It is true a writer will go from one to the other, e.g. —
Jdg. 1617'18 Kai avrjyyuav avrrj tyjv iraorav mpSiav avrov . . . xai «t8;v AaXttoa oTt aTrijyyecXev avrrj iraxrav rrjv KapScav avrov —
63 |
SYNTAX 63*
but so in English, we might first say he told her his whole heart, and then add and she saw that he had told her all his heart.
Other instances of the strongly collective force of sras in the attributive position are —
Gen. 4520 ra yap iravra ayaOa Alyxmrov v/uv ecrrai. Josh. 414 Ivclvtlov tov TravTos yevovs 'Io-pai;X. Wisd. 79 6 vas xpvaos. ii Mac. 89 to ttolv rrjs 'IovSatas . . . yeyos.
Still there is a tendency in the LXX to assimilate irSs to adjectives generally and to employ it in the attributive position without any special emphasis.
c. Neither is the rule that -n-Ss without the article is distributive at all closely adhered to, e.g. —
Ex. 816 iv navy yfj Aiyvrrrov, 166 irpbs iracrav
d. In the plural oi iravres is rare, but may be found —
Jdg. 2046 ot iravres' ovtol. i Mac. 2s7 'K.Tro6a.v
djrXoriyrt -ij/iSv. ii Mac. 1240 tois 8e ■nan crafts iyivcro. Cp. AristeaS § 36 tois waa-i . . . TroXtrats-
Al iraa-ai is still rarer, but see — iii Mac. I1 mxpayyei'Aas rats iracrais 8wa/x.ecriv.
Ta TvavTa. is comparatively common, occurring, e.g., in Gen. I31, 93: Ex. 2924: Lvt. 1913: ii Mac. 1023, 1222: iii Mac. 23.
e. In the ]ST.T. the collective use of was followed by the article is clearly marked in many passages, e.g. —
Gal. 514 6 . . . was vo/jak. Mt. 8s4 iracra rj irdA-is i£fj8ev.
Also the distributive use of rras without the article, as in i Cor. II4'5 was av-qp . ■ . iracra St yvvrj. In Eom. 319 we have the two usages
brought into Contrast — Iva. ttSv (TTOfua. (jypayfj, ko.1 wtoSikos yhrfrat. irSs o koct/aos T<3 ©e<5.
On the other hand there are also instances of xas in the singular and without the article being used collectively, e.g. —
Eph. 221 iracra oikoSo/w?. ,Mt. 23 iracra 'IcpocrdXv/ia. Acts 236 was oikos
/. In the plural oi wavres is more common in St. Paul than in the LXX. Take for instance —
Phil. 221 ot TravTts yap ra iavrwv Iryrmxn. Cp. ii Cor. 514. i Cor. 10ir ot yap 7ravr£S e« ToC cvos apTOV pf.Ti)(pixt.v. Cp. Eph. 413.
64 |
64 GRAMMAR OF SEPTUAGINT GREEK
Eom. II32 avveKXeure yap b ©eds row wavras eis aTreWcuw. ii Cor. 510 tovs yap iravTas r)fnas ktX. i Cor. 922 rots Ttavi yeyova jraira.
In Acts 197 we have 61 Wires p Ti Trdivra occurs in Rom. 832, II36: i Cor. 1527, 126-19: Eph. 513: Acts 1725: Mk. 411 and perhaps in other passages.
64. Comparison of Adjectives. Owing to the peculiarity of Hebrew syntax the treatment of this subject mostly falls under the head of Prepositions. . We need only notice here that the positive may be put for the comparative, and /xSAXov omitted at will or inserted even after a comparative. -.
Gen. 4912 Aeuxoi 61 oSovtes avrov ^ yaXa. Dt. I11 ttoXv to SOvos tovro ^ cy«i>) 91 WvTj jutydXa Km ia^yporepa yu.SA.Xov rj
So in N.T. — Mt. 188'9 KaXo'v crot €crriv dueXOuv ... ^ ... fiXrftrjvai.. Cp.
Mk. 943'15.
65. Omission of jxaXXov. The comparison of attributes may be effected by the use of verbs as well as of adjectives. In such cases the omission of fxSXXov is common in the LXX.
Nb. 226 icr^vu cruros ^ 17/Aeis, 24? vtj/a)9rjcT€Tai, yj Ywy /SaciXetix. Uos. 76 IXcos OiX
ivfitv rj TraTpoj'ous vo/ious mytafiaiveiv-
Op. Aristeas § 322 ripiretv yap oto/xat
PEONOUNS, 68-71
66. Superfluous Use of Pronoun. A pronoun is sometimes employed superfluously after the object, direct or indirect, has been already expressed, e.g. —
Ex. 12U kcu 7r£v (stc) oiKtTrjv rj apyvp!Nb. 268T kol t
The above may be considered as deflexions of the Nominative of Reference (§ 52) into an oblique case by Attraction. So in N.T. —
ii Cor. 12IT ixrj riva 5>v airifTTaXKa irpos v/xas, Si' avrov «VXeoi/«'/cr7/cra 6/x.as; Mt. 25s9 tov 8e ju,^ I^ovtosj «ai o ex& apdr]
65 |
SYNTAX 65
In Josh. 24s2— VjLieis e£eAe£a(r0£ Kupto) Xarpcvuv avr— Kxpiia should be tov KvpLov (which A has). Then Xarpzvav avnS would be an explanatory clause added after the usual manner.
67. Frequent Use of Pronouns. Apart from any Semitic influence there is also a tendency in later Greek to a much more lavish use of pronouns than was thought necessary by classical authors. We have seen already (§ 13) that the missing, pronoun of the 3d person was supplied. The possessive use of the article moreover was no longer thought sufficient, and a possessive genitive was added, e.g. —
Gen. 38s7 kcu, TrjSe rjv Si&vfia. iv rrj koiXio. avTtjs. So in N.T. —
Mt. 19° os av a.7rov(rri ttjv yvvaiKa avroi). i Pet. 224 avros avrjvcy-Ktv iv T(5 awjxari avrov.
68. 'ASeX<| id="iv.i.i.iv.p729.1">6s as a Reciprocal Pronoun. The use of dS
Ex. 1023 mi ovk uha> oiSetj tov dScX^ov avrov = they saw not one another.
69. Hebrew Syntax of the Relative, a. One of the most salient characteristics of LXX Greek is the repetition of the pronoun after the relative, as though in English, instead of saying ' the land which they possessed,' we were to say habitually 'the land which they possessed it,' and so in all similar cases. This anomaly is due to the literal following of the Hebrew text. Now in Hebrew the relative is indeclinable. Its meaning therefore is not complete until a pronoun has been added to determine it. But the relative in Greek being declinable, the translator was forced to assign to it gender, number, and case, which rendered the addition of the pronoun after it unnecessary. Nevertheless the pronoun was retained out of regard for the sacred text. As instances of the simplest kind we may take the following —
Nb. 3525 ov Zxpuxav avrov, 13s8 rrjs y^s fjv KarecrKtyavTO avrrjv. Is. 622 o 6 KvpLO's ovo/jLaau airo. Gen. lu ov to o-iripiw. avrov iv
oir
6. Where the relative is followed by idv the same construction is employed, e.g. —
Nb. 175 6 avOpurrros ov iav €kXc|(O/«ii clvtov, 1922 Travros ov iav ai/^Tcu avTov 6 aKa.0a.pTos.
66 |
66 GRAMMAR OF SEPTUAGINT GREEK
c. Sometimes a demonstrative takes the place of the personal pronoun —
Gen. 311 ov ivereLXaftHjV crot tovtov /jlovov /xr]
cl. In all the foregoing instances the appended pronoun is in the same case as the relative, but this is not necessary.
Nb. 33 ovs ireXumcrev ras xeipas avrSiv leparevtiv.
The construction here, though determined by the Hebrew, happens to agree with the Greek Accusative of the Part Affected.
e. Very often there is the same preposition both before the relative and before the appended pronoui—
Ex. 3412 eh rjv elwrropevr) ets avr-qv. Nb. II21 iv ots ct/u iv avrdis. Gen. 28IS r yrj i
f. Occasionally the preposition is the same, but the case it governs is different, e.g. —
Jdg. 1626 i
g. Sometimes the preposition is confined to the appended pronoun. Then the problem arises, Into what case is the relative to be put? — a problem which is solved differently in different passages. In some the case chosen coincides with that of the pronoun following, e.g. —'
Gen. 2442 rrjv 68dv fxov, rjv vvv eyo) iropevofiat. lir avrrjv. Ex. 25
rovs KvaOovs, o!s crTretVeis iv avrois. Gen. 2123 ry yrj y crv irapto-KT^cras Iv avrrj.
In others it does not—
Nb. 1431 rr/v yrjv fjv v/xeis airlaryfre. air' avrqs, 192 ij ovk i-irt^XrjOri iw' avrrjv £uyos. iii K. 171
h. Sometimes the relative has a different preposition from the pronoun following —
Nb. 1320 Tt's rj yrj et? rjv ovtol ivKaOrjVTai iv avrrj'S . ■ ■ TtVes at iroXws
els as ovtoi kcltockovctiv iv aurats. For other instances see Ex. 6<: Kb. 1539: Dt. I22, Is3, 2849.
i. Sometimes the preposition is the same, but instead of a mere pronoun we have a phrase, e.g. —
Gen. 24 iv ots iyio wapocKU) iv rfj yrj avrSiv.
67 |
SYNTAX 67
_;. The construction of which we have been speaking is not confined to the simple relative, e.g. —
Gen. 411S) otas oiK dSov roiaiW. Ex. 918'24, II6 ^Tts tom^tt] oi yiyovev.
Tc. The habitual repetition of the pronoun in the LXX is a mere Hebraism, though a search among Greek writers might reveal traces of a somewhat similar usage arising independently. Here are a few instances —
Plat. Tiin. 28 A orov fiev ovv av 6 &rjp.iovpy6s . . . rr)v Ihiav Kal Swa/itv avrov aTrepyatprfai, Parm. 130 E <5v TctSe Ta dAXa fi£TaXafi-/Savoira. tos iirww/j.io.'S avrSiv iap(av. Arist. Gat. 5 § 38 olov
iirl fj.iv tu>v aXXuiv ovk av €)(oi rts to tolovto irpoeveyKeiv.
I. In the N.T. this Hebrew syntax of the relative occurs not infrequently.
Philemon12 ov dvcVejai^a
tovto trovijcrai.. Acts 1517 £
Instances are most frequent in the very Hebraistic book of Revelation. SeeEev. 38, 73'9,138, 208. Op. i Clem. 218 o5 i, w^ airov iv
■tjfUV icTTLV.
70. dvTjp = 'eKacrros. The use of airqp as a distributive pronoun is a pure Hebraism.
iv K. 1831 fl-terai avqp ttjv a/xireXov avrov, Kal dvrjp rrji> avKrjv avrov (pdycrai. Jdg. 165 ^jucis Su><70yU.€i/
71. 'oa-rvs for os. Except in the neuter singular o n, as in Josh. 2427, and in the expression «ds Stov, as in i K. 22s, or /xe^pi Srov, which is found only in the Codex Sinaiticus version of Tob. 57, o
Ex. 202 'Eyco d/JLt Kvpios . . . ocms l&jyayov ere. Gp. Kan. © Gz. Ps. 89417 17/xepa i] ix6h ijtis SujXOev. Cp. Nb. 148. " i K. 3010
SiaKoaioi avSpes omves iKa.9i.o-av iripav tov ^ct/iappov. Cp. Ex. . 324'9: Nb. I5 : i Mac. 1348. Jdg. 2112 rerpaKoo-ias veanSas ^ap-Bevovs, airtvcs ovk eyvaxrav avSpa.
Oira/es = ot occurs several times in Aristeas — §§ 102, 121, 138, 200, 308.
68 |
68 GRAMMAR OF SEPTUAGINT GREEK
The same use of oVns for the simple relative is found in the 2sT.T., e.g. —
Col. 35 tyjv 7rAeove|iay, 17ns icrriv ciScoXoXaTpeui. Acts 81S rbv IIe-Tpov Kal 'lwdvvrjv' oitcves Ka/rajSavres ktA. i Tim. 6 i7n0vfi.(as . . . amves fiv6l£ov
VERBS, 72-84
72. Analytic Tenses. By an Analytic Tense is meant one which is formed with an auxiliary instead of by an inflexion, as in English ' is coming' for ' comes.' No reader of- the LXX can fail to be struck by the frequency of such forms. It results from the fact that both languages combine to produce them. They are suggested by the great use made of the participle in Hebrew, while at the same time there was a strong tendency towards the employment of such forms within the Greek language itself. They are to be found in the best writers, both in prose and poetry, from Homer downwards. Plato often has recourse to them, partly for the sake of philosophical precision, and partly, it must be confessed, because in his later style he preferred two words to one. In the Laws Trpcirov eo-n almost altogether displaces TrpcVei.
Present
iii K. 205 |
ovk u tjv.kaOiwv aprov; Cp. Is. 10: Ezk. 36. |
iii K. 1812 |
early <£o/?0V|U.ei/os. |
Nb. 148 |
iarlv ,5eWa. Cp. iii K. 2015: Dan. 2s8. |
ii Esd. 2321 |
ovk elcrlv iiriywuxTKOVTe;. |
Prov. 35 |
to-01. 7re7roi0(os. |
Jdg. II10 |
loro) aKoi5(ov. |
Dan. 0' 626 |
€O"Ta>o-av irpcxrKVVOvvTCs. |
ii Chr. 1516 |
etvai . . . XtiTOvpyovaav. |
|
Future Simple |
Gen. 4U |
ecro/xai cttcvcov koX rpifuw. Cp. Dan. 0 6 . |
Is. 477 |
€(To/xat apyovo-a. |
Gen. 412 |
Kal rpiixwv Z |
Dt. 28s9 |
lay . . . a.hiKOVfxe.voi |
Nb. 819 |
earou . . . 7rpo |
Mai. 33 |
«0WTai . . . TTpoadyovrcs- |
Is. 2221 |
ccrovrat liriKpe/Aa/nevot. |
Ezk. 3429 |
Icrovrat dwoXXvucvot. Q9. Dt. 14s3. |
69 |
SYNTAX 69
Perfect
Is. 8 TrtTro$u>s yg.
IS. 1020, 178 ,roroi0dT« -S/J-tv.
]STb. 221 . iaTLV yap
Future Perfect
Gen. 439, 4432 r)fx.apTr]Ku>s eaofua.
ii K. 223: Is. 122, 817 Trerroidm ea-ofxat (fut. simp, in force).
Sir. 725 ccrij TeTeA.eKws.
IS. 58 ?OTJ TT£TTOl6u)S.
Is. 177, 2224 B-eiro^cBS Icrrcu.
Ex. 12 Icrrat v/xtv $iaT£Trjpr]p.evov.
Is. 32 ecrovrat 7re7rot^OT£S.
Gren. 41 earai . . . TT€
Dan. 10" rjfjLrji' Trcv6S)v.
Dan. 0' 7" Owpwv wip.
Gen. 40 3 rjaOa otvo^oGv.
Gen. 372: Ex. 31 %v iroifiaivrnv. Op. Gen. 39s3, 426: Nb. II1:
Jdg. 1621: Jonah I10: Sus.1: i Mac. 643.
1 K. 17 iroL/JMLVUiv rjv.
Jer. 4M ^v rpijxovTa (sc. to. oprj).
iii K. 18s ^v ^>o^ov/x£voS. Q). Dan. 0' 618.
Dan. 0' I16 rjv . . . di/
Baruch. I19 ^j/xcOa SlttuOowtk.
Dt. 924 A^-c^oSvTes ^r£. <7j3. Dt. 922, 3127.
Jdg. I7 ^crav trvX«'yovT£s. Cjp. Josll. 1028: i Mac. II41
Pluperfect
Dan. 0 10 yjfiTjV
Dan. ® 109 rj/XTji/ KaTa.vevvyfi.ivos.
ii Chr. 1834 V ecr^s-
i K. 413 rjv . . . i£e
Jdg. 8U: SUS. IB35 ?jv TreiroiOvla.
Josh. 7 rjv lvKeKpvfj.jxh/a.
ii Chr. 58 rjv htairetreTaKOTa..
Tob. 6 rjTOif/acrfxivrj rjv.
Is. 20 ^ju.£V 7T£7rot^dr£S-
Ex. S9"3
70 |
70 GRAMMAR OF SEPTUAGINT GREEK
b. YiyveaOa-L may be used as an auxiliary instead of elvai.
Ps. 72" lyevojA-rjv fxe.iw.
c. Sometimes the verbal adjective is used in place of the participle. Is. 183 okovcttov Icrrai. Dt. 4s6 aKown) eye'vero. Gen. 452:
Is. 483 aKovfrrbv cy€V£To. Is. 235 orav 8e &kov(tt6v yivr/raL. Dt. 305 7rXcovacrTov
d. When a causative form is wanted corresponding to a/cowi-ov ytvicrOai recourse is had to cxkowtov iroteiv, e.Q1. —
Sir. 4617 aKovarrjv iiroi-qaev rrjv (fxovrjv avrov. Cp. Ps. 105 ,142: Jer. 272, 387: Is. 30s0, 4521, 485'6'20, 52r, 62".
e. In the N.T. these analytic tenses are relatively even commoner than in the LXX.
Present
Col. 32 |
Etrrtv . . . Kadrjjxevos. |
ii Cor. 912 |
earl 7rpo |
Col. I6 |
ecru KapTroffiopov/xevov ko.1 av$av6fxev |
Col. 2™ |
£<7Tt . . . l^ovTa. |
ii Cor. 217 |
€o"jaev . . . KaTTTyXeuovTE?. |
Acts 8* |
U |
Mt. 5s5 |
I |
|
Future Simple |
Lk. 5U |
a.v6putTrov% icrrj £(oypfiv. |
Acts 7° |
ECTTal . . . TT&pOLKOV- |
i Cor. 1410 |
£(7£ |
|
Perfect |
Acts 2510 |
ecrruis Ei/ti (present in meaning). |
Acts 21a' |
EOTl 7r£7r0l7]Kii>S. |
i Cor. 159 |
tjXttlkotcs ic/xev. |
Hb. 721'23 |
clcrl yfyovoTEs. |
James 516 |
rj TTETTOIIJKWS. |
ii Cor. I19 |
TreiroidoTts wp.tv. |
Hb. 42 |
lo~jxv evr)yyt crixh/oi. |
Hb. 1010 |
fiyuKr/xlvoi kvxLv- |
Acts 218 |
ixx.ixvjrmu.kvoi. Eicrt. |
71 |
SYNTAX 71
Future Perfect
Hb. 213 eaofuu iren-oMs (from Is. 122 and perfect
only in form).
Imperfect
Cp. 2219-20: Gal. I22. Cp. Lk. 516, 238: Acts 700, 813-28, 928, 1024, 1220: Phil. 2s6. yivojiivq.
Acts |
1030, II5 |
Lk. l. |
|
Acts |
125 |
Acts |
21s |
Acts |
1612 |
Gal. |
I23 |
Acts |
I13 |
Op. Acts I10.
Cp. Acts I14, 22'5>li<*2: Mk. 2«.
/. Besides etvat other auxiliaries are used in the N.T. —
ii Cor. 6W /a^ yivtaOt Irepo^uyowTes. Col. 1M "va yivrfrai. . . . TrpiD-
reviov. Rev. 32 yivov yp7]yopo)v. Acts 816 f3tj3a.TTTKTiii.ivoi virrjp-Xov.
With the last example cp. Aristeas § 193 el fu] 7r£irot6o)s vnap^oi. The same author has K£^ap«7/xei/os Z
gr. Instances of analytic tenses occur here and there in Josephus, e.g. —
B.tT. I 31 § 1 koI rovro rjv yu.aA.Krra rapaacrov 'AvrciraTpov. Jl.nl. II 6 § 7 Tt Trapovrcs eiyixtv.
li. Also in the Apostolic Fathers —
ii Clem. 177 lorovrcu, So|av SdvT£s. Barn. Ep. 194 ?otj rpipw,
196 oi ju.^ ysVij iindvfjiwv. Cp. 199. Herin. Past Fis. Ill 4 § 2 V7rcp€^ovTes airovs eicrtv, Sim. V 4 § 2 Icro/xai ecopaKcos . . . s, IX 13 § 2 Icrij . . .
73. Deliberative Use of the Present Indicative. The deliberative use of the present indicative is not unknown in Latin, especially in Terence, e.g. PJwrm. 447 quid ago? Cp. Hewitt. 3i3: Eun. 811: Ad. 538. It occurs also in the Greek of the LXX.
Gen. 3730 iylo Si ttov Tropzvofixi.1 ere;
So in N.T. — Jn. ll4r Tt irotoC/xev; What is our course ?
72 |
72 GRAMMAR OF SEPTUAGINT GREEK
74. The Jussive Future, a. The Jussive Future is rare in Attic Greek, and, when it does occur, is regarded as a weak form of imperative. In the LXX, on the other hand, it is very common, and is employed in the most solemn language of legislation. From the nature of the case it is not used in the first person. It may be employed in command or in prohibition. As instances of the former we may take —
Lvt. 1918 dyamjcras tw irX-qaiov Lvt. II44. Lvt. 1922 kcI l^iXao-erai 6 leptvs. Cp. Lvt. 1920'21.
b. Very often the jussive future follows an imperative.
Gen. 4014 /xv^o-^rt pov . . . kTronjcras. Cp. Gen. 444: Ex. 720, 91-13: Nb. 152-17.- iii K. 171S. Josh. 84 rf ^Kph.v yiv^Oe . . . Kal ZavrQz -rravrts erot/xot. Cp. Nb. 1318.
c. Of the use of the jussive future in prohibition we have a conspicuous example in the Ten Commandments (Ex. 2013~17: Dt. 5IT"21) — Ov /u,oix£v(ms, Oi kX&j/ws ktA. So also —
Dt. 618 ovk (Kwupdo-m ~&.vpwv rov 6kov oov. Op. Kb. 2212: Ex. . Lvt. Wil
d. In the case of the jussive future we have ov in prohibition, because the formula was originally one of prediction.
e. Occasionally there is a transition from the jussive future to ov jut; with subjunctive —
!Nb. 23 ovre Kardpaa Karapdcrrj jj.oi. avrbv, ovre evXoyS>v /xr}
/. In the N.T. the jussive future is often used in passages quoted from the LXX. In Matthew it is employed independently.
Mt. 548 ecrecrfle ow ifx,€cs rcXeiot, 6W ovk tcrscrOs is oc {nroKpirai, 2026"28 o&x ovtijds earca iv v/uv . . . iarai v/jmv &orukos, 21s Kal idv tis ifuv £i?nj Tt, ipcire ktA.
75. The Optative, a. The pure optative, i.e. the optative as employed to express a wish, is of frequent occurrence in the LXX, as might be expected from the character of the contents, so much of which is in the form either of aspiration or of imprecation. But the use of the optative where in Latin we should have the historic tenses of the subjunctive is hardly to be found outside of Maccabees.
73 |
SYNTAX 73
ii Mae. 33r tov 8e /JacriAetos CTrepoJT^o-avTos tov eHAidSu>/>ov, 7rotos Tts cuj e?rm?8etos. iv Mac. 171 tKeyov 8e kcu tS>v hopv^>6pii>v Ttvts <5 id="iv.i.i.iv.p950.1">s . . . Zva ixrj xpaMTuiv ti tov crm/JUXTOi avrrj'S, iavrrjv ippiij/ev Kara, rijs
The established practice is for the subjunctive to follow the historic tenses in a final clause —
Ex. 1l itreaTiyjev • • . tva KaKaxruxriv, 918 hitrqprjd-qt; Zva ZvBei£a][i.ai. Wisd. 16" 8iara>£ovTO, Iva ftij . . . ya/tovrai. Op. 1618.
Qj. Aristeas §§ 11, 18,19, 26, 29, 42, 45, 111, 175,193.
b. In the N.T. also the subjunctive is regularly employed in final clauses after an historic tense, e.g. —
Tit. I5 tovtov a.piv a.Tr(
rov
c. The pure optative is said to occur 35 times in the K.T., always, except in Philemon20, in the 3d person.
In Luke-Acts the optative is commonly employed in dependent questions, e.g.—
Luke 1830 tTrw96.ve.TO ri drj tovto, with which contrast
Mk. 1411 tt,rjTU ttSs evKaipo)? avTOV Tra.pa.8iS.
Outside of Acts the optative with d is found only in four passages—i Cor. 1410,1537 (d t«>0: i Pet. 314'17.
76. Conditional without av. Occasionally we find the apodosis in a conditional sentence devoid of av.
Nb. 22s8 Kat el firj e^iKkivev, vvv ovv ae /xcv airiKTUva, eKCivrjV 8e utpt-tTToi.yjo-a.ix.-qv. Contrast 22^ and compare ii K. 2F.
77. Infinitive of Purpose. The use of the infinitive to express purpose, as in English, is common to all stages of the Greek language, but abounds more in the LXX than in classical Greek.
Gen. S725 UMivav Sk
Nb. 2220: Job 2
Of the use of the infinitive with the article to express purpose we have had occasion to speak already (§ 59).
78. Infinitive of Consequence. This construction is of doubtful propriety in Attic Greek. In the LXX it is much less common than the Infinitive of Purpose.
Ex. II1 KOt ovk elcrrjKovo-ev efairooreiAai tovs views 'lo-parjX.
74 |
74 GRAMMAR OF SEPTUAGINT GREEK
79. Paucity of Participles. The small use made of participles in
the LXX, as compared with classical Greek, is a natural result of
the paratactical construction which reigns throughout. The same
is the case, though to a less extent, in the IST.T. Take for instance —
Mk. 1416 Kai l^XOov ol paOrjrai, Kal rjXBov £ty rrjv iroXiv, Kal cvpev
KaBios eTirtv avroii' Kal yjTOifuxcTav to
The participle has disappeared in the modern language. Doubtless the influence of Biblical Greek was among the causes of its decline.
80. Misuse of the Participle. The misuse of the participle marks a stage of its decline. We find this tendency already manifesting itself in the LXX. Such an anacoluthon indeed as the following —
Ex. 815, 9' iSuv Sc 4>apa
may be passed over, as it might easily be paralleled from the most strictly classical writers. But we find sentences in the LXX in which a participle is the only verb. Sometimes this arises from following the Hebrew as in —
Jdg. 1319'w Kal Mavole /cat ij yvvrj avrov /J/.«roi/T£s, 14* Kal iv rw KaipvXot KvpicvovTts iv 'I
More often it does not, as in —
Ex. 12s7 airdpavrt^ 8i oi viol 'IcrpaijX, 1518 Kvpios fiaaiXeowv rov alZva. Jdg. 416 Kai BapaK Sicokcov.
Moreover we find a participle coupled with a finite verb by Kai. When the subject of the two is the same, it is open to us to say that it is not copulative, but merely emphasizes the verb, as in —
Kb. 21U Kai i£dpavTts (Hb. impf.) !£ 'Q(3ai6, Kal TraptvefiaXov iv XaX-ya£t, 2223 Kal iSovaa. f] ovos . . . Kal €^€/cXcv£v.
Hardly so however when the subject is different.
Ex. 1230 Kai dvacrras 4>apa<6 . . . Kal eyey-qO-q Kpavyrj. Nb. 22s3
Ma>d/3.
81. The Intensive Participle. On the other hand there is a cause in operation in the LXX tending to an unnecessary use of participles. For in place of a cognate dative we often find the participle used along with a finite form of the same verb, to convey the intensive force that is accomplished in Hebrew by the addition of the infinitive to the finite verb, e.g. —
75 |
SYNTAX 75
Gen. 22W d fijrjv evoyu)V evXoyjo-a) ere, Kal ttXt)8vvo)v TrXrjOvvS) to UTripfx.0. crov. Jdg. U25 pr) fjM^Ofievo1; i)iaiaaTO fiera *l
We might fill pages with instances of this idiom, but a statement of its frequency must suffice. This emphatic use of the participle is a more unmitigated Hebraism than the other forms of the etymological figure. The cognate accusative is quite Greek and the cognate dative is to "be found in pure Greek, but we should search in vain among classical authors for the intensive use of the participle. There is a clear instance indeed in Lucian (Dialogi Marini IV 3 lSu>v elSov), but it is interesting to remember that Lucian himself came from the banks of the Euphrates. In Hdt. V 95 awos nh
In the N.T. we have one instance, other than a quotation, of this Hebraism, namely —
Eph. 5s icrre yivixxrKovTd,
but both the reading and the interpretation of this passage are disputed.
82. Other Varieties of the Etymological Figure. In Josh. 1713 i£oe-Opcvaai St avrovs ovk i£(Opevaav the infinitive absolute of the Hebrew is represented in Greek by the infinitive, instead of by a participle or a cognate dative, so that sheer nonsense is made of the translation.
In another passage, where the Greek departs from our Hebrew, an adjective takes the place of the participle —
Jdg. 5 OtKT£cp/XO)V OLKTUprjtTU.
Sometimes we find an adverb in place of the participle — Ex. 151 iv86£o)s yap 8e8d£aorai. 2fb. 2217 ivrtfioii yap PrOV. 231 vorjTU>s vou, 27s3 yi/axrrois ouyvaScrg.
The following turns of expression may also be noticed —
Jdg. II25 Iv dyaOw &ya.#os. Dt. 188 /xepc'S
i K. I11 SaStra) airoi' kv&iriov (rov Sotov.
83. Middle and Passive Voices. In later Greek the boundary lines between the middle and passive voices are not clearly demarcated. Even in classical authors we find the future middle used in a passive sense, as it is also in —
Ex. 1210 ovk
76 |
TG GRAMMAR OF SEPTUAGINT GREEK
The same seems to be the case with £vprja-<»iJM and ithip-qo-aro in Jdg. 1617-23. SoinN.T.—
i Cor. 611 aXXa aireXovo-avOi, aXXa. ^yiacr&jTe, SXX' i8iKcaa>6r]Te, 102 kcu. ■n-avres £is rov Muxrrjv ipcarTtoravTo,
though here Riddell's semi-middle sense of the verb might plausibly be brought in by way of explanation.
Instances of passive form with middle meaning are common in the LXX—
Nb. 22s* a!ro
So in N.T. in Luke II38 ifictTTTio-Ori is used for €/
84. Causative Use of the Verb. a. The causative use of the verb which is found in the LXX may be set down with confidence as a Hebraism. BacriXeveiv according to the Greek language means ' to be king,' but it is frequently employed in the LXX in the sense of ' to make king,' e.g. —
Jdg. 96 i/3
There are all together thirty-six occurrences of the word in this causative sense.
b. Classical Greek again knows ^SeXvcro-ea-Oai in the sense of 'to loathe' or < abominate/ but not fi8zvo-
Ex. 521 e/3SeA.v£a.T£ Trjv oa-fi-fjv rjfi&v Ivavriov <&apa.i id="iv.i.i.iv.p1015.1">. Lvt. II43 Kid
ov pjq (SScAu^re Taj pvx*S v/x£>v. Op. Lvt. 2025: i Mac. I48.
c. Still more strange to classical Greek is the sense of ' to make to sin' often imposed upon e£a/jMpra.vav, e.g. —
IV K. 1721 Kol e£y/AapT£v avrovs a/xaprCav
This is the prevailing sense of the word in the LXX, which is found all together twenty-eight times, mostly in the phrase os ifyiMpTtv tov
d. In this causative use of the verb is to be found the explanation
77 |
SYNTAX 77
of Ex. 1425 nai rjyaytv awoiis jaera y3ias, where the R.V. margin has 'made them to drive.' Other similar instances are —
Ex. 1318 tKvKXoxrev — he led round. i K. 43 Kara ti lirrauw Kvpios OTj/x.epov; Ps. 14211
85. Reduplication of Words. In Greek we are accustomed to reduplication of syllables, but not to reduplication of words. This primitive device of language is resorted to in the LXX, in imitation of the Hebrew, for at least three different purposes —
(1) intensification,
(2) distribution,
(3) universalisation.
(1) The intensifying use.
To the same head may be assigned —
Ex. 8M o~wrjyayov avrovs (?i|U.a)vias Oifuavias. Dt. 2843 o xpooTjAuTos 6 ev crol ava^yjarerai dvm avm, av Sc Karaftytrr} kolto> ko.tw.
In all the above instances perhaps the kind of intensification involved is that of a repeated process.
(2) The distributive use.
els ets i Chr. 246.
SJo Si* Gen. 619, 73: Sir. 3615.
eirrot iirrd Gen. 7s.
yiXiovs €K
to TrpaA irptal i Clll". 9s7.
epyacrta Kai Ipyacria ii Chr. 3413.
In pure Greek such ideas "would be expressed by the use of avd or Kara. Sometimes we find Kara employed in the LXX along with the reduplication, as in —
Dt. T22 Kara. fiLKpbv fJUKpov. Zeeh. 1213 Kara (jiiiAas <£vAas. The idea ' year by year' is expressed in many different ways — iviavrbv Kar iviavrov Dt. 1421: i K. I7: ii Chr. 245. Kar' evtavrbv eviavrov i K. 716. ivuivrbv ii Ivlt.vtov Dt. 1520. to KO.T iviavrbv iviavrai iii K. 1028. to Kar' evtavrbv iviavrov ii Chr. 9M.
78 |
78 GRAMMAR OF SEPTUAGINT GREEK
(3) The universalising use. &v0pw7ro<; ZvOpanos = whatsoever man Lvt. 17*-8'10'13,186, 209,2218:
Ezk. U*'7. AvSpl avSpc Lvt. 151
Of the above three uses the distributive is the only one which is to be found in the N.T.
Mk. 67 Bvo ovo, 6s9 crvfUTrocria
Sim. VIII 2 § 8 rjXOov rdyfjuxra Ta.yp.aTa, 4 § 2 e
86. Expressions of Time. a. ' Year after year' is expressed in ii K. 211 by a nominative absolute «navros lx°/uvos «"iawov without any pretence of grammar.
b. The use of the word ' day' in vague expressions of time is a Hebraism, e.g. —
Gen. 404 ij/xcpas = for some time. Op. Dan. 0' II9. Jdg. 151 fj.*(i>* fip.ipa.s = after some time. Cp. iii K. 177. iii K. 181 p.i.0' Tipipas ■jroXXd.s = after a long time.
c. ' Day'by day' (Hb. day, day) is expressed in Gen. 3910 by 7/p.ipav i£ -fip-ipas (pp. Lat. diem ex die).' In Esther 34 naO' Zi
rjp.e.pa «ai yjp.tpa..
d. The use of ' yesterday and the day before' as a general expression for past time = heretofore is a Hebraism which presents itself in the LXX under a variety of slight modifications.
lx6h koI rpkifv i K. 47, 10": ii K. 317, 52: i Chr. II2.
«X#« Kat tPltVv fipepav Gen. 312-5: Ex. 57-14: Josh. 418-. i K. 1421,
197, 215: i Mac. 944.
eX^« koI TjonTjs Ruth 2U: iv K. 135: Sus. ©u. a7r' i$h kol TptTijs ^/xepas Josh. 34. 7rpo rrjs i)(8is Kal TpiTrjs Dt. 19*. Trpo T^y ixfes Kal wpo rijs rptrijs Ex. 2129. irpb t^s ex^'s Ka^ ""po rV^ Tp""ijs i)/x£pas Ex. 21s6. irpo t^s ex^s °"^ VP° T'7S Tpcrrp Dt. 412, 196.
Ex. 410.
In Joshua 205j which occurs only in the Codex Alexandrinus, we
79 |
SYNTAX 79
have dir' ixOh km TpCrrjv, where iy9i%-iau.-*piTqv is treated as a single indeclinable noun.
e. ' Just at that time' is expressed variously as follows —
avffapi Dan. 0' 315.
avrrj rrj mp
iv avif Trj
ly avrrj Trj Zpa tKeivy Dan. 0' 5s.
iv avrrTob. 317. <7jp. Lk. 131.
87. Pleonastic Use of suet and lK«ie«v. Just as a personal pronoun is supplied after the relative (§ 69), so a demonstrative adverb of place is supplied after a relative adverb or after some phrase equivalent to one.
Gen. 3319 oS i
This idiom, which, is thoroughly Hebrew, is to be explained on the same principle as in § 69. In the 2T.T. it is found only in Revelation —
EeV. 126 OTTOV ?^££ £K« TOTTOV) 1214 O7T0V Tp£
KaOrjTai iir ovtSiv (= £K£t).
88. was with otf and (ivj. a. The use of was with a negative particle, where in classical Greek ovBek or /t^Sets would be employed, is a Hebraism, even though in certain cases the resulting expression may be paralleled from pure Greek usage.
The was may either precede or follow the negative (ov, fi-q, p.yjSi, ov far]) without difference of meaning.
b. We will first take instances from the LXX where the was precedes the negative.
Ex. 1243 was dAAoyEvijs ovk ISerai air avrov. Op. 12*8: Ezek. 449. Dan. 0' 59 was &v6pwros ov SwaraL. Cp. Dan. 0' 210. Hbk. 2W Tray wvfC/xa ovk icrriv iv avr
80 |
80 GRAMMAR OF SEPTUAGINT GREEK
SoinN.T.—
Rom. 1012 iraS b vurrewav in avTiS ov KaTaio-xyvOrjveTai. Cp. Eph. 4s9, 55. Rev. 1822 Tras re^V^s . . . ov ju.ij evpeOrj ev croi in. ii Pet. I20 Tracra TrpotfirjTtia ypa
c. In the following passages of the LXX the was follows the negative —
Ps. 1422 ov 8iKaiu>6ijareTa.<. Ivunriov crov ?ras ^uJr. Eccl. I9 ouk ecrnv ■KO.V irpoa-^arov vivo rbv rjXiov. Ex. 2010: Dt. 514 ov wot^creTe ev avVy -KO.V epyov. Cp. Ex. 2016. ii K. 1511 ouk cyvoxrav Trav prjfia. Tob. 1211 ov [ly] Kpv^i
ovk eXaTTco^o-ovrai tovtos dya^ov. Jdg. 134 /Aij ^aygs irav aKa-Oaprov. Tob. 47 ^ mrocrrpiij/rji to Trpoawirov
SoinKT.—
Rom. 320 1^ ipywv vo;aov ov StKauo^iJcrcToi?rao"a crapf. C^. Gal. 2 : Mt. 24^. Lk. I37 ovk dftwarijo-ei 7rapa rov ®eov irav prj/xa. Acts 1014 ovSeVoTC e
PREPOSITIONS, 89-98
89. Prominence of Prepositions. The prominence of prepositions in the LXX is partly a characteristic of later Greek generally and partly due to the careful following of the Hebrew. But while prepositions are employed to express relations for which in classical Greek cases would have been thought sufficient, there is at the same time a tendency to blur some of the nice distinctions between the uses of the same preposition with different cases.
90. «ts. a. ets in classical Greek denotes motion or direction: in Biblical Greek it denotes equally rest or position, and may be translated by ' at' or ' in' as well as by ' to,' e.g. —
Gen. 3717 TropcvOm/xev els Aio9dei.fi, • . . koI evpev avrovs ets A(o#aa|&. Josh. I22 eSpa/iov eis rrjv crKrjvrjv . . . Kal Tavra rjv ivKeKpvfx.p.iva eis T^v o-K-qvrjv. Jdg. 141 «at Ka-re/Jij 2a/x^ii)v eis ©a/xvd^a, /cat eiSev yvvaiKOL eh
81 |
SYNTAX 81
For examples of the former meaning only we may take — Gen. 42s2 6 Se /JUKporepos . . . eh yrjv Xavdav. Nb. 25s3 rrjv yijv ets t]V v/xeis KaTOLKUTt. Judith 1623 airiOavev eh BounAova.
b. In the 1ST.T. eis denoting rest or position is very common.
Mk. 21 «'s oIkov = at home. Op. Lk. 961: Mk. 1010. Mk. 133 Ka9T fxevov evrov eh to opos tq>v cAatSv. Jn. I18 6 wv eh rov koXttov tov irm ios» Acts 2113 dtaroftiveiv eis 'lepovcraXrjfX.
Op. also Eph. 3M: i Pet. 320, 512: Mk. I9-» 139: Lk. 4s3, II7: Jn. 97, 207: Acts 74, 8* 254.
The obliteration of the distinction between rest and motion is one of the marks of declining Greek. In the modern language eh has usurped the functions both of ev and irpos.
c. The use of eh with the accusative after e!Vcu and yeveo-6ai as practically equivalent to the nominative may safely be regarded as a Hebraism.
d. i Chr. II21 yjv auVots eh ap^ovTa, 17r etvaa eh r/yovfievov. iii K. 202 eo-Toj. pot eh Krj-n-ov Xaxavov. Op. Gen. 4819: i Chr. II6. i K. 179 eo~6fie6a v/uv eh SovAous. Jer. 38s8 eo-ofua auTOts eh $ebv, kcu. avTol lo-ovTaC pioi eh AaoV. Op. Jer. 381: Gen. 4818: ii K. 714. Gen. 27 lyivero 6 av^p(O7ros eh "'X^v f^crc"'' -Ex* 210 eyevqOr) avrfj eh vlov. i K. 49 yivearOe eh avSpas.
irpos in one passage takes the place of as.
Sir. 464 //.lix Tifiipa eyevrjOrj Trpos 8uo.
e. In the New Testament this idiom occurs both in quotations from the Old and otherwise.
i Jn. 58 Kal ol rpets eh to ev elaiv. Lk. 3 eareu to. crKoAia efs evOfuK (Is. 404). ii Cor. 618 ecreo-Oe /moi eh vlovs koI Ovyari-pas (ii K. 78: Is. 436). Mt. 195 ea-ovrai ot Svo eh o-dpKa.
pCav (Gen. 2s4). Mt. 2142 eyevqdr, eh Ke^aX^v ycowas (Ps. 11722). Lk. 1319 cyeVeTO as hh/hpov. Op. Rev. 8U. Jn. 1620 ij Xim; Vfxmv eh ^apav yeviycreTat.
The same usage is to be found also in the Apostolic Fathers — Herm. Past. Sim. IX 13 § 5 lowrai as ev wveviia, as iv
f. The employment of eh to express the object or destination of a thing might easily be paralleled from classical Greek, but its fre-
82 |
82 GRAMMAR OF SEPTUAGINT GREEK
quent use in the LXX is due to its convenience as a translation of the corresponding Hebrew.
Gen. 3412 koX &
SovXov ivpaOn] 'l<0
Gen. 122 iroi^cro)
When the verb is active and transitive, as in all but the second of the above instances, «is might be dispensed with as far as Greek is concerned. When a verb of being is employed, this use runs into the preceding —
Gen. I29 vfiiv coral ets /6pfi
g. The use of ds with the accusative, where classical Greek would simply have employed a dative, is shown by the Papyri to have been a feature of the vernacular Greek of Alexandria.
Ex. 921 os Se f.ij TTpotricr^tv rfj Stavota eis to pr?ijx.a KvpCov ktX. So in KT. — i Cor. 161 rfjs Xoytas t^s «cs tovs dyt'ous (the collection for the saints).
91. iv. a. Although h was destined ultimately to disappear before m, yet in Biblical Greek we find it in the plenitude of its power, as expressing innumerable relations, some of which seem to the classical student to be quite beyond its proper sphere. One principal use may be summed up under the title of " The iv of Accompanying Circumstances." This includes the instrumental use, but goes far beyond it. Under this aspect iv invades the domain of /xera and a~w. In most cases it may be rendered by the English ' with.'
Hos. I7 ocutovs iv to^u> ovSc iv potato. ovSe iv iroXefiw ovhe iv iWois ol'Sc iv liririxxnv. Cp. i K. 1745'47: i Mac. 312. Ex. 61 iv yap X«pt Kparaia ktX. (But in Ex. 319 we have lav /«) f^ra x«pos Kparatas.) Cp. Ex. 320: Jdg. 1515'16. Jdg. 1418 ei fir) rjpoTpidaaTt iv rrj Sa/xaXei fiov. Cp.
iii K. 1919. iv K. 1817 iv Swajuei [iapda. In the parallel passage Is. 362 /ieroi Swa/itus TroXX^s. i Mac. 46 w
Tptcr^iXtbts avhpacriv.
So in N.T. —
i Cor. 4J1lvp^8a, IX^a) Tr^sv/zas; <7p.iK.17«:Ps.29. Eph. 62 IvroXij jrpdJT?; iv Iwa-yyeXia. ii Pet. 316 Iv &vOpwvrj-Mt. 9s4 Iv T(3 8.pxpvTi rwv 8ai/xovt<«v IkjSixXXci to. Saiju.ovia. Op. Mt. 1224, 2516. Mt. 2652 Iv fiaXaCpa dT
83 |
SYNTAX 83
5. The iv of accompanying circumstances is not wholly foreign to classical Greek, though the extended use made of it in Biblical diction is.
Eur. Tro. 817
c. In another of its Biblical uses iv becomes indistinguishable from ets, as in —
Ex. 421 irdvTa. to. ripara. a ISwko. iv tcus xepcrtv
parallel passage in iv K. 1910 has ds x«pas /8ao-tX«i>s. Tob. 55
■n-opcvOrjvai iv 'Payots. Qp. Tob. 66, 92.
So in N.T. —
ii Cor. 816 X™Pts ^ T(? ®e<? T¥ ^'^°l'T' t^" a^T^v ctttouS^v vrtp v/jlwv iv rrj KapSia Tltov. Mt. 143 t^ero ei/
iv rfj XeiPL a-vrov- Kev. II11 ^reti/ia ^coijs ek roC ©eo{5 v €v avrots.
92. dir6. a. dwo in the LXX is often little more than a sign of the genitive, like our English 'of,' provided that the genitive be partitive.
Ex. 1246 koI octtovv ov
a.Tvo irdvTcov ojv iv€T€iaTO Mojtjct^s Tto 177(701 o ovk avtyvw Ttjgovs. iii K. 1813 tKpvxpa a.7ro tu>v Trpo
So in N.T. —
Lk. 61S eKXe^a/tevos
&. (xtto = ' by reason of' is another unclassical use which occurs in the LXX.
Gen. 4131 Kat ovk iinyvuxrdyacTai rj tWyjvia im rfjs yrjs diro tov Xifiov. Ex. 2s3 Kal KaTeo-Ttva£av oi viol 'laparjX mro tS>v Ipywv, 37 Kal rrjs Kpavyrj'S avrZv aKr/Koa airb tSiv epyoStcoKxGv. Ps. 11 diro tt}s TaXtUTTiapias t&v tttuo^&v . . . dvacrrijao/iai. Sir. 206 hmv /iicrrj-tos airb 7roAA»?s XaXias. ISTahum I6 ai TTtTpat SteBpvfirjO-av air avrov.
In this way d.7ro becomes = biro, as in Dan. 0' I18.
84 |
84 GRAMMAR OF SEPTUAGINT GREEK
So in F.T. —
Hb. 57 €£
Of dTro = vti-o see instances in Lk. 922,1725: Acts 209. c. The combination du-o . . . Iws is a Hebraism. It may be rendered "from . . . unto," as in —
Dt. 8l35 airb i/^vow tS>v wo8£v crov ea>s t^s KOpv
Ex. 9ffi curb avOpunrov . . . 2o)s Krrjvovs.
Sometimes W precedes the 2cds —
Jdg. 155 diro . . • Kal 2
93. nerd, fitrd "with genitive = ' in dealing with' is a Hebraism. Jdg. IB3 on ttoiS) iyw (jxt avrZv Trovrjptay.
So in N.T. —
Lk. 1(F 6 Troujcras rb cXeos /xer' avrov: Acts 142r. Q). Herm. Past. Sim. v 1 § 1: i Clem. 613.
94. we'p. a. The frequent use of v-n-ep in the LXX to express comparison is due to the fact that the Hebrew language has no special form for the comparative degree. We therefore sometimes find the LXX representing the original by the positive with imkp.
Ruth 415 % iaTiv aya.8r)
b. More often however the comparative is used, but the construction with vTrip still retained.
Jdg. 152 ayaOoiTtpa VTrep avrrjv. Cp. Jdg. II25. Jdg. 1826 Swaru-
Tepoi d(jiv virip avrov. Ruth 312 lyyiwv inrtp £//.€. iii K. 194
Kpe[a-
85 |
SYNTAX 85
c. vwip is employed in the same way after verbs —
Ex. I9 laxyti vircp rjft.a.'s. i K. Is ttjv "Avvav Tjyajra. 'EX/cava VTrep ravrrjV. Ps. 3913 eTrXrjOvvOr^av virlp ras Tpt^as t??s /c«^>aA.^s p.ov. i Chr. 191 «av Kparrjirrj VTrip f/xt Svpos. Jer. 53 ecrrepeaxrav . . . wrep ircVpav, 1612 v/xeis eirovypevo-aaOt virlp tows iraxepas ijawv. Q>-1723. Jer. 26s3 Tr^Wva wep
k^CKavBr] virip to irportpov «rTa7rAao7«)s.
d. SoinN.T.— after a comparative —
Lk. 168
after a verb —
Gal. I14 irpoeKOTTTOV . . . xnrip ttoAXovs. Mt. 1037 6 fyikwv
^ fii}T£pa iirep i/jLC. Gp. Herm. Past. Mdt. Y 1 § 6 7] fW.KpoOv)i.l.a yXvuvrdrr] larlv virep
to /ieXt. Hfd/rt. Polyc. 18 SoKi/j.u>Tcpa iirip xpvaiov oara avrov.
95. 4ir£. a. em with the accusative is used of rest as well as of motion.
Gen. 4117 lordrai im to ^ciXos toC TTOTa/xoi). Ex. 101 Kat av^yayev avr^v (rrjv aKpiBa) iiri Traaav yyv Alyv7TT0v, Kal Kariwav
the roof.
b. iwi is sometimes used to reinforce an accusative of duration of time.
Jdg. 1417 Kcd tKXarcrev 7rpos avrov Iiri Tas «7Ta rj/j.ipa's as vjv awTois
6 7T0T0S.
c. In Josh. 2510 we find ixiyav em tov IMv where in classical Greek we should have only piyav iSuv.
d. In the N.T. also Im with the accusative is used of rest or position —
ii Cor. 315 koXv^im. im ttjv KapSiav avr£v K€tTai. Mk. 214 Ka6rj)x.t-
vov i-rrl to TcXoivtov. Cp. Lk. 5s7. Mk. 4s8 im to 7rpocrKe<£dXcuov
KaOevSwv. Mt. 1428 TrepnraTiiiv Itrl T-qv 66Xao-o~av (in Jll. 619
irepMraToBvTa C7rt t^s OaXaaaiq'i). Lk. 2s5 irvevfM ayiov rjv Itt'
abrov. Cp. Lk. 240. Jn. I32 ifxavev lit avrov.
96. ■n-apd. a. Trapd naturally lends itself to the expression of comparison, and is so used occasionally in the best Greek, e.g. Thuc. I 23
86 |
86 GRAMMAR OF SEPTUAGINT GREEK
§ 4: Xen. Mem. 14 § 14: Hdt. VII103. It is therefore not surprising that it should have been employed by the translators in the same way as wcp.
Ex. 18" ju-eyas KiJpios mxpa mitvTas roiis tfeoik. Cp. Ps. 1345: Dan. 0' II12. Nb. 12s KaX 6 aV0pa)7ros Mojuotjs -irpavs cr<£o8pa wapa
iravras tovs av#p7rovs. Dan. 0' I10 dcrdtvrj irapb. toiis crvvTpe
TTjV TTpdlTrjV (© haS TToXvv VTTip TOV TTpOTCpOv). Dt. 77 ij«.£tS yap
tart oXiyo&Tol irapa rrdvra tol iOvq. Gen. 43s4 efj-zyavv6r] Sk ■fj fx.epls 'Btvia/xdv irapa. ras p-ept'Sas Travrcov. Ps. 86 ^XaTTcocras atirov jSpa^u Tt -7rap' dyyeXous.
b. In the N.T. irapd after a comparative is abundant in Hebrews —14,33, 923, II4,1224.
We find it after a positive and after a comparative in Luke —
Lk. 132 d/wxpTuXot wapa wdvTas tous TaXiXatovs, 313 ju^Scv 7rXc'ov Trapa to StaT£Tay/x€vov v/xTv TrpdcrereTe,
and after verbs in —
Rom. 14s os p-ev Kpiva ij/itpav Tap' yjii,ipav- Hb. I9
c. In the Apostolic Fathers cp.'—
Herm. Past. Vis. Ill 12 § 1 EXapcoTe'pav vrapa to irporepov, Sim. IX 18 § 2 TrXeiora . . . rrapd. Barn. JJp. 45 (in a quotation from Daniel which is neither 0' nor ©) ypXerrwrtpov irapa ■7rdvra ra
97. New Forms of Preposition, a. Besides the more liberal use made of the prepositions already current in classical Greek, we meet also in the LXX with new forms of preposition.
b. A.7r
c. vTroKa.T<»9ev, which is only used as an adverb in classical Greek, assiimes in the LXX the function of a preposition, e.g. —
Dt. 914 €$akuj/to ovo/xa avroiv viroKdraiOev tov ovpavov.
87 |
SYNTAX 87
The corresponding form vTrepdv
d. h/avTi, airtvavri, and Karevavri are prepositions unknown to classical authors, though wrivavn is to be found in Polybius.
tvavn in many passages of the LXX has been replaced in Swete's text by ivavTiov, but there are still numerous instances of it left, e.g. Ex. 2812- ^ M, 2910- *24' *■ *• "2. In N.T. it occurs in Lk. I8, Acts 821.
awevavTi is also common, e.g. Gen. 3s4, 2126, 2319, 259, 4930. In the N.T. it occurs in the sense of < contrary to' in Acts IV.
Karivavn is specially frequent in the book of Sirach.
e. Zvunnov is another preposition unknown to classical authors, but extremely common in Biblical Greek, as being an apt equivalent for certain Hebrew forms of expression. Deissmann gives instances of its adverbial use in the Papyri, so that we need not suppose it to have been invented by the translators of the O.T. In the N.T. it occurs frequently in Luke-Acts, Paul, and Revelation, but is not used in Matthew or Mark.
KaTevu>7riov occurs in the LXX in Lvt. 417: Josh. Is, 3', 21", 239: Esther 5l: Dan. ® 5s2. In N.T. in Eph. I4: Col. I22: Jude24.
/. O7ricra) as a preposition is unclassical, but extremely common in the LXX.
In the N.T. it occurs in i Tim. 515: Acts 5s7, 20s0: Mt. 419,1088,1624: Lk. 1427: Jn. 1219: Rev. 131
g. KaToincrde(v) is construed with a genitive in Horn. Od. XII148, but its classical use is almost wholly adverbial, whereas in the LXX, in which it occurs twenty-four times in all, it is mainly prepositional.
In ii Chr. 34s8 we have avb oiriaOev Kvpiov. Cp. Eccl. I10 airb i/x-
li. KVKkodtv occurs in the LXX as a preposition in iii K. 1832: Sir. 5012A: Jer. 1726, 3117: i Mac. 14ir.
In ~N.T. only in Rev. 4s, 511 kvkXoOcv rov Bpovov.
kvko> is sometimes used in the same way, as in iii K. 1885: Sir. 2318: Is. 62: Jer. 3914.
Cp. Strabo XVII 6, p. 792 to. 8e kvkXw t^s k
i. Other prepositions that may be briefly noticed are lypptva. rrerpas Ps. 1406, io-wrepov Trjs KoXvufiijOpas Is. 2211.
In Sir. 29^ we have the combination ml wpbs em tovtois.
98. Prepositions after Verbs. The great use made of prepositions after verbs is one of the main characteristics of Biblical Greek. It
88 |
88 GRAMMAR OF SEPTUAGINT GREEK
is partly a feature of later Greek generally, but to a still greater extent it is due to the influence of the Hebrew. In the following list of instances perhaps the last only is irreproachable as Greek: —
dSwaretv
SSeruv iv iv K. I1, 3s'7, 187, 241-80: ii Ghr. 1019. Iv i Chr. 291: ii Chr. 29U.
dird Ex. I12. /3o5v Iv iii K. 1824.
£lV €/C Dt. 1819.
iv i Ohr. 285.
em' with accusative Ps. 4V512, 9n, 4010. eiri£av ivi with dative Ps. 71.
IveSpeiiav eiri Jdg. 162.
evrpeirareu a.wo ii Chr. 3612: i Esd. I45.
Jm/coAeio-ftu iv iii K. 1823'2(i.
IcrfltW 6.™ Lvt. 226: Jdg. 1316.
c{,8ok£Tv Iv Ps. 14610.
6iuv Iv i K. 1822: i Chr. 284: Ps. 14610.
$£
CIS EX. 921.
ctard 3STb. 22s. truvte'vai ets Ps. 27s. VTrtp7]
>o/3e«r0cu &rr6 Dt. I29, 7s9: Josh. II6: iv K I15: Ps. 3r. <£udo-cT<:
CONJUNCTIONS, 99-111
99. €l -with the Subjunctive, a. In Homer d, or its equivalent at, is common with the subjunctive, especially "when accompanied by ke(v), e.g. II. I 80, IV 249, VII 375, VIII 282, XI 791, XV 403, XVI 861, XVIII 601 •. Od. IV 35, V 471, 472, XVI 98, XXII 7.
89 |
SYNTAX 89
In classical authors instances of et with the subjunctive (without av) are rare rather than absent. Some of them may have been improved out of existence, owing to a desire for uniformity.
Plato Laws 761 C ei ri wov aA.
&. In Hellenistic Greek the use of ei with the subjunctive becomes common, e.g.—
Arist. E.E. II 1 § 17 d rj olyfyaOTOs, 8 § 9 et Tts vpovdrj, 18 d yap . . . airoKTUvr], 10 § 21 et TroXejxSxnv. Philo II 19, De Air. § 25 ei <=ft,fUa0O5 y. Jos. B.J. I 31 § 1 et . . . axrOtvyar/, Ant. I 2 § 3 d Kal
We should therefore antecedently expect to find this construction in the LXX, and yet it is seldom found. It occurs in Jdg. II9, where an indicative and subjunctive are both made dependent on d
— d imKuptos
ivunnov i/xov. In Dt. 85 Swete's text has TraiSeixrai in place of nj. In i K. 1487 d Karaj3S> otti
In the N.T. there are a few instances of d with the subjunctive —
Uom. II14 ei 7T
100. «l Interrogative, a. In classical Greek el is often used in indirect questions, e.g. —
Thuc. I 5 § 2 £/>u)tSvt£s £t Xya-Tai daw. Plat. Apol. 21 D rjpero yap 8ij, £t T6? l/^ov aij
&. In Biblical Greek ei has become a direct interrogative particle. This transition seems so natural as to make us doubt the statement of Jannaris {Hist. GJc. Or. § 2055) that et is in all these cases ' nothing but an itacistic misspelling for the colloquial t}.! In
Gen. 437 Ae'yw Et en 6 irarrjp v/j-Civ Z,rj; d Zany ifuv dSeA.<^ids; • • • M.r] rjSeifiev d epet rjfuv kt.
we have first the direct and then the indirect use of et as an interrogative particle. For other instances of the former take —
i K. 1532 Kal direv 'Ayay Et ovt<; TrtKpos 6 Odvaroi; ii K. 2017 kox cnrev 7j yvvij Ei crv £t 'Ia)a/3; iii K. 2020 Kal utthv '^
90 |
90 GRAMMAR OF SEPTUAGINT GREEK
*HX«ou Et evprjKds fie, o ix9p6s juod; Op. also Gen. 1717,398,43s7: Ex. 2M: Jdg. 13" : i K. 911, 1022-2i, 1487-« 1522: iii K. 13", 1817: ivT£. I3: Tob. 55: Jonah 44-9: Joel I2: Dan. 620.
c. The interrogative ei is sometimes followed by the deliberative conjunctive, e.g.—
Jdg. 2028 Ei Trpo
cL In the 1ST.T. et interrogative is of common occurrence — Mk. 828 iirripwTa. avrdv, Ei' ™ /JXeVew; Op. Mk. 102, where the question may be either direct "or indirect. Mt. 1210 iTrrjpdr rr/o-av avrbv Ae'-yovres, Et l^ecrTt rots cra^/Sacrt Otpaireveiv; Qp. Mt. 193. Lk. 1323 K^pie, ei oXt'yo^ ™ o-wCd/xevot; Q). Lk. 2249. Acts I6 Kvpu, tt Iv rc3 xp°"o) tovto) ktX. Op. Acts 71,192, 2187, 22s5, 239.
101. «l in Oaths, a. et is often found in the LXX after an oath in a sense practically equivalent to a negative, e.g.—
3?S. 94H d>s S>p.(xja lv Trj opyfj /m>v Et eXewovrot cts ttjv KaTanovcriv /aod.
This use of et is a sheer Hebraism. The negative force imported into ei is due to a suppression of the apodosis, which the reader may supply as .his own sense of reverence suggests. Other instances will be found in Gen. 1423: Nb. 3210,'u: Dt. I34'85: i K. 314, 1443, 1755, 19", 2810: ii K. 1985: iii K. I52, 28, 171-12, 1810: iv K. 22: Ps. 1312"4: Jer. 4516.
b. When an affirmative asseveration is conveyed by the oath, it is introduced by on, not by et, as in —
i K. 296 £ij Kvptos, on tv6yjs a-v koI d-yafios h/ b$Qakims fJ-ov. iii K. 1815 ly Kiiptos . . . on crrjjxtpov 6^>^cro/xat
or else is devoid of a conjunction, as in —
i K. I26 fij i] ipvxfi
c. In iv K. 3W ort ei ^17 is merely a strengthened form of d /x-q, so that the rj by which it is followed in Swete's text, instead of et, seems to destroy the sense.
d. In the N.T. we have the jurative use of et in — Mk. 81 a.pr}v Xiyw vplv, ex SoOtfaeTfU. Trj yevea ravrrj
Also in Hb. 311, 48 in quotations from Ps. 9411.
91 |
SYNTAX 91
102. el |jtfj in Oaths. As a. assumes a negative force in oaths and asseverations, so on the same principle el py becomes positive, instances are —
Nb. 14s5 iyw Kvpios eXdXrjca, el ft/}] ovrws iroirjcra} (= I will do SO). Is. 45s3 /car' e/xauTov o/jlvxho, el fxrj eieXewrerai in tov ord/iaTos fxov hiKoMDcrvvr] (= righteousness shall go forth from my mouth).
In 111 K. 2123 lav Se iroXep-rjijofxev avrovs Kar' ev8v, tl p.r) Kpwra avroik the oath itself is suppressed as well as the apodosis.
103. el rv- d /xrjv as a formula of asseveration has been supposed to be a blend between the Hebraistic el firj (§ 102) and the Greek rj jxrjv. It is however not confined to Biblical Greek, but occurs also on the Papyri. We treat it under the head of Conjunctions because of the lack of accent. It would perhaps be more correct to write it tl iMv and regard it as an Interjection. The following are all the passages in which it occurs in the LXX —
Gen. 2217 el /xrjv evXoySiv evXoyqcru) ere, 4215 y?) Trjv vylav 4>apa(o, ei fxJrjv Kar&o-KOTToC iare. • Nb. 1423-28: Jdg. 157: Job I11, 25, 273: Judith I12: Baruch 229: Ezk. 3327, 34s, 36s, 3819.
In ii K. 1935 what we have is el interrogative (§ 100) followed by ixyv.
In the N.T. el ixrjv occurs only in Hb. 6" in a quotation from Gen. 2217.
104. lav, etc., with the Indicative, a. As in Hellenistic Greek el may take the subjunctive, so on the othei hand edv, orav and the like are found with the indicative.
Instances of edv with the indicative in the LXX are —
Gen. 4430 iav dcnropevofjMi. Jdg. 68 eav ecnreipav. iii K. 2123
iav 8e 7roA.e/x^cro/xev airovs Kar' evOv. Job 22s eav crv rjcrda.
SoinN.T.—
i Jn. 515 eav oiSa/xev. Acts 77 to Ifivos, 4 &v SovXevcrovai. Cp. Herm. Past. Vis. Ill 12 § 3 eav ... dp-qvtvere, I 3 § 2 eav ...
b. Instances of orav with the indicative in the LXX are Gen. 389 orav eld-qpyero. Ex. 17n orav eTrijpev Mtovtr^s Tas
Nb. II9 Kal orav narefi-q yj Spdcros, 219 orav eSaxvtv o<^ id="iv.i.i.iv.p1281.1">ts avOpunrov. i K. 1784 orav rjpxero 6 Xewv Kal r/ apKos. Ps. 1197 otov eXaXovj avrdis.
92 |
92 GRAMMAR OF SEPTUAGINT GREEK
c. SoinN.T.—
Mk. 3n xal ra irvevfJMTa Ta. anddapra, orav airov iOe&pa, Trporramrriv airco, II19 orav dipt iykve.ro. Rev. 81 orav ■qvotfje.
Cp. Barn. Ep. 4M orav (SXerrtrc, 155 orai/ . ■ . KaTapyrfvu. Ign. Epll. 81 orav ya/ci /MjSe/u'a cpis cvijpeurrai ey rjtuv. Herm. Past. Sim. IX 1 § 6 orav 6 rjXios iTTiKCKOLvKci, $7]pal iyivovTO, 4 § 5 otov . . . £T€&i]
d. Under the same head come the following —
Ex. 338, 34s4 tyUa. 8' &v tlveiroperkro M(oo^s, 4030 yviKa 8' h> avefirj diro r^s aKrjvr}^ r/ ve
105. eAv after a Relative, a. idv for civ after a relative seems to occur occasionally in Mss. of Attic authors, especially of Xenophon, but to have "been expunged by editors. It is proved by the Papyri to have been in common use in Egypt during the first two centuries B.C. Biblical Greek is so full of this usage that it is superfluous to collect examples. Besides the simple relative in its various cases we have—•
Sera idv Gen. 441: Ex. 1312. ^ idv Gen. 2441: Ex. 135.
ov idv Ex. 2024. ko.6u>s idv Sir. 1411: Dan. 0' I13.
o6tv idv Ex. 5U.
As a rule the subjunctive follows, but not always. Gen. 219 irav o iav
b. The use of 3.v in such cases is not quite excluded, e.g. Ex. 1215-M: Kb. 2220.
c. In the N.T. also it is easier to find idv in this connexion than &>, e.g. —
Ss Idv Mt. 519, 1014-42: Li. 1783.
^ idv Mt. II27: Lk. 1022.
ovs idv i Cor. 163.
o idv i Cor. 618: Gal. 67: Col. 3*: Eph. 68: Jn. 15': i Jn. 322:
iii Jn.5
kclOo idv ii Cor. Sn. otov idv Mt. 819. o ti idv i Jn. 319.
For instances of S.v take i Jn. 317: Mt. 10": Lk. 105'8'10-85.
93 |
SYNTAX 93
d. In the Apostolic Fathers also we find the same use of lav after relatives —
Barn. Ep. 711 os lav 6ey, II8 irav prjfM o lav lleAeixrerai. Herm. Past. Vis. Ill 2 § l' os lav wdO-g, Sim. VII 7 o
106. Iva with the Indicative, a. In the vast majority of places in which iva occurs in the LXX it governs the subjunctive. The optative, as we have seen, has practically vanished from dependent clauses. But there are a few passages in Swete's text, and perhaps Ms. authority for more, in which
Gen. 162 eicreAfle ... Tea TeKvoiroirjaus. iii K. 23
b. The 1st person singular of the 1st aorist subjunctive may possibly have served as a stepping-stone to this use. Take for instance —
ii K. 19 2 anroaTrjOi . . . tva //.rj irardio) ere.
This might easily lead by false analogy to —
d7reXeuo"0/wct, Iva [it] ■jrara^eis /«•
This theory however fails to account for the following — i Esd. 450 "va acjiiovai. Tob. 149 (tv
(TOl KaXu>S 7]V.
The last can only be regarded as a monstrosity.
c. In the 1ST.T. tva with the future indicative occurs occasionally and is common in Eevelation —
i Cor. 918 iva . . . Orj(T
i Pet. 31 rva . . . Kep&j&jWrai. Eev. 39, 64, 83, 920, 1413, 222<
iva ecrrai . . . xai . . . elackdaxrw.
The last instance shows that even in the debased Greek of this book the subjunctive still claimed its rights on occasions.
d. There are two apparent instances in St. Paul's writings of iva with a present indicative —
i Cor. 46 iva (irj . . .
With regard to these Winer came to the conclusion that' fva with the indicative present is to be regarded as an impropriety of later
94 |
94 GRAMMAR OF SEPTUAGINT GREEK
Greek.' Perhaps however in these cases it is the accidence, not the syntax, that is astray,
107. Ellipse before oti. By the suppression of an imperative of a verb of knowing ore acquires the sense of ' know that.'
Ex. 312 Xtyw "On eo-o/^ai /«Ta crov. Jdg. 15r ewrcv . . . %a.f>.^ii!>v . . . on el ftijv £K&fo;cr
This usage originates in the Hebrew, but has a parallel in Greek in the similar ellipse before &>?, which is common in Euripides, e.g. Med. 609: Ale. 1094: Pkoen. 720,1664: Ion 935,1404: Eel. 126,831: Sec. 346, 400. Op. Soph. Aj. 39.
108. dXX' ij. a. The combination of particles SXK' rj occurs in Swete's text 114 times at least. In most of these passages dXA.' ^ is simply a strengthened form of SXXd. If it differs at all from it, it is in the same-way as ' but only' in English differs from the simple ' but/ In the remainder of the 114 passages aXX' r} has the same force as the English 'but' in the sense of ' except' after a negative expressed or implied. It is thus an equivalent for the classical d ft.rj. But even this latter meaning can be borne by the simple dWd, if we may trust the reading of —
b. The idea has been entertained that aXX' rj is not for aXXa ■%, as the accentuation assumes, but for aXXo rj. This view would suit very well with such passages as Gen. 281?, 4718: Dt. 10IZ: ii K. 128: Sir. 221*, where it happens that a neuter singular precedes, but it seems to have nothing else to recommend it.
Where aXX' rj follows c&Aos or Ircpos, as in iv K. S17: Dan. 3*, © 2U: i Mac. 1038, the dXXoi would be superfluous in classical Greek, so that in these cases it might be thought that the rj was strengthened by the dAAa, and not vice versa: but if we accept the use in Gen. 2126, it follows that even here it is the aAAa which is strengthened.
c. In contrast with the abundance of instances in the O.T. and in
95 |
SYNTAX 95
Hellenistic Greek generally, e.g. in Aristotle, it is strange how rare this combination is in the N.T. In the Revisers' text it occurs only twice— Lk. 1251 ov^l, Xe-yco vfuv, dXX' rj 8ia/iepi.o-/x6v. ii Cot. I13 ov yap SXa ypa
109. otv a)X r. This combination of particles occurs in the following passages of the LXX —Jdg. 15W: i K. 230, 214, 21«, 3017, 3022: ii K. 1333,212: iii K. 18M: iv K. 42, 5W, 1023,14?, 1735- *, 23™: ii Chr. 26.
An examination of these instances will show that they all fall under the same two heads as dAA' rj. In the bulk of them on aXK rj is simply a strongly adversative particle (= but); in the remainder it is like our ' but' = ' except' after a negative expressed or implied. The reader will observe that the range of literature, within which this combination of particles is found, is very limited, being almost confined to the four books of Kingdoms. It looks therefore as if we had here a mere device of translation, not any recognised usage of later Greek. In all but the first two instances the underlying Hebrew is the same, consisting of two particles; in tie first two there is only the particle corresponding to on, and these passages seem really to fall under § 107.
There is one place in which we find this combination of particles still more complicated by the use of 8«m in place of on.
iii K. 2218 Ovk extra tt/dos
110. otv (l n^. This combination occurs in the following passages— ii K. 2s Zrj Kvptos, on et fir) eXaA^cras, Score totc €k irpwlOev avlfirj
6 Xaos. iii K. 17l Zrj Kvpcos ... ei tWcu . . . Jetos • on u fir/ 81a arTofjUXTOi Xoyov ft.ov. iv K. 314 Zrj Kvpios . . . on et p.r) Trp6
In the first of the above passages 'unless/ in the second 'except,' in the third ' only that' seem to give the exact shade of meaning. In all of them the on might be dispensed with, and owes its presence to the Hebrew.
111. dXX' ii on. There are four passages in which this combination occurs —
Nb. 1329 dXX* i) 0V1 Opavh rb ZOvos. i K. 1019 OiXh T-qcTU^ i
rj on avSpcs Qavarov.
96 |
96 • GRAMMAR OF SEPTUAGINT GREEK
No one meaning suits all the above passages. In the first of them the Hebrew which corresponds to
112. Xiyav, etc., for the Hebrew Gerund, a. A special cause of irregularity in LXX Greek is the treatment of the Hebrew gerund of the verb ' to say' (= Lat. dicendo), which is constantly used to introduce speeches. As the Greek language has no gerund, this is rendered in the LXX by a participle. But the form being fixed in the Hebrew, the tendency is to keep it so in the Greek also. Hence it is quite the exception to find the participle agreeing with its subject, as in —
i K.. 192 dwnjyyeiAei/ . . . Aey
b. If the subject is neuter or feminine, the participle may still be masculine —
Gen. 151: i K. 1510 iysvj6v ffipa Kvptov . . . A«yw. iv K. on ivToXr] tov jSacriAecos Aeywv.
Also, if the sentence is impersonal — iii K. 209 eye'ypaTrro . . Ac'ywv. ii Chr. 2112 r]$ev . . . . . . 'Acyw. Jonah 37 ippiO-q ■ . . Ae'yo>v.
c. But the participle may even refer to another subject, as — iv K. 199 rjKowtv . . . Ae'yw/ = he heard say.
d. It is rare for the Greek to fare so well as in —
Dt. 1312 iav 8c aKOvcrrji . . . Acyovrwv.
And here the genitive is probably not governed by dxovav, but used absolutely. Cp. —
i K.. 242 ajrTjyyeXr] avr<3 AeydvT
e. A very common case is to have the verb in the passive, either impersonally or personally, and the participle in the nominative plural masculine, thus —
6.7rr}yy£Xv . . . Xiyovrts Gen. 3824, 482: Josh. 22, 1017: i K. 1433,
1512, 19W, 231.
avqyytXrj . . . XiyovTK Jdg. 162: Gen. 2220. Acyovres Gen. 4516. Ae'yovTes Gen. 4820.
97 |
SYNTAX 97
An adjacent case is — lizk. 12 Ti's tj irapafioMi Vfuv • . . Xeyovrts;
/. When the verb is active and finite, the construction presents itself as good Greek, as in —
ill K. 1230 iXdXrjarav . . . Aeyovres,
but this is little better than an accident, for what immediately follows is —
T<£St XaXij&as tAeyovTes ktX.
In Dt. 1816 we have even yrrjo-a) . . . Aeyoi/res.
g. Where the principal verb is not one of saying, the divorce between it and the participle is complete, both in sense and grammar — Ex. 5li i/jia(TTiy6r](Tav . . . Ac'yovTes, 518 €
where the ' being beaten' and the ' seeing' are predicated of one set of persons and the ' saying' of another. Cp. the complex case . in iMac. 13"-18.
Ji. In the N.T. this Hebraism occurs only once — E,ev. IV
113. Idiomatic Use of irpoemfllvai. a. Another very common Hebraism is the use of -n-poaTiOivca with the infinitive of another verb in the sense of doing a thing more or again, e.g. —
Gen. 378 irpocriOevro hi jucreiv = they hated still more. Op. Gen.
42'12, 821, 4428. Ex. 8s9 ^ irpo
Ex. 9™, 1028, 1418. Nb. 2215-w-a ■ Dt. 3®, S25: Josh. 7n: Jdg. 828,106,131-21: iMac. 91.
b. Sometimes rm> precedes the infinitive, as —
Ex. 934 TTpocriOcTo tov afiaprdveLv. Josh. 2313 ov fxij irpocrOy Kijptos rov e£oeOpevcrai. Jdg. 221 ov irpoaOrjva toS i£apai. Cp. Jdg. 937, 1018.
c. The same construction may be used impersonally in the passive—
Ex. 57 ovk€ti Trpo(TTe6rj
d. Sometimes the dependent verb is dropped after the middle or passive —
Nb. 222 koI TrpoKjcOcTo o ayycAos tov 6tov Koi a-TTfXBhv V7rl
98 |
98 GRAMMAR OF SEPTUAGINT GREEK
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACCIDENCE
SECTION
Nouns, Sections 1-14.
Disuse of the Dual.......... 1
eh as Article........... 2
First Declension........... 3
Second Declension.......... 4
Third Declension.......... 5
Absence of Contraction......... 6
Feminine Forms of Movable Su'bstantives...... 7
Heteroclite Nouns.......... 8
Verbal Nouns in -/w........... 9
Non-Attic Forms of Substantives....... 10
Non-Attic Forms of Adjectives........ 11
Comparison of Adjectives......... 12
Pronouns ............ 13
Numerals............ 14
Verbs, Sections 15-33.
The Verb eTvai........... 15
The Termination -
Termination of the 2d Person Singular of Primary Tenses, Middle
and Passive........... 17
Aorist in -a............ 18
Augment.....'....... 19
Eeduplication........... 20
Attic Future........... 21
Retention of Short Vowel in the Future...... 22
Aorist of Semivowel Verbs......... 23
The Strong Tenses of the Passive....... 24
The Verbs Treivav and d^av......... 25
The Perfect of f)mr»».......... 26
Presents formed from Perfects ........ 27
The Verb iardvcu and its Cognates....... 28
The Verb TiBivai and its Cognates....... 29
The Verb SiSbvai and its Cognates....... 30
The Verb tivai and its Cognates........ 31
The Imperative av&ara. and ivda-ra, etc....... 32
Special Forms of Verbs......... 33
Nouns and Verbs.
Adverbs .... 34 Homerisms .... 35
Movable Consonants ... 36 Spelling.....37
99 |
CONTENTS 99
SYNTAX
6BCTION
Construction op the Sentence, Sections 38-43.
The Construction of the LXX not Greek...... 38
Absence of piv and 5t.......... 39
Paratactical Construction of the LXX...... 40
Introduction of the Sentence by a Verb of Being .... 41
Apposition of Verbs.......... 42
$4 in the Apodosis.......... 43
The Article, Sections 44, 45.
Generic Use of the Article......... 44
Elliptical Use of the Feminine Article...... 45
Gender, Sections 46, 47.
Elliptical Use of the Feminine Adjective...... 46
Feminine for Neuter.......... 47
Number, Sections 48, 49.
Singular for Plural.......... 48
Singular Verb with more than One Subject..... 49
Case, Sections 50-61.
Nominative for Vocative......... 50
Nominative Absolute .......... 51
Nominative of Reference......... 52
Nominativus Pendens.......... 53
Accusative for Vocative......... 54
Accusative of Time When......... 55
Cognate Accusative.......... 56
Accusative in Apposition to Indeclinable Noun..... 57
Genitive Absolute ........•• 58
The Genitive Infinitive of Purpose....... 59
Other Uses of the Genitive Infinitive....... 60
Cognate Dative........... 61
Adjectives, Sections 62-65.
62 63
Comparison of Adjectives . . 64 Omission of /laXKor ... 65
Pronouns, Sections 66-71.
Superfluous Use of Pronoun........ 66
Frequent Use of Pronouns......... 67
d5eX06s as a Reciprocal Pronoun....... 68
Hebrew Syntax of the Relative • • • • 69
&viip = ^Kaa-Tos .......•••• 70
fans for os............ 71
100 |
100
GKAMMAR OF SEPTUAGINT GREEK
Vekbs, Sections 72-84.
Analytic Tenses........... 72
Deliberative Use of the Present Indicative
The Jussive Future.....
The Optative......
Conditional without &v . . . .
Infinitive of Purpose.....
Infinitive of Consequence . . . .
Paucity of Participles .
Misuse of the Participle . . . .
The Intensive Participle .
Other Varieties of the Etymological Figure
Middle and Passive Voices . . . 1; .
Causative Use of the Verb ....
Reduplication of Words Expressions of Time . Pleonastic Use of lue? and Ac. jras with oi and /«}
Prepositions, Sections 89-98. Prominence of Prepositions
els.....
ev.....
Conjunctions^ Sections 99-111. el with the Subjunctive . el Interrogative . . . ei in Oaths . . . . el M in Oaths ...
el fufiv.....
i&v, etc., with the Indicative i&v after a Relative . .
90 91 92 93
99 100 101 102 103 104 105
M.....
Trapd ..... New Forms of Preposition . Prepositions after Verbs .
iVa with the Indicative Ellipse before Sri.
&W ij.....
Sri 6.W fi . .
73
74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84
85 86 87
94 95 96 97 98
106 107 108 109 110
eyuv, etc., for the Hebrew Gerund.......112
Idiomatic Use of vpoo-TtSirai........113
101 |
The story of Joseph, whatever else it may be, is one of the best novels ever written. The interest inspired by the youthful hero, the play of human passion, the variety of incident, the simplicity of the language, all combine to confer upon it a peculiar charm. We may gauge the dramatic effectiveness of a tale with which use has rendered us familiar, by comparing it with the plot of one of the plays of Terence or Plautus, which represent to us those of Menander and his fellow-writers. Few will contest the superior power of the tale of Joseph from the point of view of the requirements of fiction. We have first the pathetic affection of the widowed father for the son of his favourite wife, and the consequent jealousy of the elder brothers, goaded to fury by the boy's naive recital of the dreams which foreshadow his future greatness. Then we have the brothers unwittingly bringing about the exaltation of the object of their envy by their own wicked act; the vain attempt of one better than the rest to save him; the youth's fidelity to his master in rejecting the advances of his mistress; the false charge and undeserved imprisonment; the diverse fates of the chief butler and the chief baker; the release of the hero through the accident of Pharaoh's dream; his successful interpretation of it and sudden rise to fortune. The dramatic interest culminates in Joseph's brethren being led by the most elementary of human needs to prostrate themselves before the dispenser of corn in Egypt, and thus fulfil the dreams which had so enraged them. Joseph recognises them, though they do not recognise him, and he takes upon them no ungenerous revenge before the full 'recognition' (ἀναγνώρισις) is allowed to come about. Then he sends for his aged father, whose heart had been sore tried by the steps which Joseph had taken to punish his brothers, but who is now comforted and utters the pathetic words 'It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die.'This seemed to be the most fitting conclusion to the narrative, when
102 |
The rest of the narrative rather represents Joseph as an eminent Hebrew statesman with all the financial capacity of his race. If we were dealing with the tale as history, it might be worth while to point out that the fiscal policy of Joseph, however satisfactory to the Pharaohs, could hardly have been equally so to their subjects, and that the heavy impost of twenty per cent on agricultural produce, which has been, it is said, the land-tax of Egypt down to within quite recent times, may well have had something to do with the unpopularity of the Jews in Egypt.
In the dream-interpretation there is just that touch of the supernatural which is still thought not inappropriate to a good novel. But in the treatment of the tender passion this Hebrew romance stands in marked contrast with a good deal of modern fiction. There is not the slightest attempt made to render the would-be adulteress interesting or to dally with unlawful passion. Joseph knows that the proposal which she makes to him in such direct language involves ingratitude to his master and sin against God, and on those grounds refuses to comply. ' How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?' These words contain the secret of the high standard of morality in sexual matters, to which the Jews attained. Chastity with them was a question not merely of duty towards one's neighbour, but still more of duty towards God. In this way all the awful sanctities of the unseen world were called in to the aid in the struggle against passion.
Among the Greek moralists the tendency was to regard love as a disease from which the sage would not suffer. In the early Greek drama the delineation of this feeling was thought to be below the dignity of tragedy, and Euripides was regarded by the older school as having degraded the stage by depicting the passion of Phaedra for Hippolytus. This story naturally occurs to one's mind as a classical analogue to the story of Joseph. But it would be injustice to Phaedra to put her on the same level as the wife of Potiphar. She has indeed all the vindictive injustice of the Egyptian matron, and is more successful in wreaking vengeance on her victim, yet she
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A closer parallel in Greek mythology is afforded by the legend of Antaea and Bellerophontes, which forms part of the episode of Glaucus and Diomede in the sixth book of the Iliad (119-236). There the unfaithful wife of Proetus, king of Argos, foiled of her purpose by the virtuous youth, appeals to her husband to slay him for having made dishonourable proposals to her; but the youth escapes all dangers and comes to honour, like Joseph, though, such is the waywardness of human fate, of which the Greek mind was acutely conscious, he dies at last of melancholy madness --
ὂν θυμὸν κατέδων, πάτον ἀνθρόπων ἐλεείνων.
The Egyptian tale of Anpu and Bata opens with a situation resembling that of Joseph and Potiphar's wife. Bata is a peasant-lad devoted to his elder brother Anpu, who is to him as a father. The youth grows to be so excellent a worker that 'there was not his equal in the whole land; behold, the spirit of a god was in him.' One day, when he was alone with his brother's wife, 'her heart knew him with the knowledge of youth. And she arose and came to him, and conversed with him, saying, "Come, stay with me, and it shall be well for thee, and I will make for thee beautiful garments." Then the youth became like a panther of the south with fury at the evil speech which she had made to him; and she feared greatly.' To save herself she plays the same part as Antaea, as Phaedra, and as Potiphar's wife. If all the story had the beautiful simplicity of the opening, it might bear away the palm both from Greek and Hebrew fiction: but, unfortunately, it soon degenerates into a tissue of meaningless marvels. The papyrus which contains the tale is said to be of the XlXth Dynasty and to have been the property of Sety II when crown prince; but Professor Flinders Petrie thinks that the earlier part of the tale may belong to the XVIIIth Dynasty, which would bring it back close to the time when Joseph is supposed to have lived. This is a curious coincidence, but there is no reason to think it anything more.
In view of the literary merit of the story of Joseph it seems a pity that criticism should lay its cold touch upon it. To do so is
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(1) As Reuben in 3722 has already persuaded his brothers not to shed the blood of Joseph, why does Judah in v. 26 say -- 'What profit is it if we slay our brother and conceal his blood ?'
(2) In v. 25 we are told 'a travelling company of Ishmaelites came from Gilead.' In v. 28 we have the parallel statement 'And there passed by Midianites, merchantmen,' but in the same verse we are given to understand that his brethren 'sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites.' Now Midianites were not Ishmaelites any more than Irishmen are Welshmen or the Dutch Germans. Both were Abrahamic peoples, but Ishmael was the son of Abraham by Hagar (Gen. 2512) and Midian by Keturah (Gen. 252).
(3) Why does Reuben in v. 29 expect to find Joseph in the pit, when he had just been taken up and sold to the Ishmaelites ?
Now let us appeal to the critics to see whether they help us at all out of our difficulties. On a great variety of grounds they have arrived at the general conclusion that the Hexateuch (i.e. the five books of Moses and that of Joshua) was put together from the following pre-existing materials --
(1) A primitive historical work, in which the sacred name, of which the consonants are JHVH, is habitually employed, and which is believed to have emanated from the Kingdom of Judah. This is commonly called J, and its author is known as the Jahvist (=Jehovist).
(2) Another very similar work, in which the Hebrew word for God (Elohim) is usually employed in place of the sacred name, and which is ascribed to the Kingdom of Israel. This is denoted by the symbol E, and its author is known as the Elohist.
(3) The bulk of Deuteronomy, which is designated as D.
(4) A later priestly document known as P.
The hand of the editor is to be detected here and there, recon-
105 |
In telling the story of Joseph we are to suppose that the editor had before him J and E, containing the same tradition in slightly different forms.
In J it is Judah who intervenes to save Joseph. He persuades his brothers not to kill the lad, but to sell him to some Ishmaelites, who are passing by. In this version of the story there is no mention of a pit. It is drawn upon by the editor in 3725-27, 28b, 31-35.
'And they sat down . . . hearkened unto him, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver.
'And they took . . . wept for him.'
The words in 454, 'I am Joseph your brother whom ye sold into Egypt,' are a reference to this account of the matter.
In E it is Reuben, the first-born, and so a fit representative of the Northern Kingdom, who plays the better part. He persuades his brothers not to kill the lad, but to put him alive into a pit, his intention being to come and take him out again. When he and his brothers however have left the place, some Midianites come by and kidnap Joseph. Reuben, returning to the pit, finds Joseph gone, a fact of which he informs his brothers. This form of the legend is drawn upon in 3721-24, 28a, 28c-30, 36
'And Reuben . . . water in it. And there passed by Midianites, merchantmen; and they drew, and lifted up Joseph out of the pit. And they brought Joseph into Egypt . . . whither shall I go? And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, the captain of the guard.'1
The words in 4015, ' for indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews,' refer to this account of the, matter.
With regard to Potiphar it must be admitted that there is some confusion in the narrative as we have it. For we are told in 3736 that ' the Midianites sold Joseph to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, the captain of the guard.' Potiphar then is Joseph's master, as we are told again in 391. Now Joseph's master 'put him into the prison, the place where the king's prisoners were bound' (3921), where Joseph found favour with the 'keeper of the prison.' But' the keeper of the
106 |
The E version of the story goes on to tell that the Midianites, having taken Joseph out of the pit, brought him to Egypt and there sold him to Potiphar (3736), who was a eunuch and captain of the guard, and himself the keeper of the prison, but naturally not a married man. Joseph, being found faithful by him, is given charge over the prisoners, not being himself a prisoner, but 'servant to the captain of the guard' (4112).
In the J version on the other hand Joseph is sold by the Ishmaelites to 'an Egyptian,' whose name is not mentioned; for the theory requires us to suppose that the words in 391 -- 'Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, the captain of the guard' -- are inserted there from 3736. This 'Egyptian' (391,2,5) has a wife, who brings a false charge against Joseph, whereupon his master consigns him to the king's prison (391-20). If this hypothesis be accepted, we must give up 'Potiphar's wife' as a person who has no just claim to existence even in fiction: for it is only by the amalgamation of 'the Egyptian' with Potiphar that she comes into being. If this should appear a loss, it may on the other hand be deemed a gain not to have to regard the lady's husband as a eunuch, which seems to be the real meaning of the word 'officer' (3736, 391).
Chapter 40 is supposed to belong as a whole to E: but, if so, it must have been adjusted in places to the story of the false charge, which has been incorporated from J. We see this in vv. 3, 7, 15. In chapter 41 again, which is referred as a whole to the same source, we have to suppose the words in v. 14, 'and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon,' to come from the reconciling hand of the editor.
Further on in the story there are duplications and inconsistencies which, it may be claimed, find their easiest explanation in the hypothesis of 'contamination,' to borrow the term applied to a Latin play made up from different Greek originals. Thus in. 4227,28 it is at the lodging-place on the way home that one of the brothers finds his money in his sack, whereas in v. 36 of the same chapter they all find their money in their sacks after their return to their father. Again in chapter 42 the brothers, when taxed by Joseph with being
107 |
spies, volunteer the information that they have a younger brother living (v. 13), and so report the matter to their father (v. 32); whereas in the following chapters Judah assures his father that this information was imparted only in reply to a question from Joseph (437), and so recounts the matter to Joseph himself (4419,20). Further, in 4237 Reuben goes surety to his father for the safe return of Benjamin, whereas in 439 it is Judah who does this.
The story of Joseph is as good an illustration as could be chosen of the service rendered by modern criticism to the intelligent study of the Bible. If we take the narrative as it stands, it perplexes us with contradictions, and we have to suppose that the writer could not tell a story properly: but on the hypothesis that he had before him two documents, resembling each other in the main, but differing in details, we can understand how reverence for his authorities would lead him into inconsistencies which he would not have committed in a story invented by himself. Without then pledging ourselves to particular hypotheses we may surely say after Plato-- 'The truth in these matters God knows: but that what the Higher Critics say is like the truth -- this we would venture to affirm.'
108 |
Genesis XXXVII
1Κατῴκει δὲ Ἰακὼβ ἐν τῇ γῇ οὗ παρῴκησεν ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ, ἐν γῇ Χανάαν. 2αὗται δὲ αἱ γενέσεις Ἰακώβ. Ἰωσὴφ δέκα ἑπτὰ ἐτῶν ἦν ποιμαίνων μετὰ των ἀδελφῶν αὐτοῦ τὰ πρόβατα, ὦν νέος, μετὰ τῶν υἱῶν Βάλλας καὶ μετὰ τῶν υἱῶν Ζέλφας τῶν γυναικῶν τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ. κατη-
1. Κατῴκει . . . παρῴκησεν: κατοικεῖν here signifies a more permanent residence than παροικεῖν. Jacob dwelt where Abraham only sojourned. Abraham was a pure nomad, whereas Jacob combined agriculture (v. 7) with pasture (v. 12). In classical Greek παροικεῖν means 'to dwell near.' For the sense of 'dwelling as a stranger in' cp. Lk. 2418 Σὺ μόνος παροικεῖς Ἱερουσαλήμ; From meaning a settlement of Jews in a foreign country (Sirach, Prologue) παροικία in the mouths of the Christians came to be used for an ecclesiastical district or diocese, as the παροικία of Alexandria, Ephesus, etc. Through the Latin form parαecia it is the origin of the French word paroisse and of our parish.
2. αὗται . . . Ἰακώβ: part of the framework of P (see Introd. to the Story of Joseph). The preceding chapter dealt with the descendants of Esau. Here the writer turns to Jacob, but the detailed list of his descendants does not come till ch. 46. -- δέκα ἑπτά: similar forms of numeral occur in Latin in good writers, as Caesar B.G. I8 1 decem novem: Livy XXVIII 38 5 decem quatuor. 14. -- ἦν ποιμαίνων: the analytic form of the imperfect = ἐποίμαινε. Cp. Ex. 31. Such forms occur in all stages of the language, e.g. Soph. Trach. 22 ἦν θακῶν: Plato Polit. 273 B. They are especially common in the N.T. 72. The Hebrew idiom in this passage coincides with the Greek, so that this is an instance of a usage already current in Greek, which was intensified by its adaptation to the Hebrew. -- ὦν νέος: while yet a lad, Spurrell. Had the translators here used παῖς it would have reflected better the ambiguity of the original, which may mean that Joseph was serving as a shepherd-lad with his brethren. -- Βάλλας: of Bilhah. For the form of the genitive see 3. The sons of Bilhah were Dan and Naphtali; Gen. 4623-25. --Ζέλφας: ofZilpah. The sons of Zilpah were Gad and Asher; Gen. 4616-18. Only the sons of Jacob's concubines are here mentioned, but afterwards Reuben and Judah are named, who were sons of Leah. Perhaps the actual work of tending the flock was done by the sons of the concubines, who would be in an inferior
109
position to those of the legitimate -wives. Joseph was the son of Rachel, but he may have been called upon to 'bear the yoke in his youth.' -- κατήνεγκαν δὲ κτλ.: and they brought against Joseph an evil report to Israel their father. Here the sense of the LXX differs from that of the Hebrew, and saves us from regarding Joseph as a tell-tale.
3. παρὰ πάντας: more than all. Cp. Dt. 76,7. The Hebrew is more exactly represented by ἐκ πάντωνin v. 4. παρὰ first signifies comparison and then superiority. Xen. Mem. I 4 14 παρὰ τὰ ἀλλὰ ζῶα (as compared with the lower animals) ὧσπερ θεοὶ ἄνθρωποι βιστεύουσι. In Biblical Greek it is constantly employed after a comparative adjective. We may see this use beginning in classical writers, e.g. Hdt. VII 103 παρὰ τὴν ἑαουτῶν φύσιν ἀμείνονες. 96. -- γήρους: for the form see 8. -- χιτῶνα ποικίλον: χιτών here represents the Hebrew word kethneth, with which it is perhaps connected. The language spoken by the Phoenicians was almost the same as Hebrew, and the Greeks may have borrowed this word from Phoenician traders. The same Hebrew phrase which is used here of Joseph's coat is applied in ii S. 1318 to the garment worn by Tamar to denote her rank as a princess. The LXX rendering however is there (ii K. 1318) χιτὼν καρπωτός = a garment with sleeves.
4. ἐκ πάντων: out of and so above all. ἐκ πάντων = παρὰ πάντας in V. 3, being a different rendering of the same original. The Hebrew language has no special forms for comparative and superlative.
5. ἐνυπνιασθεὶς . . . ἐνύπνιον: 56. The active verb ἐνυπνιάζω has here become a deponent passive. Cp. 415, Nb. 2324 γαυριωθήσεται.
6. οὗ ἐνυπνιάσθην: the attraction of the relative into the case of the antecedent is the prevailing idiom in Biblical as in classical Greek. Cp. Gen. 396: Ex. 320, 58: Dt. 810 : i Cor. 619.
7. δράγμα: literally a handful = manipulus. For the meaning ' sheaf' cp. Ruth 27 and Jos. Ant. II 2 2 in this context.-- προσεκύνησαν: literally
110 |
110 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
Genesis XXXVII 8
ifj.bv Spdyfia." ^tiirav Se avrco ol ctSeX^ot " M^ fiacrikevayv /3acrtXei;creis i(j> rjixa?, r/ Kvpieoav Kupieucrets r)fxS>v;" /cat irpocredevTo eri /ALcreiv avrov eVe/cev t
kissed (?. tte ground) before. The Greek word for the Oriental prostration, In classical, writers it governs an accusative, as here and in v. 9 and in Jos. Ant. II 2 § a: but in the N.T. (Mt. 22-n: Jn. 423) we find it with a dative, as in v. 10. In Aristeas (§§ 135, 137) both constructions are employed. In their version of the LXX the ancient Armenians regularly render irpoanvveTv as above.
8. Paa-iXeiiSiov Pa
9. I8ev: § 19. —6 iiXios Kal r{ o-e-X^vt| : Josephus (Ant. II2 § 3) explains that the moon stood for the mother, owing to the power of the moon in
nourishing all things and making them grow, and the sun for the father, because that imparted to things their shape and strength. — 'tvSeKo olo-t«p«s : Josephus {Ant. II 2 § 3) says roils 5' dcrrtpas tois d5eX0o?s (ekdfwv), jcai -yap roirovs ivSeica eivcu Ka.6i.mp ko.1 robs du-r^pas. But on what system were the stars reckoned as eleven ?
10. IX96vt«s IXcvo-ojieBa : § 81. — irpoa-Kwijo-at
11. 6 5« irarTip ktX. : Lk. 219>51 are evidently modelled on this verse. Cp. also Dan. 0' 425 rois Xiyovs iv tj icap-dig. avveriip-qve.
12. «ts Sv^ep.: at Shechem, to he taken with pbaKeiv, not with 4iropci0i]-aav. § 90. Josephus (Ant. II 2 § 4) represents the brethren as removing to Shechem after the harvest without their father's knowledge.
111 |
I. THE STORY OF JOSEPH 111
Genesis XXXVII 22
Se
Se 'Povfirjv e^eiXaro avrbv eK ra>v ~)(eipo)v avrwv, Kal eXrrev " Ov Trard^ofxev avrbv eh rpv^ijv." ^elirev Se avrois 'Tovfirfv
14. KoiXdSos: KotKds is very com- with accusative is unolassical. §97.—
roon in the LXX for vale, e.g. Gen. ets Aw6dein : at Sothan. Op. 4232.
I48 {v Ty KOiXadc rri oXxikti, which in § 90.
v. 3 of the same is called tV
17. airTJpKoo-iv: they have departed. It is used in Xen. Anab. IV 2 § 22 for
This intransitive use of airalpeiv, which large tanks in which wine was kept —
is common in the best authors, origi- Kal yap ofxos ttoAiJs Jjv, Sure iv &kkois
nated in an ellipse of vavs (ace. pi.) or Koviarols (plastered) elxov. The Xd/c/cos
lent for the Hebrew, which means liter-. See v. 24. The word is used in 4016 of
ally'tear up,'and refers to the pulling the dungeon into which Joseph was
up of the tent-pegs previous to resuming cast. Op. also Ex. 1229: iv K. 1881. a march, dp. itfjpev Ex. 1419. — K
wwrflev T«ov aSeX^uv: this use of Karb- 'Poi/^tjXos. — ets »|n>XTJv : so as to slay
TrurOe with genitive in the sense of /xerd him. A Hebraism.
112 |
112 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
Genesis XXXVII 23
" Mr) eKyirjTe al/m • e/x,/3dXeTe Se avrov els eW rwv tuiv kv ttj ipijn,a>, xeVa §e fiV eireveyKijTe avTw •" oVcos
avrov Ik twv yeipuv avrwv koI d7roB&) airov rw iraTpl . eyevero oe rjVLKa r/kuev l(oo~r) 7rpos tous aoeA i£e$vcrav tov 'l(oo-r) /JL.r) eaTa>o~av in' avrov, otl dSeX<^05 rjjxcov Kai o~apq io~Tiv." rjKovaav Se ot ade 22. 8ir<»s I^Xi^Tav a^Tov: so iAat 7rei)K7)s Kai ^k tikuj' SXKav pyTlrr) yhercu he may deliver him. The primary fiei-a tt/j/ P~S&(tttio-w. 'Pijrieij is men-sequence after an historic tense was tioned again in 43n as a special product sometimes used in classical Greek to of Palestine, and here it is toeing present the intention of the speaker brought from Gilead. It is therefore with greater vividness. In Biblical presumably the famous 'balm of Greek it supplants the optative alto- Gilead' (Jer. 822, 288, 4611). The gether. § 75. Josephus (Ant. II 3 word occurs six times in the LXX § 2) represents Reuben as lowering always as a translation of the Hebrew Joseph by a rope into the pit, and then word which our version renders ' balm.' going off in search of pasture. —o-raKTfjs: ep. 4311. 25. <{ id="iv.i.i.iv.p1584.1"><t7eiv opTov: §77.—'Io-iiar)- of as a kind of myrrh. Theoph. H.P. X.«itcu : Josephus (Ant. II 3 § 3) IX 4 ad! fin. rfji tr/wJpnjs S£ ^ fitv crra/crfy, "Apaj3as ToO'Itr/icujAiTwc 7^xovs. He has t ii irXaimj. Josephus (Ant. II 3 § 3) no mention of Midianites. — e7e|iov: is vague in his language — dpci^ara /cal 7^iueic, -which isproperly used of a ship, ,2fy>a (poprla Ko/xl^orras Myvwrlou im ttjs is here transferred to 'the ship of the TakaSTivTjs. desert.' — pii-Cvtis: pirlcij, commonly 27. co-rwo-av: § 16. — ifcowrciv: spelt priTlvr), Latin resina = the resin not only 'heard,' but 'obeyed.' vrra- of the terebinth or the pine. Theoph. noieiv has this double meaning in clas- H.F. IX 12 § 1 ttjs St repiiivBov Kai rijs sical Greek, like the English' hearken.' 113
9Q 5 a I. THE STORY OF JOSEPH 113 Genesis XXXVII 82 TTopevovTO ol avdpcoiTOL oi MaSn^atoi ol efnropoi} Kal Kvcrav Kai, ave0C/Bao~av tov yJcoarj(f> e« tov Xolkkov airihovTO tov 'lwcrrj(f> rots 'o~[xar)KiTai iv Kal tw So has auscultare in Latin with its 3?rench equivalent ecouter. Cic. Div. I § 131 magis audiendum quam auscultandum. 28. irapewopevovTo: were coming by, they having before been seen only in the distance. But see Introd.— oi avBpa>7roi ... ol M. . . . ot e'fi/iro-poi: the use here of the article, which is not in the Hebrew, serves to identify the Midianites with the Ishmaelites of v. 25 and hides the difficulty which otherwise presents itself as to the introduction of a caravan at this point as a fresh fact unknown before. — ot MaSiTivaun: the Midianites, here regarded as a species of Ishmaelites, in defence of which might be quoted Jdg. 822,24, Some of them dwelt in the southeast of the Peninsula of Sinai, along the Gulf of Elath (Akaba). Ex. 2i5, 31. But their chief home was in the north of Arabia east of the Gulf of Akabah. — 4|eCKwav: here the subject changes to Joseph's brethren. — xPtIcr'5v : Hebrew, 'silver'; Vulg. viginti argenteis; Josephus iJ-vUvtimaiv. In Ex. 2132 the normal value of a slave is estimated at 30 shekels. The translator seems to have taken the word ' silver' in the general sense of 'money' (cp. Fr. argent), and so made of it 20 gold pieces, the money to which he was accustomed at Alexandria. Coined money is not supposed to have been used among the Jews until the time of Darius Hystaspes, b.c. 521-486. The silver with which Abraham bought the cave of Machpelah was paid by weight (Gen. 2316). In Amos 85 (about 800 b.c.) the Israelite corn-dealers are described as ' making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and dealing falsely with balances of deceit,' i.e. having one weight for the corn which they sold and another for the silver which they received. There would be no meaniDg in this, if the customers paid in coin. 30. irou : § 34. — irope>>o|j.ai: am I to go? % 73. 31. 'tpi<| id="iv.i.i.iv.p1606.1">ov aXyav. a kid, of the goats. Cp. Jdg. 6^, 13*,™: i K. 162». So x'w°* # < id="iv.i.i.iv.p1606.2">-l1*>v K1I>- 716'22> 152<, 2815: Dt. 14«: i K. 1620— rpdyos alydv Ban. 105 — Sd/xaAw' £k floQv Dt. 213 — fJxrxov iva. /c /3 114
114 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT Genesis XXX V7I 33 ttoikCKov Kai elarfveyKav tw1 narpl avrcov, /cat elvav " Tovrov evpopev eitlyvoidi el y^Trnv tov vlov Tivd repe?, Kai ^jkdov TrapoiKaXeo-ai ovtov • /cat ovk rjdekev rrapa-Kaeio~dai, Xeycov ort " KarafiTJo-Qfiat, TTpb<; tov vlov /xov irev-au>v eis aoov /cat e/cAavcrev avTov o irarr)p avrov. ot oe MaStiyi'aroi aTre'Sovro tov *I(oar) 35. X£y 36. Ma8i/i]vaioi: not the same word in the Hebrew as in v. 28, being here equivalent to Medanites, there to Mid-ianites. From Gen. 241 we learn that Medan was brother of Midian. —a-vra-8ovtv : which brings us round to the Hebrew ' chief of the executioners.' The English rendering is ' captain of the guard.' In use the term signifies a high officer, something like the praefectus pras-torio at Eome, who combined the functions of commander of the body-. guard and chief of police. It is applied to Potiphar (Gen. 3736, 39i,4112), to Nebuzaradan (iv K. 258: Jer. 401, etc.), and to Arioch (Dan. 214). The last-named is described by Joseph us (Ant. X 10 § 3) as having the command over the king's body-guard. The word apxindycipos is used also by Philo (I 604, De Mttt. Norn.' § 32) Ka-Taarijcras cip/CTO0iiXa/ca, &s (pr/cri rd Xiyioy, Hei>Te>prj rbv airdSovra Kai apx^~ iidyetpov and again in I 662, De Somn. § 2, and II 63, De Jos. § 26, where his allegorical treatment shows that he took the word to mean 'chief cook.' Josephus (Ant. II 4 § 2) seems to have fallen into the same error — JleTe 115
I. THE STOKY OF JOSEPH 115 Genesis XXXIX 1 1'l(oa-f) avTco e$a)K€v Sta ^etpos *I(i)crrj irdvTa ocra rjv aiiTw eis ^(eipas 'Io)a-rj 2. rjv dvi^p liriT
YXO.vwv: 7ie was a that. § 41. — liri rov ofcov . . . lirl mare to/io sttcceeded, literally ' who hit itoLvto: here the use of the "word irdvra the mark.' in the latter clause makes the accusative S. rfoSot: makes to prosper. Op. natural as implying that Joseph's rule v. 23. We have the passive of this verb extended over all that his master had, in Bom. I10 eioSuff^aofiai in the literal but this distinction would perhaps be sense of being vouchsafed a good jour- an over-refinement. See 4117 n. — ney. The force of the on here ex- l-yev^Oi): in Biblical Greek the 1st aorist tends to etiado?, which is indicative, not passive of ylyvopai is used in the optative, as it would be in classical same sense as the 2d aorist middle. Greek. In the earlier editions of his N.T. 4. tvrpia-Tv.: was well-pleasing. Dean Alford tried to establish a dif-The Greek here departs from the ference between the two forms, but Hebrew. — «8cok«v Sid x«p°s : he put retracted in the later. See his note on into the hand of., Cp. v. 22. AiSivai i Thes. I5. in the LXX often means 'to put' or 6. eir&rTpe|«v: turned over. The 'set' as well as'to give.' Cp. Bt. 281: reading iirtTpvj/ev entrusted would be iii K. 2022: iv K. 19?. ]«. more in accordance with classical 5. «7«v«to . . . KaC: it came to pass usage. — ov ijo-Bitv : 37° n. 116
116 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT Genesis XXXIX 8 iyivero pera tol prjfjiaTa ravra Kal eVe/SaXev rj yvvrj tov KvpCov avrov tov? 6(f>dakfJLOvs avTrjs em 'Iwo~r}(f>, kcu e'nrev " KoLfx.rjd'qTL /xer' e/xou." 86 Se ov/c rjdeXtv, ehrev Se rfj yv- VaiKL TOV KVpLOV CLVTOV " El 6 KVpLOS flOV OV yiV(OO~K€L hi ifJik ovSev iv tco oIko) ivavriov tov Oeov;" t wr]viKa 8e eXa rjfjLepas, Kal ov^ innJKOvev avrfj KadevSeiv azures tou o~vyy&>4o~9ai auT^. niy4v€TO Se TotavT7j tis r/ftepa- eio-rikOtv 'Iwo~r)(j> ets T'rjy oiKuav tov iroieiv ra epya 8. Et 6 Kvpios |nov kt. -. Does my master know nothing in his house owing to his trust in me? § 100. The Hebrew word corresponding to el is ' behold,' but in Aramaic the same word means 'if.' The translator has her.e given an Aramaic sense to a Hebrew word. — 8i" l|x«: cp. v. 23 SC air6v. AC tp{ here does not represent the Hebrew, which means with me. The R.V. margin gives the exact rendering — Jcnoweth not with me what is in the house (= oi> aimiSev ipol). This seems to give the most satisfactory sense. The master's confidence in Joseph was so complete that he did not even seek to share his knowledge of household matters. 9. Kal o4 -Enrepexei.: and has no superiority in his house over me. Cp. R.V. margin.—Kal irSs iroi^o-w: the K.ai here marks an impassioned question. — pfj(ia: cp. 401, 447: Ex. 214. 'Vijfia in the LXX means ' the thing spoken of (Gen. 4128), and so simply ' thing' ; then even ' act.' This is evidently the meaning that the word has in Lk. 216. It is therefore fair to argue that this is the meaning also in Lk. I37, which was rendered in the old version for with God nothing shall be impossible. The Revisers seem here to have missed the sense by translating for no word from God shall be void of -power. In the same way the word X 10. 'Ia> 11. tov ivoieiv: the Genitive Infilii- 117
I. THE STORY OF JOSEPH 117 Genesis XXXIX 20 avrov, Kal ousels r)v lv rf) oIkCo, ecrn Kal iirecnrdcraTo avrbv ray ifxaTLOiv avTov Xeyovcra " K-OifirjOrfTi, jaer' ifiov." Kal KaTakeirrcov to. ■ l^dna avrov e vrrjs Kal £ Kal eiTret' jaot ' Koi/xt^^ti /j.€t' i^ov' ls&)5 on xnlioicra ttju <$ id="iv.i.i.iv.p1652.1">a>vr)v fxov Kal ijBorjcra, KareXenrei/ tol l/xdria avrov Trap e/xou Kai e &>s rjKOVcrev 6 Kupios ra pr/jxara t^s yu^atKos awroii, ocra eXdXrj(TQ> wpos avrbv Xeyovcra " Ovras inoirjcrev /xoi 6 irat? crov," Kal kQv^oiBf] opyfj. wKal eXafiev 6 Kvpios 'l tive of Purpose. § 59. — lv ttj otKia Xa/j/Sdwo, av$dva kt. It occurs only eo-(o: Hebrew, ' there in the house.' in three passages of the LXX — Gen. 12. Katakdvav: there is another S916, ii K. 521, iii K. 1818: but is found reading KaraXiTiiv. Jos. Ant. II 4 § 5 in good authors, e.g. Tbuc. viii 17 § 1: TpoffKaraXiTrthv Kal to I^uxtlov. P]at. Epist. 858 B. Cp. dieXlfxirafef 14. Kal eKaXccrev: this goes closely Tob. 10", tKifnrdvov Zech. II16. with Kal iyivfro in v. 13. §41. — eto-r|- 20. ox<'pw(«t: stronghold, This 7tt7«v: sc. 6/ci/pios or auris (= tjjse the word occurs in the Faytim papyri master: cp. 'himself in the mouth (Swete Introd. p. 292).—eIstovtoitov of an Irish peasant-wife). — I(i7roi5civ ktX. .- an extraordinary piece of tau- ■f)|itv: § 77. tology — lie threw him into the strong- 16. KaraXi(jiirdvei.: a strengthened hold, into the place in which the king''s present from stern iir-, of the type of prisoners are kept there in the strong- 118
118 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT Genesis XXXIX 21 Secr/iwrat tov /SacrtXeius Kare^oirai eKeZ iv raj o ilKal tjv Kvpuos yaera 'laxrrjfi Kai KaTeeev avrov eXeos, eoojKev avTG> yapiv evavTiov tov ap^LoecrjxocpvA.aKO';. iScoKev 6 apxL8ecrfjLO(f>vka£; to SearfAayrrjpLOv Sid i TTavTas tov? aTrqyix.4vov St' avTov ovQiv • TtdvTa yap rjv Sta ^etpos 'la>cryj(f), ota to Toj" Kvpiov /xer' avTov ew'at • Kat ocra auros eirotet, KuyOtos evoSot ej> rcus ^epclv avTov. 1'EyeueTo Se ^icra to, pr[x,aTa TavTa rj/Aaprev 6 ap^ioivo-^oos Tou ^acrtXews Atyv7rrov /cat 6 dp^tcrtTOTrotos ra KvpCco ySacrtXet Atyuwrov. 2«:at apyCcrdrj <3 id="iv.i.i.iv.p1672.1"> " 8/cai e^ero avTovs ei' = He'threw him into the strong- nothing to correspond to it in the hold in which the king's prisoners are Hebrew, in which the sentence is also kept. The addition of ' there' after divided differently from the way in 'in which' is normal in the LXX. 'which it is in the Greek. — aiT6s:§13. See § 69. But the further addition 1. pTJpara: things. Cp. 399 n. of ' in the stronghold' seems to arise This use is very common. — ^apnv: from a misreading of the Hebrew § 42. — dpxtoivoxoos . . . dpx«J-i/ro- text. iroids: used also by Philo I 662, De 21. 'tXeos: § 8. Somn. § 2 : II 63, De Jos. § 26. The 22. &pxi8«r|K><| id="iv.i.i.iv.p1683.1">vXa(;: Gen. 39a>22- &, functions of the king's cup-bearer at 40s, 4110. Op. 404 &pxi-$ecrfiu>TTis. Nei- the Persian court are described in Xen. ther word is known elsewhere. — e'Su- Oyrop. I 3 §§ 8, 9. Ktv . . . Sid x€lP< id="iv.i.i.iv.p1684.1">s: 4 n.—tovs dTrrj-y- 2. 8vo-£v: § 14. p-^vous : the prisoners. ''Air&yav is the 3. «ls tov toitov ov . . . «Ket: liter-regular word used of leading off to ally in the place where Joseph had oe.en prison. Cp. 42": Plat. Men. 80 B &s led off there. § 69. oS here stands y67is &irax6eii)s. Sometimes it implies for ol. § 34. execution as in Acts 1219. 4. a-vvia-rra-tv: put them under the 23. i)v . . . ■yivc&o-Kwv: analytic charge of. This word is often used in form of imperfect. §.72. — Si' airdv -. classical authors of putting a pupil un-cp. 8 5t ifj.4. Here again 5' alrrbv has der a master or introducing a person 119
I. THE STORY OF JOSEPH 119 Genesis XL 13 avTovs, Kal irapicrTri avrots * rjcrav Be 17/Aepas iv rfj heaiMOJTrjpCw. 6elcrrj6ev TTOTrjpiov $apaa) ev T'p XetP^ /"•ov Kal eXa/3ov ttjv o~Ta(f)v
)v Kal i^eOXufia avTrjv ei? to TTOTrjpiov, Kal eS&j/ca to iTOTrjpiov ei5 Ta? ^etpas §>apaa>." n Kal elirev avrco 'Icocnjcf) "Tovto 17 o~uyKpicn to a patron. — irap^cT'^: like Latin Dan. 0' 57 rb aderat. The subject is Joseph. — T||i.t- 17 r viyKpuTis airSv. 2vyKplvei.v also pas: for some time. A Hebraism. means 'to compare.' In i Cor. 213 § 86. irvevfiariKoTs irvevfj.ariKa (rvyicplvovTes the 5. opao-is tov IwirvCou airoii: these meaning perhaps is ' expounding spirit-words have no construction and add ual things to the spiritual.' — Siao-dcjjt)-nothing to the meaning. Let us call o-is: = aifKpiui.%. In LXX only in them ' nominative in apposition to the Gen. 40s: ii Esdr. 56, 711. sentence.' 10. iroB^ves: steins. 6. to irpal: in the morning. Such 12. Tovto tj {rv-yKpio-is: in Attic - adverbial expressions are common in Greek attraction is usual in such cases, the LXX. as in 18 Avrri y vtiyKpiais. 8. 6 crvyKpivoiv: to interpret. Op. 13. dpx«>'voxoiav: fiira| elprj/ihov. 120
120 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT Genesis XL 14 to TiqTrjpiov $>apaa> eis ttjv Xe^Pa avT°v Kara ttjv yjp crov ttjv irpoTipav, ws rjcrda. olvo^ooiv. 14 aur<5 " AvTr) o~vyKpio-L<; avTov. to. Tpia Kava rpets rjfjuepai eiaCv 19ert Tpiu>v rjjiepav d^eXet <&apaa) ttjv K€ : perhaps tl^v would be used The Egyptians, he says, do not live on here in classical Greek. — ^o-8a olvo- wheat or barley, like the rest of the XoSv: analytic imperfect. § 72. world, &kk &.trb 6vp4uv iroievvrai aria, 14. 8id o-eavToB: in thyself.—iroi'rfj- rets feiis /ACTe^Tcpoi. (taX^owri. In an-
ei/cocri /cat KaTi}yayov tov lcoo~r}(p eis AvyvTTTov-Se 'Povj3r}v iwl top 6.kkov, Kal ov^ opa tov Xclkko) ■ Kal Stepprj^ev to. i/uaVia avTov. 80/cal dvecrTpe-i()€v 7rpos tovs a$e
avrous xal rjcrav rerapay/xeVot. ' Kal y^pdira rows evvovyovs <£ id="iv.i.i.iv.p1689.2">apaa>, 6t r(jav fier'- avrov iv tyj ^>vaKTj irapa to> KvpiTt on ra TTpocroJira vfiSiv o-Kv9pama o~rj-fiepov; " 8 ol 8e elirav avrw " '^vvttviov tSo^aev, Kal 6 crvy-Kptvuiv avTo ovk eo-Tiv. enrev oe aurots Lcoorrjy Ui;^i ota tou ^eoS ^ 8iaadcj>rjaL? avrav iariv ; §ir]yrjo~ao-0e ovv jxoi." 9Kal SiTjyrjo-aro 6 dp^totvo}(dos to ivvnviov avrov rw 'la)o-rjTpeis Tru0jj.eve13eTt Tpets r)jx4pai Kal fivrjcrdtrjaeTai
15. icXoirf) eKXttiriiv: § 61. — Xolk- Egyptian name for these loaves, II 77 kov: 3729 n. &pTo
16. Kttvd: Kavovv, a basket of reed res &ptovs, robs iiceCvoi mAAi}
ated among the species of bread, and 20. 4\i.ipa. "y€v«r«ws: an obvious
it is further explained that it was way of expressing ' birthday,' but not
made of f«
added, does not make groats (x<5ySpos). idea is generally conveyed by rd. 7ej>e'-
By Hdt. II 36 fetai is identified with 0ia, the birthday feast. Xen. Cyrop.
SXvpai, which is supposed to be rye. I 3 § 10 ore eio-Tlaa-as ai rois
121 |
I. THE STORY OF JOSEPH 121
Genesis XLI 8 •
tois iraicrlv avrov ■ Kal iixvrjadr) Trjs a-pXV? Tou d ■^oov Kal Trj to>v avrov. 21Kal a.TTeKaT£aT7]
top oe ap-^LcriTOTToiov €Kp€jx.acrev, Kava crvveKpivev avrots 'l(oa7]
1>Eye'eTO Se pera Svo err) TjfiepSiv
ot ct/to. cTTa^ues ot XeTTTOt Kal dvep,6(j)dopoL tovs eirra tovs ckXcktous Kat tous TrX^pets. r/yepOrj Se aj, Kal -^v ivvirviov. Biyevero Se 17/30)1 Kat iTapaj>dr) tj avToO ■ Kal d.7rocrTetXas iKaXeaev TrdvTas tovs efi^-
to?s yeveffKiois. — iraieriv: sercanis. So 2. tu ax«i-: Hebrew aim. This is
frequently. The usage is common also perhaps the Egyptian name for the
in classical Greek, e.g. Ar. Ban. 40. reed-grass of the Nile. The word is
Similarly in Trance a ' gargon' may indeclinable. Sir. 4016 &xet ^ irarrds
be a greybeard. In 432S Joseph's father vSaros Kal x^ovs voto-iwO. In Is. 19"
is called his vats. — IjivijcrSr] ttjs apxfls: the spelling is rb &xl-
divergent from the Hebrew. 4. p6as: § 5.
21. eStoKcv: so. 6 &pxu>t.rox6os. 6. ave|i6<| id="iv.i.i.iv.p1731.1">6opoi; blasted by the
1. en) TiiiepSv: the addition of wind. Cp.Prov. 105: Hos. 87: Is. 19':
■flfiepuv is a Hebraism. Op. i Mac. I29. Philo II431, De Bxsecr. § 4.
—"E-^vo-o . . . ISev: §42. 8. l-ye'vero . . . KaC : § 41. —
122 |
122 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
Genesis XLI 9
yr]Ta<; KlyvTiTov kcli Trdvras tov? aocf)ov<; airy}?, Kal Snjyij-craro avTois <3 id="iv.i.i.iv.p1737.2">apa
avTOS' eKacrTos KaTa to aiiTOV ewTTftov tSo/xei'. Se eKei jxed' yjjjiZi' veavio-KOs Trats 'E/3ocuos rou d Kal 8i,-qyr)(TOLfjieda avTa, Kal avveKpwev y]jxlv. wiyevrj8r) Se /ca^tis crvv4Kpw€i> rjfuv, ovtcos koli o"we/8>j, £jU,e Te aTro-KaTacnadfjvaL inl ttjv dp-^njv fiov, IkCivov Se KpefiacrOrj-vau" 14'A7roo"reiXa? Se
'Ia)crr) apaaj etwei' ""Ai'eu tou ^eou ouk a to
6 airayye\a>v: cp. 408 6
In classical Greek a future participle as a preposition governing ' God,'
'would be used in such cases. and a negative has somehow got in
13. l-yev^ . . . o-vvc'pi] : § 42. after it.
14. il^a-ycv : Hebrew, ' they 17. eirl to xeI^°s : in v. 2 we had Drought him hastily.' — l|ipiicrav : ivTavai 4irl toO Trora/xoC, which is better Hebrew, ' he shaved himself.' Greek. In a classical writer we might
16. avtv toO 6eov ktX. : without explain the accusative here as a preg-
God there shall not be given the an- nant construction, meaning 'to go to
svier of safety to Pharaoh. The word the bank of the river and stand there.'
which in the R.V. is translated 'It But see § 95.
123 |
I. THE STORY OF JOSEPH 123
Genesis XLI 29
T&> axet' 19/cat tSou iiTTa, /3de? erepat dveBauvov diricra)
e/c rod ■norap.ov, irovrjpal /cat aicrxpal tw etSet al rats crap^iv, Kal ivip.ovTo iv rw axet' °^as elSov rotauras eV 0X17 AiyvvTco alaxporipa<; • 20 Kal Kare-apaa> Tp efvTri'toj'
19. o'ias . . . ToiaiTas: literally Common in the LXX and in Hellen-
sueh as I never saw the like, in all Egypt istic Greek generally. — rrv apx^v:
more ill-favoured. A mixture of two adverbial accusative, at the beginning.
constructions. The first is an instance 23. «xliev01 airwv: close after
of that insertion of a demonstrative them.
after the relative which is a mark of 28. to S« pijiio ktX. : but as for
Biblical Greek (§ 69) ; the second is the thing which I said unto Pharaoh,
otav alfxportpas. —atcrxpimpas: § 12. with reference to v. 25. This is a good
21. 8uxSt|Xoi fyevovro: sc. al cirri. instance to show how priixa passes from
|36es al aivxpal Kal eTrral. — Ka8d : ' word ' to ' thing.' See 399 n.
adverb meaning ' as,' originally ml? a. 29. eiBTivia : the verb eSSijrai' is
124 |
124 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
Genesis XLI 30
^rj^ei Se eWa err) Xi/aov /xera ravra, Kal eTTLkrjcrdrjcrovTai tyj<; Tr
](T[jLOvrj<; kv oXr/ rfj yjj AlyvTrrai, Kal avakaxret. 6 Xijlios tyjv yrjv • 81Kal ovk iniyvaxTdrjo-tTaL rj evdrjvia inl Trjs yfjs dirb tov Xijxov tov icrofievov perd ravra, tcr^upbs yap ecrrai cr
ara ev rats uoXecrtv o'vvayQ'^TOi to. ySpw/iara ve
a ecrovrat
used in Arist. JB.JV. I 9 § 11 for the external side of happiness, and eiiftj via. itself occurs in Bhet. I 5 § 3 in the same connexion. Cp. Philo I 438, De Migr. Abr. § 3 t^ a-WfuiTiK^v iid^vlav xal Tas tGjv eicrbs a
31. oiird to5 Xi(j.ov: by reason of the famine. An unclassical use of the preposition § 92.
32. 8enT€pS
S(iKal ecrrat
34. Kai iroiiio-ttTO) : a literal fol-lowing of the Hebrew.—roirdpxas :
_ prefects. For the form ep. Kufi,&pxys Esther 23: Xen. Anab. TV 5 §§ 10, 24: yeveffidpx^ Wisd. 133. The word Tairdp-xv* occurs 17 times in the I*XX and was probably a technical term of ad-ministration in Egypt under the Ptole-mies. Cp. iv K. 1824. Strabo (XVII § 3, p. 787) mentions that most of the vo/iot in Egypt were divided into to-irapx^- — &iroire|ji.irT
36. ecrrai . . . irtitroXa-yfUva : ana-lytic form of future perfect = ire^vXa-Jerai. § 72. — fi. eo-ovrai: the stress laid on the plurality of the years might justify the use of the plural verb here even in classical Greek. In Hellenistic
125 |
I. THE STORY OF JOSEPH 125
Genesis XLI 45
aljjlo). Hpecrev be ra prj^ara €volvtloi> Qapaco /ecu
ivavTiov TravTOiv t 6 deos croi irdvTa TavTa, ovk eo~Tiv dv0po)iro<; crov Kat crwercwrepos. rbv Opovov inrepe^o) o~ov eyd." 41eLTrev Se <&apaa) 'la)ai] apaa) Tq>'la)O~r}(f> "'Eyw Qapaco- avtv crov ovk i^apel ov9ei<; tt/v X€^Pa avT°v ^^ Trdo-rj yrj AlyvirTov." <£ id="iv.i.i.iv.p1782.9">apacb to ovojxa 'la)o~r] Greek, however, the observation of the translator ought to have known what rule of syntax about the neuter plural it meant. The Vulgate has here — o la-is capricious. We have the plural again mantepraecone ut omnes coram in 53 and 54 and in 4220. Cp. Ps. eo genu flecterent. — Krjpj|: this 1723'87. accentuation is correct in principle, 40. ir^v: only. Cp. Jdg. 1416. — since the u is naturally long, but the tov Bpovov: probably accusative of word is generally written nj/wi;, like respect and irn-epdfa intransitive. >< id="iv.i.i.iv.p1783.1">?«!. 42. fWcrCvqv: of fine linen. Hdt. 44. 'Ey<» *apa<4 : So sure as I am II 86 speaks of the Egyptian mummies Pharaoh. as being wrapt in alvSav $v kXoiov : from xXeto. Properly a dog- 6 § 1 Tpotn]y6pev collar. . . . (r-qixalvei. y&p rb ivo^a KpvTT&v eipe- 43. iK^jp-u^v kt.: in the Hebrew r-f/v (finder of hidden things'). TheVul-the verb is in the plural and the sentence gate here has — Vertitque nomen runs thus—and they cried before him eius, et vocavit eum lingua ' abrelch,'1 the last word being supposed JEgyptiaca, Salvatorem mundi, to be Egyptian. If so, the Alexandrian Crum in Hastings' Diet, of the Bible 126
126 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT Genesis XLI 46 eScu/cei/ avTwrrju 'AcrzvvkO dvyardpa UeTpe^rj lepews 'HXiou irokecos omtw ets ywai/ca. wcrr)(p oe tjv ctwv rpia- kovtol oYe earr] ivavTiov <&apacb fict.crih.ecos AiyvnTov. i£rj6ev he 'I(t)ar) explains the word from the Egyptian, as meaning ' God speaks (and) he lives.'—'Ao-evveO: Jos. Ant. II 6 § 1 'Ao-awfei): Hebrew Asenath: Vulgate Aseneth. The name is said to mean ' dedicated to Neitb,' — IIeTpe the proper name cp. Gen. 4628 ' v6 v. 47. 8pd-y|iaTa : handfuls, indieat-ing plenty. 377 n. 48. iv ots fv tj 6v6t]v£a: perhaps this points to a "better reading than that of our present Hebrew text. — pp
51. Mowao-o-T): making to forgeU Jos. Ant. II 6 § 8 ffrifialvet S' iiriXijOov. —itcLvtcov twv tov ira.Tp< id="iv.i.i.iv.p1798.1">s [iov : all my father's house, or possibly neuter, as in Lk. 249, all my father's affairs.
127 |
I. THE STORY OF JOSEPH 127
Genesis XLII 5
62to Se ovofia tov Sevrepov inaXtaev 'E<£/)cu/z, "*On v^jcoaev fie 6 0ebs iv yrj TaireLvaxrtdos jxov." mUaprjdov Se to. evra err) tyjs ev0r)vCa^/cat rjptjavTO tAt/xou epxeo~dai, Kada el-rrev 'Ia)o-i]
loutot? avrov l^a rt pauvfiei/re; ioov aKTjKoa otl earw criros eV AlyvTTTco • /carayS^re e«-et /cat irpiacrde rjfuv /xt/cpa ySpw-/xara, tva l,a>jxev /cat ^ diroOdva}fj,ev." 8KaTefirjcrav Se oi dSe(j)ol 'l(i)
52. *E({)pdi(i,: explained differently the same as that which in the next
in the Hebrew, ' for God hath made me verse is translated o-fros. — IVa t£ :
fruitful.' Jos. Ant. II 6 § 1 has sometimes written as one word Ivari.
another interpretation — 6 dk vedrepos This way of expressing ' why ' is
'E^paiV^s' airoSidoiis di tovto vrinaivei., common in Biblical Greek (e.g. Gen.
Sia to airoSodTjvai. airbv Ty ievfcplq. tUv 444- 7, 4715 : Ex. 5^,W.22: Mt. 2746 :
TTpoy6vwi>. Acts 726), from which it is imitated
55. eiretvatrev : § 25. — «K€Kpa|«v : by St. Augustine in the Latin formula reduplicated 1st aorist. §20. ut quid (e.g. CD. IV 18). It is
56. lirl irpo
1. irpao-is : a market, Latin an- 4. jiaXaicia: cp. v. 38 /uaX
nona. In the Hebrew the word is 4429 for the meaning of ' harm.'
128 |
128 SELECTIONS PROM THE SEPTUAGINT
Genesis XLII 6
Se rfv
p • rjv yap 6 Axjao? ey yrj ~2Lavdav. jj f
apyfov Trjsyrjs, ovro? eTrakei, Travrl rwitafa) ttjs yfj'S' eX96v-oe 01 aoeX doeKcpovs avrov enj Kal rjXXoTpiovro oltt' avrS)v koI tXcDvr}cre.v avrols (TKMifjigi, koX eHirev avTotl'H60ev yjicaTe;" ol he etrrav "'Ek y^s Xavaav, ayopdo~at, /BpcifioiTa." ^iireyvoi 8e 'Iwo"7)^> tovs dS£X.(^o{is aurov, avrol Se ovk irreyvoio'a.v avroi'• 9/ca6 €fwqo-07) 'Iwarrj
11
Ov)crou yjX6ofiev Trpidcra.cr6a.i irdvTeii io-fxev viol £vbot Tratoe? crou Karao-KOTrot,. enrev oe aurots Oux^ a-XKa
7a iX^9? T7?s y?s ^XuaTe toeiv. ol oe eiua^
io~jJ.ev ol 7raX8e<; o~ov a8eX
Vfuv, Xeycov on KaracrKOTjm ecrre- 15e^ rourw ^aveicrde- vrj tt)v vyCav
7. rKa.Te -. perfect of t)«:w, used only late Greek as iyiela, here as iyia.
in the plural. § 26. — d^opdo-cu fjp<6- § 10. (laxa: §77. 16. dirax8>nT£: be ye sent to prison.
9. tci txvil: B-V. 'the naked- 1st aorist imperfect passive. 3922n.—
ness.' t] ov: in the second alternative of a
11. e£pT|viKo£: K.V. ' true men.' dependent disjunctive question either
12. iieaT€: § 18. oC or ^ may be used. Cp. Plat. Rep. 15. vi) ttjv v-yCav: so in V. ■ 10. 451 D Kal vKoirQuev, ei t\iXv -wfi-au 1) oS
v/; occurs nowhere else in the with 339 A el Se aKriffis f) /hi), iretpdo-o/xai
LXX. iyUm commonly appears in ixaMv. — ttjjufjv: verily = ? fi-^v. §103.
129 |
I. THE STORY OF JOSEPH 129
Genesis XLII 27
ewero ovtov<; ef ava fjiecov avTaiv rjv aTrocrTpat//u^tjs avrov ore KareSe'ero rjficov Kal ovk elo-r]Kovo-ap.ev avrov • eveKev tovtov iirrjXdev i
19. a8«X<| id="iv.i.i.iv.p1840.1">6s v|iwv tls: the genitive is ovtws : tbese words are also in the shown by the Hebrew to be possessive, Hebrew, but they seem to be misplaced not partitive — one of your brethren, in this context.
not one of you brothers.—tov a-yopa- 22. 'Pov|3tjv: 3722.
you h.avepurchased. SiroSmrfa is prop- e.g. Gen. 4914: Nb. 2666, 30". Cp.
erly' a gratuitous distribution of com.' i Cor. 66.
Op.frumentatio, Suet. Aug. 40, 42. 25. 0.771a: = HyyeTa. §37.
20. irwrrevOTJcrovTai. to. f>T|naTa 27. tts •' § 2. — iidpa-iiruov: He-6|Ji»v: cj>. 4135 4 Uovrtu.—Iwotiio-ov 8t brew sag whence, tlirough the Greek
130 |
130 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT T
Genesis XLII 26
KaT^kvcrav, i&ev tov Scct/aov tov apyvpiov avrov, Kat rjv £Trava> tov crrojaaros tov fiapcrnnrov • Kai €inev tovs aoeA-^eSd^ ^aoi to apyvpiov, Kal iSov tovto iv tw ju.ou." Kal iijicrrr) 17 KapSia avrS>v, Kal erapd-)(dr]-7T/)os dXXiyXous Xeyovres "Tt rouro iTroOrjvev 6 #eos ^/aiv;" 8e irpos 'Ia/ca>j8 w Trarepa avTU>v eis yip Xai^aav, a.TT'qyyf.ikav avrw irdvTa tol crvfx^e^rjKOTa aurot? Xeyoi'-re? Aehahr}Kei> o avvpumos o Kvpios tt)<; yv}S 7T/Oos crKkrjpd, Kal edero ij/xas eV (f>vai
top* vearrepov, Kal yvaxro/xai oti ov KaTdcrKovoC idXX' on elpyjVLKOt eare- Kai tov dSeX
and Latin, our ' sack.' Here the bag 2023, Luc. Prom. 1. The use of
containing the asses' provender. In in v. 35 is in accordance with the
Xen. Anab. iv 3 § 11 it is used of a implied principle that, when Sea^s
clothes-bag, and spelt /idp
word has a diminutive, which occurs 5eo>io£. In Jdg. 15U however we
in the forms ixapalinov, papaiwiov (Sir. have Sea/iot = Secr/id.'- — lirdvai tov
183S),fMp
marsupium, whence ' marsupial' of an mouth of. ' '
animal with a pouch.—tov 8eo-(iov tov 32. |m
ap-yupCou avroii: the tying up of his — ets -yfjv Xavaav: § 90. money, i.e. his money tied up. See 33. &u&.9aTe: § 18.
the plural of this expression in v. 35. 34. Tf) yrj ^(iiropeveo-6t: impera-
In classical Greek Sevfiot often means tive.
'imprisonment,' e.g. Plat. Bep. 378 D, 35. KaraKtvovv: this word occurs
Symp. 195 C, whereas 5eo><£ means again in the LXX in ii K. 139; other-
1 chains,' e.g. Plat. Euthph. 9 A, Acts wise it does not appear to be known.
131 |
I. THE STORY OF JOSEPH 131
Genesis XLIU 5
vovv olvtovs tovs craKKovs avroiyv, Kal r^v eiSos avrov eis ttjv /jlov, Kayai ai^afoj avTov irpos ere. o oe eivev Ov
ereTai 6 vios fxov jxed' ifxSiv, otl 6 d$ek
1SO 8e X.tju.05 ivLo-^vaev irrl ttjs y>JS. ^iyivero Se avveTeXecrav Kara^ayeTv tov ovtov ov r/veyKav i£ AlyvTTTov, Kal threw airrols 6 iraTrjp avTcov " HdXiv TTopevOevTC? irpC-atrde r/filv fxiKpa ppwjj.aTa." ^evrrev Se airca 'IouSas eyu>v " AiafiapTvpCq SiafxefjiapTvprjTaL tj/xii/ 6 avOpwiros (yo)v ' Ovk oxpeade to Trpoaunrov (jlov idv p.rj 6 dSe
r]fia>v fieff1 y]fiu>v, KaTafirjO-ofjieda Kal dyopdaoi^iv crot f3pa>-fxaTa • 5et 8e fur) d-n-oo-TeXXeis tov dSe(f>6v r^^tiv fitd' r)/xS)v, ov iropever6/J.eda • 6 yap avOpwiros eivev r/fuv Xeycav ' Ovk opeo~6e fiov to Trp6o~a)Trov idv firj 6 d8eX
— 0-o.kkovs: the- Hebrew word is the 38. |iaXaiacr6fjvai: 4 n.
same for which /idpcmnros was used 3. AiaiiapTvpux 8ian£(j.apTvpT)Tat:
in v. 27.. , cognate dative § 61.
36. T|T6Kv
ko.86ti TjriKvwafv yvvaiKas tj po/j.>ala this, combination of the future with
ri ivqTrip aav. — XV)|j.|«cr9€ : § 37. — 88. It is more intelligible when the
Itt 4|it e-ytvtTo : have come upon sentence is interrogative, as in Gen.
me. 4416.
132 |
132 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
Genesis XLIII 6
jieO' ifj.o)v y.' " 6elirev Se 'lcrparjX " Tt iKaKOTrourjcraTe juot, dvayyeCXavTes t<3 dvdpcoTro) ei ecmv vfjuv dSeX<^os; ' ol Se €%irav " 'EpcoTwv inn]parr)crev rjp.a.% 6 aV#panros Kat rr/v yeveav y]fx.S>v, 4yoiv 'Ei en, 6 TraTTjp v^icov £77; el icxrw vfuv dSeA.<£os;' Kal dTTr)yye(,a[ji,ev aura) Kara tt)v iireparvqcriv ovtov. fir] Tjoetju.6!/ et ej9€t i)/xiv Ayayere tov aoektpov v/xutv ; enrev oe 'IovSas 7rpos 'IcrpaTjX tov Ttaripa avrov "'AirocrTeiKov to Traihdptov jxer' ifiov, Kal dvaardvTe<; vopevao/xeOa, lva Kal jLti) drroOdvco/xev Kal TjfieLs Kal av Kal rj dirocrKevr) 9iyco Se eKSe^ofiai avrov, e.K ^eipo; fiov tflTqijov avrov • idv
fir) dydyw avrbv Trpos ere /cat o~T7]
6. T£ 4KOKoiroiT|(roT€ ktX. : W7i?/ by the Greeks from Semitic tradersX did ye do me so ill a turn as to ... 9 Perhaps iKd^xo/j-ai avrdv may be ren-
7. ivtpSria-tv Tijias: asked about 'dered ' I undertake him.' — T|(i,apTT)K«!is us. The construction is good Greek. «ro|«u: literally / shall be having Cp. Hdt. vii 100 — wapiirXee irapb, ras sinned. Analytic form of future ■jrp&pas tGjv veQv, ^iretpoiT^tov re e/edtrras perfect. § 72.
6/xotws Kai rbv ire^bv Kal dwoypa
— «t en: § 100. II 6 § 5) has here tA re -rijs /3ctX(icou
8. diro
9. «K8«xoH-al: the Hebrew word any as pistacia terebinthus. -rip-whicli is here represented by eKS^x0Ma' /iivBos does not occur in Swete's is formed from the same Semitic root as text, in which rep4iuv8os is the pre-appap
133 |
I. THE STOKY OF JOSEPH 133
Genesis XLIII 18
to apyvpiov Siacrov Xdfierc kv reels yepalv v/jlwv ' to apyvpiov to aTTOCTTpatyev iv tois ixapcr'nnrois vjjlwv dnocrTp&paTe /xed' vyiSiv • firj ttotc dyvorj/xd ianv,. 18Kal tov dSeX^w Vfi5>v Xa/3eTe, Kal avao-ravTes KaTafirjTe iryoos tw dvOpoynov. 14 6 oe deos p.ov 8arj vjmv 'Xjxpiv ivavfiov tov avdpumov, koX a,TTOO~Teiai tov dSeX(£oV vficov tov eva Kal to ^Bevia/ieiv' iyw /xev yap Kada rjT€Kva>fiai, r/TeKvco/xai." 15Aa/Sdvres oe oi avopes tol Owpa TavTa xai to apyvpiov onikovv eXaJBov iv Tats -^epcriv aircov, Kal tov ^eviafxeiv ' Kal d KaTe^iqaav els AiyvTrrov, Kal ecrTTjaav ivavTiov 16 iSei' Se 'la>ar)(f> avrov? Kal tcv 'Beviafielv tov a8e.
meant >J TepifuvBos. — KcLpva: a gen- as in Ex. 1317 p/j wore fi
eral name for nuts. Here rendered Xaijj.
'almonds' in the R.V., as in Nb. 178. 14. Swt]: § 30. — tov «vo : we 12. Sunrdv: Sitro-As and Tpwcr6s are should say 'your other brother,' and goodGreekfor'double,''treble.' This so does the Hebrew. The Greek reading series of multiplioatives never got any may be due merely to a confusion be-further. For Sitra-is cp. 4522. It occurs tween two letters in the Hebrew. The eight times in the LXX. — dwroo-TpE- reference is to Simeon 4224. — !y« (i4v : t|/a.Te: bring back. Unclassical. Cp. the fUv here serves merely to empha-v. 21, 448: Ex. 108. Often intransitive sise the eyd> or else contrasts it with go back, as in Ex. 1317. — |iij itotc . . . the viitv which has gone before, invert-ta-Tiv: pi) -n-ore = haply. The expres- ing the usual order. § 39. sion perhaps originated in an ellipse 16. onon^rpiov : Gen. 4619.—rt)v of some word like Spa. Cp. Jdg. 3s4: (leir-niipptav : § 55. iii K. 182". This is more evident 18. toO (ruKocj>avTfjo-ai . . . tov Xo-when the verb is in the subjunctive, peiv: § 59.
134 |
134 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
Genesis XLIII 19
(JMivTrjcraL rjfias Kal imBecrOai rj/x^v, rod Xafielv Tracts ei? 7ratSas /cat tovs ovov? rj[j.(ov." 19vpoaeXdovTes oe Trpos tov rbv inl rov oZkov *Iaxrr]/cat 6 ^eos Tolt' Tra/rd-p
/cat rjveyKev ^opTacr^aTa Tots wots aiirwi'.- 25^ToCfj.acrav
Se to, Swpa eiy? rou iXdeiv 3Icoo~r)(f> pearjfji^piq,' rJKOvcrav yap on iKei peXXei apicrav. ^elcrrjXOev 8e 'laxrrjcj) ets Tirji/ oiKiav, Kal Trpoo~rjveyKav avT« to, 8wpa a. et^ot' et> TaTs X^po-lv avrav et? t» oikov, Kal Trpoo-iKvvrjcrav aiiTca iirl irpoa-oynov iiil tt]v yrjv. 2T ypcorr/o-ev Be avrovs "Ilals eere;" Kal ehrev avTots " Et vyiaivei 6 7raTrjp vfiwv 6 7rpecrf5vTepo<; bv
20. Ka,Te|3ii|«v : for Kara^dvres Kari- apodosis. § 40. — Iv (rrafijiffi : in full i', the Hebrew idiom being for once weight.
neglected where it seems to have no 23. "IXeus vpXv: sc. eify 6 6e6s. Op.
particular force. i Chr. II19 teiis ^« 6 0eb$ tov iroiTJaai
21. ets to KttTaVuo-ai: the Hebrew rb pij/xa rovro : Mt. 1622. E.V. ' Peace word rendered ' lodgiiig-plaoe ' in the be to you.' The Hebrew word here used R.V. seems to have been "understood is connected with the Arabic salaam. by the Greek translator of the process — etiSoKifiqw dir^co: I have to my of putting up for the night. Josephus full satisfaction. Cp. Mt. 62 i.iri%ov
135 |
I. THE STORY OF JOSEPH 185
Genesis XLIII 84
; en 42?; ol oe et7rav Tyiau>ei o ttcus crou o iraTr/p v, ert £]7-" Ka^ ewrej' " HiiXoyrjTOs 6 avd'panro? eWa-'o? rep 0ea>-" Kal Kwpavres Trpoaa
crai
to. evrepa avrov em tco dSeX(f)w avrov, Kal e elcreXdcbv Se ei? to Ta/xietov cKXavaev eKei. slKat to TTpocroiirov i^Xdcbv iveKpaTevcraTo, Kal eiTrev " TLapaders. apTovs." 82«"al TrapidrjKav avrw ju-dvii), Kal avrol? Ka^' eav-rous, /cat toTs AtyuTTTiotg roi? crui/SetTTi'oiicrtp' ju,er' avTov Kaff eaurou? ' ou yap iBvvavTo ol AlyvTTTioi cweadieiv jxera T(tiy 'E/3pat
aVTOV.
28. 6 wats o-ov: thy servant. See 33. !£io-to.vto : the word -whicli 4020 n.— Kai etirev . . . t£ 9«£ : not in commonly expresses the feeling of the Hebrew. surprise is here used for the expres-
29. el'ira,™ : = ye promised. sion of that feeling. — £Kao-Tos irpos tov
30. (ruv€OTpe'
rajiietov as a private chamber. § 10. 34. ^pav : sc. ol ira?5es. — ijuya-
31. IveKpctTtvo-aTO : he controlled Xivfl-q . . . irapa : 87s n. The general himself. statement ' was larger than' is further
32. |38&vypa . . . iras tt
136 |
136 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
Genesis XLIV 1
1 Kal iveretXaTO 'l(i)o~r}
CTTOjLiaTOS TOV fiapULTTTTOV CLVTOV ' 2 Kal TO KOvSv jXOV TO dpyi)-
povv e/Aj8aA.are ei§ tov yidpannrov tov vewTepov, /cai ttjv TLjxrjv tov aiTOv avrov." iyevrjdr) Se /caret, to pr}ia 'la)crr]
avroi) Xeyav " 'Avacrras €ttlZl
him' see Xen. Cyrop. I 3 § 6, where Josephus (^irej. II 6 § Y) has here
Astyages helps Cyrus so largely to o-kj)0os.
meat that the boy has to distribute it 3. to irpwl 8ie aixrev: rb irpai is
among the servants. Josephus (Ant. adverbial (406n.) and d^Qavo-er in-
II 6 § 6) softens down irevTcurXacrlus transitive.
into 5nra
portanoe here assigned to Benjamin —Kftl 'Iaa-ii$: in such parataotical
has been used as an argument constructions Kal may be rendered in
that this legend took shape in the English.by ' when.' This use of Kat is
time of Saul, who belonged to that found in classical authors, e.g. Plat.
tribe. Euthd. 273 A, 277 B. Op. Verg. JEn.:
1. 8
2. kovSu : drinking-cup. Outside arbos.
this chapter the word occurs in the — oirurw twv dv8p
LXX only in Is. 51".22. A plural K6vdva substitute for fieri. toCs Mpibirovs. § 97.
is used in a letter of Alexander the — KaraXTJiuJ/T) . . . ipfls: jussive fu-
Great to the satraps of Asia quoted tures. § 74.
by Athen. 784 a. Hence it has been 5. oliovio-|j.§ otwvtteTai : cognate
inferred that the word is Persian, dative. Cp. 15. § 61,
137 |
I. THE STORY OF JOSEPH 137
Genesis XLIV 18
kclto. to, prjjxaTa TavTa; jAr/ ye'vono rots iraiaiv crov irovrjaai
to prjiJio, tovto. 8ei to fiev dpyvptov 6 evpa^ev iv rots fiapo~vjnroi,s y)jio>v dweaTpexj/afiep rtrpbs ae e/c yrjs Xavdap,
av k.€tJ)uijaev ck tov oIkov tov Kvpiov aov dpyvptov rj; 9irap'
hk elirev " Kai vvv a>s XeyeTe, ovtcos ecrrat" 6 avOpoavos nap' a> a,v evpedrj to kovSv, avro? earai fi.ov 7rai?, vp.ei<; Se eaeade KaOapoi." n Kal eawevaav Kal Ka6eiav exaaTOS tov fxdp-annrov avTov iirl ttjv yrjv, Kal fjvot^ev Dcacrro? tov fidpcn.Tr-ttov avTov. 12r/pevva Se a.7ro tov npeafivTepov ew? rj6ev iirl tov vedrrepov, Kal evpev to kovSv iv tw
tw Bevtajiieu/. 1BKal Si€pprj^av to. l/iaTca airaiv, Kal eKacrTOS tov fidpanrTrov avTov stti tov oi'oj' avrov,
iireaTpe^iav eis ttjv ttolv. uelarj6ev Se 'IowSas Kal ol dhe(f>ol avTov irpos 'a>ar)$>, en avTov ovtos e/cet" Kal eire-aov kvavTiov avTov cttI ttjv yrjv. 15elirev Se avrot? " Ti to irpdyfia tovto eTTOirjaaTe ; ovk otSaTe oti otwvietTat avopairos oio? eya»; enrev be lovoas li pov/xev T&5 Kvpica fj tl Xakyjacopiev rj ti 8tKaia>0a)jj,ev ; 6 Se ^eo? evpev Trjv d.8iKiav tcov Traihcov aov' ISov eapev tw Kvpiu) rjficov, Kal r^fiets Kal Trap w eipedrj to 1>eiTrev Se 'Icoarj(j> " Mtj jaot yevoiTO Troirjcrai to pr)fia tovto' 6 av6pa>TTo<; vap' co evpedrj to koi'Sv, avTO? ecrTai jitou t? Se dvd/3rjTe jxerd aa)Tr)p[airpos tw iraTepa 18'Eyyicras Se aura 'louSas etTrei' "Aeofiai,
7. to pi)|iep. 17. See399n. 11. KaBctXav : §18.
8. evpa|«v: § 18. — dp-yvpiov f| 13. 4x^
Sidois avairel&eis. 16. dvTepov|«v, Xa |0"
138 |
138 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
Genesis XLIY 19
XaX^craro) 6 7rats crov pfjfjba kva.vrl.ov o~ov, Kal /xr) 6v/xo)8ys raj TratSt crov, on o~v et jxerd a/>aw. ™ Kvpie, o~v ■qpcLrr}-cras rows 7rcuSds crov eyav ' Ei e^eTe T^arepa rj dSeX(£6V ;' 20kcu ei7ra/j,ev to> nvplco '"Ecnru> rjfj.lv Trarr/p vpeo-fivTepos, /ecu TratStov vecorepov yrjpws avTco, Kal 6 dSeX<^ id="iv.i.i.iv.p1958.2">os avrov arridavev, airos Se jxovo% VTiekeifyOrj to irarpl avrov, 6 8e Trarrjp avrbv rjyairt]arev.' 21et7ras Se Tots Traicrlv crov oti ' Karayayere avrov irpos fie, k
Kvpto) c Ov Svyrjo-ercLL to TratSioi^ /oaraXnreti' toc Trarepa' iav Se KaTCtkeiTrr) rbv Trarepa, di7o^ai/etrat.' 28cru Se eiTras rots TTaicrtv crov ' 'Eaz^ ja^ KaTafifj 6 dSeX^os vfxav 6 veu>T€po<; jxeff v[Ui)v, ov 7rpocru7)o~eo-t id="iv.i.i.iv.p1959.1">e ctl coew to Trpoaunroi' /xov. eye-
vero Se -qvcKa avefirffjLev wpos top 77CuSd crov irarepa Se rjf aTrrjyyzLkafjLev avrw ro prj/xara rov Kvpuov. etirrev
6 irarr/p rjfxoiv 'BaSicrare 7J"aXiv, ayopdaare rjpA,v yuKpa. fxara.' ^rjfxels Se elirap-ev ' Ov hvvqo-6jx^.6a dXX' et /xev 6 dSeX^os rjfxuiv 6 vewTepos Ka.Taf3a.ivei fxeO' ijj KaTa/3TjO~6fji,€ua' ov ya.p ovvqcroixeda iSetv to Trpouairov tov avdpc&TTOV, tov dSeX<£ov tov vecoTepov fir/ ovtos /u.e#' rjfjLa>v' 27 etTrev Se 6 Trai? crov 6 iraTr/p rjfj.S>v Trpos i^/xa? ' 'Tyxeis yival-o"K6Te oTt Svo ereKev [aol rj yvvrj ■ 28Kal i£r) ev 6 ets dw' i/xov, Kal e.Iira,Te " ®-qpi.6fipano<; yiyovzv" Kal ovk tSov avrov en. 29ea^ ovv dfirjTe Kal tovtov e/c Trpoo~a>Trov fxov Kal fi avra fxaaKia iv rfj 6Sw, Kal Kard^ere p,ov to yfjpas a AvTfrj? eis aoov. vvv ovv eav eicnropevofxai wpos
tov TTatSd aov Trarepa Se rp,
25 •? S>i!~
etirrev oe tj/aw
18. jutcI $apa
on a level with. § 40.
21. oti: 37s5 n. 30. 4av ettriropeiloiiai: § 104. — t]
23. irpo
29. naXaKttt: 424 n. — Kal kcito.- in parenthetically as a reason for the
139 |
1. THE STORY OV JOSEPH 139
Genesis XLT 7
31 (cat ecrrai, iv tw iSeiv avrbv fir) ov to iraio'dpiov fied' rjjicov, TeXtvnqaei, Kai Kard^ovo-cv ol ircuSes crov to yrjpas tov ttcuSos aov Trarpb? Se tjixcov fxer' bZvvqs eh aoov. 826 yap Trats o~ov efcSe'Se/crai to iracStov rrapa. tov irarpb*; Xeyojv ' 'Edv fMTj dydyca avrbv 7rpos ere /cat aryjao) avrbv ivairiov crou, rjjj.aprTqKO)'; ecroyxat irpos rbv irarepx ndcra? to.? rjiiepis.' 83 iw ovi' irapafievo) crot ttcus di'Ti rou TratStou, ot/cenjs tov KvpCov ■ to Se TTCuStoj' avafirJTO) [lera tS>v dSeX eis AlyvTTTov eri 6 naTrjp p,ov (,rj;" Kai oux eSwaj'TO ot dSeXt^ot dTroKpidrjvai avrco • irapd^drjaav yap. iKal einev " 'Eyco eljxi 'lcocrrjff) 6 dSeX^os v^cov, ov aTre?)oo-0e ei? AtyvwTov. 5vvv ovv p,rj Xvnelo-de, p,7)$e o~icXr)pov vylu ert Xolitcl trevTe err] iv ols ovk earat dporpiaais ouSe a/xTjTos • 1a77e/crTetX.ei' ydp fie 6 6ebs e^Trpoo-6ev if&
apodosis, which begins at Kai %
v. 31. for ^Koicr$7! — it teas heard. §72. 32. 4kS^S«kt9 n. 6. dpoTpCao-is : ploughing. Only
34. eip^o-a : shall find, i.e. come here in LXX. From the simple verb
upon. _ dpia is formed &porpov denoting the in-
1. &Wx«r8
frain himself before.' — irapurrtjiwi: a verb dpoTpidw (Jdg. 1418), and from this
= Tapeio-Tij/cei. § 37. we have the abstract noun aporplains.
140 |
140 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
Genesis XLV 8
vTTo.€L7recrdai v/xav KaTaXa,fi[ia iirl rrjs yfjs Kal iK$peij)ai
ovv oi>x
Kare <5Se, aW rj 6 0e6s ■ Kal iiroiTjcrev fxe a>s Trarepa <&apaa} Kal Kvpiov Trajros tov oikov avrov Kal dp)(ovTa iracrTjs yrj? AlyvTTTOV. 9 crnevcravTes ovv avdfiyjTe irpbs tov Ttaripa /xov Kal enrare avrw ' TaSe Xeyet 6 vtds crou 'Ia>o"rj<{ id="iv.i.i.iv.p1985.3"> " ''EaroCrjaiv fie 6 #eos Kvpiov TracrTjs y»}s AtyvTrrou • Kard^rfdt dhv wpb? fie, /cat jai) /Lxeiz^Tjs • /cat /carotKr-^crets «> yy Tecre/u, ApapiaSj ^cti ecrij eyyy? jaou
7. Kal $Kflp&|/tu ktX.: and to rear the name of a 'nome' in Egypt. up from you a great leaving (=pos- Goshen seems to have "been the district terity). Ka.TdA«^« seems to be used watered by the Sweet Water Canal, for variety in the same sense as /card- lying to the east of the Delta, and ecfx./ta. bounded on the east by the Arabian
8. dX.' r 6 6e6s : § 108. —
10. r&re|A 'ApapCas: Goshen in reading t
Arabia. 'Ap/ifStas is an addition of the as there is nothing corresponding to
LXX, which causes a verbal contra- tet in the Hebrew,
diction between this passage and 4727; 14. 'enmur&v . . . iirkreo-ev: inten-
but ' Arabia' is here supposed to be sive participle. § 81.
141 |
I. THE STORY OP JOSEPH 141
Genesis 3?LV 23
fioijdr) r)
'Iwcrrjcf) avTols d/xa^as Kara rd elprjp,4va virb <$ id="iv.i.i.iv.p1997.1">apaco tov jSacrtXecos, «ral iScoKep avrots 4vLO~LTicrroXas " t<5 naTpl ai)Tov dTr4o~Teik.ep Kara rd aura, Kai Sc/ca ovou? atpopTa<; dwb jrdvTwv tS id="iv.i.i.iv.p1997.6">v dyad&v AlyvirTov, koi Sc/ca rji
16. X^7ovt«s: we may say that this smoothly enough, but there is perhaps participle agrees with the vague plural something amiss with the Hebrew at implied in foe/Joijfo; v (puvq. § 112. the beginning of the verse.
—"Hxao-iv : 427 n. — f| Oepaireta airov : 20. Kai |«] +«'o'1tr6e ktX. : and
= his court. spare not your goods with your eyes,
17. iropia: =7ropeia, means of trans- i.e. regard not the loss of them, a comport. §37. Here, no doubt, camels and mon Hebrew phrase. — tci . . . ardvTO asses. The Hebrew word means'cattle.' ayaQa.: the whole goods. §63.
18. TJKere : imperative of -fj/cw. 22. Sicrerds : 4312 a. — TpiaKo
19. o-u Se evreiXai. ktX. : and do thou %f>ixrov: sc. crrar^pas. The Hebrew is give this command, that they should 'three hundred (shekels) of silver.' take to them waggons from the land Cp. 3728 n. — dXXacro-ovo-as cnroXds: of Egypt for your children and women, changes of raiment. Cp. Jdg. 141S and take ye your father and come. rpidfcoera &\a
142 |
142 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
Genesis XLV 24-28
vovs alpovo~as aprow; r
Kat ^X^ov el? yrjv ~K.ava.av tt/dos 'IaKw/3 roc Ttaripa. /cat avTjyyeikav avTca heyovres otl U uio? crou 'Iwcrrjcf) £fj, Kal ovros &PX6L '""acr'^s ttjs y^s Atyu7rrou." /cal i£ecrrr] r hiavoia 'Iaxco/3, ov yap inLcrrevcrev avroi?. 27eXd-Xr/crav Se auraJ iraVra rd prfdivra virb 'la>a"r] ware ai'a-aj3eiv avTov, avi^oinvprjcrev to Trvev/xa 'laxcofi tov irarpos avTOiv. sinev oe lo~pa7)K " Meya jaot €o~tlv ei en o uids jaou 'Ia)o~r)
24. Mtj 6p-y£J«r8€: the Greek trans- and covers any form of mental disturb-lators are at one -with the English ance. Perhaps Joseph is merely wish-here: but a reminder not to quarrel is ing his brothers a safe and comfortable hardly in keeping with the magnanim- journey.
ity hitherto displayed by Joseph. The 27. avei>iriipT]
Hebrew word is wider than the Greek, tive; revived.
143 |
INTRODUCTION TO THE STORY OF THE EXODUS
If the story of Joseph may be viewed as a novel, the story of the Exodus belongs rather to the romance of history. Both narratives indeed have their national side. For the story of Joseph accounts for the Israelites coming into Egypt, while that of the Exodus accounts for their going out of it. And both also have their personal side. For the story of the Exodus begins with tie birth and upbringing of Moses and in its initial stages pursues merely his individual adventures. On the picturesqueness of the whole tale it is needless to dilate. Like Ulysses in beggar's rags, its majesty shines even through the garb of a literal translation into Alexandrian Greek. Subsequent Jewish imagination has enriclied the life of Moses with additional details tending to the glorification of the national hero. Thus Josephus (Ant. II 9 § 2) introduces a story similar to that of the Magi and Herod in the First Gospel — how one of the sacred scribes of the Egyptians had prophesied to Pharaoh that a child was about to be born among the Hebrews who should humble the pride of Egypt, and how Pharaoh in consequence issued the edict that all male children should be put to death. But Moses, as Livy would say, was ' due to the Fates,' and, though set adrift on the Nile in his paper-boat, even as Romulus and Remus in their ' floating hull' * on the Tiber floods, he could not perish: for he carried with him the destinies, not so much of a nation as of a religion. Help came to him in the form, not of a she-wolf and of a shepherd, but of the princess of the land and the daughter of the oppressor of his people. By her he was educated to become the saviour of his race.
The name of Pharaoh's daughter, according to Josephus, was Thermuthis. Her first care was to provide a nurse for the child, and she tried with him one Egyptian woman after another, but he rejected the alien milk. Then Miriam, who was standing by, as
1 Liv. I 1 § 0 fluitantein alveum, quo expositi erant pueri.
143
144 |
144 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
though a disinterested spectator, made the happy suggestion that the child might perhaps not refuse the breasts of one of his countrywomen, and was accordingly allowed to fetch his mother.
Thermuthis was rewarded for her womanly compassion by the extraordinary beauty and intelligence developed in the child as he grew. People would turn round on the road and even leave their work to look at him. His stature too at the age of three was remarkable. Of all this we know nothing from the Old Testament beyond the hint in Exodus 22, that Moses was a goodly child. But the New Testament tells us that he was ' divinely fair,' adding that he ' was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians' and that' he was mighty in his words and works ' (Acts 720'22)-
One day Thermuthis in the pride of her heart presented the child to her father, and even asked that he might be appointed heir to the throne. Pharaoh, willing to gratify her, took the infant in his arms and placed the royal crown upon his head, with the result that it was dashed to the ground and trampled under foot by the babe. Then the sacred scribe, horror-stricken at the sight, exclaimed that this was the very child against whom he had already warned the king and insisted that he should be got rid of. But Pharaoh's daughter hurried the boy out of the royal presence, so that he lived to be the hope of the Hebrews.
That Moses when grown up should have commenced his career by manslaughter and have fled in fear of Pharaoh's vengeance was more than Josephus could bring himself to relate to a Gentile audience. So he quietly suppresses this part of the narrative and substitutes an account more gratifying to Jewish feeling.
Egypt was being overrun by an invasion of Ethiopians and was in danger of utter destruction, when the Egyptians in their distress asked advice from God. They were told to call in the aid of 'the Hebrew.' Thereupon Pharaoh asked Thermuthis to let her son act as general. This she did after extracting an oath from the king that he woiild do no harm to the youth. Moses accordingly assumed the command and at once exhibited his superior intelligence. Had he taken his troops up the river, the enemy would have had notice of his approach; so he marched them overland through a country infested by dangerous reptiles and by those flying serpents, which we know from Herodotus also (II 75, 7G) to have been among the
145 |
INTRODUCTION TO THE STORY OF THE EXODUS 145
marvels of Egypt. Their wings, he says, were like those of bats. Moses however had provided himself with hutches full of ibises, which he opened on reaching the dangerous part of his route; and these pioneers easily cleared a way for his army. Then, falling suddenly upon the Ethiopians, he cooped them up into the royal city of Saba, which Cambyses afterwards called Meroe, after the name of his sister. Built on an island, this city was impregnable owing to its fortifications and dams. But what the war-god could not do was accomplished by the love-goddess. Tharbis, the daughter of the king of the Ethiopians, played the part of Tarpeia.1 Smitten with passion for the beautiful and brave youth who was attacking her country, she sent secret emissaries to arrange for the betrayal of the city, if only he would promise to marry her. This Moses consented to do and, after destroying the Ethiopians, returned in triumph to Egypt, only however to find that his life was in danger owing to the envy aroused by his success. That was why he had to fly from Egypt, not because, as in the Bible story, his spirit had been roused to wrath at the sight of the oppression of his countrymen.
Josephus however does not fail to record the gallantry with which Moses rescued the distressed maidens at the well, and how he was in consequence rewarded by the priest of Midian "with the hand of one of his daughters.
It will now be instructive to take a glance at the history of Moses as presented from an alien, though not hostile, source. Artapanus, whose name suggests a Persian origin, though his ideas are Greek, was used by Alexander Polyhistor, a contemporary of Sulla, as one of his authorities on the history of the Jews. According to this author, Merrhis, the daughter of King Palmanothes, being wedded by her father to Chenephres, king of the part of Egypt above Memphis (for at that time there were several kingdoms in Egypt), but having no children- by him, adopted as her son a Jewish infant, to whom she gave the name Moysos. This was he, who, when he grew to man's estate, was known to the Greeks as Musaeus, the teacher of Orpheus, while among the Egyptians themselves he was called Hermes, because he taught the priests the sacred writing. He was the author of many inventions both for the benefit of Egypt and for
1 Is the resemblance of name more than accidental?
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146 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
the behoof of mankind, and it was he who sanctified cats and dogs and ibises. He was animated by a single-hearted desire to secure Chenephres on his throne, which was then exposed to mob-violence. Nevertheless his adoptive father looked upon him with suspicion and availed himself of an Ethiopic invasion as a seemly pretext for getting rid of him. He therefore put Moysos at the head of a rustic army of some 100,000 of his countrymen, acting apparently on the Roman principle with regard to the Jews that, if they perished, it was vile damnum. Moysos however and his followers carried on the war successfully for ten years, during which they had time to build the city of Hermopolis, where they consecrated the ibis; and Moysos himself so won the esteem even of his enemies, the Ethiopians, that they adopted from him the practice of circumcision. When the war at last came to a close, Moysos received but a cold welcome from Chenephres. His troops were partly despatched to the Egyptian frontier to keep guard and partly employed in replacing a brick temple in Diospolis by one of stone. As for Moysos himself, Chenephres charged one Chanethoth with the task of getting rid of him. To this end, when Merrhis died, Chanethoth was sent along with Moysos to bury her beyond the borders of Egypt. Being warned however' of the plot against his life, Moysos contrived to bury Merrhis safely in an island-city, to which he gave the na'me of Meroe. Then by the advice of his brother Aaron he fled to Arabia, managing on the way to kill Chanethoth, who had laid an ambush against him. In Arabia he married the daughter of Eaguel, the king of those parts. His father-in-law wished to march against Egypt and secure the crown for his daughter and her husband : but Moysos dissuaded Mm from this purpose out of regard for his countrymen, who were in Pharaoh's power.
Shortly after this King Chenephres died of elephantiasis, being the first to be smitten with this disease, which was a judgement upon him owing to his having compelled the Jews to distinguish themselves by wearing muslin instead of woollen garments. Moysos prayed to God that the oppression of his people might cease,'whereupon a mysterious fire was seen burning from the ground, though there was no bush or timber of any sort in the place. Eleeing at first in alarm, Moysos was arrested by a divine voice which bade him march against Egypt and conduct his people to their ancient father-
147 |
INTRODUCTION TO THE STORY OF THE EXODUS 147
land. Encouraged hereby Moysos resolved to fulfil the divine command. First however he went to Egypt to see his brother Aaron, whereupon the new king of Egypt asked him his business and, on receiving the reply that the Lord of the World had sent him to release the Jews, promptly put him into prison. But at night all the doors of the prison-house opened of their own accord; some of the guards died, others were overmastered by sleep, while the weapons of all were broken. Then Moysos went forth to the palace, where he found the gates open and the guards disabled, so that he could go in and waken the king, who asked him the name of the God on whose service he came. Into the ear of the still jeering monarch Moysos whispered the awful syllables, on hearing which the king fell speechless to the ground, and so remained vtntil Moysos himself recalled him to life. So powerful was this name that a priest, who spoke slightingly of a tablet on which Moysos had written it, died immediately of convulsions. In spite of his recent experience the king still asked for a sign. Then Moysos flung down his rod, which turned into a.serpent, and, as all shrank back from the hissing reptile, he took hold of it by the tail, when it again became a rod. Next he smote the Nile with his rod, whereupon it turned all colours1 and overflowed the whole of Egypt. Then, as it went down, its waters stank, the fishes died, and the people were perishing of thirst, when the king promised to let the Israelites go in a month, if Moysos would restore the river to its natural condition. Moysos, agreeing, struck the water with his rod and all was well. Then the king summoned the priests from beyond Memphis, threatening them with death and their temples with destruction, if they could not muster magic enough to cope with Moysos. Under this stimulus the priests succeeded in producing a serpent and changing the colour of the river, which so elated the king that he redoubled his oppression of the Jews. Then followed plague on plague. A blow of Moysos' rod upon the earth brought forth winged creatures that hurt the Egyptians, so that their bodies were a mass of ulcers; then came frogs, locusts, and sand-flies. As the king had not yet learnt wisdom, Moysos brought on hail and earthquakes during the night, so that those who escaped the earthquakes perished by the hail, while those who avoided the hail were destroyed by the earth-
1 Beading conjeeturally iroKixpow for
148 |
148 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
quakes. At that time all the houses and most of the temples collapsed. This last lesson was effectual. The king let the people go; and they, having borrowed cups and raiment and all kinds of treasure, crossed the rivers on the side towards Arabia and came in three days to the Red Sea. There, so said the people of Memphis, Moysos, being acquainted with the country, waited for the ebb-tide and brought the multitude across on dry land. But the Heliopoli-tans add to the story that the king with a great force, accompanied by the sacred animals, came in pursuit of the Israelites, because they were carrying away the property of the Egyptians. Then a divine voice told Moysos to strike* the sea with his rod, which being done, the floods parted, and the force went over on dry land. The Egyptians, having plunged in after it, were met by a flashing fire in front, while behind them the sea closed over their road, so that they all perished. The Jews, thus miraculously released from danger, spent thirty years in the wilderness, during which they were fed on a kind of meal resembling millet and in colour as white as snow, which God rained on them from heaven.
Artapanus adds a description of Moysos as being tall and of a ruddy hue, with long grey hair and a dignified appearance. The above exploits, he adds, were accomplished by Moysos when he was about eighty-nine years old.
The preceding narrative, which has been preserved by Eusebius (Prceparatio Evangelica IX 27), is interesting both in its resemblance to and its difference from the Bible story. It seems hardly to have received as much attention as it deserves. Among other things it shows that Josephus' story of the war between Moses and the Ethiopians was at all events not invented by himself. The Helio-politan tradition too about the destruction of Pharaoh's host is in accordance with Manetho's statement that Moses was a priest of Heliopolis. This brings us from Jewish or neutral sources to the representations of declared enemies.
Manetho, the historian of Egypt, gives the current tradition of the Egyptians with regard to the Exodus as follows.
An Egyptian king, named Amenophis, was desirous of seeing the Gods, as his predecessor Orus had done. So he consulted with a prophet who was a namesake of his own, Amenophis, the son of
149 |
INTRODUCTION TO THE STORY OF THE EXODUS 149
Papis,1 and was told that he would be able to see the Gods, if he cleared the land of lepers and other polluted persons. The king went gladly about the task and had soon a collection of 80,000 physically undesirable individuals, whom he sent to work in the quarries to the east of the Nile. Unfortunately there were among them some learned priests who suffered from leprosy. The prophet hereupon feared the vengeance of the Gods upon himself and the king: but, not daring to tell the king so by word of mouth, he wrote a prophecy that the polluted ones would get help from somewhere and be masters of Egypt for thirteen years; which done, he put an end to himself, leaving the king in great despondency. After some time the king, in answer to a petition from the polluted ones, granted them the city of Avaris, which had been left empty by the Shepherds, who had been driven out of Egypt more than five centuries before. Here they established themselves under the leadership of Osarsiph, a priest of Heliopolis, who now changed his name to Moses, and taught them to contravene the religion of Egypt, to sacrifice sacred animals, and forswear communion with strangers. This Moses sent an embassy to the Shepherds, who, after being driven out of Egypt, had established themselves in Jerusalem, promising to restore to them their ancestral city of Avaris and help them in regaining possession of Egypt. Two hundred thousand of them came at Ms summons, and Amenophis, fearing to fight against God, took refuge in Ethiopia, whose king was friendly to him, where he stayed during the thirteen years of his predestined banishment; after which he and his son Sethon ot Eamesses, now grown to manhood, returned and expelled the invaders and the polluted ones, who are described as having used the images of the Gods for fuel to roast the sacred animals, which they compelled the priests and prophets to slaughter. This last touch is so like what the Jews would have been glad to do, that, if not true, it is well invented. (Josephus Against Apion I 26-31.)
Manetho was a writer of great authority who lived under the first Ptolemy. A later writer of Egyptian history, Chaeremon, who lived in the early years of the Christian era, tells the tale somewhat differently. King Amenophis was frightened by the appearance of
1 On the Egyptian monuments there is mention of a king Ainen-hetep III, and of a priest of the same name, the son of Hap. Budge, Vol. IV, p. 110.
150 |
150 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
Isis to him in a dream, and a sacred scribe Phritiphantes told him that, if he purged Egypt of polluted persons, he would no longer be liable to perturbation. Accordingly he expelled no less than a quarter of a million of people. These, under the leadership of Moses and Joseph, whose names in Egyptian were Tisithen and Peteseph, came to Pelusium, where they met a body of 380,000, who had been left there for some unexplained reason by Amenophis. Making common cause with one another, the two hosts invaded Egypt. Amenophis fled to Ethiopia in such a hurry that he left his wife behind him. She gave birth in a cave to a son named Eamesses,1 who, when grown up, chased 'the Jews'' into Syria and restored his father Amenophis.
Another Greek author, named Lysimachus, departs more widely from Manetho. He puts the date much earlier under a king named Bocchoris. The land at that time was suffering from sterility, and the king, on consulting the oracle of Aminon, was told that he must clear the country of the impure and impious beggars known as the people of the Jews, who clustered round the temples seeking food; those that suffered from leprosy and scab were to be drowned and the rest to be driven into the desert; then, when the temples had been purified, the land would bring forth its fruits. The command of the oracle was obeyed. The leprous and scabby mendicants had sheets of lead attached to them and were consigned to the depths of the sea; the rest were left to perish in the. desert. To them, thus abandoned by gods and men, one Moses offered the following advice — to march straight on at all hazards till they came to an inhabited country, to show no kindness to any man, nor give good advice to others, but only bad, and to overthrow the temples and altars of the gods wherever they came across them. Adhering faithfully to these principles the refuse of Egypt established themselves in Palestine, where they called their city 'lepoavXa (Sacrilege), but afterwards changed it into 'lepoaoXv/jui. (Josephus Against Apion I § 34, p. 466.) Josephus, who had the advantage of having learnt another language than his own, is easily able to dispose of this piece of popular etymology, as well as of another for which Apion is responsible, namely, that the Egyptian exiles, having reached Judaea in six days,
1 The Tauchnitz text has here {Against Apion I 82) Me
151 |
INTRODUCTION1 TO THE STORY OF THE EXODUS 151
were laid up with buboes on the seventh, whence it was called the sabbath, because sabbo was the Egyptian for a bubo. (Josepims Against Apion II § 2, p. 470.)
The account of the Exodus given by Tacitus is an echo of the hatred of the Alexandrian Greek for the Jew. Lysimachus is the author whom the Eoman historian is following, as will be plain to the student who compares V 3 and 4 of the Histories with the account from Lysimachus above given. Tacitus adds that the way in which Moses discovered water for his thirsty host was by following a herd of wild asses.
Justinus, or rather the Augustan writer Trogus Pompeius, ■whom he is epitomising, is not quite so one-sided. He shows an acquaintance with the story of Joseph and with the tradition of the beauty of Moses, whom he represents as the son of Joseph. But he agrees with the Egyptian version in saying that, when those who were suffering from scab and tetter were expelled from Egypt in compliance with an oracle, Moses was expelled with them and became their leader. He adds that Moses stole the sacred things of the Egyptians and that the Egyptians, who endeavoured to recover them by arms, were forced back by storms. The geography of this author however is perplexing. Moses, he says, after seven days' march without food through the desert, having reached Damaseena, the home of his fathers, where Abrahames and Israhel had been kings, occupied Mount Sina, and there dedicated the Sabbath as a fast for all time. The exclusive habits of the Jews he explains as due to their having been originally shunned as plague-stricken (XXXVI 2).
The merely literary point of view from which we are treating the Septuagint relieves us from any obligation to speculate on the amount of historic truth underlying the story of the Exodus. We could wish that it exempted us also from the task of examining the internal consistency of the tale. But a few words must be said on this subject before we close.
To begin with, how could two midwives (Ex. I15) suffice for a population in which the males alone numbered over half a million (Ex. 1237.- Jos. Ant. II 9 § 3)?
Again, where did the Israelites live ? Was it apart in Goshen ? Or mixed up with their oppressors in Egypt? The narrative, as we have it, sometimes puts the matter one way and sometimes
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lf,2 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
another. Ex. 822 and 92(i, for instance, tell us that in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, there were no flies and no hail; but on the other hand the marking of the houses of the Israelites with blood (Ex. 12~-as) and their borrowing jewels of their neighbours (Ex. 1235) implies that they were living in the midst of the Egyptians.
Thirdly, how is it that after Moses has solemnly told Pharaoh ' I will see thy face again no more' (1029), he does see him again in the next chapter (11s)?
These and the like difficulties seem to find their easiest solution in the assumption of a mixture of sources. The theory is that E represents the Israelites as a comparatively small body of people living in Egypt itself, while J represents them as very numerous and dwelling apart in Goshen. The account of the institution of the Passover is referred to the priestly document P.
The supernatural elements in the Story of the Exodus centre round the rod of Moses. We are reminded of this magic rod, which earth and sea obey, when we read in the Egyptian tale of ' The Taking of Joppa ' of ' the great cane of King Men-kheper-ra ... to whom Amen his father gives power and strength.' Just as the New Testament knows more about the childhood of Moses than the Old, so it knows more about Pharaoh's sorcerers. We learn from ii Tim. 38 that their names were. Jannes and Jaiubres. This information is confirmed by a Neo-Platonist philosopher named Numenius, who is supposed to have lived in the age of the Antonines. He says that these were the names of the sacred scribes who were put forward by the Egyptian people to oppose Musseus, the leader of the Jews, ' a man who was most powerful in prayer to God,' and that they were able to dispel some of the most grievous of the calamities which he was bringing upon Egypt (Eus. Pr. Ev. IX 8). The name of one of these sorcerers was known to the Pagan world still earlier: for Pliny the elder speaks of a school of magic many thousands of years after Zoroaster, which depended on Moses and Jannes and Lotapes and the Jews.3
Josephus tells the story of the passage of the Red Sea, but hardly
1 Est et alia magices factio a Mose et Janne et Lotape ac Ju-daeis pendens, sed multis millibus annorum post Zoroastrem. Plin. N.H. XXX 11, Detiefsen.
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INTRODUCTION TO THE STORY OF THE EXODUS 153
expects it to be believed by his Pagan readers. He cites the account, agreed upon, he assures us, by all the historians of Alexander, of how the Pamphylian Sea made way for the march of that monarch, when it was the will of God that he should destroy the Empire of Persia. It is worth noticing in this connexion that the Euphrates is recorded to have yielded a passage on foot to the army of the younger Cyrus, when it was not the will of God that he should possess himself of the Persian throne (Xen. Anab. I 4 § 18).
In Roman history too there is an incident which reminds us of the passage of the Red Sea. For Livy (XXVI 47) records how the elder Africanus was enabled to take New Carthage owing to the combination of a low tide with a strong north wind, and how he encouraged his soldiers on that occasion by an appeal to their religious feelings —' Neptune was opening a new way to the armies of the Roman people: let them follow the God !'
154 |
II. THE STORY OF THE EXODUS
Exodus I 8
s'AvecTT7] Se /SacriXevs erepos eir' AXjvtttov, 05 ovk rjSzt tov 'Ia)crrj
lxKal irrecTTrjcrei' avrots iuto-Ta.Ta<; ru id="iv.i.i.iv.p2068.1">v ipycou, iva
kolkc&o-coctlv ctvTOus ev Tots epyois • Kal aiKohofirjaav 6~)(ypa-S TO) Qapaoi), tyv re IIei^&) /cal 'Pafiecrcxrj Kal Civ, rj io~Tiv 'HXtov 7roXt5. 12 kolOoti Se aurou? i
iytvovTO, Kal lcr)(yov o~
8. Pa
9. iirep r|(ias: § 94. Gen. 41«.4» we find Heliopolis already
10. KaTao-o<) id="iv.i.i.iv.p2073.1">i
the indicative expresses the certainty of 12. o-
the consequence in the assumed case. va-crovro . . . jiird : § 98.
11. &Tr4
§ 75. The verb corresponding to Swav, to afflict grievously__The passive
<7-7- id="iv.i.i.iv.p2078.1">)
affix ; in that of the LXX we may in- in Tobit. — iri]X.$ : mortar. Cp. Gen.
154
155 |
II. THE STORY OF THE EXODUS 155
Exodus I 20
rrj trXivuia. ko iia.cn rot? epyois rots iv rots ireStots, Kara ttolvto. to. epya d)v KaTeSovXovvTo airrovs ju,era ^Stas.
15Kat eforev 6 fiaaiXevs twv AlyvvrLcov rats //.ataxs tu>v 'TLfipaCcov, tt) p.ia. auTwi' i? ovo/xa %eir oi>
at fialai tov 6eov, xa ovx kiroirjijav xadoTi crwiTa^ev avrals 6 /Sao"iX.ens AlyvTTTOv, Kal et,o)oy6vovv to. apcreva. 18€/caXe-crev he 6 /SacriXevs Alyvirrov ra? fj,aias kcu eltrev avrals " Tt OTt liroiTjcraTe to irpay^a tovto /cat i^cooyoueire to, apcreva;" eiTtav oe at fjiatac tco
II3.—irXivfluj,: = -n-Xivffelif, brick-malc-ing. § 37. — wv KaTeSovXoiivTO: to which they enslaved them.
15. |j.aiais : in LXX only in this chapter and in Gen. 3517, 3828. It is used in Eur. Ale. 393 as a child's word for ' mother.' In Plat. Thecet. 149 A it is used as here for a midwife. Does fiaTa stand to the /«?- in ItrfTrip as yala to 77;? — Seircjxopd : the LXX makes the name of this midwife the same as that of the wife of Moses (221), but in the Hebrew they are different. — Kal to ovo|ia kt. : had the construction been continued regularly, this would have been Kal ry Sevrepv rj bvofia Qovd.,
16. |A
comes to the front in the account of their relations with the Egyptians. — lav n«v . . . Idv 84 : § 39.
17. 4501070VOW: preserved alive. Cp. Jdg. 819: i K. 26 Kipwt flai/axo? Kai froyovet, 279-u: iii K. 2131: iv K. 7*. So in N.T. Lk. 1733, Acts Vs, i Tim. 618. The word appears to be used in its natural sense of producing young alive in Lev. II47. Cp. the use of fuo-iroietv in Jdg. 2114.
19. koI eriKTov : these words seem to arise out of a misapprehension of the Hebrew text, which, as we have it, runs literally thus — ' for they are lively; not yet came the midwife to them and they brought forth.' The word rendered ' they are lively' having been taken by the Greek translator as a verb (rkrovinv), no meaning was left for the verb at the end.
20. Tats (latais: in Attic Greek this
156 |
156
SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
21
Exodus I 21
i
l-nX-qOvvev 6 Xaos /cai at /xatai tov fc/eoi', €Trovr)(xa.v eauTats ouaas. Ztwera-
£ev Se
6fjv,
avrd."
Sens e/c tijs
would lse tois /xaias. — eirX.T]6wev: intransitive = (•TXiitfDI:!'.
21. 4iroCtio-ov tavrats olnias: the
Hebrew is ' He made for them houses,' i. e. gave them descendants. Does this imply that in the time of the writer there were Jews who claimed to he descended from these two midwives ? If so, the fact had been forgotten later, for Josephus (Ant, II 9 § 2) ex-pi-essly says that the midwives were Egyptians.
2. ISovTes, lo-Klirao-av : Hebrew, 1 she saw, she hid.' — &o-Teiov: a pretty child. Op. Acts I20: Judith II23 'Aarela el
Hebrew has ' fat' : Nb. 2232 oiK
i] 6S6s aav : ii Mac. 623 6 8£
aaretov a.vaa§thv. Ill ii Mac. 1243 we
have the adverb acrrelus. These are all
.the occurrences of the word in the
LXX.
3. ovk T|SivavTo : Hebrew, ' she could not.' — 8tpiv : the Hebrew word, which is here transliterated by Bipiv, is the same which is used of Noah's ark in Gen. 6M and which is there rendered ki|8k)t6s. Jos. Ant. II 9 § 4 /irixavCojiTac irkiyixa ti fitifii.vov tiitfiepis tj; Karacriceiri koitISi (made like a cradle)./
4. t| aSe4rf| : Jos. Anl. II 9 § 4
5. oppov: maidens. Cp. Gen. 2461. The word occurs also in the LXX, in Judith and Esther, and is found in the fragments of Menander The accent is against supposing a-eonnexion with app6s, and the word seems to be an importation into Greek perhaps
157 |
II. THE STORY OF THE EXODUS
157
tovto.
Exodus II 10
TrapeTTopevovTo irapa top -noTap.6v • /cat iSovcra tyjv dlfiiv iv tw eXei, aTrocrreiXacra ttjv d/3pap dveCXaTO avTrjv. 6dvolr ijacra Se bpa. Traio^iop kXcuop iv Trj 6'ifiei • Kal i(f>eicra.TO avrov rj dvydrrjp <&apaa id="iv.i.i.iv.p2120.1">, koX e(f>7) " 'Avb twv Traihlav twv ' " 7Kai elirev r) dSeX^-j) avrov ttj dvyarpl ©eXeis Kakecro) croi ywcuKa rpofavovcrap etc tqjv 'EfipaCav, Kal OrjXdaei ctol to ttaihCop;" 8ij Se elirep 7} OvyaTrjp 4>apaw " llopevov." i ovo~a. he rj veavis iKoiKecrev ttjv /JLrjTepa tov TraiSCov. 9ei7rev Se vrpbs avrrjv rj dvyaT7]p <&apaa id="iv.i.i.iv.p2120.2"> " AiaTTj-pyjcrov ju.oi to Traio"iov tovto Kal OrjXacrop fioi avro, iya> Se dcocra) croi top fxicrdov." ea/3ep Se rj yvvrj to vaiSiov i6rjai,€v avTo. lc a?>pvv64vTo<; Se tov TraiStov, etcrif avTO Trpo? t^p Qvyajripa <&apad id="iv.i.i.iv.p2120.4">, Kal iyevrjdr) avTrj eis ina>v6jJiao~€P Se to ovofxa avrov Mmvarjv Xeyovcra " 'Ek1 tov
from a Chaldee word meaning ' female companion.' The Hebrew word which &ppai here represents means 'young women,' and is supposed to have given rise to the name Nesera, but that which underlies appav at the end of the verse is different. — dveCKaTo : cp. 10. 'Arai-pe'iv like tollere means both ' to take up ' and ' to destroy.' Here it has the former and original sense.
6. I^kCo-cito awov : literally spared him. Here pitied him.
7. ■yvvaiKa Tpo<) id="iv.i.i.iv.p2123.1">evovo-av : a Viet-nurse. Philo II 83, Vit. Mos. § 4 irpo
8. T) St . . . t] flu-yd/riip i>apau: the construction seems modelled on such phrases as ? 5' Ss 6 TaiKuv. It is not warranted by the Hebrew. —veavis : in classical writers mostly poetic, as Soph. Ant. 784.
10. aSpwet'vTos : cp.Jdg.1324. The word occurs eight times in the LXX,
always in connexion with the growth of children, except in Ps. 14311, where it refers, directly at least, to plants. On the construction see § 58. — kyer(8r air*) ets vlov : Hebraism, §90. — M 6), Amen-mos, etc.
158 |
158 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
Exodus II 11
vSaros avrov ave.Lk6p.iqv" "'EyeVero Se iv rats r]p.epai$
rats iroXXaTs eVetyats //.eyas yevo/xevos Mcoucrijs i 7rpos tovs dSeX<£oi)s avToti tovs vtovs 'icrpaijX. Se tov Trovov avrSiv bpa avdpattrov AlyvTTTiov tvtttovtol riva rail' eavTov dSeX^aiv raij/ mwv 'IcrparjX • 127rep(,j8Xe-
Se a!Se /cat cSSe ov)( opa ovSeVa, /cat Trara^as tov At-yvimov eKpvxjiev clvtov iv rrj oififjLQ). 1S i^ekdcov Se Trj SeuTepa. opa Suo aVSpas 'EySpaiovs StaTrXTjKT /cat Xeyet to dSt/cov^Tt " Ata. Tt aw ruTTTets to TrXr/crCov;" 146 Se et7rev " Tts ere Karearrjcrev ap~^ovra koX Si/caor^v e<^ id="iv.i.i.iv.p2132.1">' rj/xcov; fjir] aveXetv jae o-v OeXets ov rpotrov dvetXes e^^es tov AiyvTTTioi';" i(f>of3ij9r) Se Mcovcr^s /cat etTrev " Et ourcu? ifj.
ecus ivX-qo-av tcIs Sefa/xevas, TTOTLcraL to. vpo^ara
11. ev rats T)|i^pais rats iroXXats ites were the descendants of Abraham IkcCvcus : " a long time after that." by Keturah.
Cp. 23, 418. The Hebrew here has only 16. iroi|iaCvou
' in those days.' Acts 723 us St ^irXij- in LXX, as is also the name 'Io66p
poOro abrip TeffirapaKocTa^Tijs xpbvos, (= Jethro) at the end of the verse.
12. coSt koI io8«: this way and that. The name Jethro (Hb. Tithro) does
13. 8iair iKTiJo|i4vous: only here not occur in the Hebrew until Z1,,where in I>XX. the LXX again has 'Io86p. Tbp form
14. Et ovrws ktX. : Has this thing Jethro comes from the Vulgate. — become thus known? Hebrew, 'Cer- Sejjanevds : cisterns. Plat. Cril. 117 A: tainly the thing is known.' On el in- Pbilo I 647, De Somn. I § 29. The terrogative see § 100, and on prj/m accent shows that it is not used as a 399 n. participle. But Plat. Tim. 57 C uses t)
15. iv -yfj Ma8vd(i: Gen. 3728 n. itxonivq convertibly with 7)'9f|a^cyi) Joseplvuscallsthecountry^TpwYXoStfTis (53 A) for 'a receptacle.' mere is a {Ant. II 9 § 3) and the inhabitants o! Nereid called K^a^vt) mentioned in 1P eySoSircu (II11 § 2). The Midian- Horn. II. XVIIJ.44.
159 |
H. THE STORY OF THE EXODUS 159
Exodus II 25
tov vaTpos avTcav 'loOop. i7 Trapayev6fx&>oi Se ot woi/jLe-veavras • dvaoras Se Ma>vo~f}<; ippvcra/ro auras, Kai r)VTy]cre.v avrats Kai i-noncreu to, Trpofiara avroiv. 18TrapeyevovTo Se vpoTrarepa avTcov 6 Se avrats " Ata Tt era^vvare tov Trapayevecrdat o'yjfiepoi' 19ai Se elTrat1 ""Avdpavos Atywuos ippvcraTO i7yu.a.? iToi^iipav, Kai rjVTkrjO'zv rj[x2v Kai iiroTLaev Ta TrpofSaTa. yjf
o oe eiTrev Tats uvyaTpacrw avrov Kai. 7rou cctti; Kat tfa Tt KaTaXeXotiraTe tov avdpanrov ; KaXeicraTe ovv ainbv ottws ^ay^ apTov." 21 KaTcpKLo-9rj Se Mwvo-^s irapa to) avdpanrca ' Kai e^eSoTo %eTr
28MeTa Se Tas rj/xepas Tas TroXXas eKetvas CTeXevTTjcrev 6 us AiyvirTou • Kai KaT€.o~Teva^av ot vtot 'Io"paijX diro epycov /cat avefiorjcrav, Kai avefir) rj fior) avTcov irpos roc v a,77"o Twr epycov. ^Kal a,o~rJKovo~ev 6 ^eos w orevay-avTcov, Kai ifx.vrjo~9ir) 6 0eo? t^s Sia^rjKTj? auTov ttjs Trpos 'Ay8paa/x /cat 'Icraa/c /cat 'Ia/cci/S. 25/cat eVtSev 6 0e6s tous 'IcrparjX, Kai iyva>o~6r) avTO?<;.
18. 'Po^ov^X : the father-in-law 21. Stircjwopav : Jos. -dn«. II 13 § 1
of Moses is called by many names: 2a.ir
(Ant. II 11 § 2) PaYotfijXos, Vulgate Jos. Ant. II 13 § 1 Trjpcrbs piv awalvu
Raguel, English Eeuel (Ex. 218, Kara 'Eppalwv 5id
Nb. 1029) ; Hebrew Yithr6 (Ex. 31, yijv.
181'2), LXX 'loBbp (Ex. 216 : Jdg. 23. dwo t»v ep^yuv : by reason of
I16); Hebrew Yether (Ex. 418), Jos. their toils. So perhaps in the next
(Ant. II 12 § 1) 'Ieetyaws; Hebrew clause. § 92.
Hobab, LXX 'O/3d/3 (Nb. 1029), 'la- 25. evv^o-Oi! a^Tots: E.V. 'God
^d/3 (Jdg. 4"), Vulgate Hobab.— took knowledge of them.' The Hebrew
{raxwem toB irapa^ev^o-Bai : Gen. for airots, omitting vowel points, differs
4132 n. from that for ' God' only by a ' jot.'
160 |
160 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
Exodus III 1
'Kal Mtouc7irj9 ■rjv Troifxaivotv to. irpofiaTa'lodop tov yafi-{Bpov avrov tov lepecos MaSiap,, Kal r/yayev ra irpofiara vtto ttjv eprjjj.ov Kal rjdev ets to opo<; Xcup^yS- 2e5<£#)j Se avr<5 ayyeXo? KvpCov ev irvpl
rov irarpos
1. t)v iroi(i.aiv that therefore no shepherds hfid ever 7a/i/3p6s is a .vague word for a male ventured to drive their flocks there, connexion by marriage, Lat. affinis. . 2. ayyeXos KvpCov: in v. 4 Kilt is sometimes used by classical pios. So in 14W.24 we have first 6 dyye-authors in the sense of irevBepfc, as Xos toC 6eaO and then Ki)/>ios. Qp. Jdg. here, but it generally means the cor- 1322. — toB pdrov: the bush. The He-relative ' son-in-law.' In Jdg. I16 'Io8dp brew also has the article here. This . . . rod -yafiflpov Mavatas, the Hebrew seems to show that the story was has not the proper name, and ■yap.ppov already well known by the time this is rendered in the E.V. 'brother-in- account was written. Outside this law.' — virro t^]v €pri(iov: Hetoew, 'be- chapter pans = nibus occurs in LXX hind the wilderness.' The meaning only in Dt. 3318: Job3140. Itlsmascu-seems to be "deep into the wilder- line in the LXX but feminine in Mk. ness." — ets to opos XwpijP: Hebrew, 1226: Lk. 20s7. In classical authors 'to the mountain of God, to Horeb.' there is the same variation of gender. Jos. Ant. II12 § 1
161 |
II. THE STORY OF THE EXODUS 161
Exodus III 13
ktwv • otSa yap ttjv oSvvqv avrav, 8 Kal KaTef3~r)v i^ clvtovs ck ^etpo? AlyvrrTicov /cat e^ayayetv avrovs e/c ttjs e/ceiv^s, Kal elcrayayelv aurou? ets yfjv ayadrjv Kal ets yrjv peovaav ydXa /cat /xeXt, ets tov tottov twv Xava-va'ioiv Kal Xerratcuv /cat 'Ajxoppaia>v Kai yecraCcov koI Euatcov Kal 'lefiovcraCcov. 9 /cat vvv I8ov Kpauyr) rcjv vl£>i> 'IcrpaijX. rjKei tt/jos fte, Kayw icHpaKa tov 8XijJL[ji6v ov 61 AlyvimoL dXCfiovcriv aurovs- 10/cat vv^1 Seupo dirocrTetXa) ere irpos <^apa'lcrparjX eK yrjs Alyvirrov." nKal
Mwvcr-ijs Trpos tov 0e6V " Tts et/xt iyco on TropevcrojLai irpb<; Qapaco fiaatXia Alyvirrov, Kal otl e£afw tous vtovs 'I&parjX eK y^s AlyviTTOv;" 12etirev 8e 6 (9eos Mwvcret Xeyw ""Oti ecro/i,at jaeTa, ctot) • /cat toGto crot to crrjfieiov on eytw Xaov fiov it; AiyvTTTOV, /cat XarpevcreTC to> few ev t&i oyaet tovtw. /cat etirev
Mftjuorrjs Trpos tov ^edv " 'iSov eyw e^eXevcroyxat ttdos tous vtous 'IcrparjX Kal epa> npos avrovs ' 'O ^eos raiv irarepav a/necrTaXKev fie Trpos v/nas •' epayrrjerovcriv [xe ' Tt ovoyaa
i Esd. 556. "Bp-yoSiuKT'fis was the cur- is due to the presence in the original
rent word at Alexandria for a superin- of a particle to which it corresponds,
tendent of works (it is contrasted in Both in the Greek and Hebrew perhaps
ii Chr. 218 B with varoiphpos), as is the construction may be explained by
shown by its use in the Fayum Papyri; an ellipse— (Know) that I will be with
Philo II 86, Vit. Mos. I § 7 also em- thee. § 107.— Kal XarpeweTe: the Kal
ploys it. Cp. ipyoirapiKT-qs i Clem. S41. here has nothing in the Hebrew to
8. peoixrav -yaXa Kal n«i: cognate correspond to it. Translate — When accusative in a loose sense of that term. thou leadest out my people from Egypt, In the next verse we have the same ye shall also sacrifice to God on this construction in its more precise form. mountain. This sacrifice was to be a — Ttpyeo-alav: added in the LXX. public recognition of the fact that the
9. 9Xi|in6v • • • OXipovo-iv : § 56. exodus was under the auspices of 6ifj.fi6s (= extyts) occurs in the LXX Jehovah. Perhaps then the
12. "Otv «ro[iai: the use of on here Jehovah but expected by him.
162 |
162 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
Exodus III 14
airra>; Tt epo) irpos avrovs; feat enrev o feos 7T/33? Maiu-
cri^f iyo>v " 'Qyco el fit, 6 a>v" Kai eXirev " Ovtcos ipzi? rots viois lcrpa^A. U tu.v atreo'TakKeu yu,e Trpos v/xa<;. tcai
6 deos ttoXlv 7rpos Mojucttjv " Ourcus epels Tots v.'ois
arjk ' Kuptoj 6 ^eos tcov TraTepcov v/amv, 0e6<; 'A/3/3xa/x Kai (?eos *Icraa/<: kou deos 'laKoofi, airdcrTakKiv /xe irpos v/xas * tovto fiov icrTLV oi/ofia al(t)vuov Kai ^.vrjixocrvvov yevewp l
(ucov ovv away aye ttjv yepovcnav tcov vicov icrparjK ipec<; Trpo; aurous ' Kuptos 6 ^eo5i rwv Trarepcov vjxu>v Zmral pot, 6eos 'A/3paa[jL Kai 6eo? 'Icraa/c /cat #€O5 'IaK&)/3, iyoyj " *EiTTi
AlyvTTTicov et? r^ y^f tow ~X.avavaLa)v Kai XeTraicov 'Afioppautov Kai <£ id="iv.i.i.iv.p2186.1">epe£,aLO)i> kol TepyecraCa>i> Kai Evattuv 'leftoveraiatv, cis yrjv peovcrav yda Kai /xeXi." ' 18Kat etcra-ffovcroi'Tai crov rrjs ^wvtjs • Kai elcreXeucry cri) Kai 17 yepovaCa
14. 6 wv: the difference of gender the word Adonai (= Lord). The fact between this expression and the Greek that the Seventy thus translated Jah-rb 6v marks the difference between veh by Ktfpios seems to show that this Hebrew religion and Greek philosophy practice of substitution was already es-in the conception of the Deity. To tablished in the third century b.c. The the one God was a person, to the English vez'sion regularly represents other a principle. Jos. Ant. II 12 the word Jahveh by LORD. The § 4 says Kai 6 0ebs airy
15. Kvpios 6 6cos: the Hebrew word Kfyws stands in the LXX for the corresponding to Ktipws here, as usually proper name Jahveh, it is used, like in the LXX, is JHVH, the name which any other proper name, without the had just been revealed to Moses and article. — -yevewv -yevtats: a Hebraism, explained as meaning 6 fix. The Jews 16. ttjv -ycpovo-Cav: the bazly af el-considered this name too holy to be ders. We hear of elders aKo~in con-lightly pronounced, and therefore in nexion with other Semitic peoples, reading the sacred text aloud, substi- such as Moab and Midian. Cp. Kb tuted for Jahveh, wherever it occurred, 227.—'Ewuricoirfj 4ir«ri«jiu,cu : § 61.
163 |
II. THE STORY OF THE EXODUS 163
Exodus IV e
'lcrpa.r) Trpbs <£ id="iv.i.i.iv.p2191.1">apaa> /3acrtXea Alyvirrov, /cat epets 7rpos olvtov ''O 9eb<; Ttov '~Ejfipaiwv Trpocnce'/cX-^Tai i^/xas1 Tropevuw^eOa ovv 6o"6v rpicov rjiiepGiv eis ttjv €pr)p.ov, Iva. 6vo~(t)fieu raS deep r/ficav.' 19iyci) Be oiBa on ov irporjaerai v/xas Qapaco ySacrtXev? Alyvw-rov Tropevdrjvai, iav fj/rj fiera ^eipos Kparaia? • 20kcu eKTeCvas TT/v Xe^Pa TaT<*-£(0 tovs AtyvTTTiOv? J^ 1750-1, rots dav/Aacriois fx.ov ols iroiTjcroi iv avTois, iced fiera ravra itjanocrTekel uyu,as. 21/cat S
crTevcrcocrti' p,ot ju/>jSe elo-aKovcrcoo-Lv rrjs (fxoi/ijs pov, ipovcriv yap ort 'Ou/c SiTTTai croi 6 deos,' ri ipS) 7rpo? aurous;" 2et7rei' oe avTw Kuptos ' Tt tovto ecrrti/ to ev tt/ XetP'' °"01'' ° °e etTrei^ rapoos. /cat etTTev Pt//ov avrrjv ctti tijv yijt1. /cat ippixjtev avrrjv iirl rrjv yrjv, /cat iyevero o^>t5- /cat e
retvov 717^ xe^Pa KaL eTrtXajSou 7175 Kep/cov" eKreCvas ovv xe^Pa e7reXa^eT0 77js Kep/cov, /cat eyeVeTo pa^SSos eV 717 av7ov • " tva TTicrTevo~
20. Iv irdo-L rots 0a-u|j.a
21. &iroTp«xi)T£ : Hb. 2414 n. brew, ' ye shall spoil.'
22. cruo-Kif|vo): originally a mili- 5. Sva irio-Trto-wcriv : referring back tary term = Latin contubernalis. The to iirikafiov rijs KipKov, the intermediate Hebrew word means a female so- words being parenthetical.
164 |
164 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
Exodus IV 7
€K tov koKttov clvtov, koX iyevrjdrj rj XetP avTov «o"£i ^twy. 7 koX elvep ttoKiv " EicreWyKov ttjv y^elpa crov el• " Kal elcrrji>€yKev ttjv elpa ets tov koKttov avrov • Kal i£n]veyK€v avTrjv ix tov koXttov avTOV, Kal ttoKiv aTreKaTecrTr) ei§ ttv yjtoav ttcovri<; tov crTj/aetou tov io~ya.Tov. 9 Kctl ecrTai iav ju.77 TncrT€vo-a>o~iv crot tois Sucrt crTj/xetoi? tovtois /ATjSe €to-a/<:ouo"a)crw' t^s (f>a>vrjs crov, Xij^xprj avrb to{) vSaTOS tov TTOTa^iov Kal e/c^eets e7rl to £r)pov, Kal ecrTai to vSa>p 6 eav A.a/5179 airo tov 77OTa/iov atjaa ctti tov g-qpov- ftnrzv
8e Mwvcttjs Trpos Kvyoiov " Aeo/Aat, Kvpte, ov^ tKai'ds
S e^Ce? ovoe vpo tijs TptTTjs 77/iepas ovoe a(p ov ^ iv to! depdirovTi crov ■ ia"^(v6(j)a)vos Kal yS
6. «xr«l xiiv: Jos. Ant. II 12 § 3 'TiraKoticrai 8k Xeu/ri;e /cat Tirdvip (olialk)
&. toIs Butrl o-ijjicCots : § 1. Jose-plius makes the third sign of turning water into blood to be actually performed at the burning bush. — Xtju'I't) : § 37. — eKxeets : the accentuation seems due to false analogy from vowel verbs. § 21. — oedv : =6 6.v. § 105.
10. irpo tt}s «x®'s kt^- : a literal translation of the Hebrew phrase, which is condensed into ' heretofore' in R.V. Yesterday and the day before is meant to cover all past time. The meaning of irpb ttjs ^x^s must not be pressed : its form is assimilated to that Of irpb T7)S rplTTjS, Ex. 21™ : Dt. 442. This use of irpi in expressions of time became common in later Greek, owing apparently to its coincidence with Latin idiom. Jos. Ant. XIII 9 § 2 -wpb H>ktw elSQv Qefipovaplajv ; Plut, O03S. 63
= ante unum diem; Sulla 27 Trpb ^itas vwvQiV KuvtiX/wt', 37 ■Kpb SveTv ij/iepwy ir) irekevra. Here we cannot suspect any Roman influence • to have been at work, and the occurrence in Herodotus of the phrase irpb iroXhov in the sense of ' long before' indicates a tendency to this use of the preposition in x>ure Greek. We find 7rp6 fuKpov xp^yov ^n ii Mac. 10^. — tcrxv6<} id="iv.i.i.iv.p2205.1">
165 |
II. THE STORY OF THE EXODUS
165
Exodus IV 17
iyd el/XL." ll elirev Se Kvpios 7rpos Mwvo-tjv " Ti's i
avOpanra), Kal ti? inoCrjcrev Svo-Kaxfiov xal Ka>(f>6v, Kal rvlorat crov
CTTOjLta • (TV
Se
avru>
to. 7rp6s rov deov.
Kal T7]V
ticular letter, whereas the feWSs exaggerates some letter or syllable, but ia-x"o
11. Si5crKci)<| id="iv.i.i.iv.p2219.1">ov: used by Aristotle in the sense of ' stone-deaf.' Here however it is used for ' dumb,' while Kw0os (which in itself may mean either 'deaf or 'dumb') is here reserved for ' deaf.'
12. cru(jipipdcrw
14. 'Aoptiv: as Aaron was three years older than Moses (77), we may
suppose that the order for the destruction of male infants was subsequent to his birth. — 6 Aeu€tTT)s: Moses was as much a Levite as Aaron (Ex. 62) : but to the mind of the writer the word probably signified function rather than descent, so that its use here involves an anachronism. —
16. t& irpos tov fleov: the Greek translator has substituted this abstract expression for the blunter' for God' of the original. Aaron, instead of taking his instructions directly from God (as Moses does), is to take them from Moses. T& wpbs rhv Bebv (= his relations with God) may therefore be taken to mean "his medium of communication with God." This seems to typify the relation of the priest to the prophet under the ideal Hebrew theocracy.
166 |
166 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
Exodus IT 18
pd/38ov Tavrqv tt)v eis o^lv X-rJiMprj iv Trj xetP1' crov, iv rj 7rot^crets iv avrfj rd OTj/Aeia."
18 '^EmopevOt) Se Mawcnjs Kal anearTp&pev Trpos 'lodop tov yapfipov avrov kcu Xeyet " Hopevo-ofiai Kal airoo-Tpfyco irpos rows dSeX(£ous pov tovs iv AlyviTTG), Kal oxjiofiai ei en, £oi>cr<,i'." Kal elirev 'lodop M.o)vapaal ' TaSe Xey^t Kvptos " Ttos 7rp&)ToroKds /aov 'Icrpai^X * 28ei7ra Se' crot ' 'E^airocrretXov tov XaoV jaov IVa jaoi XaTpevarj' et //.ef ow fxr) ySovXet e£a7rocrrerXai avrous? opa ovv, iyo) o.tto-
KT€VVQ> TOV vl6v CTOV TOV TTpWTOTOKOV.' "
27Et7rev Se Kv/Dtos wpos 'Aapcav " Ilopev^rt ets avvavTrjcnv Mwcret ets t^v eptj/jiov' Kai ivopevOrj Kal crvvr}vTr)o~ev avTO)
17. ttiv (rTpo
18. BdSiiJe 4-fi.aCvwv: 'TyCaive cor- 20. t& iraiSia: for the names of responds to the Latin vale as a formula Moses' sons see 183>4. /^
of leave-taking. — nerd 8« . . . At- 21. IIopew(j,evov
yOirrov : these words are repeated from —'eSuKa Iv tois x^P""^
do not suit the contest. On the form ktcv- is here strengthened by nasalisa-
of expression see 2al n. tion instead of by inserting i.
167 |
II. THE STORY OF THE EXODUS 167
Exodus V 5
iv tco opei tov deov, Kal KaTe^CXr/aav gIXXtjXous. 28kcu dvrjyyeikeu Mcovcrrj? tw 'Aaputv TravTas tovs Aoyous ovs OLTriareCkev koX irdvTa to. pTjjxaTa a evereCXaro 29iiropevdr} Se Mcovcrrj? /ecu 'Aapcov, Kal avvi)yayov ttjv yepovcnav rwv via>v icrparjK. /ecu ekakrjerev Aapatv
iravra ra prj/xaTa ravra a iXdXrjcrev 6 9ebs upos Mava-rjv, Kai eTTOLTjarev ra crr^eta tvavnov tov kaov. Kai eincrTev-
crev 6 Xaos, /cal iyaprj on interK&tyaTo 6 Oebs tovs mows 'Io~par)k Kal ort cLSev avTu>v Trjv OKlxJjlv • Kv\ia<; Se 6 Xao? irpoo~eKvvrjo-ev. aKal jaerd ratira eiarjXOev M.(avcrrj
*Aapa>v 7rpbTaSe Xeyet Kvpios 6 ^eo5 'IcrpaijX ' >Efai7ocrmAoi' tov Xaof /x.ov, iva fxoi eopracrw-o"ti' ei/ ry ipi][x,a).'" 2Kal etTrev <£ id="iv.i.i.iv.p2241.2">apaa> " T6S icrnv ov elaar Kovcrofxai t1*}? (ficovfjs avTOv a>o~T£ i.^a-rroo'Teikai tovs vtovs ^X; ovk otSa tov Kvpiov, Kal tov 'Io~par)k ovk igano-8Kat keyovo-Lv avTW "'0 Oebs twv 'E/3pcua)v ttpoaKeKkrjTai 17/x.as" TropevcrofAeda ovv oSbv TptSiv rj/j-eprnv eis Trjv eprjjjbov, ovcos 6vo~a>iiev Tea 6eco rjfiav, firj iron crvvav-Trjo~rj rjfuv OdvaTos rj
27. t£ Spei tov BtoO : iii K. Moses and Aaron, having heard of 198 n. their coming.
28. o-us di7«'o-T€iX«v: wherewith he 1. TdSc Xt^ei Kvpios: instead of had sent him. An irregular attrao- these words Josephus here makes tion of the relative. Cp. 65 3v . . . ko- Moses recount to the new Pharaoh his to.Sov'Kovvtu. services against the Ethiopians.
29. lirop€ii0Ti . . .
this change from singular to plural the 5. irovirX-qe«t: is numerous. The
Greek exactly follows the Hebrew. Sv- word occurs in the LXX only here,
pdyeiv is the verb to which
(128) belongs. Josephus {Ant. II 13 Dt. V iroXuirXTjSeiTe vaph ir&vTa t&
§ 1) makes the elders go out to meet %ffvr).
168 |
168 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
Exodus V 6
jjir/ ovv KaT air aver
6. crw£raf;«v: gave orders to. Op. Kal tpCtt)v li^pav: a general expres-613, 1235: Nb. I18. Used absolutely in sion for past time. See 410 n. § 86. Ex. 012. — -ypa(i(j,aTe€
7. irpoo-Te0T|{r€Tai SiSovai: shall it The ' tale' of the bricks in our version be added to give. The impersonal form = the ' count' of the bricks, i.e. the of a common construction in Biblical fixed number which the Israelites were Greek: Gen. 378 n. On the use of straw expected to provide. — «JKpa.yaa-iv ■■ for bricks Swete (Introd. p. 293) com- perfect used as present; found also in pares Flinders Petrie Papyri II xiv 2 good authors, as Soph. Aj. 1236.
is rk &xvPa Tfds Ti)p iriv8ov. — irXiv- Xi. X£y°vT€s: here we have a par-
Oovp-ytav: in Swete's text only here in ticiplewhichhasnothingtpagreewit.il
LXX. Josephus uses vXLvBela. — IxSes except the agent implied in the passive
169 |
II. THE STORY OF THE EXODUS 169
Exodus V 28
Tas crvvT&i;£i<; vfxwv ti?s TiXivOlas KO.Qd.-ntp e'^es Kal rpLTTjv rjp.4pav /cat to ttjs o~rjjJ.€pov; " uelcreXdovres Se ol ypa/j,jjLa-rets rwv vla>v 'laparjX Karefiorjo-av Trpbs <&apaTroiets rots croi? oiKeVais; ua^ypov ov St-SoTat rois ot/cerat? crov, Kal ttjv TrXtvdov rj/xlv Xeyovcriv Troieiv, Kal ISov ol TratSes crov fjuefxaariyatvrai ■ aS<,/e^o~ei,s ovv rbv Xaov aov." 17kcu elirev avrols " 'ZyoXd^e.Tt X
icrre- Sia tovto Xdyere cIiopev0S>iJ,ev 6vo-(ofiev t&) 6ea> rjf nvvv ovv nopevdevres epyd^ecrde- to yap a-^vpov ov So&yjcreTai, Vjj.lv, i
elnev " Aeo/Ltat, Kvpte, ti e/caKa)O"as tov Xabv tovtov ; Kal Iva ti a7recrTaAKas /xe ; Kat a Treiropev^aL irpos q?apaa>
vert ifiao-TiyiliSriaa.v. This is even more 16. dStKiQ
unreasonable than when the construe- fault is in thine own people.' The
tion which precedes is impersonal, as original is here obscure.
inGen.4516. §112.—Kafldirep . . . o-tj- 17. o-xoXao-rat lore: more expres-
fiepov: to-day also as heretofore. Tb sive than erxoAafere. This is a kind of
ttjs crij/xepoy (-^aepas) is a periphrasis analytic form. SxoXatmjs occurs only
for aiffvepov. Cp. ev rrj aripepop Ex. here in LXX.
134, Dt. 44 : iv tt) a-fifiepov riiiApq. 19. Xe^ovTes: here, as in 14, there
Josh. 58 (cp. 2229). The phrase ?ws is a subject ypap.ixa.Tels, with which the
t^s crfaepov ri^pas occurs in the Hexa- participle appears to agree, but does
teuch in Gen. 1938, 26s3, 35* : Nb. not. § 112.
2230: Dt. 11*: and frequently in 21. epSeXiijCm: Ye have made . . .
Joshua. •■ Epict. Diss. I 11 § 38 dtrb to be abhorred. § 84. — po(i<| id="iv.i.i.iv.p2276.1">a£av: the
rijs 0-rfp.epov roivvv iifiepas. See i K. usual word for a sword in Hellenistic
1710 n. Greek. Cp. Nb. 2223: Lk. 23li.
170 |
170 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
Exodus VI 1
XaXrjcrat, inl ra crai ovojj.ci.ti, iKaKaxrev tov Xaov tovtov, kcu ovk ippvcrco top Xaov o~ov." l Kal eX-nev Kvpios irpbs Mwv-crrjv " "HStj oxfjec a Troujcro) tw apa
i'EXdXr)crev he 6 debs irpbs Mcovo-rjv Kal eirrev irpos avrov "'Eyai Kvptos ■ s Kal a>
iv rj Kal TTapcpKricav in' avrrj<;. 5 Kal eya»
elcn]Kovo-a tov crTevayjaoi' top vtwi' 'IcrpaifX, 6^ ot AlyvnTioi KaTaSovXovvTat avTovs, Kal ifj.vrjo'driv tt^s Sta^KTjs ifxcov. 6/8aSt^e ei7ro^ toTs vtots 'lcrpar}X Xeycov ' 'Eyai Kuptos, Kat e^afo) vfxaoti iyco s 6 0eb<; vjj.S id="iv.i.i.iv.p2284.4">v 6 i^ayaycbv u/x,as e« Trjs KaTa$vvao~T€ia<;
1. Iv -yap x£lp' • • • Ka>l ^v KT^-: tlie tie on the part of Jehovah. It is evi-
seoonij clause nearly repeats the first, dently so understood by the Deuterono-
but the Greek translator has varied the mist (Dt. 268) and in Jeremiah (3921).
phraseology to avoid monotony. The 4. Tt)v yf[v ^v . . . «r' aiT-qs: lit-
tv denotes the accompanying circum- erally the land which they-sojourned, in
stances. § 91. But on whose part which they also sojourned upon it.
■was the strong hand to be? The words This bit of tautology represents five
might be taken to mean that Pharaoh words in the original —' the land of-
would be so glad to get rid of the their-sojourningswhich-tKey-sojourned
Israelites that he would not only in-it.' ----
permit but force them to go, and II1, 5. 5v . . . KaTaSovXoOvTtu: 418 n.
1238 might be quoted in favour of this 6. SotAIas : = SovXelas. § 37.
view. A comparison however with 7. 4p.aw$ . . . l[io£: § 13. — Kara-
v. 6 of this chapter and other passages, Bwacrretas : oppression. The word
such as 14s, seems to show that the occurs five times in the LXX, but ap-
'strong hand' here spoken of was to parently not elsewhere.
171 |
II. THE STORY OF THE EXODUS 171
Exodus VI 30
TGiv AlyviTTLcov • 8koI i£d£a) u/xcts ets ttjv yrjv els fjv i^iruva rr/v X^P1* /XO7J Sowai avrrjv T(o 'A/3paa/x. /cat 'Icraa/c /cat 'IaKWjS, /cat §a>o~co v/xtv avrrjv iv KKrjpta * eya> Kuptos.'" 9id
)crev Se Mcovcrrjs ovrws rot? vicus 'larparfX1 /cat ovk eLcryJKOvcrav M.wvcrrj dirb rrjs oXiyo^u^tas Kal dnb t£>v epywv r5)v cn
10ELTrev Se Kuptos irpbs Mwvcrfjv Xiycov ""EtcreX^e XdXr)-crov apaa) ^acrtXei Alyxmrov Iva, i^auocrTelXri tous LcrparjX €K ttjs y^s aurov. ekakr)crei> oe Mwucttjs
Kvptoi; Xeywj/ " 'iSov ot viol 'IcrparjX ovk tlo-yjKovadv jxov, /cat 77ws eicraKovcreraL fiov Qapaa); eyco oe aAoyos et/x,t. emeu
Se Kvpto? 7rp6s Mww^j' /cat 'Aapcov, /cat cwera^v aurots 77po? $apaw ySacrtXea AiyuTrrou wore e^airocrretXat tous vtovs 'lo-poufjX €K yr)
28?H rji^epa iXdXyjaev Kuptos Mcovcr^ eV y^ Aiyu7rr&) 29/cat iXdXrjcrev Kuptos irpos Mwucriy;^ Xdywv " 'Eyw Kvptos • Xakyjaov irpb<; $apact) ySacrtXea At-yu7rrou, /cat eyw Xeya) vrpos ere'." 80Kat et7rev Mwvcr^s evavriov KvpCov " 'iSov eyw Io~)(y6
&. eto-ii)Kov(rav Mwuo-^: so in He- Israel and,' which are not in the
rodotus eivaico'jei.v = ' obey' takes a LXX.
dative. In v. 12 below it has a geni- 28. *H ^hUp? . . . Kal
tive. supply before this Kal iyhero to which
12. «vavri: § 97. — aXo-yos: desti- the Hebrew points, would make the tute, not of the inner, but of the outer, passage more in accordance with LXX X670S, or, as it was sometimes called, grammar, but it would not relieve it of the 76s jrpo0opiK6s. This is a bold its tautology, which may be surmised to rendering of the Hebrew, which means arise from a mixture of documents, 'of uncircumcised lips.' The same 29. Kal 4-yu Xiyw : the sense re-original is rendered in 30 by l
13.
172 |
172 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
Exodus Til 1
1 Kal elnev Kvpios Trpos Mcovarrjv Xeycoi> " 'iSov SiBcoKoi ere deov tpapadj, Kal 'Aapcbv 6 dSeX<£os crov carat crov irpo<} id="iv.i.i.iv.p2317.2">TJ-rrjs ■ ^crii Se XaXijcreis avrcp ndvra ocra crot eWeXXo/jtat, 6 Se 'Aapwv 6 dSeXc^os crov akrjcru irpbs
<£ id="iv.i.i.iv.p2318.1">apaa). Kal €TnfSak£> ttv ~)(eipa, fxov eif Alyvirrov, koX crvv Swa/xet jxov tov aov tfiov rous vloi>ck AlyviTTov arvv iKSiKtjcret, fj.eyd
j • 5koX yveaaovrai irdv-re? ol AiyviTTioi oti iya> ei/xt Kuptos> ZKreivw tt/v X€^Pa ^17> AiyviTTOv • Kal i£d£o) rows vlov<; 'Icrparjk ck /xecrov aiiTcov." Se Mcovcrrjs Kal 'Aapav KaBdnep kvere'iKaro avTols iiroirjcrav. TMwucr^s 8e yjv irS>v oySorJKOVTa, 'Aapcbv Se 6 aSeXc^os avrou erwi' 6ySo7j/coi/ra rpiSiv, yvLKa iXdXrjcreu irpas
8Kal etTrev Kvpios Trpos Mwucr^ Kat 'Aapwv Xeycov 9"Kai eai" XaXijuTj 77pos vjaas 3>apa&) eya)v ' Aore •^/ia rj repas,' /cat epeis 'Aapw^' rw d8eX^>a) crou 'Aa/3e pdfihov Kal ptyov inl ttjv yyjv ivavriov apaIvavriov Twi/ vepairovroiv avrov, Kac €o~rai opaKwv. eicrrjAtiev
Se Mwucr^s Kal 'Aapcbv ivavriov <£ id="iv.i.i.iv.p2320.1">apaa> Kal t£>v 0epa-Trovroiv airov, Kal iTT0i7]0~av ovrco<; KaOdrrep evereiXaro av-rots Kvpios ■ Kal epixpev 'Aapav rrjv pd/3$ov ivavrfov $apaw «ral ivavriov ra>v depaTTovrcav aiurov, Kat iyeve.ro Spa/c&iv. 11 crvve.KdXe.o~ev 8e <3?apaa id="iv.i.i.iv.p2320.3"> rovs ao(f>Lara<; AlyvTrrov Kal rov<;
1. *apoui: dative.—irpo
its primary meaning of ' forth-teller,' B. J. Prmn. § 11 koX t6. irpb r air-its
'spokesman.' (the capture of Jerusalem)
3. o-ijueto . . . Kal TepaTa: this is r^para.
the first instance of this combination 10. «p»J«v: == tppifcy. § 37.
so common afterwards both in the Old 11.
and New Testament; e.g. Dt. iSi, 622, and in Daniel, where Theodotion has
173 |
II. THE STORY OF THE EXODUS 173
Exodus VII 19
Se Kv/Jios Trpos WLcovcrfjv " BeySapijrai rj /capSia 9 /A7j e^aTrocrreiXai toz> Xaov. 15^a8tcroi' tt/)os to irpwt • iSou avro? eKTropeverai im to vBcop, /cat avTOiv avTui iirl to ^etXo? rou Trorap-ov • kou ttjv ttjv aTpa elo-av el? 6
— (|>ap|iaKOvs: cp. 911, 2218 4>apfX.aKois ii Mac. 139 pefSap-qiiivos. Hapiveiv is
oi irepuroi-fiireTe, The use of
for a ' medicine-man' or ' sorcerer' 15. eo-fi o-uvavrflv: analytic form
seems to be peculiar to Biblical Greek of the future. § 72.—lirl to los
Dan. 0' 22'27, 57.8. — eiraoiSot: = &rp- to€ 7roTa|ioii: § 95.
5o(, enchanters. Op. 22, 87'18^19: i K. 17. T-uirrw . . . «irl to vZap: as in
62: Dan. 0' 22.27 etc. xhe contracted English, 'smite upon the water.'
form does not occur in the LXX.— 18. liroj&rti: future of (Tr6$tiv.
<| id="iv.i.i.iv.p2343.1">ap|iaiaais: = QapimKelcus. § 37. We have the aorist in 21 and in
13. KaTto-xvo-€v : intransitive, was 1620.24. These are all the occurrences strong. Op. 17. in tie LXX.
14. PcpdpijTai: a Hebraism, for 19. elirev 5c kt. : this verse is in-which cp. 815>32, 97,34_ The form fiapeiv consistent with 15-18 and contradicts
174 |
174 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
Exodus VII 20
crou iirl ra vSara Axjvtttov kcu em tows TTOTafxov? avrStv /cat eVt T a/3aft) /cat ivavrlov to>v depanovTtov avrov, /cat fieTe/Bak'Sv irav to tJSa)/) to eV tw TroTajxcp ets at/xa. /cat ot t^ftifs ot e^ ra TroTa/AO) erekev-
Tt]crav, /cat i-ircb^ecrG/ 6 Trora/io?, /cat ov/c r/duvavro ot AlyvTT-7101 TTLelv vdcop €K tov TTOTajAOv, /cat Tjf to at/xa eV Trdarrj yrj AiyvTrTov. 22 iiroCrjcrav Se wcaurcos /cat ot €7raotSot AlyvTTTLOJV Tat-r ^>a///ia/ctat? avrojv • /cat i(TK-qpvve.v 7] Qapaco, /cat ou/c eta"rj/couorei' avra>i>, K.a$a.irep elirev Kvpto<;. 23 imcrTpanels Se fpapaw etcr^X^ei/ ets toz> ot/cot1 avrov, /cat ou/c iTrecTT-qcrev tov vovv clvtov ouSe eirt toutw. ua>pv£av Se Travr'es ot Atyv7TTtot kv/cXw tou TrorayLtou wore Trtetv vScop ano tov ixoTa/xov, /cat ou/c -rfivvavro itieiv vSa>p airb tov
' /cat av€TTK7}p(ovr)ara.v zttto. rffiepai fjuera to
Kvpiov rbv
24. It is assigned to P.— Su&pvyas: lO1-^2?, II", 14*.«.w. (55. Eom. 91B, caraaZs. Q). Hdt vii 23: Strab. IV1 § 8. Hb. 38. t —
20. Itrdpas tq pd(3S
1416. Xov.
22. liroCno-av 8« coo-aiTcos: these 24. irdvres oC At'yi'irTioi: What
words are more consistent with the then did the Israelites do for drink ?
miracle promised in 49 than with that If this statement belongs to the narra-
which has been related.—lo-KMjpvvtv: tive which puts the Israelites away in
here intransitive. Cp. 7s2, 1315. It is Gosben, the difficulty is removed,
generally transitive as in 421, 73, 912, Josephus's explanation (Ant. II14 § 1)
175 |
II. THE STORY OF THE EXODUS 175
Exodus VIII 8
1~EiTtt€v Se Kupto? tt/sos M&nxXTp " EtcreX^e 7rpos Qapaco Kal e'peis Trpos auroV ' TdSe Xeyet Kuptos 'EfaTrocrretXoi' tov XaoV fiov Iva juoi Xwrpevcrao-vv ■ 2et Se fir) /3ouXet crv e'£a7i"OcrTet-Xat, tSou eya) tvttto) iravra rd opid crou tois ^arpd^ots. 8Kat efepeu^erat o 7rorajaos ySaTpd^ous • Kai dva0dvres etcre-Xeucroi'Tat ets tous oikous crou Kat ets ra rafieia rSiv koltcovcov crov Kat eVi tSiv kivu>v crov, koX inl tous ot/cous twv depa-TTOVTOiv crov Kat tou Xaou crou, Kat iv rots (jyvpafiacrLv crou Kat eV rots KXiySdvots crou • *Kat eVt ere /cat em tou? depd-irovrds crou Kat e?rt tov XaoV crou dvafirjcrovTaL oi /Jarpa^ot.' " selTrev Se Kuptos 7rpos M.covarjv " TL'nrbv 'Aapwv rw dSeX^iw crou '"Ektcw'oi' t>j Xa/^ ^^ pd/3Sov crov em tous Trora/xous Kat eirl ras Sttupuyas Kat eirt ret cXt/, Kat dvdyaye tous y8ar-pdjfovs' ' 6Kat e^eretvev 'Aapcov ttjv xe'Pa f71"1 Ta uSaTa Atyu7TTou, Kat di^yayei' rou? ySarpd^ous • Kat dveftifidcrdr) 6 ySdrpa^os, Kat iKavpev rr)v yrjv Aiyvirrov. T< Se wcrauTws Kat ot e7raotSot tq>v Aiyvirrioyv Tat? avTav, Kat dvrjyayov tous ySarpdxous e?rl yijt1 AtyuVrou. 8Kat eKaketrev <&apaw Majvcrrjv Kal 'Aapcov Kat etTrev " Eufa-cr^e 7rept ep,ou Tipo? Kvptov, Kal TrepieXerw tou? ySarpaxous air' ep,ou Kat aTro tou e/xov Xaou, Kat e£a7rocrTeX(S aurou? Kat
is that the same Nile water which-was 1234 and in Nb. 1520.21. Cp. Rom. 921:
foul and deadly to the Egyptians was i Cor. 5«.7: Gal. 59. Jos. ^n«. II14 § 2
pure and sweet to the Hebrews. —ovk rds re /caT1 oIkov aiirCiv dialTas ^
T|8-uvavTo irwtv: Josephus (Ant. II 14 iv jSotois {eatables) etS/jio-mSyueroi koI
§ 1) says that the water caused 'pains xorots. — KXvpdvois: kX/j3hpos = Attic
and sharp anguish, to those who did Kpifiavos an oven or rather bahing-
try to drink of it.' pot.
1. ESo-«ee ... Kal 4p«s: § 74. 6. 6 pdrpaxos : collective use of
Vs. 1-4 end chapter 7 in the Hebrew, the singular, as in the Hebrew. Cp. 18
but begin chapter 8 in the English. rhv
3. to Tajieta t»v koit<5vwv : bed- inpls § 48.
chambers. §10.—<| id="iv.i.i.iv.p2377.1">vpd|j.a
of dough. The word occurs again in 43* n.
176 |
176 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
Exodus Till 9
Ovawaiv r&> Kvp'uaT 9et7rev Se M.
T&) TTOTajXCp VTr0A€L
etirev ovv "'i2s elprjKas' Iva 48775 on ovk ecrriv aXXo? 7ri)^ Kvpiou • ai Kal Trepicupe&rjcrovTcu 01 jSaxyoa^ot a,7ro crov Kal ck tuiv olkloiv v/jLtov kolI i< rap eTTOLvXecov Kal dirb twv depa-TTOvToiv aov Kal 1x770 tov Xaov aov • ttXtjv iv ra> Trora/xa vTToXei dr)aovTat." 12(£rjXdei> Se Mcovarj? Kal 'Aapcov dno <&apaco ■ Kal iftorjaev Mcovo-rjs irpbs Kvpuov Trepl tov bpi-a/xov tS)U ^aTpd^cov, a>s irdtjaTO <&apaa id="iv.i.i.iv.p2384.4">. 18 i 8
Kvpio? Kaddrrep €vrra> Mcovarj1;, Kal ireXevTrjaav 01 e/c tS>v oklo)v Kal €K to>v eTravXecav Kal Ik tS>v dypuiv • Kal avirqyayov avTOus 9ijs.o)via% difjiovids, Kal a>{,eaev rj yrj. iSiSo)V Se apa&) on yiyovev dvdxpv^v;, ifiapvvdr] r/ KapSta avTOv Kal ovk elayJKOvaev avrSyv, Kaddirep iXdXyaev Kvptos.
9. Ta|at irpos f.i kt.: Arrange river^with reference tov. 5? — <£ id="iv.i.i.iv.p2386.1">apaw: with me when I am to pray. The He- dative, as appears from the Hebrew, brew differs here. See R.V. 14. 0i(i
10. o-uk fo-Tiv aXXos itXt)v KupCoxi: heaps. A Hebraism. § 85. Qi.jj.avii. again a slight difference from the He- = flij^comd is a longer form "bf- 8-qiubv a brew. See R.V. heap, connected with rie-rjixi. For the
u
11. &iraOX«ev: genitive plural of word op. i Mac. II4. It occurs seven (vavXts, a word which bears different times in the LXX.
meanings, one of which is ' cattle- 15. £8«v S« "£apaiS . . . ep&puvfli] f|
shed,' as in Nb. 3216>2i^, another Kap8Ca aiToB: nominativus pendens,
'village,' as in i Chr. 4s2'33. In the of which there are plenty oiinstances
Hebrew there is nothing to correspond in classical Greek. There is nothing
to the word in this passage, though to suggest this license in the Hebrew,
there is in v. 13. which runs literally thus — ' And
12. 6pi
177 |
Exodus VIII 21 16
II. THE STORY OF THE EXODUS 177
Se Kupto? Trpo? Mcovarjv "JLlwbv 'Aapcov 'vEkt€i-vov Tfl X€lP^ Tr)v pdfihov crov Kai irdra^ov to ^atyna Trjs yrjs, Kai ecrovTai crKvlfies eV Te Tot? dv9pco7rot<; Kai iv Tot? rerpd-irocriv Kat iv Trdcrrj yrj AiyvtrTov.' " 1T i^iTtwtv ofiv 'Aapmv
iyivovro ol
Se Kvptos wpos Mmvcrrjv a"Op9piaov to irpal Kat ivavnov
16. t6 x™K'a T<is Vis : CP- J°k l^19- ness °^ tne Egyptian priests about
X&iMis, properly earth thrown up (by avoiding lice on their persons.— Iv '
the spade), the result of the process irdcrfl ^fj: § 63. signified by x&wvpi or x<^. From this 20. "Opflpio-ov: dpdplfav is Biblical
general sense we have x"M
agger, while here the word signifies in Tob. 96, whereas 6pdpit;eiv is very
loose earth, answering to the Hebrew common in the LXX. Cp. Lk. 21s8. word which is rendered dust.—o-kvi- 21. Kvv6|«>iav: cp. Ps. 7746, 10481.
<))6S : nominative singular aKvif. In The common house-fly in Egypt has a
Ps. 10431
§ 5. Josephus (Ant. II 14 § 3) has England in a very hot summer. As
comments on the shamefulness to the Alexandria, one has experience of this
Egyptians of this plague. Cp. what Egyptian plague. Josephus (Ant. II
Herodotus (II 37) says of the careful- 14 § 3) seems to give the rein to his
178 |
178 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
Exodus Till 22
olxiaL t5>v AlyvTTTUov Trjs Kwo^virfs, Kal as tyjv yrjv i' " ^iTroirjcrev Se Kvpios ovtcus, Kat napeyeveTO rj Kwo/xvia ir
j9o<; els tovs oucovs ^apaa) ets rows o»cous t5v depa-rrovrutvt a-uroC Kal ets Tracrai' y^v Atyvirrou • Kai i^coXedpevdrj -q yrj dnb Trjs kvvo(jlvCt]S. 28eKaXecrev Se $apaw Mwucr'ijv /cai 'Aapcov Xeyatv " 'EX^ovres" 6va~aT€ tw 0e26Kat el7rev Mcoucrrjs " Ou Swarov yevioSai ovtco? to /aTjyxa touto, to. yap j88eXuy/Aara AlyvnTLcav 0tjo~o[X€v Kvpta) T(p 6e
fancy here—Qripluv yhp iravToiwv Kal The Hebrew runs literally thiis —
vovT(>(tiruv, &v els tyiv oiSds ain]VT^Ku ' and fly came heavy to the house of
v, ttjv x&Pav afrruiv iy£fj.io-ev, b
airrol re diriiXXwTo, Kai 17 yij rijs i-rn- ffpctita. The right form^ according to
rijs napd. tCjv yewpy&v &ire
pijTo. iii K. 185 and is adopted by the lievis-
22. irapaSoJdcru : make remark- ers in the N.T. (Acts 323).
able and so distinguish. Op. the two 26. t& -yip pSeXti-ynara ktX. : this
uses of ' distinguished' in English. looks as if it referred to sheep or oxen
The word occurs also in 9*, II7: (cp. Gen. 4634), but the Hebrew has the
Dt. 2859 : Sir. 10ls : ii Mac. 380: iii word for ' abomination' in the singu-
Mac. 29. lar, which may be taken as a cognate
23. Siio-o) 8ia
24. ■n-X'fJflos : adverb, in abundance. 8T)
179 |
II. THE STORY OF THE EXODUS 179
Exodus IX 4
dvcrarre tw 6eai vjxwp iv ry ipiqjxu), dXX' ov fiaKpav airore-veire Tropevdrjvai • evtjaoSe ovv -rrepl i/xov vpos Kvpiov." 29€i77€V Se Mwvcr^s ""OSe iycb efeXevcro/xat dirb crov Kal ev£o-fiai 77/3OS tov deov, Kal aireXevo~eTai diro crov r) Kvvojivia Kal a.770 tS)v depairovTcov crov Kal tov Xaov crov avptov' p.ij vpocr-6fj<; €TL, Qapaa), i^anaTrjcrai tov /jlt) i^airocrTeiXai, tov Xaov 9vo~ai BLvpico." 30e^ffKdev he Mcovcrrjs diro ^apaw /cat rjvqaro Trpos tov Veov • eiroirjo'ev oe Kvpuos Kauavep emtv Mwcrrjs, Kal rrepteiXev ttjv Kvvofwiav dnb apact> Kal ra>v depairovTOiv ai/Tov Kal tov Xaov avTov, Kal ov KaTeXei
lTLlirev 8e Kvptos 77po? ~Ma)vo~fjv " EureX^ Kal epei9 avTca ' TaSe Xeyei Kvpios 6 debs tcov 'E/3patW " 'Ef-iXov tov Xaof [iov Iva fnoi XaTpevcrojcriv 2ei [iev ovv firj e£aTroo~Te7Xai, tov Xaov [xov dXX* exi ivKpaTels avTov, 3i8ou Xe'P Kuptou e77eorcu iv tois KTTjvecriv o~ov rots e^ tois tc rots i7777O(,s Kal e^ rots viro^vytoi^ Kal rats l )3ovcrlv Kal 77po/3dVois BdvaTOS /xeyas o~
Biblical Greek, tut rare outside of 2. et iv ovv. there is no clause
it. with ei 8i ij.it to balance this, such as
28. ov (j.aKpav diroTeveiTt iropevflfj- one would expect in classical Greek. v«u: Hebrew, ' going-to-a-distance ye §39. — IvKpareis : §37.
shall not go-to-a-distance for-going.' 3. ■uirotvyiois: Hebrew, 'asses.' —
R.V. 'ye shall not go very far away.' Tats Ka|iT|Ws : The feminine is the
29. "OSt l-yio : R.V. ' Behold I go prevailing gender of xd^Xos in the out from thee.' The Greek translator TLXX. It is masculine only in Lev. seems to have taken the first two words II4: Dt. W : Jdg. 65 : i Esd. 543.— together in the sense of Ecce ego! irpoPaTois: Hebrew, ' flocks.' It would In the rest of the verse the Greek seem that the Egyptians kept sheep, has the 2d person, while the Hebrew notwithstanding their abomination of has the 3d. — toS |at) l|airo shepherds.
§ 78. 4. irapaSo£d
180 |
180 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
Exodus IX 5
KTrjvaiv tS>v AlywrTuov Kal ava fiecrov tu>v ktt)v5)V tcov vlwp 'IcrpaijX' ov reXeuTTjcrei 0.770 trdvTOiv to>v tov 'l
ironjcreL Kupios to prjfj.a tovto inl tijs y^s." 6/cal eiroujcrev Kupios to pij/xa tovto rfj irravpiov, koX irekevrrja-ev Trdvra. Ta kttjvyj tcov hXyvnrlow * a7ro Se t&)j' KrqvSiv twv vlcov 'icrparjX ovk iTeXevTrjcrev ov$ei>. ^IBwv he <$ id="iv.i.i.iv.p2447.1">apaoi) oti ovk ireevTrjapaoj, Kal ovk i^avecrTeiXev tov Xaov. sWnrev 8e Kvptos Trpo? M.covo'yjv Kal 'Aapwv Xeycov "Adfiere v/xet? TrXi/pets t
(Bev ttjv alddXr)v ttjs Kafuvacas ivavriov
. . . Kal ava |ieirov: 8s3 n. — pr|T
= pTj/j-a, a thing. Gen. 399 n. so used anywhere else. On the
7. tSwv 8e 4>apa aWaKy see § 8. — ira
KapSCa : 815 n. of eiracra, 1st aorist of Trdiraa.
8- at8&T|S Kafiivaias: soot from the 9. <| id="iv.i.i.iv.p2453.1">XvktiS6s : 4>vktIs = fiXtittTcuva
furnace. From 10 it appears that a blister (Ar. Ran. 230) occurs only
Kafuvalas is a substantive depending on here in LXX.
181 |
II. THE STORY OF THE EXODUS 181
Exodus IX 28
KtSpios 6 deos tcav 'E/Jpcuaw " 'Ei^awocrTeiXov tov XaoV fiov Iva XaTpevcraxrCv fioi. uiv tu> yap vvv KtupaS iy
14. crwavTifj|jiaTa: literally occur- 18. Tavrr]v tiiv upav: accusative
rences, but used here -with a sinister of point of time. §55. — tjtis Totaini:
meaning to represent the Hebrew = classical o'ia. A Hebraism, which
word for 'plagues.' Cp. iii K. 837. recurs in v. 24 and II6. Op. Ezk. 59 &
So in classical Greek ti^c" in the . . . oixom airois. § 69.
plural commonly means ' misfor- 21. Trpo
tunes.' 23.
16. Sia7Y«X.fj: § 24. lation of the Hebrew word. But
17. Iviroifj: § 37. thunder was habitually spoken of as
182 |
182 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
Exodus IX 24
■%ev to TTvp em ttj? yrjs' Kai efipetjev Kvptos ~)(dXa^,av im iraoav yrjv Alyvirrov. ^rjv Se r) ^aXa£a Kat ro irvp (f>Xoyi-tpv iv rrj ^aXa{^ • rj Se ^aXa^a vokXr) cr^oSpa, ^tis tolclvttj ov yeyovev iv AtyvrrTa d25 irrdra^ev Se r) -^dXa^a iv irdo-rj yfj Axyvirrov d-rro dvdpu>iTov eiw? KTrjvov?, kcu Trdaav j3ordvrjv ttjv iv toj 7reStw r) ^aXa^a, koX vdvTa ra £va ra ej> tois weStois v r) ^aa{a • 26ttX^v iv yfj Tia-efx, ov rjaav ol viol 'larparjX, ovk iyevero r) ^aXa^a. . 27 aTrocrreiXas Se ii
' the voice of God.' Cp. 48: i K. 1217. here used because it exactly reflects
— ii|3pe£ev: this use of j3pe'" for 'to the original. " .
rain' is common in Biblical Greek, e.g. 30. xc()>dpr)(r8«: for Ilje perfect
Gen. 25, 1924: Mt. 445: Lk. 1729. Tt is used as present cp. Soph. Aj. 139 —
condemned by Phrynichus as non- n£yav &kvov %xa Kai xe^A/Sij/toi. The
Attic (Swete Introd. p. 296). E.V. has here'ye will not fear.' The
25. diro . . . ?ws : Hebraism. vagueness of the Hebrew tense-system
§ 92. renders such variations passible with-
29. d)sov: as soon as. Cp. Ceb. out any difference of reading. — tov
Tab. IV £>s hv ela-eXffwinp e/s rbv plov, IX fcdv : Hebrew, ' JH VH God.' as b.v irapfKd-ris: in N.T. Phil. 228 us &v 31. irap€trTT)KDitt: supply %v — h(iS-
&irl5o> rb. irepl i/j.4.—l^tXOto ttjv iriXiv : come, i.e. the ears had formed theni-
cp. 1222 oix t£ehei
eipav. This transitive use of 4£ip- butter 'coming' in the churn. The
xe
known to classical writers, but it is also the name of the month in which
183 |
II. THE STORY OF THE EXODUS 18-3
Exodus X 8
Kvla, to Se ivov (nrep^aiLtpv ■ 826 Se nvpbs /cat r) okvpa ovk eVAyy^crav, oxpifjca yap rjv. *&ei;f\dev Se MwucWjs a7ro
OVK €O~TO.$eV OVKCTL 67Tt TYjV JT}V. LO(x)V O€
TreVafTat 6 ueros fat iy ^aXa^a /cat at <^ id="iv.i.i.iv.p2490.1">aivai, Trpoo~£dero tov afiaprdveiv, koI i/3a.pvvev avrov ty/v icapStav Kat twv depa-ttovtoxv avrov. 85/cai io~K )pvvdr] r] /capSta <$ id="iv.i.i.iv.p2490.2">apaa>, /cat ov/c itjaneo-reikev tovs vtovs 'icrpanjX, KaOairtp ekahqaev Kuptos
1Et7rei' Se Kvpto? Trpo? Mcovcriji' 4ycnv " EtcreX^e Trpos <&apaa id="iv.i.i.iv.p2491.1"> • eyw yap io~Ki]pvva avrov rrjv KapSiav (cat raw depawovrcuv avrov, Iva e^s iveXdrj to. cryj^ela ravra in' avrovs • 26'tt&)s $ir)yrjo~r)O'0e ets to. o)ra t«v reKvcav vfiav /cat rots t4kvol<; Tiov tckpoju v/jlojv ocra ifJiTTeTrai)(a rots Atyv77TtotSj /cat ra, arjfjbeid jjlov a eVot^cra e^ aurots, /cat yva>o~io-0e on iyo) Kvptos." 8€to"»5X^€i' Se Mwvcr^? /cat 'Aapmu kvavriov apact) /cat et7rai» avrw " TaSe Xe'yet KtJptos 6 ^eos r
the buds spring.—erirep|j.ar£l;ov: was Israel.—I'va l^tjs tireXOxi ktX. : the
in seed. The word occurs in the LXX Greek here differs slightly from the
only here and in Lvt. 122. Hebrew. See E.V.
32. oXvpa : Gen. 4016 n. — o|/i|ia : 2. liiireiroixa: ep. Nb. 2223. This
late crops, as compared with the barley form of the perfect of tyiralfo is quoted
and flax. The Hebrew word corre- by Veitch from Plutarch Demosth. 9.
sponding to bf/i/ia is of doubtful mean- The earlier form is ^aTrorauca as from
ing. E.V.' not grown up.' For Ify/ipos a dental stem.
cp. Xen. CEc. XVII 4 and in N.T. St. 3. 4vTpairf|va£ |i«: reverence me.
James 57. The verb in this sense with a geni-
1. kya yap IcrKX^pwa kt. : cp. the tive is common in classical Greek
Greek conception of At6 as exemplified from Homer downwards, but with
by the tragedians, e.g. Soph. Ant. 621- accusative it is post-classical. From
4 : also the Prophets, as Is. 69>10. Here the meaning of ' reverence ' it
the final cause of hardening Pharaoh's is an easy step to that of ' be
heart is explained to be that God might ashamed,' as in Ps. 34*: ii Thes.
exhibit his power as a deliverer of 314: Tit. 2s.
184 |
184 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
Exodus X 4
tov Xaou pov Xva Xarpevaoxxiv jxoi. iiav Se fx,rj OiXrjs crv i^aTTOCTTelXat tov Xaov fiov, iSov iyto i-ndyco tovttjv rrjv apav avpiov d/cpiSa ttoXXtjv im irdvTa ra opid crov • 5/cal /caXvt|/et rr/v 6\ilv rijs yrjs, Kal ov Swijcrr) KanSelv rr}v yrjv • /cat Kare-Serai ttoLv to trepicrabv rrjs yrjs to Ka.TaXei(f)Oev, b Kariknrev v/juv r) x6ko1 TrXrjcrdrjaovTdL crov at oi/a'ai koI at ot/ciai t£)v depawovTcav crov Kal iracrat al oXk'kxi iv irdarj yfj tu>v AlyviTTLCov, a oiSevoTe icapd.Kao~iv ol iraTepeg o~ov ovhk ol ovtu)v, d
5. tt]v o((iv Trjs 7ijs: literally the eye SjcuXos is used by HoniviZ. XIII564 in of the earth. A Hebraism. Op. Nb. the same sense as aK6o$, a-stake.— 225'11. — ov Sw/jcnj: a fair equivalent elS«'vai ^ovXei: Hebrew, 'Dost thou for the vague use of the 3d person in not yet knov? ?'
the Hebrew. 8. xaX dir«o-Tp€i|»av: and they
6. irpdirairiroi: great-grandfathers, brought back, just as in the Hebrew. Latin proavi. Only here in LXX. In the R.V. the sentenbe is turned The Hebrew means only ' grand- into the passive. — rtves Se Kal rives : a fathers.' literal translation from the Hebrew.
7. toCto : R.V.' this man,' a mean- The form of the question seems to lm-ing of which the Greek also admits by ply that a detailed answer is expected attraction — o-kwov : a stumbling- — 'These and those shall go.' block, like tncMakov, Dt. 716: Jdg. io. "Ecttg> ovrois ktX. : the passage 827, II85 (A) : ii Chr. 2823: Is. 57". ought perhaps to be punctuated as
185 |
II. THE STORY OF THE EXODUS 185
Exodus X 17
KadoTi aTrocrTeWa) u/xas, fxrj Kal ttjv diroaKevifv vfxw; loere, otl novrjpCa •n^davcetTai vfuv. u [jltj ourcos ■ iropevi-crdaxrav Se ol aVSpes Kal XarpevaaTcacrav t
v 3 3/ « 33 3>//-> £V 3 3 /
yap aurot et^reire. egepakov oe avTovs atro irpocrorrov $>apaa>. 12Eu7ey Be Kvpco? Trpos Ma)vo~rjv ""Ektcivov
T7)v Xe^Pa ^ 7VV Atyvirrou, Kal ava^rJTOi d^pis inl ttjv yrjv, ko.1 KareSerat tracrav f&or<3.vt)v tt\% yfjs koI Trdvra tov Kap-ttov twv £vXa id="iv.i.i.iv.p2521.1">v ov vveXiTreTO rj y^dXat,a." 18/cat Mtuvcrijs tt/v pdfiSov ets tov ovpavov, Kal irnjyayev votov iirt rr/v yrjv oXrjv ttjv rj/xepav iKeCvrjv Kal oXrjv vvkto. ' to Trpcol iyevTjOrj, koX 6 avefios 6 votos aviXafiev ttjv oiKptSa u Kal dvTJyayev avTrjv iirl Tracrav yrjv AlyvvTov, Kal Kariiravo'ev iirl iravTa. to. opia AlyvirTov ttoXXtj a
follows—"Ea-ru o'vtws Kipios neS' ijj,ui>, v. 24, 1237. In Dt. 2014 the women
ko.86ti &iro
vKevty i/iCiv; So be the LOUD with 11. I^PaXov: the verti in the He-you, as I let you go (i.e. not at all)! brew is singular, but means 'one (Am I to let go) your belongings also? drove,' so that #4paor correctly rep-Look out, for mischief is upon you. resents it. E.V. ' they were driven.' "Without the pfi the passage would run 13. iirfflayiv -. Hebrew, 'theLORD as in the Hebrew and there would be brought.' — aveXal&v: took up in the no question-mark after fytfie. For the sense of brought. threat with which Pharaoh closes his 14. Kal dv^Ya-yev dirty: Hebrew, speech, cp. v. 28. — airoa-KeDifjv : a ' and the locust went up.' — dupis : col-word of vague meaning, as we have lective for a locust-swarm. Cp. Jdg. 712 seen already. Gen. 43s n. Here it aa-el axpls els ir~Kjj0os -. Nahum 3" § 48. includes the women and children: cp. 17. irpo
186 |
186 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
Exodus X jt;
ere vvv, Kal npocrev^acrde TTphs 'Kvpiov rbv debv vf/bcov, l TrepteXeVo) an ifiov tw ddvarov tovtov." lsi£fjX0ev Se Mcovcrrjs dirb apaa) Kal iqv^aTO Trpo? rbv deov. 19/cai [jtere^aXev Kvpto? avepov drrb 9aXdcro"q<; a
TT€CTT€LXev T0V5 VtOVS 'lapaTjX.
^'Elvev Se Kuptos Trpos Mwvcrijt' ""E/cretvoi' rrjv crov et9 tov ovpavov, /cat yevqdrJTOi ctkoto? em -qrov ctkotos." 22i^ireivev Se MVfx.S)v ' rrXr/v t
atonement for sin, wpoa-dex^ydat here places in which they dwelt. Karayi-
passes into the meaning of ' to forgive.' vea-ffai occurs also in Nb. -"S3: Dt. 99.-
— tov 9dvaTov toOtov: Hebrew, 'only Bel. 0' 21.
this death.' 24. irXiiv . . . iiroX.Cire
21. »(
22. ctkotos 7vo<()os BtieXXa: Hebrew, perhaps Only leave yourselves without ' a thick darkness.' Op. 1420 Kal iytvero your flocks and your herds. Or hag ctk6tos Kal yvdtpos, 2021 els rbv yv6
= dv6
23. oiSels tov aS«X
— 4v irao-iv ots KaT€-y£vovTO : in all the classical Greek iroiety and p'^eiv are the
187 |
II. THE STORY OF THE EXODUS 187
Exodus XI 5
crercu fieO' rjjxa>v, Kal ov^ VTroXei(f)dr]cr6ix€$a ottXtJv ' air avrcov yap Xi^fjufjofJieda XaTpevcrat Kupico ra Beep rj/ rifiels Se ovk othajxev tl Xarpevcrcofiev Kvplw tco dea> 7jf ew? tov eAuew i)/j,as e/cet. ecrKAr/pwev oe Kvptos
KapSCav &apa<6, Kal ovk ifiovXijdy} i^avoaTelXai, ovtovs-28/cat Xiyei <&apaa) "''AireXde air' ifiov, wyoocre^e creavra en TTpocrdelvat, tSeiv pov to irpoa-conov ' y 8' av "fj^epa o
Se Kuyoios Trpbs Mojwctijv "*Ert fhCav TrXrjyrjv ivd^o) eVl ^>apaa) /cal ctt' Aiyi;7rrov, kcu /iera ravra e'faTTocrTeXer v/i,as ivTtvOev' orav Se efairocrreXXry Vjaas, cru?' Tra^ri ii3a-Xel Vjims eK^oXfj. %Xakrjcrov ovv Kpv(j>fj eis ra, Sra roi) Xaov, /cal alrrjcrdTG) e«:acrTos irapa tov TrXr)o~iov enceur) apyvpa /cat y^pvaa /cat tju.aTtcr/AOi'." 8Kvptos Se Xo-piv tw Xaw avroC kvavTiov tS>v AlyvTTTicov, Kal avToi?' Kal 6 avdpcjTros Maiucnfjs jaeya? iyeinjOrj o~
" TaSe Xeyet Kuptos ' Ilept /^.ecras vv/cra? eyw elc eis fxicrov AlyvnTov, 5/cat TeXeuTTjcret iraj' irpcoroTOKOv eV
regular words for 'doing sacrifice,' 1. oiv iravn: like our 'tag and
like facere and operari in Latin: but baggage.'—IxpaXci . . . iKpoXfj: cog-
Troieii' does not seem to be constructed nate dative § 61. See 61 n. with an accusative of the victim, 3. Kal ifxpijcrav airots: these words
whereas pefriv is. Verg. Eel. Ill 77 are not in the Hebrew here and seem to
cum faciam vitula pro frugi- be imported from 1236, but they serve
bus. to bring out the meaning. Here, as in
26. ti Xa.Tpri(rw|«v: cognate accu- 321-22, the Israelites are regarded as
sative — what service we are to perform. dwelling in the midst of the Egyp-
28. vrpotre( . . . ISeiv: literally tians.
take heed to thyself about seeing me i. II«pl |i6ras vvicras: the use of
again. the plural is classical. See for instance
29. EipriKas: Hebrew, ' Thus hast Xen. Anab. II 2 § 8, III 1 § 33: Plat. thou spoken.' Phileb. 50 D, Bep. 621 B.
188 |
188 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
Exodus XI 6
AiyviTTO), dwb vpcoroTOKOv ecus TTpatTOTOKov iravrbs kttJvows ' 6 Kal ecrrai Kpavyrj Kara Traaav yrjv AlyvTiTov, i^ris Totavrr] ov yeyovzv ovk4tl Tipoo~Tt9rjo-erai. 7 Kal eV Traari rois tuots 'IcrparjX ov ypvfjeu kvcov t-q yko)o~o"rj avTov, ouSe a7r6 avOpamov ecus kttjvqvs ' o-irais t§]7? ocra irapaZo^dtfii Kvpios dva fji€o"ov tu>v AiyvTTTicju Kal tou 'IcrpaijX..' 8/ca6 KaTafirj-o~ovTai TravTes ol iratSes crov ovroi tt/dos fie Kal Trpoo~KW>]-(jovcriv /x€ XeyovTes '"E£e6e crv Kal iras 6 Xaos crov ov al) a
Mavcrfjv " Ovk eicraKoucrerai v/jluv Qapaa), iVa ttXtjOvvcov TikrjOvvoi fiov to,
29*Hryevrj9r) Se /aecroucrrj? ttj? wkto<; koX Kupjos eVara^ev
TTCtV TtpoiTOTOKQV €V fQ AlyVTTTW, ttTTO WptOTOTOKOV <$ id="iv.i.i.iv.p2566.1">apaci)
6. Tyris Toioi5Tr]: 918 n. — ovkcti avrov i.vivavri aov.^— irpo
7. ov -yptiija k-uwv : shall not a dog 8. «fnX9«v Se Mwvtrfjs: these words growl. Demosthenes (p. 353, xix 39) form a natural sequel to Efp^Kas kt. has otfSJ ypv in the sense of ' not a mut- at the end of chapter 10. From Jo-ter,' In the mind of the Greek trans- sephus we might gather that in his copy lator a contrast seems to be here in- II8 followed immediately upon 1029 tended between the stillness among the (Ant. II 14 § 5).
Jews (iv is an insertion of the LXX) 10. IJairoo-TetXcu : infinitive of con-
and the ' great cry' among the Egyp- sequence. § 78. The short sunrfnkry
tians. But this way of taking the of events given in this and the preced-
passage leaves no meaning to the ing verse seems to belong to the same
words oidt dirj ivSptlnrov $ws kt^- priestly document from which the In-
tods. For ypJosh. 10a: Ju- stitution of the Passover (121"28) is
ditli II19 Koi oi 7pi5|ei kAojv ttj y i
189 |
II. THE STORY OF THE EXODUS 189
Exodus XII 37
tov Kadrj/xevov eVi tov dpovov ea>s TTpanoroKov ttjs ai^/xa-XwrtSos TTjT&S Xa/c/c
iiroL7]crav Kadd crwera^ev avTois M-covarj1;, Kal fjTrjcrav Trapd twv AlyvTTTicov
evavriov tu>v AlyvTrTiuiv, Kal e-^prjcrav avrots • Kat ec Xeuo~av tous At-yuT7Tiovs.
Si'Airapai'Tes Se ot utot 'Io~par)X e/c 'Pa/xecrcrTj ets ets e^-a/cocrtas ^tXtaSas 7re£<2j; 01 avSpes, TTXyji/ rijs
29. XaKKcfl: dungeon. It is the ffrais toiiti jrotri, rAy 8 word used in Daniel for the den of xe/>0''-
lions. See Gen. 372» n. 35, 36. Op. II2'3.
30. Kal dvoo-Tcis: participle for 37. 'Airdpavrts: § 80. —
finite verb. § 80. = 2o/cxt60 in 1320, with, the Hebrew
31. Kal 4KaX.€tr«v ktX.: inconsistent suffix denoting motion to a place with 1028.29 and seeming to point to a left clinging to it. Cp. Nb. 225 : mixture of sources in the story. Jdg. 141-2. — 4|aKO
3.3. KaTepidiJovro: 61 n. 600,000 adult males to represent the
34. o-Tats : dough. Herodotus (II ' 75 souls of the house of Jacob' men-
36), in speaking of the queer customs tioned in Gen. 4627. —tt}$ diro
of the Egyptians, says
190 |
190 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
Exodus XII 38
8/cai inifiLKTos ttoXvs crvpavefir) avrols, Kal irpo-/3oes Kal ktt]v7) ttoXXol cr
CIS T*JV OOOV.
1|Cf2s Se i^anecrTeiXev <£ id="iv.i.i.iv.p2596.1">apaco top Xaov, ou^ w&ijyTjcrev avrou? 6 #eos 686v yrj? ^"uXicrTieLju,, ort, eyyvs "^f • e'nrei> yap 6 ^eos " M?f ttotc fierajJceXtfcrr) t<2 Xa
iavrov ■ opKO) yap aSpKtcrev tov? vlov? 'lo-par/X Xeyoiv " 'Em-crKovy imo-Kexjjerai v/j.cis Kvpws, Kal avvavoio-eri fxov ret ocrra evrewev yxef vp,(nv. Egapavres oe oi vtot
'icrparjX e/c XoKyoid ecrrparoTreSei/craf ef 'Odbp, vapa ttjv iprjpov: 216 Se ^eo9 T^yetro avroiv, r)p.ipas jaev ev arvXa
38. !itI|uktos iro-us: sc.Sx^05- It way." — Mrj iror« h«to[mX^o-ji : Gen. ■would appear from this that the He- 481'2 n.
"brew nation was only in part descended 18. IkvkXwctcv : * led round. Ku-
from Jacob. kovv generally means ' to go round,'
39. evKpvfyias : iyxpviplas (ILpros) as in Gen. 211: Dt. ~2K § 84.
was a loaf baked in tbe ashes. Lucian 20. 'OBdfi: Mham. Called Bov9ar
Dial. Mort XX i i di a-voSov irXtias, in Nb. 336-7. — irapa tt)v epufiov: on
&
Nb. II8: iii K. 1712, 196. The accusa- two stagt ,s of their journey then, from
tive here is due to the fact that Hepev Eameses to SuocotKv(123T) and from
='made into.' Succoth to Etham (1320), were not
17. on kyyvs rp>: ~R.V. 'although through the wilderness. Succoth =
that was near.' This sense may be Thuket = Pithom on the Sweet^Vf ater
got out of the Greek by taking the Canal, a little west of Ismailia. words closely with oix aS-?iyr)cr<-v ai- 21. T||Mpas (iev kt. : A pillar of
rotJs — "he did not make the near- cloud by day and a pillar of fire by
ness of the land of the Philistines night is just the appearance presented
a reason for leading them that by a volcano.
191 |
II. THE STORY OF THE EXODUS 191
Exodas XIV 8
ve(f>e7}<; Setfat avrots tt/v 686v, ttjv Se vvkto, iv ctvXco 7ru/oos' novK igeXiirev Se 6 crrvXos ttjs vec^eXijs i^uepas /cat 6 crrvXos rov nvpbs wktos ivavriov tov Xaov ttcivtos.
2Kat iXdXrjcrev Kv/3to5 Trpos^Mwvcniji' Xeycov 2c< AdXrj&ov viots 'icrparfX, Kal aTToaTp&iavT€'i
crai' airevavri rijs CTrauXea)?, di'a. fxecrov MaySwXoti /cat afa Trj'; daXdcrcrris, eg evavrias JSeeXareir^wv • kv&itiov o-TparcnreSevcreLs iirl rijs OaXd
ttjv Kap&Cav
2. ttjs €iravX«ci)s: 8U n. This is differs slightly from the Hebrew. — the LXX substitute for the Pi-hahiroth irXavSvTai: E.V. ' are entangled in.' of the Hebrew text, which is supposed 5. dv^-yy^Vii: § 24.—tov efjairoorei-to be Egyptian. Presumably the Alex- Xai: § 60. —tov |ir) SouXciieiv r)|itv: § 60. andrian translators knew its meaning. 7. ttjv iirirov: the cavalry. There
— Ma-ySi&Xou : Migdol, a Hebrew word is a tendency in Greek for words demeaning 'fort.'—BceXo-einjxov : Baal- noting collective ideas to be feminine, zephon. Jos. Ant. II15 § 1 BeKaeQibi*. Thus 6 fiXs 'salt,' but 17 &s 'the sea'
— avrSv: this can only refer to Baal- (the brine). The Hebrew has the same zephon. word for ttv Xttov as for tA Hp^ara.—
3, t£ Xo§ a*Tov ; the Greek here tpuj-t&tcis : captains. Qp. 154: iv K.
192 |
192 SELECTION'S FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
Exodus XIV 9
SCav <&apa.a id="iv.i.i.iv.p2627.1"> y6ao-
ivavria<; BeeXcreTT^cSi'. 10/cat
64j 72,17. 19, 925; 1025) 1525. The wor(J ag in V- 19 or
is evidently chosen by the translators — i~qs !ira«e
because it contains the number three, 10. irpoo-fj-yev: led on (his forces).
as the Hebrew original does also. —lo-TpoToir^Sevo-av: E.V. 'marched.'
8. Iv xeipl u|n]Xfi: 61 n. ^Tparoiredetieiv seems-to have this mean-
9. «vpoo-av: § 16. — irap£|ip6f3 )K6- ing in Dt. I40 : iiMac.y23: iv Mac. 186. raj : encamped. A common word in 11. irapd t6 [i4] virapx^vv : owing to late Greek. It is explained by L. & S. there not being. Op. Nb. 1416. Thjs-use as being properly used of distributing of irapi is classical. — Bava-nSo-ai: §77. auxiliaries among other troops, as in 13. ov Tpdirov -ydp : the meaning is Polyb. I 33 § 7 r&v U iwsBotptipuv toi>s — "Ye have seen them to-day, but ye liiv iirl rb Seifidp tttpas TrapevifiaKe, rods shall see them no more." — ets tov 5f ktX. Hence ira/K/i.po'X^ ' a camp,' atSva xpovov : for ever. Aiuca is here
193 |
II. THE STORY OF THE EXODUS 193
Exodus XIV 21
pto<; iroXe/jiijcrei irepl vp,S id="iv.i.i.iv.p2637.1">v, na uju,eis criyrjcreTe." 15~EliTev
he Kupios Trpos Monxnjv " Tt /3oas vrpos fii; XdXrjcrov tois 'IcrparjX Kai dvat,€.v^dr(ao~av • wkcu o~i> hrapov rrj crov, Kai tKTeivov ttjv xeipd (T0V ^7ri TVV QdXacraav i prj^ov avrijv, Kai eio~eX6dhoo-av ol viol 'lcrpa.rj et§ fidcrov t^s ^aXacrcr^s Kara to t;r)p6v. 17Kai l$ov iyw (TKKrjpvvh) ttjv Kaphiav <3 id="iv.i.i.iv.p2638.1">apaa) Kai tS>v AIjvtttuov TrdvTwv, Kai elcrekevcrovTaL ottlcto) avTa>v • Kat ivZo^audrjcro^ai Iv <£ id="iv.i.i.iv.p2638.2">apaa) Kai iv irdcrrj ttj arpaTia avTov Kai iv rois apfiaaiv i iv tchs tinrots avrov. lsKai yvaxjovrai iravTes ol Al-otl iya> el/xi Kvpto?, ivSo^a^ofxivov fjiov iv <&apacb iv tois dpfiacriv koI Ittttoi1? avrov." wit;rjpev Se 6 ayyeXos rod deov 6 rrpoTropevo/jLevos tijs irapejx^okrj<; tu id="iv.i.i.iv.p2638.4">v vl£>v 'lo~pat]} Kai iiropeudrj ck t£>v omcrOev i^rjptv 8e Kat 6 (ttvXos t^s ve(j)eXrj<; onrb Trpocranrov avraiv, ko.1 earr/ ck tS)v birio~oi avroov. 20Kat elcrrjXOev dva, fieo~ov tcou Alyv-tttiwv Kai dva fxecrov ttjs Trape^/SoXr}? 'Yo-parjX, koi eaTT) • Kai iyivero ctkotos Kai yvo
Kvptos
grammatically an adverb, ris Tiy dci 18. Jwirois: Hebrew ' horsemen.'
Xpbvov. 19. «ii)p€v : Gen. 3717 n.—irapeji-
14. o-fyr|o-6Te: literally shall say poMjs: the context seems to show
nothing = do nothing. This is the that this word here means ' army
characteristic attitude of Hebrew piety on the march ' (Lat. agmen), not
in and after the age of the literary 'camp.' Cp. v. 24. The Hebrew
prophets. Op. Ps. 4610 ' Be still and original admits of either meaning,
know that I am God' : Is, 3016 'in —Ik tuv SirwrBev ... Ik twv oirtcrw :
quietness and in confidence shall be the Hebrew phrase is the same in
your strength.' The text 'their both cases.
strength is to sit still' (Is. 307) has 20. SiijX.8ev t] vit, -. Hebrew, ' gave
vanished from the Bible under the light during the night' The Greek
hand of the Revisers. ought to mean 'the night passed.'
16. «irapov t{j pdfSSu
720. different reading.
194 |
194 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
Exodus XIV 22
ttjv $dacrcrav iv dvefjua) vora /3icua> oKrqv rr/v vvktol, Kal iiro£r)crev rrjv Oakacrcrav £rjpdv} Kal icr^Ccrdr) to vhcjp. 22 Kal eicrrjXdov oi viol 'IcrpaijX els (J,eaov rfjs dadcrcrr)<; /cara to £rjpov, Kal to vhwp aurois rei^os eK he^iau Kal Tei)(o<; i£ cvcovvjjlcov ■ ^Kal KareSiaifai' oi AiyvTmoi, Kal elcrrjXdov ottlcto) avriov Kal iras IVttos 4>apa&) Kal to. dp/xara i oi dvafidrai el? fxicrov rrjs 6adcr
25
Kal
Kal (rvverdpa^ev ttjv Trapt=ixfio
)i> t£>v tjvv£§r)
Teivov rr/v X€V* °"°'u ^ T'*?I; 9da
ddXacrcrav, Kal dTT-eKarecmj to vSwp Trpos rjixepav £irl
21. Iv av€n
22. to S8o>p airots t«ios: imagi- watch' (Jdg. 719), and 'the morning nation here calls up the picture of a watch.' "
wall of water on either side of the 25.
2
II11: Judith 12s kvtdTt] irpis ttjv iuSiv^v 27. aiTtKari
Prior to Roman times the Jews are (usual) place. R.V. text 'to its
said to have divided the night into strength,' margin ' to its wonted flow.'
195 |
II. THE STORY OF THE EXODUS 195
Exodus XT 2
. ol Se AlyurrTioi efivyov vrro to voatp, /cat i^erlva^ev s tovs AlyvrrTiovs iicrov ttjs 0ad
'Tore Tjcrei' Mojvo-ijs /cat ot t)tol 'IcrparjX ttjv (idrj To> 0£(p, Kat euTrav XeyovTes
iiVAaa>ixev tb KvpCco, eVSd£
/cat
—g^nryov 4i" to wSwp: Hebrew, ' were a very exact description of the metre,
fleeing to meet it.' The Greek per- ■which runs somewhat as follows —
haps means the same. ■—u«rov ttjs 8a- . . / s. . , ,. /.,. / .
,. , I smg unto Jaliveu, for his might is great: Xaoro-ris: for this prepositional use of x / / /
liiaav cp. Nb. 338, 355 : i K. 56, II11: l!orse and rider he flung to diwu.
Phil. 215. —4v86|ws ^ap StSogao-rav: § 82.
31. Ttjv xeEPa : work. A H-ebraism. 2. o-Ktirao-TVjs: the vocative
— a Iito£t)o-€v K-upios : even the things wa^rd occurs in iii Mac. 69. The He-
vjhich the LOBD did, explanatory of brew word here used means'song,'i.e.
Tfy xtipa. subject of song. The Greek translators
1. ttjv ioStjv TttvTT|v : composed by may have had another reading. The
Moses, says Josephus (Ant. II 16 § 4) LXX also omits the subject of the seii-
iv Qaixtrptf rbvif. This is not however tence, 'which in the Hebrew is Jah. Iii
196 |
196 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
Exodus XV 3
^Kvpios arvvTp(f3ci)v
Kvptos ovo/xa
4 apfiaTa <$ id="iv.i.i.iv.p2694.1">apaa) Kal rr/v Svva/XLv awov ippujjev ets ddXacr-crav,
avafidras TpLcrraTas-
iv ipvdpa BaXdcrcry. 57t6vt(x) eKaXvxjjev avTovs-
/careSucrav ets fivdov aicrel C8o$. 617 Se^fia crov, Kvpie, SeSd^acrrai ev icryyi-
7) Se^ia crov xeV' Kvptc, idpavcrev i~)(dpovs. 7 Kal tcj TrXrjdei rrjs So^tjs crov crwerpn/»as tovs virevavriovs ■ iyv opytjv crov, Kal KaT€
Kat Stct tov Trvev/taros tou Ovjxov crov StecrTTj to v8a>p-itrdyr acrel re?)(os to, vSara, Ittdyt] ra Kv/xara Iv jaecr&j r^s 6adcrcr7)
jj,epta> crKvXa, ifnrXrjcro) ipv)(TJi> fiov,
Is. 122, where the same words are used 'follows, not object of that which went
just after an allusion to the Exodus before.
(Is. II16), the subject is ' Jah JehoYah.' 5. itovtio !K&A.vi(rev .aii-ovs: E.V.
The LXX has there simply Kiipios, 'The deeps cover them.'
which might go to show that Jehovah 8. Siarovnv€ifjLaTos_KT. : through
is a gloss on the rare word Jah. The the blast of thine anger (Wo. 'nostrils')
same Hebrew which is here rendered the waters stood apart (R.V. ' were
fioriBos Kal /rK£7rat7Tris appears there as i) piled up '). The metaphorical use of
8{5{a pxiv Kal t; aiVeiris /ton. ' nostrils' in Hebrew seems to be de-
3. Kvpwos
4. emXiKTous &vct|3dTas Tpia-Taras : 'The floods stood upright as an heap.' asyndeton. Op. 1022. The Hebrew ''Eirdyri is inexact here, but quite cor-here is simply ' the choice of his responds to the different Hebrew word captains,' there being nothing to in the next clause rendered in R.V. correspond to avapiras, and the ex- 'were congealed.' 'ftcrei is post-clas-pression is subject to the verb that sical.
197 |
II. THE STORY OF THE EXODUS 197
Exodus XV 15
aveXa) Trj fia^atpy /xov, KvpLevcret r] x€^p (J-ov.' 10dVecrTeiXas to Trvevfjud crov, iKaXvifiev avrovs OdXacrcra.-
eSvcrav axret ju.oXi/3os iv vSan
oeoogaaixevos iv ayiois, 6avjxaarToSo^ats, ttoicov
repara. e£ereivas r^z/ oeftai' ctou-
Karirnev avrov<; yrj.
18 aiSrjyrjcras Trj SiKcuocrvvr] crov tov aov crov tovtov ov ivr patera),
oLs 777 Ict)(vl crov et? KaraXv^a ayiov crov. edvq koX d)pyio~0y]o-av
eXafiov Karoi/cowra? •I'vXto-Ttet/x. 6totc iarirtvo-av rjyepoves 'ESoj/x /cat a/r^oire?
9. dveXio: future of avaipiuv. § 21. R.V. 'I will draw my sword.' — (j.a-a(pr): § 3. — Kupicio-n t| x€'P f-ov '■ E.V. 'my hand shall destroy them.' The usual meaning of the word which is rendered ' destroy' is ' make to possess.' Here we get very close to
KVpLttio'ei.
10. (jioXupos: earlier and poetic form of fi&KvfiSos. § 35.
11. tis o(xoi6s o-oi Iv Beois : this admission of the existence of other gods might be used as an argument for the early date of this poem. When the Kabshakeh (ii Kings 1835, 194) represents the 'living God' as but one among many, he is regarded as having spoken blasphemy. — Iv 0,7(015 : Hebrew, ' in holiness.' The Greek ought rather to mean ' among holy ones.'
12. KaTcirwv avToxis 711 : a general expression for destruction, since in
this instance it was the sea that swallowed them.
13. Trj 8ik(uoo-vvt] : R. V. ' mercy.' Dr. Hatch (Essays in Biblical Greek, p. 49) has shown how the meanings of diKatotrtivq and £eT]fio
14. <£vio-ti,€£|a : the references to the Philistines, Edomites, and Moab-ites argue a poet of later times acquainted with the subsequent history of Israel.
15. 60-irewav: R.V. 'wereamazed.'
198 |
SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
198
eXafiev avrovs ira.KT]crav tio.vtz.% ol kotolkovvt€<; ~K.ava.av. 16imirdcrot, eV avrovs rpojxos koX c/>o/3o?,
Exodus XT 16
crov,
fxeyedec /fyxx^iovos crov a.iroXi6a>drjroiaav' e&)5 av Trapekdr) 6 X.ads crov, Kvpie,
ew9 av TrapeXOrj 6 Xaos crov ovro? bv ix 17elo~ayayoi)u Kara
els eroip,ov KaroiKrjTiqpiov crov o KanqpTto-o), Kvpte, aytacr/xa, Kvpte, o ^Totyxacra-v at ^eipes crov. 18Kvptos /3ao-ievtj)v rov alStva Kai irr' aitova Kal eri."
19"Or6 eicryfkdev ittvos
15. koI apxovres M«a{3«iT«v: To
make these "words tally with the Hebrew -verse-division, they should be taken with what follows, thus — Kai dpxoyres Mwa/foru?*', £af$ov atiroits rpo-n6s. For &pxoi>Tes the K.V. has ' mighty men.' The 'Hebrew word really means 'rams.' Moab was specially a sheep-' breeding country, and in ii K. 34 Mesha, king of Moab, is described as a 'sheep-master.' The rams seem to be put by a poetic figure for their owners.
16. «n7r«roi . . . diroXi8u>9i|To>-crov: the E.V. has the indicative in both cases. The difference is sufficiently accounted for by the ambiguity of the verbal form in Hebrew. — ttiroXi6o)0^Tlet them be petrified. The notion of being turned into stone by terror was current among the Greeks, as is shown by the story of the Gorgon's head. In the Hebrew phrase however it is the notion of quiescence that is uppermost.
17- tts opos K
)povo)i.£as
Solomon built the Temple no hill in Palestine was especially the abode of Jehovah ; and it was not until the time of Hezekiah and Isaiah, after the destruction of the Northern Kingdom, that Sion became the one recognised centre of the national religion. — a.7iao"ij.a, Kj&pie: the Hebrew word here rendered Ktfpie is Adonai, not, as in the preceding clause, Jehovah. The Greek translators are obliged to use the same word for both. In our version they are distinguished by the use of different type.
18. pa
19. "On eto-TjXBev: this explanatory note appended to the song seems to show that it was not originally intended for this place.
199 |
II. THE STORY OF THE EXODUS 199
Exodus XV 21
dado~o-qs- ol Se viol 'laparjk iiropevdrjcrav Sta £>?pas iv jaecro) Trjs &akcicrcrr]S.
20Aafiovcra Se Mapiap, yj irpo(f>r}TL<; r/ dSeX^i) 'Aapa>v to Tvp.TTa.vov Iv Trj XetP^ avrijs, kcu i^TjXOoo'av 7racrai al ywcu-K65 owicro) aurrjs jaera TVfMTrdvcav koX -^opwv. 21 e^rjp-^v 8e avTcav ~M.apiap. Xeyovaa
" vA.o~oyp.ev tS Kvptq), eVSofcos yap SeSo^acrrat •
Xttttov kcu ava(5a.T7)v eppvtyev ei? dakacrcrav."
2O. Maptdji: Hebrew Miriam. The stem ra--: but the thing was foreign name is the origin of our Mary. The to the Greeks and used chiefly in the mother of Jesus is called Mapid/j, in worship of Asiatic or Egyptian god-Mt. li0. In the 19th chapter of the desses. Our word ' timbrel' is, accord-Koran, Mohammed makes the people ing to Skeat, a diminutive of Middle of Mary, the mother of Jesus, address English timbre, which comes from her as ' 0 sister of Aaron !'—tv^tto.- Latin tympanum through the French. vov: Hebrew tSph, plural titppim, from 21. 4|fjp)^6v 8e atn-oiv : B.V. 'an-the verb tapap (probably onomato- swered them.'—"A
200 |
201 |
INTRODUCTION TO THE STORY OF BALAAM AND BALAK
The scene is now changed. Egypt is left behind, and the Israelites are hovering on the confines of Palestine. Moses is still their leader, though he is Hearing his end, and the bones of Joseph are being carried with them for burial. Over the Israelites themselves a great change has come. Instead of being slaves cowering under a taskmaster, they are now an invading horde, spreading terror before them and leaving destruction behind. Already mighty kings have been slain for their sake, while others are quaking on their thrones. Balak, the king of Moab, in his perplexity sends for Balaam, the prophet of God, whose fame filled the land from Mesopotamia to the Mediterranean, to curse these intruders from Egypt. Balaam, the son of Beor, is represented in our story as being fetched all the way from Pethor on the Euphrates (Nb. 225, 237: op. Dt. 234), a place which has been identified with the Pitru of the Assyrian monuments, near Carchemish. He is made to speak of himself (Nb. 2218) as being the servant of Jehovah, and is everywhere thus spoken of (22s'84'85, 238'17, 2411'18). This looks like an admission on the part of the writer that the worship of the 'one true God' was to be found in Mesopotamia, where Abraham came from, and was not confined to the children of Israel. Balaam indeed figures as the foe of Israel, having all the will to curse, but being allowed only the power to bless (Dt. 234'5). He is credited with having counselled the Moab-ites and Midianites to entice the Israelites away from the worship of Jehovah through the wiles of their women (Nb. 3116); and, when the five kings of the Midianites are slain in revenge for this act, we read 'Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword' (Nb. 318). The passages which connect Balaam with Midian are referred to the priestly document (P), the association of the elders of Midian with the elders of Moab (224'7) being set down to the harmonizing hand of the editor. In our story, which is made up from
201
202 |
202 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
J and E, Balaam, having delivered himself of his prophecies, goes back to his home on the Euphrates (Nb. 2425).
It is probably a mere coincidence that the first king who is recorded to have reigned in Edom is Bela the son of Beor (Gen. 3632). The words in Micah 65 look like an allusion to some account of conversation between Balak and Balaam which has not come down to us.
In the 3STew Testament Balaam is the type of the covetous prophet, ' who loved the hire of wrong-doing' (ii Pet. 215). This is in strong contrast with his own words in 2STb. 2218 —' If Balak would give me his house full of silver and = gold, I cannot go beyond the word of Jehovah, my God.' In Rev. 2H there is a reference to ' the teaching of Balaam' in connexion with idolatry and fornication.
Plato says of Minos that he was not a bad man, but had the misfortune to' offend a literary nation. The same may have been the case with Balaam. The literature of the Jews, though so much scantier than that of the Athenians, has gone deeper into our hearts, and the character of Balaam seems to have suffered in proportion.
The great stumbling-block in the story before us is not the incident of. ' the dumb ass speaking with man's mouth': for, if once we pass the limits of mundane reality, who shall pronounce judgement on degrees of credibility? As Charles Lamb truly remarked — 'We do not know the laws of that country.' It is rather the moral difficulty arising from the arbitrary and unreasonable conduct ascribed to Jehovah, in first commanding the prophet to go, .and then being angry with him for going. From the time of Josephus (Ant. TV. 6 § 2), who says that God's command was given in deceit, various attempts have been made to get over this difficulty, but they cannot be considered successful. It ought therefore to be a relief to the mind and conscience of the devout, when the critics come forward with their •supposition that there are again two stories mixed up here — that the bulk of the narrative in oh. 22 (vv. 2-21, 36-41)j5o:ines from E, _ while the incident of the ass (vv. 22-35) comes from J. If this be so, then in the story, as told in E, Balaam is perfectly obedient to the divine command, not going with the messengers until he has been told in a vision at night to do so; whereas in. the J narrative Balaam's way is perverse before God, in that he went against the divine will. The vision at night and the spiritual perception of the
203 |
INTRODUCTION TO STORY OF BALAAM AND BALAK 203
ass are thus seen to be two different literary contrivances for leading up to the same end, namely, that Balaam was to go, but to speak only as God told him (cp. v. 20 with v. 35). In confirmation of the hypothesis of a double source it may be noticed that in 2221 (E) Balaam is accompanied by the princes of Moab, whereas in 22s2 (J) he has only his own two servants with him.
That the future may be, and has been, foretold is an opinion which has been widely held in past times and may be widely, held again, notwithstanding that the current of thought has been running of late the other way. The flourishing institution of oracles among the Greeks rested upon this persuasion. The prophecies of the Cumsean Sibyl were an engine of Roman state-management; but, as they were also a state-secret, they do not help us much. The Sibylline verses so abundantly quoted by Lactantius as evidences of Christianity would indeed be overpowering proofs of prophecy, if they had not been composed after the events. The same, it is now admitted, is the case with the remarkable mention (i K. 132) of Josiah by name some three centuries before he was born; while the similar mention of Cyrus in the book of Isaiah (4428), instead of being the stronghold of the defenders of prophecy, is now one of the chief arguments for the composite authorship of that work. But prophecy is likely to gain no fairer trial than the witches of old, if fulfilment is to be taken as proof of spuriousness. The last words of Balaam's prophecies appear to predict the destruction of the Persian Empire by Alexander the Great. Are we therefore to set them down to that period? To this it may be replied — Certainly not as a whole, but we must take account of the universal tendency to alter existing prophecies and even to compose new ones suited to fresh events as they occur. The former tendency is dwelt on by Thucydides (II 54) in his comments on the oracular verse
which could be made to suit either a pestilence or a famine at will by the insertion or omission of a single letter. So again Strabo (XIII 1 § 53, p. 608), speaking of the well-known prophecy of Poseidon in the 20th book of the Iliad (11. 307, 308) —
vvv 8e Br] Aivet'ao /3Crj TpuSeatriv dvafa
(cat ttoCSoiv irai&s, rot K«v ptTOTntrBe yevwrcu,
204 |
204 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
says that some people in his day read iravrtaa-iv in place of and understood the lines as a prophecy of the Roman Empire.
The oracular verses which circulated among the Greeks in the sixth and fifth centuries, such as are recorded by Herodotus and Thucydides and jeered at by Aristophanes, afford a fairly close parallel to these prophecies of Balaam. These Greek prophecies are generally assigned to Bacis of Boeotia: but according to iElian (V.H. XII 35) there -were three Bacides; and, as Bacis merely means ' the speaker,' to ascribe them to Bacis may be no more than adding them to the numerous works of ' the author called Anon.'
205 |
III. THE STORY OF BALAAM AND BALAK
Numbers XXII
3 Kal oLTrdpavTes ol viol 'IcrparjX irapevefiaXov iiil §vo~jia>v MwO|S napa. tov 'lopBdvr/v Kara, 'lepei^d.
2 Kal IScov BaXa/c vlbs "Ziir^cbp iravra ocra i.7ToirjO~a> 'laparjX tu 'AfjLoppaLcp, sKal i^ofirjdrj MwayS tov Xaov cr^>d8pa, 6Vt ttoXXol r]O~av ■ koX Trpoo~
Generally it takes a dative of the thing loathed.
4. ytpowiq: yepowla = yipoprts, as in Ex. 31". — licXfga: = exXei^ei, future of iKetxoi, the stem of which is identical with our word 'lick.' Cp. iii K. 1838 i&i.bv, 2238 £Ai|ciy : Judith 74 iKl%ov
5. BaXad(j.: Hebrew Bil'&m. — *a-floilpa : Hebrew, ' to Pethor.' The final a represents a Hebrew suffix, which has the force of motion to. Cp. Sewc-X(l>8a Ex. 12s': 9a/u«£0a Jdg. 141.— 4trl tov iroTajiov ktX. : Hebrew, ' He sent ... to Pethor, which is on the river, to the land of the clildren of his people.' We ought therefore to put a
1. iir Svtrpav Ma6.fi: in the west of Moab or to the west of Moab. The reading however seems to arise out of a misunderstanding of the Hebrew. The word for ' plains' is like that for 'evening,' and 'evening' stands for 'west.' The 'Arabah, i.e. the plain, was used as a proper name of the Jordan valley. — irapd tov 'IopSdv^v: Hebrew, 'beyond Jordan.' As the Israelites are now east of the Jordan, we may infer that the writer lived west. — Ka.Ttt*Iepax<& : over against Jericho, which was west of the river.
2. Kal tSwv BaXcxK : § 80.
3- irpo
205
206 |
206 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
( Numbers XXII 6
olvtov 4yotv " 'iSou Xaos itjekrfXvdtv it; AlyvirTov, kcll i8ov KaTe/caXvi//€v ttv oxjjlv rijs y>Js * Kal ovtos ivKddrjraL e^o-/xevds llov. * teal vvv hevpo apacraC llol top Xabv tovtov, OTt loyyeL outos r) 17/xas, iav Swoj/xe^a Trarafat ef koX e/c/8aXw avrovs e/c ttjs yrjs • on oTSa ovs eat' euXoyqc o*u, euXoyrjvTai, Kai ovs cap Karapdcrr) crv, KeKarrrfpavTai." 7/cal iitopeudf] 7) yepovcrta Mcaafi Kal rj yepovcria MaSta/i,, /cal to. LiauTeia, iv rats y^eptrlv clvt£>v • /cat •^X^ov irpos BaXaa^x. Kal etTrav aura) to, pijjxara BaXa/c. 8Kal 7rpos avrous " KaTaXvaare awrou tt)v vvkto., kcxL aTTO cro/xat vlllv Trpay/xara a eav XaX^o"jj Kuptos 7rpos /xe." Kat Karifiecvav ot ap)(ovTe<; Mwa^S irapa, BaXaa/x. 9Kal ^X^ev 6 0ebs irapa BaXaa/x Kal etrrei/ avrw " Tt ot avOpcorroL ovtol o*oi; Kai ei-rrtv BaXaajU. Trpos rov ueov BaXaK vios
/SacrtXeus M
comma at Troni/ioii, and take 7^s as a the other. Presumably the prophecy local genitive, in the land. In 237 is older than the narrative. Balaam's home is called Mesopotamia 7. i] ■yepowrCa: "this must not be (Hb. Aram). In 242S we read that pressed, as though the -whole body Balaam immediately returned to his went, especially in'iidew-of 15. — t4 place (i.e. to Pethor on the Euphrates), (iavT«ia: the rewards oj divination. yet in 318 he is slain among the Midian- In Prov. 1610 and Ezk. 2122 jio.vtCi.ov is ites. The passages which connect him used in its ordinary sense, with Midian are supposed to belong to 9. TC ol avBpwiroi ktX. : a repro-P and 224-7 to be the device of an editor duction of the vague Hebrew interrogator harmonising two different stories. tive, and perhaps isjended to meap-" — tt)v &j>iv ttjs -yf|s: Ex. 105 n. "Why are these men with thee?" 6. tcrx K.V. 'What men are these with Sw<&|ic8a : if haply we may be able. thee ? '
Like si forte in Latin. — irardlai i% 11. *I8oi> Xaos ^X^XvOev : Hebrew,
avTuv : to smite some of them. — Ktica- ' Behold, the people that is come out.'
Tf|pavTai: § 20. Cp. 249. One of — cp. Ikv $v
these passages has evidently suggested in 6.
207 |
III. THE STORY OF BALAAM AND BALAK 207
Numbers XXII 22
avrbp koX e/c/8aXa> avrbv airb tt}s y^s-'" 12/cal elirev 6 0eb
BaXa/c xai etTrai' " Ov 6£u ~Bakaa.fi iropevOrjvai fie.6' rj/xcov" 1BKal irpocredeTO BaXa/c en ctirocrmXou ap^ovra? irXetous Kal ivTii^oTepov; tovtcdv. ukoX rjXdop irpos BaXaa/A jcat Xeyoucrtv avrw " TaSe Xcyet BaXaK 6 tov Xewcjxap ' 'A^iw ere, /x^ OKVqcrr)^ i9eip Trpos /xe- n ivTLjxcos y
titjv, Kal •yvwcroju.ai Tt TTpoo~9rjcreL Kvptos XaXTjcrat Trpos jute'." 20 Kal ^X^ev 6 0ebs 7r/)6s BaXaaju. Kat eiTrev auT<5 " Et KaXe-crai ere irapeicriv 01 apdpumoi ovtol, dvacrras a,Koov6rjcrov aiiToi? • dXXa, to p'rjfia 0 av XaXiycrcu tt/30? ere, tovto ttoltj-crei5." 21Kai dvacTTa; BaXaa./x to Trpwt intcratjev ttjv ovov aurov, /cat iiropevdr] fieTa. twv dpxoPTcop MwdyS- 22/cat Ov/xa 6 $eb<; on iiropzvdri awos, (cat dvecrTij o
12. eo-Tiv ^ap e«Xo^n(jicvos: § 72. or add to it. Cp. 2418
13. 'AiroTpex«T«: a dignified word iuKpbv fi KcXiv -rap tixavroi. The Greek in late Greek. 2414 b. Frequent in the translators seem to have had here also inscriptions of manumission at Delphi. the word which there corresponds to — irpos tov icipiov viav : Hebrew, ' to trap ^naurou.
your land.' 19. koX vj«is : like the former mes-
17. 4vtC|i.cjs . . . tih^o-w : § 82. sengers.
18. iroi-fjo-tu oittA p.iKpov ktX. : to 20. KaXArcu : § 77. —oav: § 105. make it small or great, i.e. to take from 22. avris: §13.—ivAn-i): Hebrew,
208 |
208 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
Nnrabevs XXII 23
ayyeXos tov deov ivSiaySaXelv ai/rov ■ kou avros imfiefirJKei, eVl ttJs ovov avTov, Kai Svo iratSe? ovtov /act' avrov. 28Kal iSovcra r) 6Vos tov ayyekov tov deov avOearrjKOTa iv Trj 68w Kai tt)v pofi
'placed himself in the way.' — «v8io-' 25. irpo
PoXttv ovtov : for an adversary against the preposition in the former com-
him. Op. 32 eh Sia/SoX^p crov, where the pound has its full force, but not in the
Hebrew is the same. A«i/3oXos = satan, latter. Neither word is used again in
' adversary.' In such passages we have the LXX. The Hebrew is the same
the doctrine of the Devil in germ. — for both. In the't N.T. diroeMpeiv
&irip€($TJi«i : § 19. An imperfect in occurs only in Lk. 845 in the sense of ■
meaning = was riding on. 'to crush.'—rolx0" : Josephus here
23. a,vf)£
ticiple in meaning. Cp. 31 and 34 . 26. ets ov: in which. §90.—8e£i&v
dvS4
Hebrew, which has here the name iKiChlvai a-rr' airijs ds&kv ^ dpuTTep&y:"
Balaam. Nb. 20" Kai ovk iKKXivov/iey 5c£ia oidt
24. avXa|iv: furrows is the usual eitbmpa : Dt. 227, IT20: i K. 612: ii Chr. meaning of this word. The R.V. has 342: Is. 3O21—in all which passages here 'in a hollow way between the the mere accusative is employed, as vineyards.' — 4>pa-/(j-°s kt. : §51. Jos. here.
Ant. IV 6 § 2 Kara ti txreybv xuptw 27. 18^661) . . . koA tTWirrev : got
> a£/*a
209 |
III. THE STORY OF BALAAM AND BALAK 209
Numbers XXII 80
jpnov; Kai evrrev BaXaa/i tyj ova " On e/
fioi • Kal el el~)(ov fj.a)(a.tpav iv rfj xeLP^ ffi7! av cf ere. Kat Xeyet 17 qyos tw BaXaa/A Ovk eyco 77 o*
e^>' ^S ine/Sawes dvo veorrjTos crov e
avrw 6 ayyeXos tou deov "Aia, rt iirdra^aiSou eyw i^r\6ov ets SiaySoXijV crou, ort ou/c do-reta ^ 680s crou ivavriov jjlov. 83/cat iSovcra ju,e 17 ovos iijeKkivev aTt i[x.ov rp'nov tovto ■ Kal el vev, vvv ovv ere /xev drreKTeiva, iKeivrjv 8 34Kal cotci' BaXaa/i t<5 dyyeXw Kvpiov " 'H-fiapr-qua, ov ydp TpTio-Tdvrv otl (xv /xoi dvdio~T7)Ka6So) ets o~wdvTr-criv Kal vvv el p.r crot dpearKei, aTrocrTpa^^o-o/xai." 85/cal
6 ayyeXos tou ^eou 7rpbs BaXactja " ~ZvvTropev6rjTi dvBpdmatv • irXfjv to prjiia 6 idv euro* irpos ere, tovto
29. «|Mr€iraixas: there is a perfect 32. ets StapoX^v: v. 22 n.—ovk viiruiKa. from rraifw as well as from ioreCa: R.V. ' perverse.' On the irala. The later form Trevaixa., which moral sense which came to be attached treats the stem as a guttural, is here to the word i.
death. "S,KKevreiv occurs in seven other 34. &v8fo-riiKas : v. 23 n. — iiro-
passages of the LXX. o-Tpa<))ii
30. rfjs o-fyupov fi|j. as : Ex. 5" n. middle in meaning. Cp. 23".16.". §83. — (IT) virepopdo-ei kt. : Did I out of —
210 |
210_ SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
Nuinbers XXII 31
fjXdev eh crvvavTiqcrLV cturw eh ttoXlv Mwa^, rjn<; em twv bpio id="iv.i.i.iv.p2836.1">v 'Apvo>v, 6 ecrnv 4k [xepovs t5>v bpio>v. 87Kat ehrev BaXaK irpos y8aXaa/x, " Ouj^t aTreoreiXa Trpos ere KaXearai ere; 8ta tC ovk rjpxov Trpos p.e; ov Suvifcro/xat,
ere;" 8Bkcu eiirev BaXactju, irpos BaXaK "'iSou i^/
ere vvv • Swaros ecro/xat XaXTjcrat rt; ro ^77/aa o ficLXrj 6 #eo? et? to (TTOfia jjlov, tovto XaXyjcro)." 89 K
" Ot/coSd/xTjcroj' /xoi. ivTavda enTa ^8&)/i.ovs, Kat eTOLfiacrov [iot evTavda eirra jiidcr^ous Kai e7rra Kpiovs." 2Kal eTroirjO~ev BaXaK ov Tpoirov elvev avTca BaXaa/x, Kat a,vqveyxev
Kal Kpibv inl tov /Soo/aoV. 8/cat elTrei/ BaXa
36. 'Apv
into the Dead Sea from the west, and 39. Il6X.as liravXewv: this shows
seems here to be regarded as forming the meaning which -the translator put
the northern boundary of.the territory upon the Hebrew proper name.
of Moab (' the border of Arnon' = 40. awecrmXev:■ perhaps sent some
the border made by the Arnon). As of the meat, since arsacrifice among
rivers are masculine in Greek, we might the Jews, as among the Pagans, was
expect 8s here instead of 8, — Ik (Upo-us preliminary to a good dinner.
tmv opluv: in the direction of the 41. ttjv
borders. Hebrew, 'on the extremity brew Bamoth-Baal. Bamoth is the
of the border.' word commonly rendered 'highplaces.' ^
37. Oi^ ttirfcrmXa: the Hebrew The situation was chosen also as corresponding to this might have been affording a good view of the Israelite rendered d-n-oariWav airforeiXa, but encampment.
the Greek translator seems at this 2. Kal &v(jve-yK«v: Hebrew, 'and
point to be getting tired of the em- Balak and Balaam offered.' — ivl tov
phatic repetition. He fails to mark f3
it again in 38 where Swipei Swarbs every altar.' So in v. 4.
211 |
III. THE STOEY OF BALAAM AND BALAK 211
Numbers XXIII 8
BaXctK " TlapdcTT'qdi iirl tjJs #ucrias crov, kcu iro/aeucro/iat, ei /jlol
avTov eiirev
" 'Ek Mecroirora/Aias ixeTene/xipaTo fxe BaXaK,
ySacriXeus MwdjS ef 6p£a>u an* avaroXmv, Xeycov 1 Aevpo apacrai /jlol 70^ 'Ia/cwyS, Kat Seupo eTTiKaTcLpacrai jjloi tov 'IcrparfX. 8tl ctpdcrofiai bv ^rj KaTaparcu Kvpto?;
3. nopdo-T-nBi iirC: SianiJ 6y at. A was not inaptly chosen by the Greek
regard for Greek would make irapao-ri;- translator to represent the Hebrew
vai to be constructed with a dative, but original, which is often rendered ' prov-
a preposition follows in the Hebrew, erb.' The Hebrew word originally
which is represented by iirl. — el |ioi meant'setting beside,'and was applied
unto me. — 6 Ocos : Hebrew,' Jehovah.' which follows, consisting of couplets,
— Kal wapso-Tii. .. tov 6eov : not in the in which each second line is a repetition
Hebrew.—eiBetav: sc. 6S6v. E.V.' and under another form of its predecessor,
he went to a bare height.' The Greek The meaning of ' parable' in the N.T.
can only mean ' he went straight.' is different. It is there ' comparison '
6. 4
7. irapapoV/jv : the word 7rapa(3oi} 8. t( ttpderWhat curse am I
212 |
212
SELECTIONS FEOM THE SEPTUAGINT
Numbers XXIII 3
rj t'i KaTapdcrafiai ov fir) KarapaTai 6 0eos; o Kopv
KaX 0.1IO fiowSiV TTpOO~VOT]O~W
ISov ab
96Vi
10tis e£ijKyDi/3acraTO to
Kal Tt§ ifjapiOfJuyjo-ercu BrjfjLow; 'lcrparjk; dnoGdvoi r) faxr/ (jlov iv xf/v)(aL? SiKaicav,
Kai yevoiTo to o"rripfiv2Kal eTrrev BaXaayu- irpo? BaXcix " Ou^i oo-a 6 0e6s el? to crro^xa /xou, toijto
to pronounce, upon him? rt is cognate accusative.
9. o+oiiai, irpocvo^o-o): R.V. ' I see, I behold.' Upoevoeiv occurs eight times in the LXX. In L. & S. it is recognised only as a false reading in Xenophon. — fiowSv: iv K. 216 n. — Xaos |i6vos KaToiK^
10. t6
meaning. — Srjiious: Hebrew, ' fourth part of.' The word for 'multitude' differs only by a letter from that for ' fourth part.' — dtrofidvoi r i|n>xif| ktX. : Hebrew, ' Let my soul die the death of the righteous.' The meaning of this prayer, in this particular context is not clear. In the Greek the last two lines do not correspond in meaning, which shows that something is wrong. But the Greek of the second line gives a more natural close to the prophecy, which relates to the prosperity of Israel, than the Hebrew as translated in our version. Perhaps the word rendered ' last end' ought to be taken to mean ' posterity.'
11. «i6iyT]Ka9 evXcyiav : § 56.
13. !{<3v: there is another reading i£ o5, which grammar requires. — oix ot|t) a.i-r6v : the Hebrew here has no negative, but either reading makes good sense. — dXV 4]: § 108. — IrctBev : § 87.
213 |
19
III. THE STOKY OF BALAAM AND BALAK 213
Numbers XXIII 19
Tt avrov 01/07, vrdpTas Be ov ^ TSrjs- Kai Kardpacrai /*oi avTov eKeidev." uKai wapeXafiev avrbv ets aypov crKomav im Kopv
ivamcrai /xdprv?, vlbs %eTT
ov$e
a fcrei, Kai ov)(t i
14. «ts a-ypoii o-Koiridv ktX.: to the
look-out place of the field, to the top of that which is hewn in stone. B.V. ' into the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah.' Zophim is here a proper name, but means 'The Watchmen.' Pisgah is also the proper name of a well-known motmtain overlooking the Jordan valley from the east. The translator is supposed to have arrived at Aea£evfi4vov from an Aramaic sense of the root.
15. iya Se iropetov 8«<5v : Hebrew, ' while I meet yon-der.' Here, as in v. 3, the Hebrew omits the reference to'questioning God'— possibly out of a feeling of reverence. Here the sense is incomplete without it.
18. «v<&Tio-eu (idprw: give ear to me as a witness. Hebrew, ' hearken unto me.' The Greek rendering can here "be traced to a different pointing of the Hebrew text. The same conso-nants which can be read 'unto me' may also be taken to mean ' my wit-ness.' "&varl^aSis a common word in the LXX, e.g. Gen. 423: Jdg. 53: Jer. 23as. It occurs also in Acts 2M.
19. 8iapTT)6fjvai: to be misled. He-brew, 'that he should lie.' Ataprav occurs only here in the LXX. In Ju-dith 816 we find oi% us &v6pwos 6 9eds imeCKifi^viu, | oiSi is vlbs ivdpilnrov Siai-r^ff^ai.—aimT)8i}vto be terrified with threats. R.V. 'that he should repent.'
214 |
214 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
Numbers XXIII !
20tSou evXoyeiv TrapeiXrj/xfiai •
evXoy^crco, kcu ov fir) diroa-Tp^Jw. 21 ovk ecrrcu /xd^^os iv 'Iolkw/3,
ovhe 6(j>0ijcr€Tai ttovoKv/hos o #€o? avrov joer* avrov,
to. iv8o£a ap^ovroiv iv aur
ovSe n-avTeia iv 'icrpayjX. Kara Kaipov prjdrjcreTai 'laKco/3 koX T
ti ivLTeXicrei 6 6e.6
20. I8ov cvXoy€iv ktX.: the Greek here reproduces the Hebrew — ' Behold, I have received to bless.' The E. V. supplies the -word ' commandment.' — rio-y
21. o*k &-TCU p.6x6os ktX. : E.V. ' He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, | Neither hath he seen per-verssness in Israel.' The Hebrew nouns here used may mean either 'sin' or' sorrow,' ' Iniquity' and ' perverse-ness' decide the question in the one ■way, m6x^oj and vivos in the other: but the derivatives of these latter, IMxBrjpla. and iro^pia, would coincide with the English version. — t& cvSoga ap6vrav ktX. : the glories of chiefs are in him, i.e. "Israel has glorious chiefs." E.V. 'and the shout of a king is among them.' Perhaps the Greek translators changed ' king' into 1 rulers' to avoid the appearance of anachronism^
22. as So£a povoicepuros : the ' unicorn ' figures all together in eight passages of the LXX —Nb. & 248 : Dt. 33" : Job 399 : Ps. 2122, 286, T769, 911°. In the E.V. it is everywhere reduced to a 'wild-ox,' except where it is absent altogether (Ps. 7769). From Dt. 3317 it appears plainly that the animal had more than one horn. The rendering of the Vulgate then — cuius for-titudo similis est rhinocerotis — is devoid of plausibility. It should be noticed that the parallelism in sense, which is very close in most of these couplets, is here absent altogether.
23- ov -yap co-tiv oici>vicr|j.os ktX. : this is a literal rendering of the Hebrew. The E.V. margin puts a meaning into the words thus : ' Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, | Neither is there any divination against Israel,' i.e. it is useless to call in diviners to curse them. — na/rd. Kaipov ktX. : quite correct as a rendering of the Hebrew, except that itriTeKtau ought to be perfect, but the meaning is not plain in
215 |
III. THE STORY OF BALAAM AND BALAK 215
.Numbers XXIV 1
ioov Aaos a>s o~kvh,vo<; ava-crrrjcrerai,
ov K0L[X7)drjcre.TaL ew;
Kal al/xa Tpavpariuv irterai."
25 Kal e'nrev BaXaK Trpo$ BaXaa/x, " Ovre /caxapat? Karapdcrrj /xoc avrov, ovre evXoycov firj eiXoyrjo-rj? avrov." %kclI airo-KpLOtis BaXaafj, ilirev to> BaXctK " Ovk iXdX^
t-, et dpicrei t<5 ^eai,
28Kat TrapeXa^Sev BaXa/c tov BaXaaja e7rl tov <£ id="iv.i.i.iv.p2926.1">oya>p, to Traparetvoy et9 ttjv epr/fiov. 29/cai BaXaa.|a 77pbs BaXaK " Oi/co8djU.17crdv /xot &SSe eTrr Kal €TOLfi,aor6v ju,oi SSe «rra jadcr^ous /cai e^Ta Kpiovs 30Kal £irour)crzv BaXaK Kaddnep elirev avrca BaAaa^t, d^ /xdcr^oi' Kal Kptov errl tov /Swju.di'. 3Kal
BaXaa/x oti KaXov icrTLV €vclvtl KvpCov evXoyecv tov aajX, ovk ivopsvOr) KaTa. to elco&bs ets avvdvrrfa'iv Kal a-rreo-Tpeipev to Trpoo-wnov els T7fv e
either' language. The parallelism of 25. outs riXo-ySv kt. : § 81.
sense is here also absent, and it looks 27. Atvpo irapaXdfiw ktX. : punctu-
as though Israel had been originally ate here els riwov &\oy The words
meant to balance Jacob. el &pi
24. -ytt-upi.w9T|o-£Tai: this must come —If it shall please God, do thou curse
from yavpiovv, not from yavpt&K There me him from there.
is also a form yavpovv Wisd. 62: 28. $o-ycip : = Peor. — to irapa/rei-
iii Mac. 311. Tavpiav occurs in Judith vov «ls ttjv cpunov : to the place which
97: Job 3", 3921> 2s. On the voice see stretches along to the desert, in apposi-
§ 83.—Tpav(iaTi£v : Tpav/xarlas prop- tion with Kopv
erly means a wounded man, as in Ar. down upon the desert.'
Poet. 34 § 13 : Xucian V.H. II 38. In 1. els
the X.XX it is used for one who has meet the omens, i.e. to observe signs
met his death by wounding, e.g. Kb. from which he might infer the will
1916, 318: Jdg. I624: i K. 1762. The of God. Cp. 233>15. E.V. 'to meet
word is very common. with enchantments.' The Hebrew
216 |
216
SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
Numbers XXIV 2
2 Kai i£dpavXd<; • koX eyevero irvexifia deov iv avTca. 8/cai avaXaf$a>v r>p irapafioXfjv avrov elirev " ^iqcrlv BaXactja vtos Becop,
iv vttvo), a.TTOKeKaXvfiiJ.ei>oL oi ocfydak/Mol avrov • 5&>S KaXoi
at aK-qvai o~ov, 'laparjX • 6 ws vdirai o-Kidt,ovcrai,
ko a)o~el TrapaSetcros ivl irorafiaiv ai a)o~el o~K7]val a? etrq^ev oxxel KeSpoi nap' vSara.
word is the plural of that which is translated oiavicr/j.6s in 2323.
3. 6 dXijeivfis opfiv: this seems to point to a different reading from that of the Hebrew as we have it. See R.V.
4.
5. «s KaXol ktX. : the sight of the Israelites encamped, which has made a desert place seem populous, suggests a vision of the people permanently set-
tled in a fruitful land, and flourishing like a well-watered grove of trees.
6. ws vdirai o-KiaJowai: even as shady dells. R. V.' As valleys are they spread forth.' —irapdSeicros : a Persian word meaning a 'park' or 'pleasure-ground,' which is familiar to readers of Xenophon. The Hebrew word is here the same as that which is translated ' garden' in Gen. 2 and 3. In Nehemiah, Ecclesiastes, Canticles, and Sirach the Hebrew has parties, which is probably a loan-word from the Persian.—o-Kt)vai: R.V.'lign aloes.' Curious as this variation seems, it is not an unnatural one. For the Hebrew word in v. 5, which is rendered oJkol by the Greek and ' tents' by the English translators, differs only by a point from the one which is here employed. The word 'lign-aloes' stands for lignum aloes, which is a Latin translation of the Greek £uXaXfo;. The bitter
217 |
III. THE STORY OF BALAAM AND I3ALAK 217
Numbers XXIV 9
7 i^eXevcrerai civOpCDiros Ik tov cnrepjXaTos awov,
Kal KvptevcreL Idvoiv ttoXXwv • /cat vxfjwdtfo-eTai rj Tory /3acrtXeta,
l av^rjOrjcreTcu fj jSacnXeta avrov.
ijyr)crev avrbv i£ AIjvtttov, a>5 Sofa fidvoKepooTO? avrw • eSerai idvr) i^6pa>v auroB,
Kal to. Trdy^rj avrSiv
/cat /at? fioXicriv avrov /caTarofevcret iyflpov.
>? Xea>v /cat w
Tt? dvacrrijcret avrov; ot euXoyowres ere evXo
Kal ot KaTapcojxevoL ere KtKarijpavTai."
aloe was also known as d7<£XAoxo id="iv.i.i.iv.p2969.1">', anachronism even for prophecy. For
■which is perhaps the Semitic word tor- the form of the comparison, see § 65.
rowed and modified so as to give it 8. 8«6s &&ifiyr rev ktX.: in 2322 with a
something of a Greek air. slight variation. The difference in the
7. ^cXevcrsTcn &v6pa>iros ktX. : K.V. original amounts only to that between
' Water shall flow from his buckets, j singular and plural (aivbv, airoii). —
And his seed shall be in many waters.' Kal to irdxt) kt. : and shall suck the
— {n|/aflTJ
kingdom shall be higher than Oog. ' And shall break their bones in pieces.'
Hebrew, 'his king shall be higher than The two can hardly be renderings of
Agag.' Gog (Ezek. 382, 391) seems the same original, though the one
out of place here. Perhaps the true process is preliminary to the other,
reading is Og (cp. 2423), which has -The metaphor is in either case from a
three consonants in Hebrew and might beast of prey, but the Greek lends it-
easily get changed into either Gog or self very well to the idea of the Jews
Agag. Moreover Og is elsewhere men- absorbing the wealth of other nations,
tioned as typical of a mighty king (Ps. 'EK^ueX/f«y occurs only here. For rd-
18411, 13620) and he had just been sub- xos cp- Eur- Cyclops 380: ot
dued by Israel (Nb. 2138-35). On this etyov eiTpa^trrarov irdxos. — poXCcriv:
supposition the ' king' will be Jehovah, arrows. Cp. Ex. 1913 tj poklBt xara-With the reading 'Agag' the king "Tofewftfo-erot: Jer. 279 ws /3oXls iiaxvrou
would" naturally be Saul. But to take a-vverov. This line is out of keeping with
a person yet unborn as a standard of the simile of the wild beast, which is
comparison for another person who is in resumed in the following couplet,
the same predicament is too much of an 9. wKaT^pavrai: § 20.
218 |
218 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
Numbers XXIV 10
10/ecu iOvjAcodr] BaXaK eVt BaXact/i, net! o~vveKpoTr)o~ev rais X
li <£ id="iv.i.i.iv.p2996.1">7)o~iv BaXaa^t vlo<; Be
(f)7jo-lv 6 av6'pcorros o a )0Lvbs opav, uaKova)v Xoyia deov,
eTrtcrTafiefos £mo~TijfJLr]v Trapa 'Tj fcal opacriv deov IScov,
iv virvcp, airoKeKaXv^ivoi ot 6(j)6aX[x.ol
ol avTOv
10. o-DveKp
Luoian Somn. 14 iJyaedKTei Kal tG x€?/» to have supplanted dv^pxofuu. Jer.
crui'6Kp6Tet, Koi toi)s (356cTas 4p£irpte. 449 cLiroTp£xov7es dTreXetfcovrai. — 4ir
13. iroi%rai oiTO wovrjpov ktX. : to {(rxwrov t«v ^|upav: Dan. O' 1014. make it bad or good (i.e. a curse or a This is the phrase w^ich is used blessing). 2218 n. at the ■beginning of Hebrews. Op.
14. airoTp^x
in Alexandrian Greek, and not to have 15. 6 d.Xii8iv6s opSv: 6p<2i' is here
been, suggestive of anything undigni- a substantive, not a participle, as in
fied, being used on the most solemn v. 3.
occasions, as in Josh. 2314: Tob. 148 : 16. 4irt(TTO(i€vos ktX. : here we have
Aristeas § 273 k&v <« row ftp tiirorpi- the line which was wanting to com-
xviriv. Cp. also Gen. 1219, 24s*, 329 : plete the first couplet in v. 4.
219 |
111. THE STORY OF BALAAM AND BALAK 219
Numbers XXIV 20
17 Seifw avTw, Kal ov^l vvv • t ovk i
Cl,a), /cat ovk iyyi^et-avarekel aarpov i£ 'Iafcw/3, Kal avaoTrjcreran, av6'
l dpavcrei tovs dp^yovs Mwa/8, Kal TTpovofi.€vcr€i Travras vlovs ~%ij0.
18Kal carat 'ESw/x.
Kal ecrrai Khrqpovo^ia 'Hcrav 6 b)(dpoavrov • Kal 'IcrparjX eTroirjcrev iv ayyi.
19
Kal anokti crw^d^ievov ck TroX 20 Kal i8a>i> top 'Afj.aK.rjK Kal avakafiav ttjv TrapafioXrjv awoS
17. StCJu oir§: Hebrew, ' I see him.' The Greek has no sense, and is due to an error on the part of the translator. — (loKapCJu, Kal o-6k lyyt^a: / pronounce him blessed, though he is not nigh. R.V. 'I behold him, but not nigh.' The seer in vision sees the distant future, not the present. Op. V. 14.—dvaTcXet oo-Tpov kt.: this must refer to David, the one Israelite king who is recorded to have conquered both Moab and Edom. — avflpwiros : R.V.' sceptre.' —tovs opxTyovs: R.V. * the comers.'—irpovo(JL£va"Ci: irporo-lis-Oav is a late Greek word meaning ' ravage.' Both it and Trpovo^ ' spoil' (Nb. 31H) are 00mmon in the LXX.— titovs S^9 : R.V. 'sons of tumult' The Greek translator either took ' sbeth' to be a proper name or left it untranslated. His difficulty seems to have been occasioned by a mispointing of the initial consonant.
18. 'Ho-au : Hebrew Seir. ' Esau' is an alternative for ' Edom' : Seir is
a mountain in the land of Edom. — iirot^o-ev Iv l
19. 4£€-yep8^
20. ISuv tov 'A(iaXT]K: Balaam is supposed to catch sight of some encampment of the nomad Amalekites, which happened to be within the field of vision. He can only prophesy of a people when he has some portion of it "before his eyes. So the modern clairvoyant requires to be somehow put en rapport with the person about whom he is questioned. — to
220 |
220 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
Numbers XXIV 21
" 'Apxrj idvSiv 'AfiaKiqK,
Kal to cnrep/xa avT&v ctTroXeZrai."
21 Kal IScov tov Kevatov Kal avaXafSotv Trjv itapa0o^v avrov etrrev
ei 'Io"xypa iy KaroiKia crov •
Kal iav 0fjyemjrai tz-eocrcrta iravovpyias, 'Ao-avpioi ere
prophecy in 3310. But the Greek rendering has here the disadvantage of quite losing the verbal antithesis which exists in the original between ' beginning' and 'end.' In i Chron. 442 we read that 500 men of the sons of Simeon went to Mount Seir and smote the remnant of the Amalekites. This appears from the context to have been in the days of Hezekiah.
21. tov KcvaCov: in Jdg. I16 (LXX) the Kenites are spoken of as the descendants of Jothor, the father-in-law of Moses (Ex. 218 n.). In i Sam. 15s Saul, when 'about to attack the Amalekites, warns the Kenites, as old friends of Israel, to withdraw from among them. — Kai tdv 6rjs kt.: R.V. 1 and thy nest is set in the rock.' The parallelism of the couplets requires this line to repeat the preceding one ; it is therefore a mistake to subordinate it to the sentence that follows. — voo-o-idv : = veoaativ. Cp. v. 22. The Hebrew word thus rendered (qen) contains an untranslatable pun on the name 'Kenites' (qeni).
22., Kal eav -y^Tm ktX. : and if it become unto Bear a nest of wickedness. R.V, 'Nevertheless Kain shall he wasted.' This extraordinary divergence may be partly accounted for
without supposing a difference of reading. The Greek translator took the proper name Qain here for the common term ' nest' (qen) used in the preceding verse, and on the other hand treated as a proper name the ■word ba'er, which means ' wasting.' Gray even suggests an explanation of iravovpylas. —'Acrtrilpioi
221 |
III. THE STOKY OF BALAAM AND BALAK 221
Numbers XXIV 25
28/cat ihmv toi> *Hy teal avaXa^wv rrjv TrapajSoXrjv avrov elwev
,.tis fyjcreTai otclv 6fj raura 6 0eos; 24 Kai e^eXeucrerai et ^ei/Jos Kmaicov, Kai KaKMcrovcriv 'Acrcrovp, Kai KaKaxrovcnv 'EySpcu'ous,
/cal avrol 6fi.odvjxa.hbv olttoXovwcu." dvaoras BaXaa//, anrjXdev, avocrT panels eis rov 107701/ aurou • Kai BaXaK anrjXdev tt/sos e
25
nected with Judah (Jdg. I16), did not suSer seriously till the invasion of Sennacherib (b.o. 701).
23. Kai t8«vT6v"£}y: there is nothing answering to these words in the Hebrew, though the analogy of vs. 20 and 21 requires it The destruction of Og has already been recorded (Nb. 2183-36).—gTttv e^ rain-a: Btivai. here seems to have the sense of appoint. As this is the beginning of a new irapa-fSoXrf, it would appear that toOto refers to what follows.
24. Kai IgcXevo-crai kt.: Hebrew, literally 'and ships from the hand of Kittim.' — KiTiaCuv : Hebrew Kittim = Kfriov, a town in Cyprus. The name was extended from the town, which was originally a Phoenician settlement, to the island (Jos. Ant. 16 § 1 X^tfe/tos 5£ xe#eM<* T^l" vijffov %
to the Greeks generally. In i Mac. I1 Alexander the Great is spoken of as having come from the land of XerrieZ/i, and in 85 of the same, Perses is called Kiticup |8a
222 |
223 |
INTRODUCTION TO THE STORY OF SAMSON
Samson is the most frankly Pagan figure in the whole Bible — a hero like Hercules, with a good appetite, ready to feast or ready to fight, invincible against the foe, but helpless before women.
His name in the Hebrew is Shimshon. The form Samson comes from the Vulgate, representing the Sa/A^w of the Septuagint. This last may be an error of the translators or it may represent an older and truer tradition than that of the Massoretes with regard to the pronunciation of Hebrew.
The name, according to Josephus (Ant. V 8 § 4), means ' strong.' Modern scholars, however, connect it with SJiemesh, the Hebrew word for the sun; and, as Beth-shemesh, or the ' House of the Sun,' was near the hero's birthplace, some would have us resolve Samson into a solar myth. For ourselves we prefer the more terrestrial view which sees in the story of Samson a number of local legends drawn from the annals of the tribe of Dan. There was doubtless really a strong man in the district of Zorah and Eshtaol, who did doughty deeds against the Philistines, which were afterwards related with embroidery. We must remember that, though the legends of Samson are to all appearance very early, they were not put into writing as we have them until after the Captivity (cp. Jdg. 1519 with 18s0).
The story of Samson as a whole may be analysed into the following parts —
(1) The birth-story 13.
(2) The marriage-story 14.
(3) The story of the foxes 151"8.
(4) The jawbone-story 158-20.
(5) The story of the gates of Gaza 16M.
(6) The story of Delilah and the death of Samson 164*.
Of these the first and the last two have no organic connexion either with one another or with the rest, while the second, third, and fourth cohere closely together.
There is reason to consider that the first story is the latest of all;
223
224 |
224 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
for the fact that an annunciation of birth should be thought appropriate shows that the person of whom it is told has already become celebrated. As in the case of Sarah (Gen. 161), of Hannah (i S. I5), and in the New Testament of Elisabeth (Lk. I7), the mother of the wonderful child had previously been barren.
The connexion of Samson with the institution of the Nazirate which is common to the first and the last story (Jdg. 13s'7, 1617), looks like a priestly attempt to throw some cloak of pious purpose over the otherwise unsanctified proceedings of the hero. This institution is mentioned as early as Amos 211'n, side by side with prophecy. The law of the N azirite may be read in Nb. 61"2*: but the regulations there given refer to a temporary vow made by the individual himself for some special purpose. The only parallels to the lifelong Nazirate of Samson are Samuel (i S. ln) in the Old Testament and John the Baptist (Lk. I15) in the New. But the notion that Samson was a Is"azirite in any sense is hard to reconcile with the general tenor of the story. In eating honey taken from the carcase of the lion Samson was breaking the law of the Nazirite (Nb.
In the days of Samson, as in those of Samuel and Saul, the Philistines were the oppressors of Israel. These were foreign invaders who succeeded in giving to the whole country of the Jews the name of Palestine, which it retains to this day. They established themselves in the fertile lowlands on the sea-coast of Canaan. It is an interesting question where they came from. Possibly it may have been from Crete during the Mycenaean period, when Crete was the centre of a naval dominion, the power and wealth of which is illustrated by the recently excavated ruins of Cnossus. If so, their culture and mode of life may have been similar to that of the early Greeks as depicted in the Homeric poems. The epithet 'uncircum-cised' specially applied to the Philistines indicates the Jewish sense
225 |
INTRODUCTION TO THE STORY OF SAMSON 225
of the difference between themselves and these foreigners: for many of their other neighbours were of Semitic race and practised circumcision like themselves. These considerations might afford a reason for the name of the Philistines being translated 'foreigners' (aXX6
Hqw far the rule of the Philistines over the Israelite tribes extended does not appear. The northern tribes do not come within the purview of the story. But the southern Danites and the adjacent tribe of Judah (Jdg. 159"13) are represented as being completely subdued by the Philistines and living in unresisting subjection. Samson is no military leader, like Barak, Gideon, or Jephthah, and organizes no armed rebellion. He like his neighbours, lives at first on peaceful terms with the dominant race, and is ready even to take a wife from among them. His feats of arms are not acts of war, but outbreaks of fury provoked by personal wrongs.
In the peculiar relations of Samson with his Philistine wife, whom he goes to visit at her father's house, it has been thought that we have an instance of an old form of marriage, which is believed to have existed among certain peoples, in which the wife, instead of migrating to her husband's house, continued to reside with her own family, and was visited there by her husband. At the time of the Samson-story this usage may have prevailed in the case of intermarriage between Israelite and foreign races. Abimelech had similar relations with a Canaanite woman in Shechem. Similarly we find in the Iliad that the married daughters of Priam continued to reside in his palace; and traces of the same usage survived in the Spartan institutions.
To the story of the foxes and the firebrands there is a curious parallel in Roman folk-lore. At the Cerealia, on April 19, foxes with burning firebrands tied to them used to be let loose in the Circus. Ovid Fasti IT 681 —
Cur igitur miss® vinctis ardentia tuedis terga ferant vulpes, causa docenda mi hi.
226 |
226 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
He goes on to tell the story, as it was told to him by an old innkeeper at Carseoli, of how a boy of twelve, having caught a fox that had been robbing the fowl-yard, wrapped it in straw and set it on fire, and how the fox escaped and burnt the corn-fields.
Factum abiit, monimenta manent; nam vivere captum nunc quoque lex vulpem Carseolana vetat.
Utque luat poenas gens hase Cerealibus ardet, quoque raodo segetes perdidit, ipsa perit.
The fox episode ended in dire disaster to Samson's wife and father-in-law. This however is passed lightly over as having happened to Philistines. Not so the tragedy of the closing scene, in which the hero, blind and captive, is brought out of the prison-house to make sport for his enemies. Milton has seen how the pathos of this situation lends itself to a drama after the Greek model. What can be finer than the dithyrambic lament of the chorus over the stricken
hero —
' with languish'd head unpropt As one past hope, ahandon'd. . . .
******** /
Or do my eyes misrepresent? Can this he he That heroic, that renown'di Irresistible Samson ? whom unarm'd
'No strength of man, or fiercest wild beast, could withstand ; Who tore the lion, as the lion tears the kid ; Kan on embattled armies clad in iron ; And, weaponless himself, • —
Made arms ridiculous, useless the forgery Of brazen shield and spear . . .'
Samson slew at his death more than he slew in his life, yet he brought no deliverance to his countrymen. The moral of his story is the same as that of Ajax as depicted by Sophocles, and is thus drawn by Milton —
' But what is strength without a double share Of wisdom ? vast, unwieldy, burdensome, Proudly secure, yet liable to fall By weakest subtleties, not made to rule, But to subserve where wisdom bears command.'
227 |
IV. THE STORY OF SAMSON
■Judges XIII
^at irpocredrjKav 61 viol 'lapar/X Tronjcrai to rrovrjpbv ivamiov Kvpiov, koli irapeo'aKzv aurous Kvpi-o? £v
. TecrcrepaKOvra erij. 2Kat rjv avrfp els airo %apa airb orjjxov crvyyeveias tov AcweL koI 6vo/j,a avra) MapaJe, kcli yvvrj airw areipa Kal ovk ereKiu. 3 (cat m(f>dr) ayyeXos Kvplov Trpbs ttjv ywauca Kal elirev irpb<; avTijv u'ld>oi> crii aretpa Kal ov TeroKa4 Kal vvv
1. iv x«ip£: into the hand. § 91.
2. dvT]p ets: § 2. — SapaA: R.V. 'Zorah.' A town lying near the edge of the highlands, on the present railway from Jaffa to Jerusalem. Josh. 1533, Id*1. — diro Sof the Danites. For the termination cp. 156 to!; Qanrel. — Mavme: Hebrew Manoah (= rest). In i Chr. 254 the Zorites are called Manahathites, which may be only a coincidence.
4. lUixxrfia : cp. vs. 7, 14: i K. in. w .-Hos. 4» : Mic. 2": Jer. 13W — ^ . . . irav : § 88.
5. va£eCp: a retention of the Hebrew word for want of a Greek equivalent. It is from root 'nazar,' 'to separate' or ' consecrate.' On the law of the Nazirite see Nb. 61"21. The Alexandrian Ms. has here •qyiaajj£vov Nafi-patov, which is perhaps referred to in Mt. 223
Stus irXrjpuffrj t& prifiiv Sci. tCiv irpo
tov o-£
227
228 |
228 SELECTIONS FROk THE SEPTUAGINT
Judges XIII 6
crn.ei/ti." 6/cou elcrrjXdev r) yvv-q Kal etirev t<5 dvSpl a,vrrjs 4yovcra ""AvOpwTros 0eov 'rfkdev irpos (j,e, teal elSos olvtov ws eTSos dyyeXou 6eov
9Kat eicnjKovcre'-' 6 ^eos rrjs <^covr)5 Mai id="iv.i.i.iv.p3100.1">a>e, Kal rjXOev 6 ay-yeXos toO ^eou ert 7rpbs ttjv ■ywai/ca • Kal aurr; iK(i6rjTO iv aypw, Kat Mavwe o av>)p avr^js ovk tjv yu.er avrrjs- Kai
eTaxyvev r yvvr) Kal eSpajaev Kal di'ijyyeiXei' tw di^Spl avTijs, l etTrev Trpo? aurov "'ISou 8>TTTai wpbs yxe 6 avrjp os fjXOev iv
irphs /te." uKal dvecrrij Kal iTropevdr) Mavwe rrjs ywaiKos avTou, Kal •^X^ev 7rpbs rbv aVSpa Kal avr&i " Et au et 6 dv^p 6 XaXi7o~as 7rpbs ttjv ywaiKa;
6. "Av0po)iros 8«oi!: used as a title be transliterated, as in i K. I11, or else
of Moses in Dt. 331: Josh. 146. they are left indistinguisha'ble, so that
8. 'Ev 4(ioC: a literal rendering of a we get the combination Kfyios Ktfpios, as
Hebrew formula of entreaty. Cp. Jdg. in Amos 53: Ps. 140s. — tov av9p«irov:
6W, is: i k. I23, 2524. In Gen. 432° the inverse attraction. Cp. Verg. JEn. I 573
same original is represented by Sei^effa —Urbem quam statuo, yestra
and in 4418 by S^o^ai : so also in Ex. est.—46eT
410, where it is reduced in the English §3) represents the second appearance of
to ' O.' — K-upw ' ASuvatt: our Hebrew the angel as being granted to the prayers
text has here only Adonai without Je- of Samson's mother to allay the jealousy
hovah before it: but the translator's aroused in her husband's mind by her
text evidently had both words, as ours interview with a handsome stranger.—
has in 102e. Adonai, when it occurs cn>v|3i|3acraTii>: Ex. 412 n. by itself, is regularly rendered by Ktipic, 10. ev T)|«pa: the other day- A
so also is Jehovah: when the two Hebraism, therefore come together, one has to 11. Et o-u it: § 100.
229 |
to. TTOLtJixaTa avTov;"
IV. THE STORY OF SAMSON 229
Judges XIII 16
/cat elirev 6 ayyeXos " 'Eytu." 12/cat etirev Nlavwe " Nw 6 Xoyos crou • Tts ecrrat /cptcrts tov iraiSiov /cat 18/cat et7rei> 6 ayyeAos Kvpiov irpbs Mavwe " 'Atto ttdvroyv
5 ^ ?J
aiyoiv.
16Kat et
12. NBv IXevo-crai kt. : the Alexandrian Ms. subordinates this clause to the next in the manner suggested in the margin of the R.V.—vvv Si iXSSvros ><» id="iv.i.i.iv.p3124.1"> f>^/j.ar6s
13. 'Airo irdvriDV . . .
14. t£ a(i/ir&.
flwjia: a doublet. In v. 4 the Alexandrian Ms. has
15. iroi^
16. apTiov: bread, in the sense of food generally. — koi 4dv iroufjo-Tis ktX. : better sense would be got by putting the comma after ttoi^o-js, instead of after okoKatiTuim — and, if thou dost prepare it, offer it as a whole burnt-offering unto the Lord. The Hebrew too seems to admit of being thus taken. Manoah could not have thought of making an offering to his visitor, whom he still supposes to be a man.
230 |
230 SELECTIONS FROMv THE SEPTUAGINT
Judges XIII11
iyvo MavcDe on ayyeXos Kvpiov avros. n Kal exirev MavSe Trpb" Ti to oVo/a<£ crot; otl IX0oi to pi)ixd crov, Kal So|racroju.ei' ere." 18Kal cinei' avTcp 6 ayyeXos KvpCov " Ets rl tovto epcoTas to orojxa jttou; Kal avro ecrriv " 19Kal IXa/Sev Mavwe tov epi Kai enrev avra> tj yvvrj avrov ejl rjueKev
6 Kuptos davarwo'aL t^/acI?, ouk av eXafizv ck ^etpb? rj/xwu oXoKavTWfta Kal dvcriav, Kal ovk av e8ei£;ev rjixtv TavTa rravra • Kal Kadcos Kaipds, ovk av rjKovnoev i^yxa? Tavra."
17. on cXfioi ktX. : the clause with ko.1 Bvalav. — 8i«xiipicrev iroiTjo-ai: the %8oi. is really subordinate to the one literal rendering of the Hebrew here is which follows. B.V. 'that when thy 'and (the angel was) acting-wonder-words come to pass we may do thee fully for-doing.' This is not very honour.' The Alexandrian Ms. has intelligible in itself, and the Greek Iva, brav fKBri to pi)/xa
18. Ets tC : To what end ? Qp. original the latter might he taken to 1510.—tovto lpa)Tq.s ktX. : toOto may mean 'cut it up to dress it.' — pl-be regarded as a cognate accusative irovres : participle = finite verb: op. after £pwr?s with rb 6vo/id pov in appo- v. 20. § 80.
sition to it. But it really owes its 20. Sfireo-av: § 18.
position here merely to the Hebrew. 22. 8e6v: notice that ' the angel
19. Kal rr|v 8vo-Cav : R.V. ' with of the Lord' is here spoken of as God. the meal-offering.' The Bwla. is dis- Cp. Ex. 32.
tinct from the kid, resembling the 23. Ka8ois Kaip6s •. a literal transla-
Greek oiox^rai. Cp. v. 23 6Xo/cai5Tw,u.a tion of the Hebrew, but meaningless
231 |
IV. THE STORY OF SAMSON
231
Judges XIV 8
Kai €T€K€v r) yvv-q vioi>, /ecu eKakecrev to ovofia avrov ~Zapjty(i>v • Kai rjSpvvdr] to iraihdpiov, Kal tvXoyyjcrtv auro s. 25Kal rjptjaro Trvajfjca KvpCov crweKiropev€(rdat «* trapeixfioXrj Aav Kal dva p,£o~ov %apaa Kal dva y. 'E
v eis ®afi,vdOa,
l elSev yvvalKa eis ©afivdda dirb w OvyaripcDV tg>v dWo(j>vko)v. 2 /cat dve/3r] Kal dinjyy€ikei> tw trarpX aurou /cal T17 fJL-qrpl avrov Kal eiirev il YvvalKa eopa/ca eV %ap.vd6a dirb tcov dvyarepcop uXicrTtet/x, /cal I'Ct' Xa/Sere avrrfv i/xol
ei? ywat/ca." 8/cat et77ei' aura) 6 Trarrjp ovtov Kal rj avrov "Mi) ouk eto-li' dvyaTepes twv d§e(j>a>v crou /cat e/c tou Xaou yxou yvvij, on cru Tropevy Xafielv ywai/ca
in Greet. R.V. ' at this time,' i.e. at the very time when her husband supposed that they were incurring God's anger. •— tjkovItio-cv: ' made us hear.' TnTs word occurs eight times in the LXX, e.g. Ps. 5010, Jer. 302.
24. 2a|*+<6v: Jos. Ant. V 8 § 4 Kal yev6fievov to iraiSLov Sa^wva
6voim. See Introduction to the story. — T]Spiiv8i): Ex. 210n.
25. o-vv€Kiropeu«r6ai avT^: to go forth with him, i.e. to aid him when he went forth. R.V. 'to move him.' The words seem to point to some legends of Samson which have not com£ down to us. — irap€ji|3oTi: this word is said to be Macedonian, which probably only means that it is of military origin. See Ex. 149 n. 'The camp of Dan' is the proper name of a place. Hence the R.V. here retains the Hebrew Mahaneh-dan. In our text of the. Hebrew the situation of this place is given as between Zorah and Eshtaol, i.e. in the heart of the Danite
territory; but in Jdg. 1812, where an account of the origin of the name is given, the place is said to be 'behind Kirjath-Jearim' in Judah. It would seem therefore that the ko.1, which the LXX has after Ad?, but to which there is nothing to correspond in the Hebrew, represents the true reading. There are reasons for supposing that the expedition of the Danites recorded in chapter 18 took place before the time of Samson ; so that there is no inconsistency in its name being mentioned here, though the story of how it came by its name is told later. — dvd |i.«rov . . . Kat dvd (ictrov : cp. Ex. 823.
1. els 0a(ivd6tt : subducting tlie two last letters, which are due to Hebrew inflexion, we are left with Timnah. Jos. Ant. V 8 § 4 els viiv. See Ex 1287 n.— a
a LXX variety for Amos I8: i Mac. 56 tion to story.
2. crfpaica: § 33.
3. Mi] ovk : cp.
lii. Cp. See Introduc-
152
232 |
232 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
Judges XIV 4
arrb rcov aXXo
«-6e«Ca: cp. v. 7 ^iBivB-q. 'She is right earlydate.—o-vvlrpitytv: Hebrew,'tore
in my eyes.' The Hebrew word is the asunder.' The Alexandrian Ms. has
same as in Nb. 2310, 'Let me die the SUevcurev. — aa-A o-uvrpC^ei: R.V. 'as
death of the righteous.' he would have rent.' Milton —' Who
4. IkSCktjo-iv : revenge, namely, for tore the lion as the lion tears the the wrongs done to the Israelites,— kid.' "
eniTos : i-e. Jehovah. Samson was 7. KaWPrjo-av KaUXdXr)
only seeking a wife. Jos. Ant. V 8 § 6 lar in the Hebrew.
tov Geov Kara rb'Efipalois crv/j.
wovvTos riv yd/iov, — Kupwi3ovT€s : § 80.
5. oipu6p.£vo5 : dipfe&Bcu ( = Lat. yuy^v t&v 8xAu>>. As
6. i|XaTO or' airov ktX. : i.e. he fiei
233 |
IV. THE STOEY OF SAMSON 283
Judges XIV 14
SKal igeikev airo els ^etpas, /cat iiropevero d
I icr8la>v • Kai iiTopev$7] np6s tov trarepa avrov Kai rrj
ipa avrov, Kai iSwKev avrots Kat £
avrots
9. c8»K«v avTots: Josephus in tell- 12. npip^|i.a : apart from this ing the story makes Samson bring context the word vptfliiia appears the honeycomb as a present to his only four times in the LXX—Ps. 484, bride. Perhaps this is an attempt 772: Hbk. 26: Dan. 6 823. — o-iv86vas : to make the conduct of Samson more Hdt. I 200; II 86 (aivSlivos flvo-alvris), consistent with the law of the Nazi- 95; VII 181. "SivSiiv here means a rite. garment of cambric or muslin. Op.
10. 4wolT|crev . . . ttotov : for the Mk. 1451 Tepi^ j^vos aivSbva : Mt. phrase xoicic irSrov cp. Gen. 19s, 4020. 2759. The name points to the intro-— I1 t|(Upas : for seven days. Not in duction of the material from India, the Hebrew.— 'on outws ttoioCo-iv oi 13. o86vta: another rendering of vtavto-Koi: A has 4-rrolovv and the R.V. the same word which has just been 'used to do,'implying that the custom translated by a-ivSbvas. Cp. Mt. 2769 was obsolete. with Jn. 1940 for the equivalence of the
11. Iv^vtTO . . . koC : § 41. — ore two words. Josephus (Ant. V 8 § 6) ttSov o-Otov : A iv T(fi
234 |
234 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
Judges XIV 16
" Tt fipcoTov i£f}k6ev i< fiifipuHTKovros
koX astro i
teal ovk -qhvvavTO dirayyetA.ai to TTp6^krjp.a i-rfl rpeis rjfie-pas. 16Kat iyevero iv ry 17/^e/oa ttj reToiprrj Kal etTrav rfj yvvaiKi Safjbxjjcov " 'ATrar^crov Si) to avhpa crov Kal airay-yeiXdrcu crot to vpo/3k7]jj.a, fj,rj wore KaTaKavo~p.eis ae Kal top oXkov tov 7raT/3os crou iv irvpl- fj e/c^tacrat rjfxas /ce-Ky)KaTe;" 16Kal eKkavcrev 19 yvvrj ^a/xxftav tt/)o§ avroi' /cat €L7rev "TlXr/v /xe/AicrTjKa? fie Kal ovk rjyaTTy)o~as fie, on to Trp6f3 jf*.a o Trpoefiiakov rots vtois tov Xaou /xov ov/c airrjy-Kal etTrei' auTy ~Za^tpa)p " E6 r&> irarpi p,ov Kal i fiov ovk a.7T>7yyeX.Ka> crol a.7rayyetXcu; " 1TKal €Kkavcrev vpbs avrov ivl ra? e7rra 17/iepa? as iyv auToi? o ttotos ■ Kal iyeveTO iv ttj rj^epa rrj i^Sofxyj Kal arnjyyei-ev avTrj, oTi Trapev(x)y^krjO~^v uvtw • Kal avrrj arrijyyeikev tois viols tov Xaou avnjs. 18Kal etrrav avra! ot avSpes 7roXecu5 e?/ t>J ^l^epa ttj e/38o/u,g tt/oo tov avaTtiXai tov
" Ti yXvKVTepov
l Tt icrxypoTzpov 4ovtos ;
14. TC ppwTov ktX. : in the original have.' There is a confusion here >e-this forms a verse-couplet (3 + 3). tween two words thajare similar in A has £k tov icr$oPTos i!jijdev /3p«
jtoi ^| lJosephus 16. irX-rfjv : only. Op. Gen. 4140.
(Ant. V 8 § 6) gives the riddle thus 17. Ixri Tas lurd Tuiepas: strictly
Uri rh Ta/iflopov yeyevv-fjKet. from the fourth to the seventh day.
ijBetav i% oijtoO, koX vavii dijSovs For the reinforcement of the acousa-
gvros. tive of duration of time by i-al cp. v. 14
15. Terdpi-r|: Hebrew, 'seventh.' M rpcts ^P<"-
The Greek reading improves the sense, 18. avaTetXai: A Svvai. R,V. ; bo-
though even it is not consistent with fore the sun went down.' — T£ -yXuKi-
v. 17.—4KJ3idor
force. A irroixev
erish us': R.V. Margin ' take that we 3 + 3), as is also Samson's retort. —
235 |
IV. THE STORY OF SAMSON 235
Judges XV 3
/cat etrrev carrots %afx,pa>v
" Et /xrj rjpoTpidaaTe iv rfj Sa/i.aXei jaov,
ovk av eyvcare to irp6/3kr)iJ.d /xou."
19/cat ^XaTO iir avTov irvevfjua Kvpiov, /cat /caTe)3ij £ts 'Ko-KaX(i)va /cat i-rrdra^ev i£ avrSiv tpiaKovra dvhpa? Kal to. tjadVia avrwv, zeal iScoKev t
dvefirj |
|
rbv oXkov |
tov waTpbs |
avTov. |
/cat eye^CTO 7) |
yvvrj £< |
|
COP €VL T(J)V |
|
wv e |
o~ev. J Kai |
iyevero |
|
v Y)u£pa<5 |
iv 17/xepats |
depicrfiov |
TTVpS)V Kal CTTG- |
v ttjv yuvat/ca auTOt) iv ipi^xa aiyStv, " EtcreXeuco/iat -rrpb? Trji' ywaixa ju.ov ei9 to Kal ovk e8a>/cej> aurbv 6 Trarrjp avrrjs eia-e6eZv. 2Kai 6 varr/p avrrjs "Aeycov etTra oti [alo-£>v i[iLo~y)cras avTtjv, /cal^eStu/ca avTrjv ivl tS>v e/c tSv (fyCXcov crov fxrj ov)(l 17 dSe
to aVa£ d,77"o aXXoc^uXcui', ort ttoiw eya»
El |*.t| kt.: Josephus (Ant. V 8 § 6) attracted into the case of
transforms the reply thus — Kai 6 ceding. In the Hebrew the pronoun
"Zafi^iiv eivev oidi yvvaiKbs cha.1 tl So- is in the singular. $iXidf«f in the LXX
Xepdrepov, •ijris ifuv iiuptpei, rbv rmirepov is constructed with a dative ; ii Chr.
X670X. — TipoTpiduraTe: cp. iii K. 19". 192, 20s7: i Esd. 321: Sir. 371.
'Aporpiav for dpovv occurs in some 1. (wO* TjH-fpas: after some time. —
dozen passages in the LXX. Cp. 4v IpCcjxa at-y»v: § 91. — Ta|ic!ov : Gen.
Gen. 456 n. 4330 n. § 10. — o4k «Sbkcv avTov: R.V.
19. «ls 'Ao-KaXwva: i.e. to a Philis- ' would not suffer him.'
tine city at some distance. The thirty 2. Afyuv etiro : § 81. Notice that
companions themselves were protected Vyow and dira are treated as parts of
by the laws of hospitality. one verb. — iyaBaripa vnip: §§12, 94.
20. iyivno . . . lv£: became the 3. 'H8ioo>|iai ktX.. : 7 am. made wife of one. A koi (rvv(pm]
yeyovdri. — cSv 4((>LXCoo-tv: Sjv is construction is due to the Hebrew.
236 |
236 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
Judges XV 4
avroiv TrovTjpCav" 4kcu iitopevOt] 'tafixj/wv teal avveXafteu
T/uaKOcrtas aXatTTrjKas, zeal eXafiev XajaTrdSas, Kal iire&Tpexftev'
xepKOv irpos KepKov, /cat edrjKev Xa/xTraSa /nap di>a /Aecrov
r<3i/ Suo KepKcov Kal eSrjcrev- 5Kal igeKavcrev irvp lv rats
aKitacriv, koX i£;airioT€iev iu Tots ard-^yaiv tuiv dXXo-
(j>vo)v Kal eKarjcrav dirb aXwi/os ko.1 etas
Kal eo)5 dju.7reX<3z id="iv.i.i.iv.p3250.1">o$ Kat eXatas.
" Tis eironjcrev Tavra,-" Kac etTrai' "
®a/Jtvei, ort eXa/Sei* ttjp' yvvatKa avrov Kal eScoxev avrr/v
to) ck: r<3f ty'Ckov avrov- Kal avefi-qcrav ol aXk6
i avrrjp Kal tov irarepa avTrjs iu Trvpi 7l
6/cai
ot 6
rov
Kal
avrols
'Edf Troirjcr^Te ovrcus ravr^v, on ct
eK$iK7Jcr(o iv ifxiv, Kal icr^arov K07rdcr(M." 8fcat avrov1; Kvrj/ATjv im p/qpov, Trkrjyrjv fieydXrji' • /cat
4. aX(5iniKOs: = akdireicas. § 11. The Hebrew -word may also mean 'jackals.'—Kepxov irpos KtpKov: a literal following of the Hebrew, which happens to coincide with our idiom. — KttV «ST)
5. iv Tots crrd^-uo-iv: § 91.—diro . . . Kal '«os . . . Kal lo>$: both . . . aiid . . . and. § 92. — aXwvos : put by the Greek translator for the word rendered in the R.V. ' shocks,' which represents an earlier stage of harvest work. On the form of the word see § 8. — ?«s ttjAireXavos Kal IXaias : H..V. ' and also the oliveyards.' The difference seems due to the fact that the word for yards is often used specially of vineyards.
6. vw|i
the man of Timnah. 132 n. — r& ck t
7. TavTtiv: feminine for neuter. § 47. OvrciSs looks like a gloss on rai-' ttjv, one of the two being redundant. E. V. ' after this manner.' — on cl jm)v ^kSik^o-u «v v|iiv : (know) that of a truth I will have my vengeance on you. § 107. On el p.i)v see § 103.—So-xaTov Koird
S. kv^(it|v eir firp6v : leg on thigh, a literal rendering of the Hebrew, but what it meant originally is hard to say. For the adverbial accusative cp. Dt. 54 irpbironrov Kara vpbawrrov. —irXi]-
: accusative in apposition
237 |
IV. THE STORY OF SAMSON 237
Judges XV 14
Kal iKa.6i.o-ev iv Tpvjj.aXia Trjs nerpas 'Rrajx. 9Kal
avefirjcrav ol dXX6
to the sentence. — rp-u(i.aX.i^: this word 12. Sovvou .. . 4v x«tpt: § 91. The
is used six times in the LXX and once meaning is not quite the same as that
in the N.T., in Mk. 10'25, where it sig- of Soiivai 8td xeipfc in Gen. 39*'a. — |itj
nifies the eye of a needle. — 'Hrdix: ttot€ o-uvavTifjo-uTt: a literal rendering
Jos. Ant. V 8 § 8 Airdf ko.t^k(i ■ rirpa of the Hebrew—lest ye fall upon me
S (o-tIv 6xvpa T7js 'lotiSa 0u^s. yourselves. Op. U and Ex. 914 n.
9. i(j«pC4>Tio-av: B.V. ' spread them- 13. on aW i]: § 109. — xaXuSlois : selves.' §83. Veitch quotes Anth. in LXX only here, in 14, and in 16". ™. 12, 234 for the poetical form ipltjnj. The word is classical.
But in the LXX the double or single p 14. ^Xflov : Hebrew, ' he came.' —
is a question of Ms. spelling.—Atiti: 2us Surydvos : i.e. to the place which
Hebrew Lechi. is reputed to have been so called after
10. etirav &vT)p : a too faithful ren- the exploit which is about to lie related, dering of the Hebrew, which employs See Jos. Ant. V 8 § 8. The Hebrew is the singular of man after a plural verb Lechi and the place is the same as that to denote the inhabitants of a country which is intended by A«iei in 9. — t|ol-collectiv.ely. §48. a£av . . . avroO : R.V. 'shouted as
11. K-upie-uo-ovo-iv: R.V. ' are rulers they met him.' The Hebrew word for over us.' Op. 14*. meet here is different from that trans-
238 |
15Kal efipev
avhpas. 16/cal
288 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
Judges XV VS
kcu eopafxov ets o~vvdvrr)cru> avrov ■ kcll vjXaro iir' avrbv 7Tvevfia KvpCov, kcu iyev-qBr) to. KaXoiSta to. iirl /Spa^iocrtj/ avrov axxel o~Tnvnvov o e^eKavdr) ev -nvpC, Kal ercucrjorai> Secrfxol avTov airb xuP&v afrrov. ovov lKpepififiivrv, Kal i£ f3ev avTrjv, kcu indra^ev iv airy ehrev ~%apip&v u 'Et- criayovi ovov i£aeC
otl iv t^ o~ia.y6vi. tov ovov errara^a ^tXtov? avBpas." 17ical iyevero ais €7raucraro XaXStv, ko.1 eppafiev rrjv cnayova ck ttjs xeiP0^ avroVf Kat eKaXtarev rbv tottov iiceivov *A.vai-peo~t<; criayovos. 18/cat i$Lj>7}o~ev a
epprjfjev 6 deb1; rbv Xolkkov tov iv ry Siayovt Kal
lated by
15. lKp«pi(i|*«vijv: the Hebrew here has new. On the form of the word see § 20.
16. 4iaX«t4>cDv i£4jeu|;a: the He-brew does not here contain the idiom which corresponds to this formula, but runs thus — 'With the jaw-bone of an ass a heap, two heaps (have I slain).' The Hebrew word for heap however is the same as that for ass, so that there is a play on words, as though one were to say — " With the jawbone of an ass have I ass-ass-inated them."
17.'AvaCpeo-iso-io-yovos: thenomi-native is right because we have here what is known as the svppositio mate-rialis of the words. The genitive is subjective, "the destruction made by
a jawbone." Hebrew Ramath-Lechi = Jawbone Slii, Names have been known to give rise to legends as well as legends to names. ' 18. 'tKkavo-tv: cp. 1628. Hebrew, ' called.' A has ipo-qaev. Cp. the double meaning of the English cried.—«AS6-Kt|
19. epprjlevtovXcLkkov: R.V. 'clave the hollow place.' Proleptic.—ouTfjs : the feminine may be justified on the ground that it agrees with 71-1771) under-stood, but it is probably due merely to the presence of a feminine suffix in
239 |
IV. THE STORY OF SAMSON . 239
Judges XVI 3
ef avrov vhcop- koX einev, ko.1 iireo-Tp&pev to avTov Kal l^crev. Sux touto iicXijdT) to oVo/xa av Tbyyv) tov iiriKokovfJievov, rj ecrw iv Siayoia, i
«at etSei/ e/cet yui/atKa iropvrfv /cat elcrrjXBev Trpbs ovttjv. 2kol avrjyyiKrj rois Fa^atots X.eyoi'Tes "'H/cei ^a/irj/av wSe." zeal e/cufcX""Eai? Sia^>aveiws fjLtcrovvKTLOv Kal avecrrr) iv rj/jLilcreL rfjs vvktos, Kal iireXd^eTO tS>v dvpwv T7j? ttuXt?? Trj<; 7rdXea>5 avv tois Svcrl crra^ot?, Kal aveftdcrTacrev av-t
the Hebrew. — Ilii-yi] tov liriKaXov-(Uvov: Hebrew, ' Spring of the Caller.' As the partridge is known in Hebrew as the caller, it has been suggested that the name may have originally meant Partridge. Spring and have had its meaning adapted to the story of Samson.
20. Kal expivtv kt.: this is the remark which generally closes the ac-count of a ruler. Cp. I2'.'.u-M. In the story itself Samson is not repre-sented as a ruler, but rather as an insubordinate subject of the Philistines, The next chapter, which ends with the same remark, may have come from another source, especially as the story of Delilah is a duplicate of the story of Samson's Philistine wife.
1. Pdjav : one of the five chief cities of the Philistines.
2. dviiyytXii . .. Xfyovrts : the word
corresponding to &vr)yyfb.T) has slipt out from the Hebrew. On the construe-tion see § 112, and on the verbal form §24. — 6KiS<| id="iv.i.i.iv.p3306.1">ewrav: literally were dumb. Cp. 1819. The word occurs eleven times in the LXX. —"Eo>s 8io
S. h«o-ovvkt(ou : cp. Ruth 3s: Is. 5910. In Ps. 118«2 the word is used ad-verbially.—iv TmCo-a ri}s wkt6s : §62. The Hebrew is the same as that which has just been represented by /^eo-on-
the doors of the city-gate. — dvepderra-
240 |
240 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
Judges XVI 4
kclI' idiqKep avra ckcI. 4Kal iyevero fxera rovro Kal
rya.Trr
oz/ SrJ |/,ot ev rtvt f] tcr^us croii 17 fieydXy), Kal ii> tov TaireivcadrjvaC ere." 7Kal elnev TTpos avrr/v ciop " 'Eav drjo-wcriv fj.€ iv ctttcI vevpeats vypais yxr) §L€vypas /A1*) Stec^^ap/xevasj Kal eSrjcrev avrbv iv
the forty miles from Gaza to Hebron: still this may be what was intended. Cp. Jos. ^.««. V 8 § 10 els t& iirtp Xe/3pu-vos 8pos tptpwv KaTartdijcn. — Kttl e6T)K€v aiTci, lK«t: not in the Hebrew.
4:. Ti'ytt'Trqa'tv: = i(pi7j(T€v. Op. 15.
— iv 'AXtra>(yfx: A has here iiri. rov Xtipappov SupijX' The Hebrew is nahal Sorek. It seems plain that the first syllable has somehow disappeared, leaving the reading before us. Nahal
— wady or torrent-valley. — AaX.ti.Scl: Hebrew DHUah. Jos. Ant. V 8 § 11 AaXiXijs t6 8m/j.a. Josephus assumes, perhaps hastily, that the woman was a Philistine. We may notice that the lords of the Philistines came up to her, i.e. from the maritime plain to the hills.
5. ot apxovrcs: the Hebrew for this is S'ranim, which is used only for the five princes of the Philistines, and is therefore presumably Philistian. It has been conjectured that this is the same word as ripawos. It recurs in vs. 8, 18, 23, 27, 30, in all which pas-
sages B renders it, as here, by &pxovres, but A by.
7. veuptais: = vtvpats. Cp. V. 9. Properly ' bowstrings.' R.V.' withes.' Jos. Ant. V 8 § 11 (fidjxevos, el /cX^,ua
8. (i$i 8ie<( id="iv.i.i.iv.p3321.1">eap|).4vas: in v. 7 the
241 |
IV. THE STORY OF SAMSON 241
Judges XVI 13
koX to ivSpov avrrj ii
"fcal eiTrei/ tt/sos avrrfv " 'Eav hij
hypothetical nature of the sentence 13. 'ISov: Hebrew, 'hitherto.'
justifies /iri dte
we ought certainly to hare oi. 3?or for hitherto is the .same, apart from the
another clear case of /»i} for oi take pointing, as that for behold. — v
Sus. 04S. § 23. — empds : locks, literally chains,
9, ifvcSpov: this form is common in which sense the word is used in
in the LXX, whereas htdpa occurs only Prov. 522 o-eipcus Si rdv iavTov anapnOiv
in Josh. 87-9: Ps. 9'29.—o-Tp^(i)J.a: in the ?Kao-ros
literal sense only here in the LXX. was plaited into seven tails. — Sid-
Used in a metaphorical sense in iv K. o-(icm: = a-Tij/tow, warp. The word
1530 avvtoTpvpev a-Tpe/x/xa = made a occurs in Biblical Greek only in this
conspiracy. — iv t oo-^pavBiivai airb context. Delilah was to weave Sam-
irupos: when it smelleth the- fire: A son's hair into the web she has been
literal translation of the Hebrew. weaving on her loom, and fix the web,
12. Kal t& ^vsSpa . . . Taneto-u: if with his hair in it, to the wall by
our Hebrew text is correct, this clause means of a peg.
in the Greek is both wrongly translated 13, 14. Kal cvicpovc-fls • . • 64>avev
and comes in the wrong place. A here Iv t§ 8vdor|iaTi: this passage is absent
agrees with the Hebrew. from our Hebrew, but it is needed to
242 |
14. εἰς τὸν τοι̑χον : not in the Hebrew ἐξη̑ρεν . . . τοίχου : carried away the peg of the web from the wall. R.V. 'plucked away the pin of the beam, and the web.'
16. ἀστενοχώρησεν αὐτόν : Josh. 1715 : Is. 2820, 4919 : iv Mac. 1111 ἀστενοχώρησεν αὐτόν ii Cor. 48, 612.-- ὠλιγοΨύχησεν : the subject here changes to Samson. 'ΟλιγοΨυχει̑ν occurs ten or eleven times in the LXX, but corresponds to the same Hebrew as here only in Nb. 214 : Jdg. 1016 (A). It occurs in the Flinders Petrie Papyri (Swete Introd. p. 292).
17. τὴν πα̑σαν καρδίαν § 46.-- ἅγιος θεου̑ : a translation of Hebrew nazir, which A here represents by ναξειραιος 135 n.
243 |
IV. THE STORY OF SAMSON 243
Judges XVI 25
19 Kal eKoifiio-ev AaXeiSa tov 'Zafji.xj/wv i-rrl to, yovara avrrjg, /cat iKakecrev avSpa /cat i^vpyjaev to.? cirra cretpas rrjs Ke
28Kat ot apxovre1; rav dXXo
u Kal eTSav avrov 6 Xaos, /cat vfxvrjcrav tov Sebv avTtov ort " napeScu/cef 6 #eos rj/xcov rbv i^dpbv rj[xS>v iv
v, rbv ipr/jjiovvTa rr)v yrjv r)p.£>v Kal o; iTrX-rjdvvsv tovs rjfj.wv." 25koI ore rjyaOvvdrj r/ Kaphia avraiv, Kal elnav " KaXecrare tov "Xa/xxpcbv it; oIkov
20. ai oiraf ical airaj: no Greek be considered a feh-god, is regarded phrase, but due to literal translation. by modern scholars as a corn-god. On A has Ka$as Mi. Op. 2030-31: i K. Sw, him cp. i K. 51"5 : i Mac. 1(P>«. — 6 2025 : i Mac. 330 &s cSiraf Kal 5k. —Ikti- Seos : i.e. Bagon. Hebrew, ' our god.' vax9r|
§83. 25. o«TNa8iv6T| kt. • K.T. '-when
21. xa^K£'als: §35.—rjv dX'fiSiov: their hearts were merry.' 'AyaSiveiv to turn the hand-mill was the work of is common in the LXX. For the the lowest slaves. meaningtocfteer,cjp.l820,196-9>22: Euth
22. KaB&s i£vp1)
23. Acvywv: Dagon, who used to is ivaura. — Kal Ipdiri^ov aiTov: not
244 |
244 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
Judges XVI 26
mtpv avTov, xaX ecmjcrav avrbv dva fxecrov rav klqvcov.
26 Kal eLTTev "tafj.jjo)u Trpos tov viaviav tov Kparovvra r»yiw
■)(eipa avTov "*A<£es fie Kal pr/Xa(f)rjo~(o tov? kiovcl<; i
6 oIkos crTiJKec in' avrovs, koX iTTio~Tr)pvyQr)O~oi,a.i hri av-
tovs." m Kal 6 oTkos TrXrjprj's rS>u dvSpcav koX twv ywai-
k5>v, koI eVet 7ravres ot ap^ovTes tcov dXo
to Scofxa at? eTTTaKocioi, avSpes Kal ywat/ce? ol
iv Ttaiyviais %afiifya>v. 28/cal exXavcref Sapjpoiip irpos
Kal e1-iT€v " 'ASwvaxe Kvpte, fjLvrj
o-ov jxe en to dirai tovto, 6ee- /cat dfraTroSoJcrctj dt
jLuav tre.pL TOiv ovo 6
6 oTkos icrTijfcei, Kat iTTecTTrjpC^dr] iif avTov%, ko.1
iva T7) Sefta avrou /cat eva t^ dpiorepa aurow. 3Vat
i> "'AiroOaverco ipv~xr} [/.ov fiera dXXo
in the Hebrew. On the spelling cp. 'gram 49) mentions Adoneus as a
159 n. nether-world title of Bacchus. The
26. tn"i)K€i: § 27. — 4irio-TT)pix8T|- name got confused ■with the Greek otojjlgu: § 83. At'Suweta. —9ee: § 4. —t«v 8vo o
27. or! to Sai|xa : § 95. — 0«a>poOv- (t»v: § 14.
«s «v: looking on at. §98. 29. tovs SiSo kiovos : R.V. ' the two
28. eicXavcrev: 1518 n.—'A8o>vaie middle pillars.' A supplies the miss-Kipie: A has here Ki/pie Kiipie; see 'ing word'—toijs Bio o-tiJXous toi>s fiiaovs. 138 n. Perhaps the second translator Josephus (Ant. V 8 § 12) says paren-avoided the term 'ASavaTe as having thetically — ohos S' f/v fiio kl6vuv art-misleading associations for Greek ears. y6vrwv avroO rbv Spocpov. — to-TiiK€i: The Syrian god Thammuz had ever § 37. — koI 4KpttTT)(r«v: not in the He-since the fifth century b.c. been wor- brew.—'iva. . . . Kaltva: no one who shipped by the Greeks under the name was writing Greek as Greek could here 'ASwws, derived from the title Adou avoid rbv fxiv . . . rhv St. § 39.
(Lord) by which his Semitic worship- 30. «pd
pers addressed him. Ausunius (I/ii- 'bowed himself.'
245 |
IV. THE STORY OF SAMSON 245
Judges XVI 31
iOavarcoaev ev tjj fay avrov. S1 kcll KaTeBrjcrav ol dSeX-(ftol avrov kcu 6 oikos tov Trarpos avrou, Kal ekaBov avTov Kal aviBrjcrav • koI edaxpav avrbv ava jiecrov %apaa Kal ava jxecrov 'EcrdaXaoX iv rw ra<^oj McwaSe tov irarpos avrov. ,1 avro? €Kpi,v€v tov 'IcrparfX eiKOcri err).
246 |
247 |
INTRODUCTION TO THE STORY OF DAVID AND GOLIATH
While the death of Ramson has in it all the elements of a Greek tragedy, the combat between David and Goliath breathes the very spirit of Epic poetry. The resemblance of Goliath in all respects to a Homeric hero is striking. We might call him an Ajax depicted from the Trojan point of view.
The slaying of giants is the delight of the infancy both of the individual and of the race. la the nursery we are told of Jack the Giant-killer, while in the Odyssey we read the adventures of Ulysses among the Lsestrygons and the Cyclopes, which have their manifest echo in the story of Sindbad the Sailor in the Arabian Nights. Older than all these is an Egyptian story of a fight with a giant, which dates from the Xllth Dynasty, and is therefore some 1300 years earlier than the time of David.1
But there are giants and giants. It was a Peripatetic doctrine that a difference in degree may constitute a difference in kind. Thus a ship, according to Aristotle, will not be really a ship, if it is either a span long or two stades. In the same way, though man is defined merely as a rational animal, yet inches have a good deal to do with our feeling of a common humanity. The giant that is to come home to us as a fellow-creature, whom we can either hate or love, must not go beyond all bounds. He must not be like the giant that met the children of Israel in the wilderness, of whom the Talmud has to tell—how Moses, being himself a strapping fellow thirty feet high, took a sword thirty feet long, and, making a leap of thirty feet into the air, just managed to nick that giant in the knee and bring him sprawling helpless to the ground. A giant like that we may dread, as we might some elemental force, but we cannot properly hate him, as we are expected to do in the case of a giant — icou. yap Oavfi ctctvkto weXwptov, oiSe Iwku avBpi ye
1 Budge History of Egypt III, p. 8. 247
248 |
248 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
Now Goliath, especially as depicted in the Septuagint, is a giant with'in quite reasonable limits. In his braggart defiance of 'the armies of the living God' he reminds us of the huge Gaul who stood insulting the might of Rome, until Torquatus slipped under his targe and stabbed him with his short blade (Liv. VII 9, 10), or of that other champion of the same race, whom Valerius Corvinus despatched with the aid of the heaven-sent raven (Liv. VII 26).
The Hexateuch is full of references to races of extraordinary stature that inhabited Canaan before and at the time of the Israel-itish invasion. It was the report which the spies brought of these giant forms that chiefly daunted the people and made them plot a return to Egypt (Nb. 144) —'And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants; and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight' (Nb. 1333). But their bulk does not seem to have helped these people to survive in the struggle for existence. The Emim, ' a people great and many and tall as the Anakim' (Dt. 210) were driven out by the Moabites; and the Zarnzummim, who are similarly described, were in like manner dispossessed by the Ammonites (Dt. 220-n: cp. Gen. 145); Og, the king of Bashan, notwithstanding the dimensions of his bedstead, fell an easy prey to the Israelites under Moses; and the children of Anak themselves, who dwelt about Hebron (Nb. 12-: Josh, lo13, 21"), were utterly destroyed by Joshua out of the land of the children of Israel.1 ' Only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod' we are told in this context 'did some remain' (Josh.' II22). Of this stock evidently sprung Goliath and the others who 'were born to the giant in Gath' (iiS. 2122).
In the account of the introduction of Saul to David it is more than usually manifest that two different narratives are mixed up. In the one David is known and loved of Saul before his combat with Goliath (i S. 1621), in the other Saul asks Abner who he is, when he sees him going forth against the Philistine (1755); in the one David on his first introduction to Saul is already ' a mighty man of valour and a man of war and prudent in speech' (1616), in the other he is a mere stripling (1756) ; in the one he is Saul's armour-bearer (1621) and presumably on the field in that capacity, in the other he comes up unexpectedly from the country (1720). The additional touch of 1 Josh. II21. The feat is ascribed to Caleb in 15".
249 |
INTRODUCTION TO STORY OF DAVID AND GOLIATH 249
romance imparted to the story by the extreme youth of the hero has made the latter version predominate, not only in our minds, but in that of the Biblical editor, who seems to have adapted his language to it. Josephus attempts to harmonise the two by saying that, when the war broke out with the Philistines, Saul sent David hack to his father Jesse, being content with the three sons of the latter -whom he had in his army (Ant. VI 9 § 3). This however does not help us over the difficulty of Saul being represented as not knowing David at the time of the combat, which has had to be accounted for as a consequence of mental derangement.
To us at present the matter is considerably simplified by the fact that the Seventy themselves (or, more properly, the translator of this bocjk) seem to have made a bold essay at the work of higher criticism. The Vatican manuscript of the Septuagint contains the account of David being sent for to play on the harp to Saul, but it does not contain W*2'31, in which David is introduced as a new character making his first entry on the scene, nor does it contain 17M-185, which cohere with 1612"31, but not with the story of the harp-playing. Of course the reason why the Seventy give only one account may be that they had only one account to give: but there seems to be some reason to believe that they deliberately suppressed one version of the story with a view to consistency. But this question had better be left to the Higher Critics. This much however is evident to the least instructed intelligence, namely that the omission of 1612"*1 improves the sequence of the story as much as it impairs its picturesqueness. David was left in attendance on Saul in 1623 and can be made to speak to him in 1732 without further introduction. His words of encouragement follow suitably on the statement in 16" that Saul and all Israel were dismayed.
The omissions of the Vatican manuscript are supplied in the Alexandrian, but the translation presents the appearance of being by another hand from that of the rest of the book. Thus in v. 19 iv rrj koiXol&l rijs Spvos is Used for iv rrj KotXctSt 'HA.a of 219; in v. 23 again the strange expression avrjp 6 djueo-omos takes the place of avrjp Suvaro's in 174 (cp. 6 Waros avrwv 1751); while *iXictuuos is employed, instead of 6XK6^>vo% as in 2V.
The story of David and Goliath represents the battle of Ephes-Dammim as a mere rout of the Philistines after their champion had
250 |
250 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
been .slain. Yet there are passages in the Bible which have been thought to set the matter in a different light. The Pas-Dammim of i Chr. II13 can hardly be any other place than the Ephes-Danimiin of i S. 17X, with which the margin of the Revised Version identifies it. Now at Pas-Dammim ' the Philistines were gathered together to battle, where was a plot of ground full of barley; and the people fled from before the Philistines' (i Chr. II3: cp. ii S. 2311-12). But David and his three mighty men ' stood in the midst of the plot and defended it and slew the Philistines; and the Lord saved them by a great victory.' But, though the place of this incident is the same with that of the slaying of Goliath, the time seems altogether different, the battle of the barley-plot belonging to the period when David was ' in the hold.'1 The account of David's mighty men given in ii S. 28s-39 and in i Chr. 111(M7 looks like a fragment of genuine history, peAaps drawn from the records of Jehosaphat the son of Ahilud, who was official chronicler to David and Solomon (ii S. 816, 2024: i K. 43). A union of this with the story of David and Goliath seems illegitimate. The latter belongs to the realm of romance: its date is of all time and no time. David, the ruddy and comely youth, •will remain for ever the slayer of Goliath, just as William Tell, in spite of the Reverend Baring-Gould, will always have shot the apple off his son's head. It is best to leave the matter so. Indeed, if we began to treat the story as sober history, we might be driven to the conclusion that David never slew Goliath at all. For in ii S. 1219 we have the statement that ' Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam,' was slain by one El-hanan of Bethlehem. Professor Kirkpatrick in his commentary on this passage says — 'There is no difficulty in supposing that another giant,beside the one slain by David, bore the name of Goliath.' St. Jerome however found so much difficulty about this that he boldly identified El-hanan with David. The passage in which this disconcerting statement is contained (ii S. 2115~E) has no connexion, with its context and looks like another fragment of the official chronicle, from which we have supposed the list of David's mighty men to have been drawn. There are four giants mentioned, of whom Goliath is one, and each of these has his own slayer. Then the fragment concludes with these words —' These four were born to the giant in Gath; and 1 i.e. the cave of Adullam. i S. 221.*: ii S. 23is.i4.
251 |
INTRODUCTION TO STORY OF DAVID AND GOLIATH 251
they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.' David then, as a matter of fact, would seem to have slain Goliath not directly and in his own person, but on the principle of — Qui facit per alium facit per se, just as Caesar says that he cut to pieces the Tigurini on the banks of the Sa5ne, whereas Plutarch and Appian let us know that it was his lieutenant Labienus who did so, or rather, if we are going to be exact, the soldiers under him.
252 |
V. THE STORY OF I3AVID AND GOLIATH
i Kings XVII
aKac arvvdyovcriv dXX6
dva fx.4aov Sok^qiO Kal dva. picrov 2kcu %aoi)X Kal ol avSpes 'itrparjX crwdyovrai l wape/jb/SdWovcriv iv rfj /coiAaSt • avrol ttapardcnyav rat ei? 7r6ejj,oi> i£ kvavriaa dXXo
1. dXX64>vXoi.: = $victtUih; cp. Jdg. 141. -Josephus calls them Ila-'Scuctt'Ivoi. — irap«(j.pods: here armies. Jdg. 1325 n.—''ISov|iatas: a mistake in the Greek text for 'lovdalas. R.V. 'which 'belongeth to Judah.' — 'E
2. airoi: not a translation of a corresponding Hebrew pronoun, but due to a misreading of the word rendered in our version 'of Elah.' The Vale of the Terebinth was a pass running up from the Philistine plain into the highlands of Judah.
3. 4vTav8a . . . lvTaB6a: a classical writer would have balanced these clauses by i*ev and $4. Cp. Josh. 822 oEtoi ivrtvdev Kal oStoi ivrevdev. Jdg. 1629 n. — k6kX
brew 'and the valley between them.' A Kat o avXttiv ava fj^trov avroiv. We may surmise that k6kip is a corruption for Kal 6 a&kthv,
4t. dvrip Suvotos : B.V. ' a champion.' The word in the original seems to mean 'man of the space between the two lines' (fieralx/uov). — irapa-Td|eios: jrapdraifis = Latin acies occuts in Attic authors, but came into more frequent use in Hellenistic Greek.— Te o-iri6a(ifjs: a cubit is roughly a foot and a half, and a span is half a cubit. According to this statement then Goliath would have been six feet nine inches high. Josephus (Ant. VI 9 § 1) agrees with the LXX — fyv yhp irrjx&v T€
252
253 |
V. THE STORY OF DAVID AND GOLIATH 253
1 Kings XVII 8
cnn6a^jrj
5. TrepiKe^aXaCa: a Hellenistic word used by Polybius and also by St. Paul (i Th. 58: Eph. 617). It occurs eleven times in the LXX. The words ' of brass' do not appear in the Greek, perhaps because they are implied by the use of Trepi/ce^aAata, just as cassis in Latin implies that the helmet is of metal; but in verse 38 we have xa^-ktjv added. — olXwiSmtov: Ex. 2822.": i Mac. 635 reSupaKur/xtvovs ii> awi8w-i-ots. — a*Tos: not to be explained by any niceties of Greek scholarship, but due to the presence of the pronoun 'he' at this point in the Hebrew.— irevre xl^-ll*Ses o'taXiov : about 157 pounds avoirdupois. — o-CkXmv: shekel is usually thus represented in the LXX, though it is not uncommon to find SLSpaxw used for it, as in Gen. 2315: Dt. 2229 : ii Esdr. 1515. 2lyos is used by Xenophon (Anab. I 5 § 6) for a Persian coin of the value of 1} Attic obols. — Kal o-i$T|p
earlier strata of the Homeric poetry) rare and exceptional.
6. do-iris xa^-K*i: tMs is intrinsically more probable than the Hebrew reading, which makes Goliath have a 'javelin' of brass between his shoulders, but it leaves his armour-bearer nothing to carry. What seems needed here, to complete the account of his equipment, is a mention of the sword which is referred to in verses 45 and 51. This, if he were armed in Homeric fashion, would be suspended by a strap passing over one shoulder. Op. II. n 45 — d/x0t 5* &p &ftoiffiv fiaheTo ^t
7. kovtos: this word in classical Greek means a punt-pole (called a quant on the Norfolk Broads at this day), as in Eur. Ale. 254. In later Greek it means a spear-shaft. Cp. Ezk. S99. Vegetius speaks of conti mis-sibiles (p. 140 1. 4, ed. Lang) and uses contati for horsemen armed with lances. — |i«raicX.ov: only here, at least in this form. See L. & S. The Hebrew is the same which is rendered elsewhere us avrlov i(paivbvTuv ii K. 2119 : i Chr. 1123, 206. — IgaKoo-Cwv 0-CkX.wv: about nineteen pounds. — 6 allpcov: Gen. 4523 n.
254 |
254 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
i Kings XYII 9
€t5 ttjv irapdra£iv 'IcrpaijX Kal elirev avrots "Ti iKiropevecrde ai ttoXc/aw ef eVavrias rjjjLoJv; ovk iya> et/u Kal u/xeis 'E/3paiot Kal %aov; eavTois dVSpa Kal KaTa/37jT&> 7rpo? //,€• 9Kal iav irpos e/A£ iroXe/njcrai Kal eav iraTa^Tj jue, Kai ecrojae^a v/ els SovXow e
S^ crvvireaiTO) Kaph'ia tov Kvpiov fx.av en avrdv • 6 SovXds crov TTopevo~erai Kal iroXe/z-Tjcrei /xera. tov dXXo^uXov tovtov?'
83 Kal elirev ^aovX Trpo? AavetS " Ov ju-t) §vvq 7ropev9rjvai
tov aW6
84 Kal et7rev AauetS Trpbs SaovX " IIot/xatv&)i> -^v 6 SoOXds o~ou to) TraTpl avrov iv Tea Trot/xvia) • Kal orai' yjp-^eTO 6 4
8. 4XX6<) id="iv.i.i.iv.p3431.1">vXos: Hebrew,' tbePhflis- iwvofxax^v occurs only here and in the
tine,' meaning that he stands for the title of Psalm 151, which has reference
Philistines.—^EPpaicn Kal SaoiX: He- to this incident.
brew, 'servants to Saul.' SaoiJX may 32. o-wireo-cToi: used here like
here be meant for the genitive. "Eppcuoi Latin conaidere — collapse.—tov kv-
is the usual word for Israelites in. the pCou y.ov -. this represents a better
mouth o£ a foreigner. Ex. I16 n.— Hebrew reading than that of the Mas-
cavTots: § 13. — Kcn-aP^Ta): quite clas- soretic text ' of a man.' ' My lord' is
Bical, like the Latin in cert amen de- the usual form of address to a king
scendere.—!o-6|ie6a . . . els SovXovs: and corresponds to 'thy servant' in
§90. the nest sentence. — lir' avTov: upon
10. o-fj|j.«pov 4v Tfj iiH-fpa. Tairi]: this him, a literal rendering of the Hebrew,
amplification is not due to imitation 33. dvrip iroX.e|uo-T^js: a poetical,
of the Hebrew, which has simply ' this expression common in the LXX.
day.' Ex. 514 n. It is not necessary 34. IIoi(jittiv(ov ^jv: § 72. — 6tov,
to suppose that we have here a ' doub- iipx£T°: whenever there came. § 104.
let.' — )iovo|i.ax^iro|XEv: in the LXX — 6 {av ko.1 t) apicos: a lion or a tear.
255 |
THE STOKY OF DAVID AND GOLIATH 255
i Kings XVII 89 J
Kal rj dpKOS Kal iXdfifiavzv irpofiarov Ik ttjs dyeXijs, 85 Kal igenopevofjLrjv oiriaoi avTOV Kal eVarafa avTOV, Kal ige-o-iracra ck tov aTopaTos avrov' Kal el ivavitTTaTo iir' eyae, Kal iKpaTrjcra tov 87Kv/3tos os e^et-Xaro p,e eK ^etpos tov Xcovtos Kal iK ^eipos Trjs apKov, avTos i£eXeiTai fie €K ^etpos tou dXXo
Generio use of the article, as in the already said, as in Terse 10. — I
Hebrew. § 44. —t) apKos: later form toi: § 21.
of ipKTos and one of those epicene 38. (iavSiiav: according to L. & S.
nouns which use the feminine for pavSias is a Persian word meaning ' a
both sexes. woollen cloak,' but the word in the
35. <| id="iv.i.i.iv.p3456.1">&pvyyos: throat, Hebrew, Hebrew text is very like the Greek, 'beard.' Josephus (Ant. VI 9 § 3) especially in the form used in ii K. 104: makes David take up the lion by the i Chr. 19*. MavStias is employed seven tail and dash him against the ground. times all together in the LXX. — Kc
36. o«x^ iroprfcro|i,ai ktX. : the X.t)v aiiTov : after these words the Greek here is much fuller than the Hebrew has 'and he clad him in a Hebrew, as may be seen by a compari- coat of mail.'
son with the English version. 39. Kai eijwcrev . . . navSvov oirov:
37. Kxipios ktX. : before this the R.V. ' And David girded his sword Hebrew has the words 'And David upon his apparel.' — oirov . . . ai-rov: said,' which appear superfluous. On probably both meant by the translator the other hand it may be maintained to refer to Saul as the subject of efw-that they are in the Hebrew manner,
256 |
on av
256 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
i Kings XVII 40
Syjvai iv tovtois, on ov Tremlpaaai • " Kal d
twice.' K.V. 'he essayed to go.' The Greek here seems to indicate a better Hebrew reading than that in our text.
— &<| id="iv.i.i.iv.p3465.1">aipoO
40. reXeCovs: Hebrew, 'smooth.' Lucian's recension has Xefovs, which is no doubt right. — x"K-°'PPov: Xe^aP-pos is shortened from xe'M('Ppo<)s, Attic X
— tov aXX6
42. Kttl etBev ktX. : shorter than the Hebrew. Op. R.V. — ToXidS: in verse 4 roXidfl. — iruppd,KT|s: Gen^S26": i K. 1612. The word is used by Arta-panus in his description of Moses (Eus. Pr. Ev. IX 27 ad Jin.') and is found in Papyri of the latter half of the third century b. c.
43. Iv pdp8a): § 91. For the particular expression iv jt&pSy cp. i Cor. 421. — Kal XC8ois: these words are not in the Hebrew, but they add point to the question of Goliath. — koI efirev . . . kvvos : this repartee of David's appears only in the Greek, but it seems not without bearing on the cursing which follows. Josephus (Ant. VIII 9 § 4) has also preserved it—M?; airbv avrl tivBpibirov Kiiva elyai 5o/ceTj '0 5 oi>x' toiovtov dXkh Kal xtipw Kvvbs airbv
257 |
V. THE STORY OF DAVID AND GOLIATH 257
i Kings XVII 49
45 Kal elirev AavelS 7T/x>s tov a\6rrjs y^s • Kal yvaxrcTav Tracra 17 y^ on eartv debs iv 'IcrpayjX. *7Kal yvaxrerai Tracra r) inKk-qdia avrrj on otiK iv po[X(j>aiq. Kal Sopart crw^ei Kvpios' on tou Kv/diou 6 iroXe/io'S,
avecTTT) 6 dXXd^vXos Kal e7ropeu6rj ets crvvdvT7]
6-rtplocs, which A has. The Hebrew place of translation cp. Jdg. 136 »ofe(/3,
word which it is used to translate orig- iii K. 194 paBntv, iv K. 214 a
inally meant ' dumb creatures,' and is 1915 xe9°v^v-
used of beasts either tame or wild. 46.
45. 4v dcnrCSi: Hebrew, 'with a —d^cXw: § 21. — rd xSXd o-ou KaC:
javelin.'—EvpCov Beov ktX.: taken as not in the Hebrew. — irap€|iPoX%: Ex.
they stand these words ought to mean 149 n. — 8i]pCois: the Hebrew word
' of the LORD God of the hosts of the here is different from that in verse 44
army of Israel.' But deov and
place. The passage should run — Kv- Israelites. Op. 192;i ttji/ iKKKyrlav rdv
plov cra|3a<6#, deov Tapard^eois lo'pa^X. Trpocpfjrwv.
2a/3au(? is a transliteration from the 48. Kal avi
Hebrew and means ' of hosts.' It is this verse is much shorter than the
thought to have referred originally to Hebrew ; ep. R.V. the hosts of heaven, but this passage 49. XC8ov ha: § 2. —Bid ttjs ircpt-
is enough to show that it was not so K«(|>aXatas: not in the Hebrew.—lirV
understood in the writer's time. For TTivytiv: after this in the Hebrew comes
other instances of transliteration in verse 50, which is not in the Greek.
258 |
258 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
i Kings XYII 51
i-rrl irpocrcoTTOv avTov iirl rrjv yrjv. 5I Kal iSpapev JavelB Kal iiream) in' avrov, Kal iXaftev rf)v p'ofjuftaiav avTov Kal idavdraxrev clvtov Kal a'AcrKaXa)j/09 • Kal eireaav rpav/xariat tcov aWocfrvXcou iv tyj 68ecus Ted Kal ews *A.KKapa>v. ^ Kal avecrrpexpav avSpes 'IcrparjX i omcrco t£>v aXkoffrvXcov, Kal KareTrarow tixs ovt5>v. MKal ekaftev AavelS ttjv Ke
51. tt)v pon<) id="iv.i.i.iv.p3495.1">aCav airoC: after this may have diverged to the right and the Hebrew has 'and drew it out of made for Ekron (Hb.) or continued the sheath thereof.' their course to the gate of Askelon
52. 'Ic-paT]X Kal 'IovSo: from this (LXX).—'Ao-k&Xwvos: Hebrew Ek-it may fairly be inferred that the ron, as in the LXX at the end of this writer lived after the separation of verse.—cireerav: § 18. — r&v irvXav. the two kingdoms. — T48: Gath. The K. V. ' to Shaaraim,' which means ' the Hebrew here has Gai, the same word two gates.'
which is translated valley in 3. Here 53. €kkX.Cvovt«s 6ir£
it is taken by the E.V. as a proper aside from after. — Ka«iraToiiv t&s
name, but no such place is otherwise irape)i.|3oXds aiirSv: trod down their
known. It seems likely therefore that armies. K.V. 'spoiled their camp.' the LXX here has preserved the right 54. ets 'Itpou
reading. If the Philistines fled down was still a Jebusite stronghold, and
the ' Vale of the Terebinth,' the pass was captured later by David himself.
by which they had entered the high- According to 211-9 the sword of Goliath
lands, Gath would lie straight before was deposited in the sanctuary at Nob,
them ; while some of the fugitives a few miles to the north of Jerusalem.
259 |
INTRODUCTION TO THE STORY OF ELIJAH
Elijah the Tishbite bursts upon us with the suddenness of the ■whirlwind in which he disappears. From first to last he is a man of mystery. Who was his father? Who was his mother ? These questions must remain unanswered. Perhaps, like Melchizedek, he had no parents at all. Where did he come from ? From Gilead. That much seems certain. But that renders his designation of the Tishbite unintelligible. For no such place as Tishbeh is known of in Gilead, that is, in the mountainous district east of the Jordan. The only name resembling it is Thisbe in Naphtali, which is mentioned in Tobit I2. We have to suppose then that Elijah was borii in Tishbeh, but brought up in Gilead, unless we follow those who have recourse to conjecture, and surmise that 'Tisbi' in the Hebrew text is a false reading for what would mean 'man of Jabesh,' Jabesh being one of the chief cities in Gilead. Gilead was just the -wildest part of all Palestine, and so a ' meet nurse for a' prophetic 'child.' As the worship of Jehovah originated in the desert and amid the awful solitudes of Sinai, so its most zealous supporters were sons of the desert, whose walk was in lonely places, whereas the rival worship of Baal was the cult of populous cities like Tyre and Zidon.
The Hebrew name of the prophet, ' Yahweh is God,' is so appropriate to the cause he maintained that it looks as if it may have been assumed by himself, or assigned to him by the popular voice, as significant of his teaching, rather than borne by him originally. If it was so borne, it would seem to show that he came of a stock already devoted to the same cause. Perhaps it was given to him in the Schools of the Prophets.
Elijah's first appearance on the scene is in the capacity of a great rain-maker, claiming as the mouthpiece of Jehovah to have control over the weather —(As the Lord, the God of Israel, livetl, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.' It is implied, in accordance "with the prophetic, view of nature and history, that the rain is withheld oil
259
260 |
260 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
account of the sins of Ahab in following the Baalim (1818). But the narrative at the same time admits that the drought was not confined to Ahab's dominions, but affected also the neighbouring country of Zidon (1714). There is other evidence for this drought. Josephus (Ant. VIII13 § 2) quotes Menander as saying in the Acts of Ithoba-lus, King of Tyre — 'And under him there took place a drought, from about the middle of September in one year until the same time the next: but, when he made supplication, there was a great thunderstorm.' Here we have the rare opportunity of hearing the other side. Ithobalus is no other than Ethbaal, the father of Jezebel and the father-in-law of Ahab (i K. 16S1). But it should be noticed that, while the drought which Ethbaal is related to have removed by prayer, was exactly of one year's duration, that in our story continued at least into the third year (i K. 181), and, according to the tradition preserved in the New Testament (Lk. 4M: James 5") lasted for three years and six months.
Ethbaal was a priest of Astarte, who obtained the throne of Tyre by slaying Pheles, who himself had purchased by fratricide a reign of eight months.1 He reigned for thirty-two years and was succeeded by his son and grandson, who between them only occupied fifteen years. To the latter succeeded Pygmalion, who, according to the historian of Tyre, lived fifty-six years and reigned forty-seven. It was in his seventh year, according to the same authority, that his sister founded Carthage. Thus it would appear from Menander that Ethbaal's daughter, whom Ahab married, was an elder contemporary of Dido, and presumably of the same family, since Pygmalion can hardly be supposed to have usurped the throne at the age of nine. If Pygmalion was the son of his predecessor Metten, then Jezebel must have been grand-aunt, and her daughter Athaliah first-cousin once removed, to Eliza, who is known to us as Dido.
Ethbaal ____________________I
Ba'al-'azar II Jezebel
Metten Athaliah
Pygmalion Dido
1 Menander in Josephus Against Apion I § 18.
261 |
INTRODUCTION TO THE STOKY OF ELIJAH 261
Isabel or Jezebel, the daughter of the priest of Astarte, was as zealous for her own religion as Elijah for his, and no less ruthless in her manner of supporting it. They were both ready to slay or to be slain. In their two persons the war of the faiths took visible shape—Jehovah on the one hand, on the other Baal and Ashteroth; on the one hand the austere son of the desert in his shaggy mantle, on the other the queen in her vestures of fine linen, -with all the power of the state behind her. For Ahab ruled the state and Jezebel ruled Ahab. Ahab, had he been left alone, might have tolerated both creeds and have given the 'still, small voice' a chance of being heard: but that would have pleased neither the imperious and fanatical queen nor yet the champion of the 'jealous' God. It was literally war to the knife. Either Baal or Jehovah was God, and one only was to be worshipped. Of how much bloodshed has an incomplete alternative often been the cause !
Jezebel began the duel by cutting off the prophets of Jehovah on that occasion when Obadiah saved one hundred of them alive in a cave. When this event took place we are not told. It lies behind the narrative, like one of those dark and terrible deeds which are 'presupposed in the plot of a tragedy instead of being represented on the stage.'
There was good reason then for Elijah's going into hiding at the brook Cherith, where he was fed morning and evening by the ravens. Some commentators have tried to get rid of the ravens from the story by so pointing the consonants of the Hebrew word as to turn it into ' Arabs' or ' merchants.' But many pointless things may be done by a careful manipulation of points. This is only a mild piece of Euhemerism, a discredited tendency of thought, which, wherever it encounters a picturesque marvel, would substitute for it some prosaic possibility, less alluring, but equally imaginary.
The next episode in the story is the pleasing and pathetic one of the widow of Zarephath. After the brook Cherith had dried up, the prophet was sent to Zarephath, where he was supported by a poor widow, one of the countrywomen of the fierce queen from whom he was flying, and rewarded her hospitality with the miraculous replenishment of her barrel of meal and cruse of oil. To this incident we have a partial parallel in pagan legend, in the wonderful thing that happened at table, when Baucis and Philemon were entertain-
262 |
262 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
ing angels unawares in the shape of Jupiter and Mercury, who had come down in human form to see what piety was to be found in Phrygia. The first hint that the guests gave of their divinity was in the supernatural increase of the wine —
Interea, quoties haustum cratera repleri sponte sua, per seque violent succrescere vina attoniti novitate pavent, manibusque supinis concipiunt Baucisque preces, timidusque Philemon.
— Ovid Met. VIII 679-682.
The moral of the two stories is the same, though conveyed in very different language —
Cura pii Dis sunt, et, qui coluere, coluntur.
This moral is brought home still more powerfully in the story of. Elijah by the restoration to the widow of her son after the breath had left his body. So in Greek legend Heracles rewards the hospitality of Admetus by restoring to him his wife. But the poet's imagination there conjures up a struggle with Death on the brink of the grave. This we feel to be unreal. It is not the thews and sinews of the strong man that can avail to recall 'the fleeting breath.' But the Jewish story has nothing in it that repels belief. Who can measure the powers of the strong soul?
Erom this benigner aspect of Elijah we turn at once to the grim episode of the contest with the prophets of Baal, on the grandeur of which we need not dilate: it is generally felt that it is one of the finest stories in all literature. As the result of his victory Elijah slays the prophets of Baal with his own hands (i K. 1840).
Ahab is represented as accepting this measure with indifference. He would no doubt regard it as the legitimate outcome of Elijah's challenge to a trial by fire. Not so however the zealot queen. ' So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life like the life of one of them by to-morrow about this time' was her answer to the prophet.
This leads on to the next episode, in which Elijah retires to the sacred mount of Horeb, where the worship of Jehovah began. Here he may have taken up his abode in that very 'cleft of the rock' (Ex. 3322) from which Moses is related to have seen the back of Jehovah. The story that follows of ' the still, small voice' seems to show that the
263 |
INTRODUCTION TO THE STOBY OF ELIJAH 263
teller of it himself misdoubted the whirlwind ways of the prophet. Or are we to say that he ' builded better than he knew' and left the world a moral which was not of his own time or country?
In the next episode, which is that of Naboth's vineyard, the prophet of Jehovah stands forth as the champion of civil justice, and denounces the tyranny of the weak ruler and his wicked wife. As the conscience-stricken king cowered beneath his curse, there stood one behind his chariot, who, years afterwards, took up the quarrel of Elijah against Jezebel and the house of Ahab, and destroyed Baal out of Israel (ii K. 925'20).
Athaliah, the daughter of Jezebel, whose methods were even more drastic than her mother's, did her best to establish Baal-worship in Judah, but Jehoiada the priest rallied the Levites, and the foreign cult was suppressed there also, and finally extirpated under Josiah. Racine, it will be remembered, availed himself of this subject for his grand tragedy of Athalie. His would be a daring genius that should attempt to dramatise the story of Elijah and Jezebel. While more sublime than the other, it does not lend itself so well to the unities of time and place.
So far in the story of Elijah there is no sign of any mixture of documents. But some critics think that the episode of the three captains (ii K. I2"17) is from a different hand. The form of the prophet's name in ii K. Is'8> n is in the Hebrew Elijah, as in Malachi 3®, not Elijahu, as in the rest of the narrative; also ' the angel of the Lord' speaks to Elijah in ii K. I3-15 instead of 'the word of the Lord' coming unto him. Whether these critics are right or not we will not attempt to decide. Professor Driver does not seem to endorse their opinion. But this much we seem entitled, or rather bound, to say — that the story, from whatever source derived, is one which shocks the moral sense; nor need the most pious Christian hesitate to condemn it, when he recalls the judgement pronounced upon it, at least by implication, by Jesus Christ himself (Lk. 9s5).
The last episode, namely, that of the translation of Elijah, is treated with great reticence by Josephus. His words are as follows {Ant. IX 2 § 2) —'At that time Elias disappeared from among men, and no one knows unto this day how he came by his end. But he left a disciple Elisha, as we have shown before. Concerning Elias however and Enoch, who lived before the Flood, it is recorded in the
264 |
264 SELECTIONS PROM THE SEPTUAGINT
Sacred Books that they disappeared, but of their death no one knows.' Josephus evidently thought it indiscreet to submit to a Gentile audience a story which, as internal evidence shows, could rest solely on the report of the prophet's successor.
The proposition ' All men are mortal' is the type of universality to the intellect, but the heart is ever seeking to evade its stringency. ' He cannot be dead' and ' He will come again' are the words that rise to men's lips, when some grand personality is taken away. The Old Testament, as we arrange it, closes with the prediction — 'Behold I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of the Lord come' — and the New Testament begins with his coming in the person of John the Baptist (Mt. 1712>13), while he came again later, on the Mount of Transfiguration (Mk. 94). If a man did signs and wonders, the natural question to ask him was ' Art thou Elijah?' To the present day, it is said, some of the Jews set a seat for Elijah at the circumcision of a child. None of the ' famous men of old' among the Jews, not even excepting Moses himself, left a deeper impression than Elijah on the hearts of his countrymen. Listen to the words of the son of Sirach (Ecclesiasticus 481"11) —
Elijah arose as a flame, and Ms word like a lamp did burn :
Famine did walk in Ms train and the land to -weakness turn.
In the word of the Lord he stayed the heavens that they sent not rain,
And be called down fire from above, yea twice, and once again.
How wert thou honoured, Elijah, in thy wondrous deeds of might!
Never again like thee shall another arise in our sight.
Thou didst raise irp the dead from death, and his soul from Sheol didst call:
For the word of the Lord Most High in thy mouth could accomplish all.
Thou didst bring down kings to the dust and the mighty from their seat:
Yet in Sinai heardest rebuke and in Horeb judgement meet.
It was thine to anoint earth's kings, when the Lord would vengeance take;
And the prophets that followed upon thee — them also thou didst make.
Thou wert rapt to heaven at the last in a whirl of blazing flame ;
The car and the steeds of fire from the skies to take thee came.
Is it not written of thee that thou shalt reprove at the end,
Lulling the wrath of God, that men their ways may mend,
So that the father's heart may be turned to the son once more,
And Israel's tribes again may stand as they stood before?
Blessed are they that saw thee — the sight could blessing give —
But, as thou livest, Elijah, we too shall surely live.
265 |
VI. THE STORY OF ELIJAH
lii Kings XTII
1Kat
'HXciou 6 irpo(j>i]Tr)<; 6 ©e
peuov ivTtvdev Kara dvaroXas, /cal Kpvfirjdi iv ra X.oppa.9 tov iirt irpocrconov rov 'lopSdvov. tou ^ELfiappov •jrtecrat vScop, Kal rots Kopa£w i hia.Tp4
4/cai ecrrat e/c
1. 'HXeio-i: a transliteration from the Hebrew, instead of the Grecised form 'HXtas, which is sometimes used. Mai. 4* ace. 'RXlav. Lk. 1", 425, 9M (A.S.M.) 'HX£as. —6 irpo<| id="iv.i.i.iv.p3569.1">
|i€»v: not in the Hebrew, t&v $w&-/j£av represents the Hebrew word which in 1815 and elsewhere is rendered 'of hosts.' — § ■Kapccmv evciiriov ovtov: § 69. — «t Vo-Tai: there shall not be. § 101. — t& sti) Tavra: during the years thai are to come. — on tl (j.^: § 110. — 8id
2. irpos 'HXeicMii: Hebrew, 'unto him.' 'HXetoiJ here seems to have arisen out of a misreading of the Hebrew, and irpis to have been put in to make sense.
3. Kp-u^Si.: passive in middle sense. Op. 181. § 83. — XoppdB: Hebrew ChTith. The particular ravine is not known, but, as it appears to have been east of Jordan, it was presumably in Elijah's own country of Gilead.
265
4. irCtcrai: § 17.
266 |
266 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
iii Kings XVII 6
irov tou 'lopSdvov. 6/cal ol KopaKes i6 ^ei-fxdppovs, oti ovk iyevtTo verb's eVi ttjs yjjs- 8Kat
tyivzTo prjfjia Kvpiov 7T/3os 'HXetou 9"'Avacm? 0i Kal Tropevov ets XdpevTa ttJs ^eiSaivCas • iSov ivTerakfiai e/cet yvvaiio.
XVP9- T°v ^^CTpecjieLv ere." 10Kal avearrj Kal
, ei? tov wXwva r^s TroXews* Kal iSov e'/cet X>]Pa wveXeyev £vka, kcu ij36rjaev bTTiaat avrrj1; 'HXetov Kat et7ref auT7j Aape 017 okiyov vocop ets ayyos /cat Tnofxat. nKal ivopev9r Xa/3etv, /cat ififrqo-ev ottlo-q) avTrjs 'HXetou /cat
dpTov tov iv t~q XetP' crou." 12/cai etTret' rj yvvq " Zrj Kvpios 6 #eos aov, el eaTiv /xot kv-dXX' ^ oo~ov 8pci£ akevpov iv Trj vdpCa, Kal oXCyov iv tS KapdKr/ • Kal tSov avXXeyo) 8vo (;vkdpia, /cat /cat Trocqcro) avTO i/j-avrrj /cat rots re'/c^ots
6. to 8eCT)s: Gen. 406 n. though a Gentile, is made to swear by
7. |«;TaT|)j^pas: §86. — afi.appotis: Elijah's God, not by her own. — ivtepv-i K. ni0 n. Here we have the Attic, 4>Cas: Ex. 1239n. — Spdg: handful. Cp. instead of the later shortened form. Gen. S77 n. Josephus also uses dpdt; So in 1840, Nb. 345, and other passages. in this context (Ant. VIII13 § 2). The
9. 2dp«irra ttjs SeiSoivias: Zare- word occurs some eight or nine times
phath lay between Tyre and Sidon in in the LXX, and its proper meaning
the country from which Jezebel came. seems to be that of the hand regarded as
— tov Sia.Tp^
11. A-fj(n|;Ti: jussive future. § 74. Ka^dKijs iiSaros: Judith 105 KafiKriv
— |kj(i6v: a word as old as Homer, ialov. The word is also spelt n.apf/i.i<^ ■which occurs a dozen times in the and is connected with K6.jj.fa — Latin LXX, It means simply 'morsel.' Its capsa. It was perhaps a bottle cased dim. ^u/xlop, which does not occur in in wicker work. Josephus (Ant. VIII the LXX, is the word rendered ' sop ' in 13 §2) here uses Ktpdfuov.— fuXipia: Jn. 1326,27,30 (= i,reain Mod. Greek), the diminutive of %iov firewood occurs
12. Zfi Kiipios kt. : the woman, only here in LXX. — tois «'kvois : so in
267 |
VI. THE STORY OF ELIJAH 267
iii Kings XVII 19
ko.1 (pa.yojxeua} Kai airouavovpeua. kcli emev irjoos avrfjv
'HXeiou " ®dpcrei} etaeXde Kal noirjcrov Kara to prj^d crov. aXXa. TroirjO~ov ifxoi ixcWev ivKpv
Xiirev Kal 6 Ka^aK^s tou iXaCov ovk iXaTTOvddr], /caTol to prj/xa Kvplov o eXaXijcrei/ et" X61/3^ 'HXetou. n/cat iyivero yxeTa TauTa Kai r)ppaio-Trj(T€v b vtos ttjs ynvaiKOS tijs KvpCas tov olkov Kal rjv r/ appaiUTia avTov KpaTaua
avrbv el? to vnepwov iv w avTOS eKa^To c/cei,
15 ri reKva, tut in 17 6 ui6s, as though 15. Kal !iro£i]
there were hut one. The Hebrew has Hebrew has ' according to the word
the singular throughout. of the Lord.'
13. Iv Trpwrois: like Latin inprimis. 16. h (ipl: a Hebraism = by — iro^o-ov . . . koI i£oC
hr Iot^&tou : here merely afterwards. 17. T|pp<&
In Swete's text iir' ivx&ry is read in LXX has dislodged vo
Dt. 43», 139: ii K. 2425: Sir. 1212, 137, occurs only in Wisd. 17s, and is
3010, 3422; irr iirx^rov in Is. 4123: Jer. there used metaphorically. Op. iv
2320, 2519: Ezk. 388: Ban. 0' 823, 101*. K. I2.
14. t) vSpfa toB dXcvpov: cp. 12. 18. 6 avOpwiros tov 6«ov: nomina-From meaning a waterpot, as in 1834, tive for vocative. § 50. — tov Ava-the meaning of this word has been (ivfjo-ai: genitive infinitive of purpose, generalised, so as to cover any kind of § 59.
vessel. — eXciTTOVTJo-ei: iaTTovetv = be 19. Iv (p . . . Ikci : § 87. — !koC|u
less, £a.TTovovv in 16 = make less. here = laid. Cp. ii K. 82.
268 |
268 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
fli Kings XVII 20
Kal eKoijjucrev avTov inl rrjs Kkivr]?. mKa). ave 'HXeiov Kal elirev " Otfxoi Kvpue, 6 fxdprv; T^s XVPa<> 77s iyoi kci.toik£) fxer' avrrjs, crv KCKctKooKas tov dav tov viov avrt]<;. Kai evetyvcrrjo-ev to> iraibapico Tpi
iveK
avTov airb tov vvepwov ets tov oTkov Kal
T7] jxrjTpi avTov ■ Kal eiTrev 'HXetou " BA.£7re, Z,rj 6 vtos crov. Kai enrev 17 yvvrj irpos HAetow loot) eyucoKa
oTi crv dvOpcono's deov, Kal prjua ~K.vp(ov iv crro/xaTi aov
1Kal iyivero jxed* i^/Aepas TroXXas Kai prj/xa KvpCov lyi-vero irpbs 'HXetou iv to) ei/iaur&J tw rpirw Xeycov "Hopevdr/Ti
l 6(f)0r]TC raJ 'A^act/8, /cat haxxca verbv iirl TtpocrwTtov
2Kal erropevOr) 'HXetou tov 6
20. dvtPorjo-tv 'HXetoii: Hebrew, shorter in the Greek than in the He-' he cried unto the LOKD.' The words brew. Cp. R.V. — aveP<5n
for vocative, in apposition with Ktpie, 1. («8 »)^p«ts iroM&s: § 86. Jose-like Ktfpie 6 $e6s fiou in 21. A agrees phus (Ant. VIII 13 § 4) says xP^"">v with B here,'which is surprising in 8' 6lyov 8ce66yros. — iv t$ 4viowt§ t£ view of the general conformity of A rpCnj: presumably explanatory of /«0* to the Massoretio text. iintpas iroXXds, and so three years after
21. Jve<( id="iv.i.i.iv.p3622.1">vo-Tj
breathed into the child. K.V. 'he 3. 'ApSetou: Hebrew 'Obadyahu,
stretched himself upon the child.' Vulgate Abdias, English Obadiah.—•
22. Kal hyiviTO kt.: this verse is ijv
269 |
VI. THE STORY OF ELIJAH 269
Hi Kings XVIII 11
rovs Trpo(f)7]Tas Kv/nov /cat eXapW 'AySSetov exa/rov aVS/ms irpo(j>7]Ta? koI eKpvxpev avrovs Kara irevTrKovTa iv o-irr)-Xaup, koX Si,erpe
r/v Apoetov ei' ttj oow (iovos, Kat rjkuev HAetou ets crv^ai'-ttjctlv avTOv jxovo
^jxdpTiqKa, otl StSws rov SoCXw crou ets Xe^Pa '-^Xa^ T0^ davaTwcraC fie; 10£fj Kwptos 6 0eds crov, et ecrnv idvos rj /SacrtXeta ov ovk d7reoTeiXev 6 KvyDtds /xov t,rjTe2v
perfect. Here due to imitation of the 7. koI 'AfSSciov ia-nevirtv: Hebrew,
Hebrew. 'and he knew him.' — El o-l tl a4ros:
4. «v dprS : § 91. literally, J.rt thou he ? The ei repre-
5. Aevpo Kal 8ie8
— lirl . . . lir£: over the land, to look 10. 6 Beds
6. tV o86v: Hebrew, 'the land.' ov: = ol. §34. — koV 4veirpT)o-ev ktV:
— (iuj . . . oLXXti : for the classical here the Greek differs from the Hebrew. SXXjj i£v . . . 6XV Si. § 39. After Op. R.V. 'And when they said, "He iMq. the Hebrew adds ' alone.' On the is not here," he took an oath from other hand the Greek here inserts iibvos the kingdom and nation, that they twice, where it is not in the Hebrew. found thee not.'
270 |
270 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
Hi Kings XVIII 12
Hopevov, avayyekke tw Kvpica crov. ko.i ecrrai eav ey&j
direXdco durb crov, Kal TTvev[x,a Kvptov dpet ere eis ttjv yfjv v)v ovk oT8a- /cat etcreXevcrojuai aTrayyetXat t<5 'A^adfi, Kal airoKTevei [X€ ■ /cat 6 SovXos crow icrnv ota TTETroCrjKa iv tco airoKTeiveiv Ie^aySeX rows Trpo13 koX ovk dTT^yyeKr) croc rvSart; 14/Xeyets /xoi 'Hopevov, Xeye to) KvpLG> crov ' loou HA.etov • /cat arroKTevec /xe. /cat
etTref 'HXetov " Zy Kuptos twz/ Svvdfxecov
Kal elTrev 'Aaa/3 7rpb'HXetov " Et cru et auros 6 Staorpe-<^&)^ w *Io~paij;" 18Kal etTrer 'HXetov " Ou 8tacrTpe<^ft) w 'icrpaifX, on dXX' ^ orv /cat 6 oIkos tov Trarpos crov eV tw KaraXifxirdveiv v/xas tov Kvpiov Sebv u|awc, /cat erropevdr}?
12. KoUo-Tai kt.: § 41. —els tt]v 15. Zf| Ktipios ... on: § 101. ■yriv ^v ovk otSa: Hebrew, 'to where I 16. o-uvavrr|v : used again in iv K. know not.' A omits r^v. — jo-tiv cj>o- 215, 526. In all three places A has fSovfitvos: the Hebrew has simply the awavT-qinv. Cp. iii K. 2018 airain-^v. participle, to which the copulative —e£«8pctH.€v 'Axaap Kal liropevBr): He-verb is supplied by the translator. brew, ' Ahab went.'
13. croi t» Kvpico |j,ou: the o-oi seems 17. 6 8ia
dtro t«v irpo<| id="iv.i.i.iv.p3647.1">T}Tuv: the cbr6 here rep- 18. 8ti dXX' f[: § 109. — KOTaXi|i-
resents a Hebrew preposition having a irdveiv: Gen. 3916 n. — Kal 4irop6v8ris:
partitive meaning. § 92. — dvd irevri)- for the irregularity of construction cp.
KovTa: if the translator had been in ii Jn.2 5ii rrjp & f$eiai> ttv ^tvovnav iv
his most literal mood, he would here ■h/uv, Kal ^B' -ijudv €
have given us irevT-fiKovro. TrevrijKovTa. —t6v Kvpiov 6«ov {i|j.tov: Hebrew, 'the
§ 85, commandments of Jehovah.'—Baa-
271 |
VI. THE STORY OF ELIJAH 271
rii Kings XVIII 23
omcrco tv>v BaaXet/x. 19Kat vvv airocrreiXov, avvd.dpoLaccr^w7)9 reTpaKocriovs Kai irevTiJKovTa Kai tous Trpo(j)i}Ta<; tcou akaSiv rerpafcocrtous, icr&iovra? Tpd-Trtt,av 'Ie£a/$eX." 20/cal dTrecrreiXev 'A^aa/3 ets iravra 'laparjX, Kai imcrvvrjyaya' Travras tous Trpo
Xeiji: the Hebrew plural of Baal, ■which originally meant only owner or master. Each Canaanite community gave this name to the god of its own special worship, sometimes with a distinctive addition, as Baal-zebub at Ekron (iv. K. I2).
19. opos to &ap|i.T)iov: Jos. Ant. VIII 13 § 5 rb Kap/tiJXioj' 6pos. — tt}s at
625: i K. 1633: ii K. 136, 23«.?. w. The plural occurs in two forms — Asheroth, Jdg. &; Asherim, Ex. 3413: i K. 14": ii K. 2314. — lo-BCovTas Tpdwejav. the use of the accusative here is a Hebraism. Op. Dan. 6 I13 run iadbvrwv t^v Tpa.Te£av tov j3ao"tX^<»js, where 0' has rods eadlovras airb rou fiacrtiuKov Bdirvov.
21. irpocr^-ya7ev: intransitive, drew nigh. This use occurs in Xenophon, and probably originated in military language. Gp. v. 30. — xw^avetT6 *"■' d|x<) id="iv.i.i.iv.p3660.1">0T(pai.s Tats t-yvvais: will ye be lame on both legs. R.V. 'halt ye between two opinions.' 'lfvia, occurs only here in the LXX.
22. novi&TaTos: for the superlative cp. Jdg. 32I): ii K. 1332,83) 172. m K. 8395 1910,14, 2231: iv K. 1023, 1718: i Mac. 1070. — KaV ot irpo
272 |
272 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
iii Kings XVIII 24
■fjfuv hvo /36av %vkon> /cat irvp firj i Taxrav Kal iyo) iroirjcra) tov fiovv tov aXXov, /cat irvp ov fit) imdw. ^/cat fioare iv bvofxari deav vpSiv, Kal iyw eVi-KaXecro/xai, iv 6Vo/xaTt K.vpiov tov 0eov jaoir /cat carat, 6 6ebs 09 iav iiraKovarj iv irvpi, oSros ^eos." Kal aT crav 7ras 6 Xaos Kai efarov " KaXov to pr/fxa o eXa 25Kal etvev 'HXetov rols Trpo^Tat? ttjs aicr^w % Kal hterpexpv itrl tov Bvcnao-rrjpLov ov iiroirjcrav.
23. |i«wro.TW(rav: dismember. A 1921. — 6 0«r|3eCTiis: not in the He-
saorificial term. Op. 33, Lev. I6 luehiovaiv brew. — dSoXttrxCa: this word is used
a0r6 xard /j.4 i. It occurs also in Jdg. in classical Greek, not only for ' idle
1929, 206: iK. II7: Mic. 33. — iroi^cru: chatter,' but also for 'subtle reason-
will dress, i.e. make ready for burning. ing.' The latter meaning appears to
Op. 2526>a: Jdg. 619. See Jdg. 1315 n. have originated oiit of the former in
24. iv irvpl -. § 91. connexion with the discourses of Soc-
25. fauTols: § 13. rates, and we have the key to the tran-
26. (k irpai&ev. § 34.—6 BdaX: sition in Or at. 401 B, where Plato nominative for vocative. A transcript ironically takes up the term iSoktax1)'-, from the Hebrew, and at the same which had been flung at Socrates (Ar. time in accordance with popular usage Nub. 1485). Hence iSoe
27. €|AuKT^pto-€v: a rare word out- of the same Hebrew, which is rendered side the LXX, but familiar to us by the Revisers 'he is musing.' — pi through its use in Gal. 67. Op. iy K. wore: haply. Gen. 4312 n. — XP1l)J'OTt'
273 |
VI. THE STORY OF ELIJAH
273
lii Kings XVIII 82
crrrjcreTax" 28/cal CTre/caXowro iv
T€T€jjivovTO iv fia^aipa /cai cretjOO/idcrrciis ecos at/iaros ett avrovs, kcu en po
Jtu: R.V. 'he is gone aside'; cp. German -A&SriW. After this the Hebrew has ' or he is on a journey,' which Josephus (Ant. VIII13 § 5) also read — ^€7i£Xj; /Soj KaXeiy airois ^xAeue robs deoiis, fj yap airodyiielv airois ^ KadeiSeiv.
28. (rtipojiaarais: ccpofiAcTtjs OV treipo^dcrTTjs is literally a pit-searcher, and then used for a kind of lance; see L. & S. The word occurs also in Nb. 257: Jdg. 58 (A) : iv K. II10 : Joel 310. Josephus also uses it in this context.
29. 4irpo
Kal rb 5eiiv6v. — »s o Kaipos ktX. : cp. i Esd. 86^ iKaOrffMjv 7reptvTros ^(os rijs BfiXivTjs dwias. — Kal IXdXt)
30. IIpoo-eryd-yeTe: v. 21 n.
31. 'Io-pa-rjX: Hebrew, ' of the sons of Jacob.'
32. l&a-aro: for tli is use of Idcraro we may compare Nehemiah 42 (= ii Esd. 142) in the Oxford text of the Vatican Ms. Kal o-^/iepov lacroyrai rois Wovs, where the E.V. has 'will they
274 |
274 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
Ui Kings XVIII 33
/cat iiroCyjcrev 9aXa
revive the stones?' The words relating in the Hebrew.—tiiAurev: verse 23 n. to the repair of the altar come in the 34. AtuT€p
33. Jo-ToCpao-ev: he piled. Op. Hebrew, ' he filled.'
Lvt. I7 iiritTTOi^aaavciv |i)a iirl rb 36. Kal avef3oT]
vvp: also Lvt. 612: Josh. 2°: Cant. 25. oipavdv: different from the Hebrew.
— o-x'Saxas:
— lirt t6 0vo-iao-T^piov o Jiro(i]o-ev: not day.'
275 |
VI. THE STORY OF ELIJAH 275
Hi Kings XVIII 44
indKovaov pov, teal yvaiTw 6 Xaos ovtos on crii Kvpuos 6 #eos, Kal cru ecrrpet/za? ttjv KapZiav tov XaoO tovtov ottlctq}." 88 Kal enecrev irvp irapa KvpCov etc toG ovpavov, Kal Kare-XaoV " SvXXa^SeTe tovs 7rpo<^ijras tou BaaX, firjdels crcodrJTO) ef avrS>v" Kal avveXafiov avrous, Kal KaTayei avTovs 'HXetou et5 tov ^eLfjidppovv Kacrwi; Kal eo-fjiatjev avTovs €KeZ 41Kal etTrei' 'HXetov ra
'A^actjS a *Avdf3r)8i Kal (f>dye Kal irCe, oti (jjcovrj twv tto tou veTOu." 42Kal avi^r] 'A^aclyS tou (ftayelv Kal Kal 'HXaou avefi-q inl tov ILdpymfkov, Kal €KVjtev iirt tt)v yrv Kal tdrjKev to Trpoawnov eavTOv ava. fiecrov to>i> yovd-kavrov, ^Kal etTrev t&5 muSaptw avrov "'AvdfirjSi, Kal Xe^iov 6Sbv Trj? ^aXacrcnjs." Kal iirefiXexjjev to iraihd-Kat etTrev Uvk €o~tlv ovueu • Kai enrev HAeion Kai
o~v inCcTTpexliop «rra/a, Kai aTroo-Tp&jjov iirTaKL." uKal d-rre-o~Tpe^sei> to TraiSapiov enrctKi • Kal iyivero iv tw i/3$6fia>, Kal iSov v€(f)iXy] fiiKpa ws t^vos dvSpo? dvayoncra vBmp.
37. •yvtJTco: in 36 yviiruia-av. The JAe sea, a Hebraism. Cp. Dt. I19 6Sbv difference is not due to tlie Hebrew, fyovs tov 'A/Mppaiov: Mi. 415 odbv 6a-■which has the plural here. Xaircr^js. —Iirio-Tpe(iov . .. dir6o-Tp€i|/ov:
38. Kttl to fiScop to «v T'g 8ad
41. t«v ttoSSv: an unexpectedly of the hand, i K. 54: ivK. 936 ri i'x1''? poetical turn. Hebrew, ' of abun- rQp x*lP&v- J°s- -4)1'- "^m 13 § 16 oi)
dance.' ir4ov txvows avBpairlvov. — dva-yowcra
43. oSov Tfjs 8adcr
276 |
276 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
ill Kings XVIII 43
KaX elirev " 'Avafinqdi KaX elirov 'A^aa/? ' Zeb^ov to
crov Kal Kara/S^dc, pr) KaraKd^r) ere 6 verds.' " 45Kal iy£. vero las whe KaX £>Be, koX 6 ovpavbs crvvea-Koracrev vej>{-Xats koX Trvev/xari, Kal eyevero 6 ueros //.eyas* KaX eKa.ev KaX eiroptveTo 'A^aayS eis 'lo-paijX. 46Kal eiP Kupiou 'HXetov • «al a~vve(xj>iy^ev Trjv oofyvv avroS, «ai efnrpocrffev 'A^aafi ets 'IcrpaijX. 1KaX avrjyyeikev 'A^aa/S t^ 'Ie^a^SeX yuj^aiAcl avroC irdura a, kTtoir
45. 'ias »8t Kal wSe: a Hebraism', literally until thus and thus. Here the context gives the force of mean-while. — tKkaiv: Hebrew, 'rode.' How gicXaev comes here is not plain, and the ■usual LXX form is HicKaiev, which A has. — "lo-pctfjX.: a mistake for 'Jez-reel.' So also in the next verse and in chapter 20. Jos. Ant. VIII 13 § 6 ical 6 /iex els 'letrp&yXav irtiv vapaylve-rat.
46. o-uv&r(|>i.-y£ev: this compound, which is not to be found in It. & S., occurs also in Ex. 36s9 -. Lvt. 87: Dt. 157.—ets'Io-pa^X.: a distance of about sixteen miles.
1. •yuvaiKl aiTo$: not in the Hebrew.
2. Et
a Hebraism. Cp. Ruth llr: i K. 1444, 2013, 25^2: ii K. 39.3', 1913: iii K. 223, 2110: iv K. 631. — 6 Beos: the verb be-ing plural, the R.V. has here 'the gods.' — on: (know) that, etc. §107.
3. Ka.T& ttjv >]/vxV ea-u-roii: K.V. 'for his life.' A Hebraism. — vijv *Iov8a: in apposition to BTjpcrtt/Sce, but the genitive would be more appropri-ate. The specification of Beer-Sheba as belonging to Judah has been thought to stamp the story of Elijah as emanat-ing from the Northern Kingdom. If so, it must have been written before the capture of Samaria in b.o. 722.
4. 'Pa6(Uv: here the translator has
277 |
VI. THE STORY OF ELIJAH 277
iii Kings XIX 10
eTirev u 'lKavovardco vvv, dj3e 8rj ttjv jjv)(tJv ju.ov a/n i/xov, Kvpce, otl ov KpeCo-acDv iyco elfx.i virep tovs irarepas /xov." 5/cat eKoiprjdr) Kal VTrvcDaev e/cet viro (f>vr6v /cat tSou us avrov Kal elwev ai/rco "'Avdo-rrjOt, Kal
to atrrfkaiov Kal KareXvcrev e/cet • /cat tSoti p'rjjia KvpCov Tipos avrov Kat e'nrev " Tt crv evravda, 'HXetov;" 10/cat etirei' 'HXetov " ZrjXwv e^Xw/ca r&> KvpCco HavTOKpdropL, otl
found himself at a loss, and left the ■word before him untranslated, which gives it the appearance of being a proper name. There is something wrong, as the consonants do not correspond with the Hebrew. The R.V. gives 'juniper tree' with a marginal alternative 'broom.'—ttjv +uxV a*-toB: R. V.' for himself.' A Hebraism. — 'iKOtvoiicrew: cp. Nb. 167 : Dt. I6, 2^, 326: iii K. 1228, 21": i Chr. 2115: Ezra 446, 459. — Kp€i
5. <) id="iv.i.i.iv.p3723.1">vt6v : the Hebrew here is the same as that which was transliterated 'Po.6ij£i>, so that the translator is aware that it means a plant of some kind. Josephus {Ant. VIII 13 § 7) has 7rp6s Tin Stvdpy. — tis : Hebrew, ' an angel.'
6. 'HXeto-6: not in the Hebrew. — *VKpv(j>Cas : Ex. 12s9 n. — &vpeC-nis : made of rye. Gen. 401G n. Tor ivnpv-
baken on the coals.' — Kajraia)s: 1712 n.
7. 'Avdo-Ttt: §32.
8. opovs Xwprip: Hebrew, ' Horeb, the mount of God.' Jos. Ant. VIII13 § 7 els rb Xivatov KaKotifievov 8pos, On Horeb see Ex. 31, 176, 336. The Jalivist is supposed to represent Sinai as the sacred mountain and the Elohist Horeb. The length of time assigned for the journey indicates geographical ignorance on the part of the writer.
9. to (nrTJXcuov: so also in the Hebrew, though the English has here ' a cave.' The reference is evidently to some place known in the writer's time, haply the spot which had been identified with the dry ttjs ■wtrpa.s of Ex. 3322. Josephus {Ant. VIII13 § 7) has
10. t% K-uplu IlavTOKp&TOpi: for Jehovah the God of hosts. The word which is here rendered TavroKparap
278 |
278 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
iii Kings XIX 11
ivKari
r6v ere ot viol 'Io-pat]- To, #vcriacrr>7pic£
r)Kovcrev 'HXeiou, Kat iireicakvipev to irpocraiiTov avrov iv rfj fjL7}a)Tfj kavTov, Kat i^rjXOev Kat ecm? viro crTrijXatot' • Kat tSov 7rp6s avrbv fycovr) Kat etirev " Tt cry ivravOa, 'HXetou; " 14 Kat ehrev 'HXeiov " Z^Xwi/ e^rjXcoKa tw Kvpta) IlavTOKpaTopt, oti iyKareknrov ere ot vtol 'icrpaijX, T^r Sia^KTjv trov Kat to, dvcriacrrripid crov Ka$eiav Kat tous Trpo^ijTas crov aTreKTCLvav iv po[i
was in 1816 translated by r5» 8w6.iJ.ewv. cloak. The -word occurs in the LXX
TravTOKparoip occurs first in the LXX five times (iii K. 1918.M: ivK. 2*18."),
in ii K. 510, after which it becomes very always as a transliteration of the same
common.—o-«: Hebrew,' thy covenant.' word, and always in connexion with
11. avpvov: not in the Hebrew. — Elijah. Hence we may infer that its iv t
12. <| id="iv.i.i.iv.p3741.1">covi] avpas X«irTf|s : K.V. mar- jcij*
13. lirjXwT'ji: sheepskin, a kind of in verse 10. § 37.
279 |
VI. THE STORY OF ELIJAH 279
iii Kings XIX 21
kcu rjtjeis ets tt)p 6Sov ipijfiov AajxaaKov ■ Kal ^eis kolI Xptcrets top 'A^arjX eis /3aEiov, Kal toi> cra>t,6}i(.vov 4k pop,(f)a£a<; Eiou dapaTdxrei 'EXeicraie. 18«al Ka.Take.i-
rbv 'EXetcraie utoi' Sa^ar, Kal avros T^poTpla ip fiovcriv • ipwmop avrov, koX avros ev rots S
iTrrj9ev iv* olvtop, Kal i-nippvtye ttjp pvjXcoTfjv avrov in
avrov. 20Kal KaTeXiirev 'EXetcraie ras ^Soas, Kal KareSpa-)u.€jy otticto) 'HXetov Kal eiTrep " KaTa<£iXi;cr« tov varepa fiov Kal aKoXovdijcra) biricro) crov " Kal elnep 'HXetou " 'Ava-
15. Kal ii|«s «ts tt]v 686v: not in
the Hebrew.
16. tov viov E£ov vlov Ntt|i«cr0ci:
Hebrew, 'Jehu the son of Nimshi.' A comparison with iv K. 92 vior 'lacra-
17. Kal tov
18. KaraXeitjrtis: Hebrew, 'I will leave.' — o>KX.a
transitively. The word is used only in these two passages of the LXX, but is quite classical.
19. 'EXeurave: Hebrew Mislia' = 'God is salvation.' — TjpoTpCa : Jdg. 1418n. — SuStKa tcvyi ktX. : Josephus (Ant. VIII13 § 7) explains that there were other persons ploughing with Elisha. Twelve oxen yoked to one plough have been seen within living memory on Beachy Head, but SiiSexa Zeiyn would be double this number.
20. Kara^iX^cro) . . . &koov8t|o-g) : the former is aorist subjunctive, the latter future indicative. —on ireiroliKa
280 |
280 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
iii Kings XX 1
auroS, Kal eXafiev Ta t^vyrj ru>v fioo>v Kal edvcev Kal rjtyr)O~ev aura ev rots o~Keveo~i t£>v /3o£)vf Kal ZBcoKev toj Xa<3 Kal e
tw aX^) 'A^aa,^3 ^ao"tXecos "%aiapeia
read Sti, and render/or anything I §12.—a^aObv iirtp airov: § 94.—Kal
ftcnie do?ie Jo tftee. . . . Xaxavwv: not in the Hebrew.
1. Kal a|iire&v: the connecting 4. Kal e-y€v«To ktX. : the Greek in formula ' And it came to pass after this verse is much shorter than the these things' is absent from the LXX, Hebrew. Cp. K.V. —
Ben-hadad after and not before this. S. ovk «t
— els: § 2. —'Io-paTiXcCTg : Jezreelite. form of the present, as in English, art
1845 n. — t£ aa>: Hebrew, 'the pal- thou not eating bread? §72.
ace.' On SXus see § 8. 6. KXi^povo|iCav iraT«po>v |i.ou : He-
2. ea-xai |J.oi ets: § 90. — iyylav: brew, ' my vineyard.'
281 |
VI. THE STORY OF ELIJAH 281
Hi Kings XX 15
7rpos avrbv 'Ie£dfieX rj yvvrj avrov u^v vvv owws Trotets fiacnXea iirl 'icrpaijX; avd
" 'Avdcrra, KXrjpovofiei tov dfiTreXciva NaySou^al tou 'Icrparj-XeCrov 6s ovk eSojKev croi dpyvpiov, oti ovk ecrnv
7. iroiets Pa
regain thy self-possession. 11.V. 'let 13. Kal eicd6i.
thine heart be merry.' of verse 10 and the whole of 11 and 12
8. toiis 4X«v8«povs: K. V. ' the no- are omitted in the LXX. This is per-bles.' haps a deliberate piece of compression
9. Xfywv: § 112. — iv dpxfj tov on the part of the Greek translator. Xaov: Hebrew, ' at the head of the — 4Kd6i
10. vtovs irapav6|j.o)v: this is a in sense, meaning originally to say LXX equivalent (cp. Jdg. 1922, 2013: good-by to. It is used both of bless-ii Chr. 137) for the phrase 'sons of ing and cursing. Here the translator Belial,' of which the commonly ac- has chosen the wrong sense, as in Job cepted explanation is ' sons of un- I11. Jos. Ant. VIII13 § 7 as rbv 6e6r profitableness.' The personification of re ety pa
282 |
282 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
Hi Kings XX 16
l&v, otl TeOvrjKev." u Kal iyei/ero cos rJKOv&evi 'A^ad^S on ri6vi)Kev Nafiovdal 6 'IcrpaTjXemjSj Kal &ieppr)£ev ra ifxd-ria iavTov Kal nepiefBaKero ctolkkov ko1 eyevero /xerd Kal dvicrTT] ko.1 Kori^rj 'A^ad^ ei? tov dju/zreXaii/a Na-l tov 'lcrpa-qXeLTOv KXypovofifjcraL avrov. 1TKai
Kvptos Trpos 'HXetov roc ®€
eXifav at ues Kal oi ku^cs to at/aa NaySou^at, ckeI 61 KuVes to atfta o"ou, /cal at -tropvai Xovcrovrai iv crov. Kat etTre' A^aap Trpos HAetov Et
fie, 6 i^Opos /aov;" Kal tiirev " TLvpyjKa, StOTt irenpaaai Trovrjcrai to Trovrjpbv ivcovtov Kvpiov, Trapopyicrai avrov. toov eya errayw ctti ere Ka/fa, Kat
clinaWe ■ Hebrew relative. The sense not Greek at all, but the result of requires Hv. • literal translation. — Kal oi nilves: not 16. Kal Iy^vcto . . . craKKov: these in the Hebrew. — Kal at irdpvat . . . words, which represent Ahab as feel- aijiarC a-ov : not in the Hebrew at this ing a temporary repentance, are not point. Yet in 2238, where the fulfil-to be found in the Hebrew. Josephus ment of the prophecy is recorded, there (Ant. VIII 13 § 8) represents Ahab as are words corresponding to these, which bounding from his bed with joy. have been enclosed in brackets by the
18. diravriiv: airavrij = airivrricris Eevisers. Their presence there seems seems to be confined to the LXX, to show that the Hebrew, and not the where it occurs frequently, but hardly Greek, is at fault in this passage, ever without the other form as a 20. Et eiip-qKas u: § 100. — 6 «X" variant. Cp. 1816 cvvavriiv. 0p6s pot): nominative for vocative.
19. 'iis o-v . . . Std touto : the § 50. — fidri^v ■ not in the Hebrew, but Greek here diverges slightly from the in keeping with its spirit. MinK has Hebrew. Op. R.V. —'Ev iravi-l toito) : here the implication of folly and wick-the iratni here has nothing to corre- edness which so often attaches itself spond to it in the Hebrew, nor is it to fiAraios. — irapopYitrav afrrov: not easy to assign a meaning to it. — co : in the Hebrew,
283 |
VI. THE STORY OF ELIJAH
283
iii Kings XX 26
birio'o) crov Kal i£oe0pevcrA^aa/3 oipovvra
vpoeV/caraXeXetju./Aevov iv jX- Kat, o&xxa) toi> oikov crou oj; to^ oi/cov Iepo-utox) Na^8a# Km a>s toi> oTkov Baacra uiou 'A^eta, twv TTapopyio-fiaToiv wv ■n-ayowpyicras rov 'Io~parj." 28/cat ttJ sIe£ay8eX iXaXyjce " Oi Kwes Karafyayovrai avrrv iv ra irpoT€Ly^io-[iaTL tov 'IcrpaijX. urbv TeOvr/Kora tov 'A^aajS ev t^ i7oet to rrovrjpbv ivdrtriov Kvpiov, &>? fiereBrjKev 17 yu^ auToO • 26 /cat i^8ekv^6rj cr
21. €KKavio-a oiricrco o-ou: R.V. ' will utterly sweep thee away.' The Greek translator is here more faithful to his original than the English. — ovpovvra irpos toIxov: every male. A Hebraism. The omission of the article is due to following the Hebrew. Op. i K. 25^.3*: iii K. 141": iv K. 98. — Kol o-uvcxoh^vov ktX. : R. V. ' him that is shut up and him that is left at large.' It is in the Hebrew manner to offer two categories under one or other of which everything is supposed to be included. So in Dt. 2919 'the moist with the dry ' is intended to be exhaustive. The same Hebrew phrase as here occurs at the end of Dt. 3238, and in iv K. 1426, in both which passages it is obscured by the Greek translation. In iii K. 1410 we have 4xt>t>*i>oi> Kal iyKo.Taeiij.ti£vov : in iv K. 98 the rendering is exactly as here. "EvKaTaKeXeintii-vov, however, does not give the required sense of 'left at large.'
22. 8c4
Hebraism.—'Iepo(3oa|± : Hebrew Taro-Vmn. The form of the name in our Bible is due to the Vulgate through the LXX. — wv 7rap(ftp*Yi(Tas : &p must be taken as standing for oh, but attracted into agreement with its antecedent. The R.V. has'provoked me,' but in the omission of any object after irapibpyio-as the Greek is following the Hebrew. — 4|JTJ|j.apTes tov 'Io-pa^X: a Hebraism. § 84.
23. 'Io-pa^: = Jezreel. 1846 n.
25. irXTjv |iaTouws ktX. : this and the next verse manifestly interrupt the narrative. Hence they are enclosed in brackets by the Revisers. The Greek here departs slightly from the Hebrew, and may be rendered as follows: But Ahab did foolishly in the way he let himself be sold to do evil before the LORD, according as Jezebel his wife disposed him.
26. 4pSevx8i]: behaved abominably. Op. Ps. 131 SUcpfcipav Kal ifiSe-
cp. 521
284 |
dvo
284 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
iii Kings XX 27
iropevecrOai. ottlctw tu>v j38skvy/Jt,dTcov Kara -ndvTa ,a iTroiyjo-ev 6 'Aixoppalos, ov i£a)edpevo-€v Kvpt,os diro npoatoTrov vl 'I(rpat]K. 27/cal virep tov 6yov &>s KaTevvyq ' vpoawTTOv tov Kvpiov, Kal iwopeveTo KXaicjv Kal tov xcTava avrov Kal ilfiicaTo aaKKOv im to o~Zfia avTov Kal ivtfo-Tevo-ev ■ Kal vepuefidXeTo craKKOv iv Trj r^iepa, y iirdra^ev NaySou^al tov 'lo~parfeiTT)v, Kal iiropevffy]. %*Kal eyivero prjfjia Kvpiov iv xet/^ SovXov avTov 'HXeiou irepl 'A^aa^S, Kal elirev Kvptos 29" 'EwpaKa? a)S KaTevvyq 'A)(ad/3 ai7O vpoo~a>irov fxov; ovk ivd^co tyjv KaKiav iv airov- Kal iv rat? rjfiepau'S vlov avTov Vf
ra?s rj
1Kal rfOer'qaev Mcoa^S iv "icrpaijX perd to dnoBaveLv 'Axad/3. 2Kat eirecrev 'O^o^etas Sta tov Scktvcotov tov iv
27. Kal vrcrep tov
28. Kal kylvero: in this and the following verse again the Hebrew original of the Greek translators seems to have differed somewhat from ours. The Hebraism iv x*-pL is hardly likely to have been inserted gratuitously.
29. KOTcvi-pi: E.V. ' humbleth himself.'
1. ■t)8«TT)O-ev . . . Iv : dOeretp is a favourite word in the LXX, being used for no less than seventeen Hebrew originals. The primary meaning of the word is to set aside, disregard. It may be followed by a simple accusative, as in Is. I2 airol St /i
oiKif AavlS.
2. 'OxoiJtCas: = Ahaziah, the son of Ahab, who succeeded his father after the latter had been slain in battle (iii K. 224»). — •tjppioorTijo-ev: iii K. 1717 n. — Siktvutov: lattice-window. Op. Ezk. 4116 BvplSes Siktvwto.1. In Jdg. 528 A has Sict t^s Siktvuttjs (sc. Ovpldos"). The phrase %pyov Siktvwt1>v is used in Ex. 27*, 382< <4>; cp. Aristeas § 81 Siktvojt^v e%oucra rrfv Tpbffo^/iv. The Hebrew is nowhere else the same as here. Josephus {Ant. IX 2 § 1) says
285 |
VI. THE STORY OF ELIJAH 285
iv Kings I 6
T
avifir} ei5 crvvdvTrjcnv rjjxiov Kal einev 77pos 17/xttS iTri,crrpd(f>r]T€ irpos tw /SacrtXea toi' aTrocrreiXa^Ta v^ Kat XaXi^craTe Trpos avrov " TaSe Xeyei Kupios ' Ei trapa. to /at) etvai 6ebv iv 'larparjX cru wopevrj tflTrjaai iv rfj
that Ahaziah. had a fall in descending again in verses 6 and 16 and 1932 oix
from the roof of his house. — IttiJtittj- ovtus.
o-citc 4v: for ivi^Teiv iv cp. 3: Sir. 4. 'H kMvt] ktX. : the syntax is
4026 oiK isTiv i-7ni;r)TTj
toan. — BdaX (imav: = Baal-zebub or guage —^4s to the bed to which thou
'Ply-lord.' ProfessorCheynesuggests hast gone up thither, thou shalt not
that this is only a contemptuous Jew- come down from it. — 4
ish modification of the true name, § 50. — Bavd™ diroBavfj: § 61. — Kal
Baal-zebul, ' lord of the high house.1 etirev irpos aii-ovs: not in the Hebrew.
Cp. Mk. 322. — 8e6v: a Tegard for gram- 6. Tfj BAaX: cp. verse 16 : i K. 74
mar would require #e$. § 57.—'Ak- (rar BaaXcf/t) : ii Chr. 247 (rais Bao-
KaP<5v: i K. 1762 n. — appuo-Ttas i iii K. Xe£/x, but in 333 to?s B.) : Hos. 28, 131:
17". — Kal 4iT-opeti8Ti
not in the Hebrew. Rom, II4 (where ry BdaX is used not-
3. 4KdX«cr€v . . . iyav: Hebrew withstanding the presence of the mas-
' said to.' — Kal ovx oiirus: a misread- culine article in the passage quoted,
ing of the word meaning therefore at namely, iii K. 198). Josephus {Ant.
the beginning of the next verse. So IX 2 § 1) expressly tells us that the
286 |
286 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
iv Kings I 1
BctaA. fjivlav debv 'AKKapcov; ov^ ourais • r) kXwyj i(f>' 775 avip^qs otl ov Karafirjo-fl air avnjs, on dava/rq) a/rroBavf}.'" 7 /cat idXr]o~ev irpos avrovs " Tts 17 Kpuxts tov dvSpos tov avaj3dvTo7rpos Uju.as tovtovtous;" 8Kal evnov Trpbs avrov "'Avr/p Sacrus Kat I,, Kara^tjaeTai trvp ck tou ovpavov Kat Ka.TCL
deity in this case was a female one — Hebrew expression may mean ' owner
Kal vocrrfvavra viii^ai irpis T-iji' 'A/ocapic of a shaggy coat,' an interpretation
debv MvTav, toOto yap ?p 8i>o/ia tJ ffe^J. 'which is carried out by what is said of
He was apparently unaware of the John the Baptist, who was regarded
ingenious explanation which is now as a reincarnation of Elijah. Mk. I6
offered of the variation of gender, 1jv d£ 'luivv-qs h&(5v/j.hos Tpl%as Kapi-
namely, that the feminine article does ov Kal ^iJiv-qv SepfiaTlvrjv xepl tV &
not denote the sex of the deity, but airov.
indicates that the word aiax^rq is to 9. wevTTiKovTapxov ktX.: Josephus
be substituted for the name in reading. has Ta^iapxov Kal irevrriKovTa oirXiras.
Cp. iii K. 1819 n.—oix oBtcos: 3 n. — JKdXto-ev 0-6, KOTdpTiBi: E.V. 'the
— 8ti ov KaTttp/|o-[|: the insertion of king hath said, Come down.' 6Vi seems to be due to the fact that the 11. irpoo-eStTo . . . Kal dir«rm v:
words of Elijah are being repeated. Hebrew, ' returned and sent' = sent
7. t) Kp(o-i$: Jdg. 1312 n. again. The use of rpocTiQtvai is very
8. 8a
dep/iarlvyv. The the Hebrew which underlies it.
287 |
VI. THE STORY OF ELIJAH 287
iv Kings I 11
avTov' Kai iXdXrjcrev 6 TrevnjKovTapxos irpb$ avrbv /cat elvev ""Avdpayrre tov deov, raSe Xeyet 6 jSacrtXeus 'Ta^etus KardfiTlOi.'" 12/cat dneKpidr) 'HXetou /cat e'XaXi/crej/ 7r/>os avrbv Kai turrets " Ei avdpcoTros deov eycu, Kwra^ijaerai irvp e/c tow ovpavov kou Kara^dyerai ere koX tovs Ttevrr/KovTa.
aov." 16/cai iXdXfjo-ev dyyeXo? KvpCov Tipb? 'HXeiov /cat el-nrev " KaTafirjOt ju,€t' aurou, ja^ (j)ofir)8fj? dnb irpo-ad)Trov aiiTwv'' Kai aveo~Tiq 'HXeiov /cat KaTe/3f) /act' aurou Trpos tov ySacrtXea. 16Kat iXdXyjaev -npb? avrov Kai elirev 'HXeiov il TaSe Xeyet Kvpios ' Tt on aireo-TeiXas t^Trjcrai, iv Ty BaaX /JLvlav deov 'AKKapav; oi^ ovrws * 17 kXivt] i
'HXeiov.
12. kotIPt) irvp: instead of 'fire, 'as 15. diro irpoo-iiirou aiT«v: Hebrew, before, the Hebrew here has ' fire of ' before his face.'
God.' 16. Kai 4)kdXi)crtv . . . "HXtto*: He-
13. T)-/ov|«vov: Hebrew,'prince of brew, 'and he said unto him,' 172 fifty ' = TtevrriKbvTapxov. 'Hyotiixevos is n. —ovx owtus: before these words a generic term for a ruler. Cp. Hb. the Hebrew has the clause which 137,i7,24: Clem, i Cor. Is iWwci/ueiw is rendered in the R.V.— 'Is it be-tois iiyov/iJpocs ifitov. — 4vti|«o6^to : a cause there is no God in Israel to rare word occurring in the LXX only inquire of his word ?' On oix ovras in this context. see 8 11.
288 |
288 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
iv Kings II i
iyevero iv tw avdyew Kvpiov tov 'HXeiou iv crvv-ais ets tov ovpavov, /cat ivopevOr) 'HXetou /cat 'EXetaate ef 'Iepet^co. 2/cal elirei' 'HXetov 7rpo? 'EXeicrcue " 'iSou S19 ivTavda Kadov, on 6 0eos dvea-raXKev fie e&>s Bat&fX." /cat e'nrev 'EXeuraie "Zy Kvptos /cal £$ fj ^iv^rj crov, el KaTaXeixpct) ere-" /cal rjXdev eis Bat^TjX. 8/cat rj6ov ol VLOL twv TTpo'Iepet^cu • " Kac etirev 6 Ka eliiev avToj 'HXetou " Ka^ou $rj a)Se, ort Kvptos aTreixraXKei' fxe ea)S ets tov 'lopSdvrjv •" /cat etTre?' 'EXetcrate " Zfj Kvpios Kal £$ -f) ^v^t} crov, el tyco o~e-" Kal iiropevdrjcrav d/x^orepot. 7 Kal
1.
as in 11. — is ets: so in verse 11, but 3. El «yvu>s: § 100. — dudvcoOev: there is nothing in the Hebrew to jus- from above. Cp. Jdg. 1620: ii K. tify our assigning a qualifying force to ll20-24, 2021: iii K. I53. § 98. is, which may in both passages be 5. «rdva>8ev: the Hebrew is the devoid of meaning.—'Icpe^iS: Hebrew same as for dwdvaeev in verse 3. E.V. Gilgal. Verse 4 shows that the LXX 'from.'—KaC -ye iyv> tyvav: the He-is wrong. The Gilgal from which Elijah brew is the same as for ~K.d.yi> iyvuKa started is supposed to have been the in verse 3. The translator is trying place now called Jiljiliyeh, about seven to impart a little variety to his style, miles north of Bethel. whereas a set formula is in acoord-
2. 'I8oi S'fj: this represents a par- ance with the genius of the Hebrew tide of entreaty in the Hebrew.— language.
289 |
VI. THE STORY OP ELIJAH 289
fv Kings II 18
ntvTrjKovTa aVSpes viol to>v 7rpo(j>r)T(ov kcu ecTTjcrav cf ivavrias /xaKpodev koX dp,<£drepoi eamjarav em tou 'Io/o-Sdvov. 8/cat eXafiev 'HXetou ttjv jjuufkcaTr/v olvtov /cat elkrjcrev Kal ivdra^ev to vSap, kcli $Lrjpe0r] to vScop evda /cat evffa • teal hU/Brjaav afi
'EXeicrate " Tevr]67]T(o Brj SittXS, ev Trvev/xari trov eV' ejae." 10 Kat ei7rei' 'HXetov " 'Ecr/cXrjpuj^as tov aLTijcraaOai • iav tSijs jae dvaXa/x^avoixevov a/nb crov, /cat ecrrat ourStecrretXev di/a, /xecrov ap.(f)OTep(t)v Kat dve-
j[x.(f)drj 'HXeiov ev crwcretcr/A(3 a»s ets top ovpavw. :2Kat 'EXetcrate i(6pa, Kat e/Sda " ndrep Trdrep, dpfj.a 'icrpa^X Kat tUTreus avrov ■" Kat ouk eTSet- avrbv en, Kal eVeXd/3ero rwi' ijxaTicov ovtov koI dteppyj^eu avrd eis 8uo pify/zara. 13 Kat inl>(oo-£v ttjv p.r]oiTrjv 'HXetou r) eneo~ev itTa.vo)6ev
7. Kal «rTT|
B-qvav had dropped out in the Greek 11. Jiriros: Hebrew, 'horses.'
owing to its presence in the preceding 12. Ildrtp . . . linreus axi-rov: in
sentence. 1314 the same words are put into the
8. 4v ifiv-a •■ R.V.' on dry ground.' mouth of King Joash on the occasion The Greek rendering would be possible of the death of Elisha. The meaning in another context. in both places seems to be that the
9. SiwXa Iv irvcvjiaTi
10. 'HXeioi: not in the Hebrew. &pna. — oirov: referring to Elisha. — 'Eo-KX'fjpvvas tov atrfj
brew literally thou hast made hard to 13. lirdvwfltv: R.V. 'from him.'
290 |
290 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
iv Kings II 34
'EXeio-ate • /cat £o~ty) em tov ^etXous tov 'IopSaVou. 14/ca< ekafiev ttjv firfXajTr/v 'HXetov, r) erreaev i-ndviadev ovtov, /cat iTrdraJjev to vSwp /cat eitrev " Hov 6 debs 'HXetou d(jxf>co; " koX iirdra^ev to. vhara, /cat hieppdyiqo-av £v0a /cat eV#a-teal 8teyS"»7 'EXetcraie. 15Kat elBov avrbv oi viol t5>v irpo-
KO.L enrov Trpos afTOv Loov oij yxera tcov iraioaiv o~ov TrevT'qKovTa av&pes viol hwafxeois • TropevdivTe? Si) tjjTrjO'd-Ta>o~av tov Kvpiov o~ov, jjl7] Trore evpev avTov Trvev/xa K.vpiov kcu eppujj€v avrov iv tS 'lopSdvrj rj i
—'EXeicrale: nominative to tyoxrev,' with the Hebrew. — o-vvavnrjv: ill K.
but not in the Hebrew. After this the 1816 n.
Hebrew has 'and went back.'—x.ei- 16. 4v t£ 'IopSavr) ff. not in the
Xovs: the use of xe?Xor for a bank or Hebrew.—iv . . . iva.: ets for -m is
brink, besides corresponding to the due here to a literal following of the
Hebrew, is also good Greek. Cp. Hdt. Hebrew. §2. — fSovvwv: from Hdt.
II 70 iirl tov xe'Xeos rod tot&imv. IV 199 it has been inferred that this
14. iroii 6 8eos HXeiov: Hebrew, word is of Cyrenaic origin. It is con-' Where is Jehovah the god of Elijah ?' demned by Phrynichus as non-Attic — a
Hebrew. Translate even he. 18. ko.1 aii-os £k
15. Kal ol: the omission of Kal here the Hebrew has ' and they came back ■would bring the Greek into accordance to Mm.'
291 |
INTRODUCTION TO THE STORY OF HEZEKIAH AND SENNACHERIB
'The prayer of a righteous man availeth much' — such is the moral of the story of Hezekiah and Sennacherib. This story is a favourite one in the Old Testament, being told in Kings, in Isaiah, and in Chronicles. The account given by the Chronicler (ii Chr. 321"23) is obviously a late echo of the other two. But it might admit of argument whether the passage in Kings (ii K. IS13-!!)37) is borrowed from Isaiah or the passage in Isaiah (chs. 36 and 37) borrowed from Kings. The differences between the two are merely verbal, and are almost invariably in the direction of greater fulness on the part of Kings. Hence Professor Driver infers that the narrative belonged originally to the Book of Kings and was adopted in a slightly abridged form by the compiler of Isaiah. One thing seems certain, namely, that the account does not come from the prophet Isaiah himself. It was written at a time when the imagination could already give play to itself among the events of a. past age. A contemporary, as Professor Driver points out, would not have attributed to Sennacherib the successes against Hamath, Arpad, and Samaria, which were, in fact, achieved by Tiglath-Pileser or Sargon. Moreover, it was only the foreshortening of the perspective caused by time that could enable the writer to regard the murder of Sennacherib in his own country as following close upon his invasion of Judaea, when the two events were actually separated by a space of twenty years (b.c. 701-681). Hezekiah's own death (b.c. 697) took place sixteen years before that of Sennacherib. In the Book of Tobit it is said that Sennacherib was slain by his two sons within fifty days from the time when he < came flying from Judeea' (Tob. 118> 21). This book indeed is pure romance, but it serves to show that the Jews read the story of Sennacherib as indicating that a speedy judgement overtook the king on his return to his own country.
More even than David, Hezekiah has been fixed upon by the
291
292 |
292 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
Jewish writers as the type of the pious king. ' He 'trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor among them that were before him' (ii K. 186). Such is the verdict of the writer of Kings, and the Chronicler (ii Chr. 3120-a) is equally enthusiastic. In Ecclesiasticus also (Sir. 4821'22) the smiting of the camp of the Assyrians is said to have been due to the fact that Hezekiah did that which was pleasing to the Lord. That piety meant prosperity was a rooted idea in the Jewish mind, so that, as Hezekiah was admittedly pious, it was a logical consequence that he should prosper. 'And the Lord was with him; whithersoever he went forth he prospered' (ii K. 187: cp. ii Chr. 3121). These words stand in curious contrast with the Assyrian records. This is how Sennacherib tells the story —
' And Hezekiah of the land of Judah, who did not submit himself to my yoke — forty-six of his strongest towns, fortresses, and small towns without number in their territory were captured with battering-rams (?) and attacked with instruments of war, in the storming of the infantry, with mines, breeehing-irons, and (—?). I besieged and conquered them. 200,150 persons, young and old, male and female, horses, mules, asses, camels, oxen, and small cattle without number, I caused to come out from them and counted them as booty.1 Hezekiah himself I shut up like a caged bird in Jerusalem, his royal city ; I fortified entrenchments against him, and those who came out of the gate of his city I punished [or ' I turned back'] for his transgression. His towns, which I had plundered, I separated from his land, and gave them to the Mitinti, king of Ashdod, to Pade, king of Ekron, and Silbel, king of Gaza, and I diminished his territory. To the earlier tribute, their yearly payment, I added the tribute which is suitable to my lordship, and imposed it on them. Hezekiah was overpowered by the fear of the splendour of my lordship; the Urbi2 and his valiant warriors, whom he had brought thither for the defence of Jerusalem, his royal city, laid down their arms. Be-
1 Rogers History of Babylonia and Assyria II, p. 199, says: ' These inhabitants were not carried away into captivity. They were marched out from their cities and compelled to give allegiance to Assyria. The usual Assyrian expression for taking away into captivity is not used here.'
2 Perhaps mercenary soldiers.
293 |
INTRODUCTION TO HEZEKIAH AND SENNACHERIB 293
sides 30 talents of gold and 800 talents of silver,3 I caused to be brought after me to Nineveh, the royal city of my lordship, for payment of the tribute, precious stones, shining stones, great stones of lapis-lazuli, ivory couches, thrones of elephant-hide and ivory, ivory, precious woods, all manner of things, a vast treasure, and his daughters, his palace-women and musicians and singing-women; and he sent his envoys to do homage to me.' (Rosenberg Assyrische Sprachlehre.)
There is no mention here of any disaster or ignominious retreat; rather Sennacherib represents himself as returning laden with spoils; but then the historiographers royal of Assyria were doubtless not in the habit of dwelling upon untoward incidents. Let us therefore call in the evidence of a third party.
There was a priest of Hephaestus, named Sethon, who became king of Egypt, and who slighted the warrior-caste and deprived them of their lands. Therefore when Sanacharibos, king of the Arabians and Assyrians, marched a great army against Egypt, the warriors refused to fight. So the priest, being at his wits' end, went into the temple and bewailed before- the image of the God the dangers that threatened him. As he wept, sleep stole over him; and the God, appearing to him in a dream, promised to send Mm helpers. So the king went out to Pelusium with such rabble as would follow him. There, as the army of the invaders lay encamped at night, a multitude of field-mice poured in upon them and devoured their quivers, their bow-strings, and the handles of their shields, so that next day they fled defenceless before their enemies. Thus was Egypt saved by the prayers of its priestly king, a stone image of whom still stood in the days of Herodotus in the temple, holding in its hand a mouse, and with an inscription conveying the moral of the tale — 'Whoso looketh upon me, let him be pious' (Hdt. II141).
If either the Jewish or the Egyptian story stood alone, one might be inclined to set them down as the invention of national vanity: but their concurrence seems to favour the idea that Sennacherib did meet with some sudden reverse, which both Jews and Egyptians turned to the praise of their own' God and king.
The account of the matter, as given by Josephus (Ant. X 1 § 1), contains nothing incredible. The Jewish historian tells us that
8 ii K. 18" says 300 talents. ' Brandis has attempted to show that the 300 Hebrew talents = 800 Assyrian.' — Rogers ibid. p. 200.
294 |
294 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
Sennacherib left Rabshakeh and his associates to sack Jerusalem, but himself went off to make war on the Egyptians and Ethiopians. He was engaged for a long time on the siege of Pelusium, and was about to deliver the assault, when he heard that Thersikes (=Tir-hakah, ii K. 199) was coming with a large force to the aid of the Egyptians and meant to cross the desert and invade Assyria. Accordingly he suddenly abandoned the siege and rejoined the force under Eabshakeh at Jerusalem. But on the first night of his siege of this city, God sent the plague upon his army, which expedited his return to Nineveh. There, after a short time, he was murdered by his two eldest sons Adramelechos and Sarasaros. Josephus quotes Herodotus and goes on to quote Berosus the Chaldaean historian, but unfortunately there is a lacuna at this point in his work. It is worth noticing that Megasthenes, according to Strabo (XV, pp. 686, 687), speaks of Tearkon the Ethiopian as a great warrior, like Sesostris, who reached the Pillars of Hercules. The historical aspect of the story however must be left to others. Suffice it to say, that those who have studied the question seem to be agreed that the chronology of the Bible is here at fault.
We are concerned with the story only as a piece of literature. Viewed from that aspect it is magnificent, being told with all the solemn dignity and splendour which mark the Hebrew genius. In the indication of the catastrophe which overtook the monarch who had presumed to defy the Holy One of Israel there is the vagueness which is of the very essence of the sublime. It takes a poet to interpret poetry. So let us close with a quotation from Byron —
' Like the leaves of the forest when Summer is green, That host with their banners at sunset were seen; Like the leaves of the forest when Autumn hath blown, That host on the morrow lay withered and strown.
For the Angel of Death spread his wings on the blast, And breath'd on the face of the foe as he pass'd ; And the eyes of the sleepers wax'd deadly and chill, And their hearts but once heav'd, and for ever grew still!'
295 |
VII. THE STORY OF HEZEKIAH AND SENNACHERIB
iv Kings XTIII 13
18 Kcu t
ySacriXeus 'AcrcrvpCcov eul ras iroXeis 'IovSa ras Kail crvveXaflev auras. 14Kai. aTrecrraXev cE£eKias 'IovSa dyye'Xous wpos ySacriXea 'AcrcrvpCav ets Xeywv " 'H/xapr/jKa, dTroorpd^ijTi aTr' e/Aou • o ea^ incO-fls eV ifJL€ ^Sacrracrw." /ecu eTridrjKev 6 jSacrtXeus 'Acr-crvpiwv «rl 'E^eKtav ySaa-tXea 'IovSa rpiaKocrta raXavra apyvpuov Kal Tpi&KOVTa raXavra ^pvcriou. 15Kal eSwKei/ 'E^e/cias Trav to apyvpiov to evpeOev iv olko) ILvpiov kol iv drjcravpois olkov tou ySacrtXeiws- ^o" tw Kaupa crvvdKop
13. Sewaxiip«'|i: Hebrew Sanhe-rib. The form Sennacherib comes from the Vulgate. Josephus (Jint X, 1 § 1) -Zevaxlptfos: Hdt. II 141 2ayax
14. 'E^tKtas: Greoized form of the name. Hebrew Hizqiyyah here, but more commonly Hizqiyyahu, as in verse 13. This difference is one of the signs that Yerses 14-16, -which are omitted in Is. 36, come from a different source from the rest of the narrative. Josephus founds on them a charge of perjury against Sennacherib.
: not in the Hebrew.— Sennacherib was at this time besieging this stronghold with all his forces. It was in the lowlands near
the country of the Philistines, and was strategetically a place of importance as lying on the high-road between Egypt and Syria. Recent investigations tend to show its identity with the mound of Tell-el-Hesy. One of the slabs discovered by Layard contains a record of its capture and a picture of the siege. The inscription has been deciphered as follows— 'Sennacherib, the mighty king, king of the country of Assyria, sitting on the throne of judgement before (or at the entrance of) the city of Lachish (Lakhisha). I give permission for its slaughter.' Smith's Did. of the Bible, s.v. Lachish.— o «dv: § 105.
16. to. 4crTiipi'Y|i^va: posts. Only here as a substantive.
295
296 |
296 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
iv Kings XVIII 17
a ixpvcrcocrev 'E£e/aas yScuriXeu? 'IouSa, koX eSoiKev aura. fSacrikeZ'AcrcrvpCcov. 1(Ka! atria'Te.Ckev /3acnevs 'Acr-
crvpcwv tov ®avOav kcu tov 'Panels koX tov Pai/fa/op iK Aa^els tt/do? tov j8a
6 avafjufjuvijcrKcov. 19/cai etirei' Trpos avrov? 'Vaxfja.K7]
17. tov ©avfldv: Hetrew Tartan. In Is. 201 the Hebrew has Thartan and the Greek Taraftip. It is not a name, but a title for the eommander-in-chief of the Assyrian army. — tov 'PcuJKis: Hebrew Bab-Sd,ris, chief of the eunuchs. Op. Jer. 39s, where the LXX (Jer. 463) has Na(3owa/>ek. Jo-sephus (Ant. X 1 § 1) says of the two companions of the Kabshakeh—Toi5-tuv Si fa dvinara Qapari. Kal 'Atoxo/jis ^c. — tov 'Pai|/dKT]v: this also is a title. Hebrew Rdbsh&qeh, which is taken to mean ' chief cupbearer.' Professor Cheyne holds that it is really Assyrian and means ' chief of the high ones.' — Iv Svvd|j.Ei Papeux: Is. 362 /j.era Swa/ieas ttoXX^s. — -uSpa-yto-y^: cp. 2020: Sir. 2430: Is. 362, 4118. In the last passage the Hebrew is different from that in the rest. — Kov)ip^9pas: this is the first of ten occurrences of the word in the LXX. It is used by Plato (Rep. 453 D) and by Plutarch (Mora-lia 902 E, Plac. IV 19); in N.T. by John (52, 97).
18. 'E£tKCav: Hebrew 'the king.' The words Kal*lfS6T)
X 1 § 2) gratuitously ascribes to cowardice the non-appearance of the king in person.—'Eiai«£|i: Hebrew fflyH-kim, Vulgate Eliacirn. Jos. Ant. X 1 § 2 rbv ttjs fiacriXetas kir'iTpoivov 'EXid/a-fwy 6vofM.—XeXiaov: Hebrew Hilqiy-y&hu, Vulgate Helcice (gen.). Instead of vids XeXdov the translator of Isaiah (363) has the more classical 6 tov XeX-kIov. — So|xvas: Is. 363 26(3cas, Josephus 2o/3i
297 |
VII. THE STORY OF HEZEKIAH AND SENNACHERIB 297
W Kings XVIII 22
" Eurare St) irpos 'E&klolv ' TaSe Xeya 6 /3acnXetis 6 ySaoaXeus 'kcravpiav " Ti 77 ireirot^cris aurij ^ 20et7raSj ttXtjv Xdyot ^eikecov ' BouX?) kcu Suva/us ets TrdXe-' vvv ovv rivi ireTroido)21zw ^s crawa) em rr)*' pdfiSov ttjv Kakafiivqv Trjv eurjv ravTrjv, kir Atyvirrov 6s ai» aTyjpi^dy dvrjp iir' avrijv, /cat eicreXevcrerai eis tt?v Xe^Pa gvtov, koX Tprjcre.i avrrjv • ovtu><5 Qapacb ^acrtXevs Atyuirrov iraaiv rots ttemoiB6(Tiv in' avrov. a2/cat OTt etiras vrpos /xe ' '
avros
Ta vx}tr)ka. avrov /cat ra OvcriacrTripia. avrov, kclI tm 'iovSa, /cat ri? 'iepovcraX^ ' 'Evannov tov dvcna-
by Strabo (XVII 1 § 12, p. 797) as the title of one of the native officials at Alexandria under Augustus and under the Ptolemies before him.
19. ireiro (81)0-15: only here in the LXX. The word is used by Josephus (Ant. X I § 4) and occurs six times in the N.T., e.g. ii Cor. I". In Is. 364, instead of Ti if ireiroWriais, the same Hebrew is rendered by T£ wcroiSiis cT;
20. Xo-yoixeiXeov: Hebrew, 'a word of the lips,' i.e. without reason behind it. The Greek here faithfully reflects the Hebrew, but there may be something amiss with the latter. In Is. 366 the E.V. runs — 'I say thy counsel and strength for the war are but vain words.' The Greek translator there gives — Mtj tv [3ov i ko.1 6yois %etX^wp Trapdra^is ytverai — Does the battle depend upon counsel and words of the lips? — T|0£Tii!ras Iv IjioC: cp. I1 n. In iv K. 18' and 241.a) the Hebrew word is the same as in this passage. The rendering in Is. S65 is aireidels poi.
21. ir^iroiflos
nised Greek construction, but a mere following of the Hebrew. Is. 356 ireiroiQ&s el itrt. — os av
22. Kal on eliras: and as for thy
saying. The verb is plural in the Hebrew. Is 367 d Si Uyere. — oix^ avTos ovTos : either oB has dropped out after these words or else they are a mistranslation, since air'os oSros ought not to refer to Hezekiat, but to Jehovah. Hezekiah's removal of the high places (184) is construed polemically as an attack upon Jehovah. It was in pursuance of the principle that the Temple at Jerusalem should be the sole centre of the national worship. It is interesting to notice that this verse is omitted in the Greek of Is. 36, but not in the Hebrew.
298 |
298 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
iv Kings XVIII 28
i tovtov irpoo-Kwijaere iv 'lepovo-aXrffi '; " ^
vvv iiiydyyTi. S17 tw KvpCctt jjlov fiacriXei 'Ao~(rvpia)v, Bcocroi o~oi Stcr^tXtous ittttovSj et hvvrjo-Q Sowai creavTal em-/3draavrovs. ^/cat thus anoaTpi^iere. to vp6o~
TOTTOLpXOV €VOS T
(ttcov; " Kal rjXmcras cravrco iir AtyvvTOV as ap/Aara /cat trrTrets. ^Kal vui' /u/») aveu Kvpiov avefirnLtv em tottov tovtov tov Ziafydtipai ovtov; KvpLos einev yxe 'yA.vd^r)9i iirl ttjv yrjv TavTrjv Kal Bt,dKal einev
23. ntyOi™: the sense required it represents a different original from here is 'make a wager with,' but it is what it does here ; it is used also by not clear how nlx^e comes by that the translator of Isaiah (369). Op. meaning. Miyvimi is quite a rare Gen. 4134n. — ijXiruras
24. Kal -irws kt. : this passage, paicrrl.—I'va. t£ : Gen. 421 n.—Iv toIs though somewhat involved, corre- iwtv: Is. 3611 els rd wra.
sponds very well to the original, except 27. M .. . irpos. Is. 3612 Tpbs . . .
that iiroaTptfeTe ought to be singular. wp6s. There is a corresponding differ-
The translator of Is. 369 has made ence in the Hebrew.—toB 4>a-yttv ktX. :
nonsense out of the same Hebrew. — this coarse expression evidently con-
Toirdpxov : the word roir&px'ns is com- tains a reference to the extremities of
mon in Esther and Daniel; in Gen. 4134 famine which the Rabshakeh thought
299 |
VII. THE STORY OF HEZEKIAH AND SENNACHERIB 299
iv Kings XYIII 83
zeal mew to ovpov avrcov [ie8' v^o>v djxa;" 2S/cal corn 'Pav/faKTjs Kal ifioiqcrev jxeydXrj 'IovSaurrt* /cat iXdXrjcrev Kal ebrev "'A/covcraTe tov? Xoyovs tov fjueydXov /8ao~tXea>s 'AcrcrvpCav 29' TaSe Xeyet 6 ySacrtXevs " M17 ivaupcTco v/xa? 'E£e/aas Xoyots, on ov fj-rj hvvqrai v/x.as itjeXeaOai e'/c yeiphs avTov. Kai firj e7reA.7n.4eTa) vjxa<; Ji^e/ctas Tryoos Kvptov Xiymv ' 'Efaipou/xevos e^eXetrai, Kvptos ■ ov /at) trapahody rj TroXts avrrj iv ye^pl /SacrtXe'cos 'Acrcrvpiojv.' 81yu.r) a/cov-ere 'E^CKtov, on. raSe Xeyet 6 ^aatXevs 'A.o~(rvpiu)v 'liout]-crare /xer' e/xou evXoyiav Kal i^eXOare irpbs /xe, Kal 7rterat dv^p tt)^ ajXTreXov avrov, /cat dvijp tt)^ o~vktju avTov (jxxye-rai, Kal Trterat vSoip tov X&kkov avTov, 82e
the inhabitants of Jerusalem were 31. HoifyraTe . . . irpos |H€: Is. 3616
likely to undergo, if they did not listen Ei ^oi)c
to him, Cp. what is said of the famine irpos jj.4. The translation here is more
in Samaria (626). For tov
translator of Is. 3612 has ?w (pdyaa-i. . . . 4>
He also omits airGv after Kbirpov and tijc &/j.ireov airov Kal rh avKas. In
oSjooj*. the Hebrew 7r£ercu and
28. iacycIXt] : Is. 3613
which is closely followed in Is. 3613 32. €»s eXOu : Is. 3617 las &v eX#w.—
tov ^3ao*tX^ws tov [jLeyd'Kov, fiaffiXiois a>s yr {jjiav : Is. 3617 w? ij yrj Vfi&p.
'A
29. €iraip^T» . . . Xd-yois: Is. 3614 attracted into agreement with this.— avaraTu . . . X6701S. yfj IXatas . . . h^Xitos: not in Isaiah
30. lirtXiriEeru : make you hope- either in the Hebrew or in the Greek. This use of the word is classical, — IXaCos IXaCo-u : this is the order of though not with. irp6s following.— the Hebrew also, but our translators '£|aipoti|Mvos IgeXelTai.: § 81. have inverted it for an obvious reason.
300 |
300 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
iv Kings XTIII 34
pv6fj.euoL ipvaavTO ol 6eol tu>v iOvwv eKacrros rrjv eavrot! X'Iaias vios 6 dv
iyivero a>s '^Kovcrei' ySacrtXeus 'E^e/ctas, /cat Biepprj^ev to. ifxaTia. eavTov kol v€piej3dXero aaKKov, Kal elcrfjXdev et? oXkov Kvplov. 2ko aLTTeo-TeiXev 'EXcaKeyx tov oIkov6[iov Kal ^ofivav top ypafxfxaTea. Kal tous Trp€O~f3vTepov
33. puo(t«voi IpiirovTo: Is. 3618 ^p-piaavro.—?ko
34. At^ae KaV 'Ap4>dX: Is. 3619 'E/i&0 Kal *Ap0d8. — 26Tr
35. ■yatSv . . . 705 ; § 3. — Kvpios: Is. 3620 6 9e6s. Hebrew, ' Jehovah.'
36. iK(6(j>tuo-ov : cp. Jdg. 1612. The word occurs all together eleven times in the LXX. —JvroXi] . . . iyav. § 112.
Is. 3621 5ii t6 jxt]Siva. diroKpiBijmi.
37. 6 -ypa(i.)i.aTe-6s : Is. 3622 6 7pa/<.-iMreis rijs dwd[i.eas, without difference in the Hebrew. "We may infer the translator's belief that the office of the Recorder was specially connected withthearmy.—SUpptixo^s™'H-aria: Is. 3622 ia-xi-o-fihoL mis x'Tffil
1. <&s tJkovo-cv PacriXeus 'E£«ietas:
Is. 371 iv rip &Kova'Efexto. —o-cikkov ■. Hebrew saq, Latin succus, English sack. Gen. 4227 n.
301 |
VII. THE STORY OF HEZEKIAH AND SENNACHERIB 301
iv Kings XIX 7
lepecav Tre/n^Se^JX^/xeVous craK/cous irpb? 'Hcrataj/ toi> Trpo-
2. 'HcraCav: Hebrew Y'sha'yahu, Vulgate Isaias. From the opening words of the Book of Isaiah we learn that the Yisions of that prophet were seen ' in the days of.Uzziah, Jotharn, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.'— 'A(i
3. 'H^pa . . . a«TT): Is. 373 'Hjwfpa ws nal 6vuSi.itij.ov ko.1 iXey^ov /cal
ij (nfj/Aepov ^/A^pa, the Hebrew being the same. — irapop7i.o-|jiov: provocation. Op. ii Esdr. 1918-26 Kai ivolriaav vapopyifffioiis /xeydovs, where the Hebrew is the same as here. The E.V. has there 'provocations,' here 'contumely.' — ^8ov . . . TiKToio-fl: Is. 373 TJm 7) (bdlv t% riKTotiari, hx^y Si oi% %X(l T°v TeKetv. The R.V. gives the exact rendering.
4. fi ircos «t
el
6. uv ipXacr<()T|(i^crav: Is. 376 ovs (bvelSiadv jue. — Td iraiSdpia : Is. 376 oJ irpdcrpeis. The diminutive here expresses the scornful force of the original. In classical Greek we might here have veavtai.
7. Sl6»|u iv a*T$ : Is. 37'
302 |
302 SELECTIONS FBOM THE SEPTUAGINT
iv Kings XIX 8
avrov ■ kcli KaTa/3aXa> airbv iv pop,(j>aiq. iv rrt yrj av-tov. Kai eTreo-rpexpev PayaK-^s, Kai eipev tov pa-
criXea 'Acro-vpCcov iroXe^ovvTa iiii Aojttva, otl r/Kovcrev otl airrjpev drrb Aa^et?. 9kcu rjicovo-ev nepl ®apa ySacriXe&j? AWloitcov keycov " 'iSov i£r}Xdev iroXefielv jxera crov • " nal iiricTTpexl>ev /cat d7recrTeiXev dyyeXovs Trpos 'E£e/aav Xeycov 10" M-^ e7rat/)era) ere 6 #eos crov, e^>' w crv venoidas iv avra Xeyoiv ' Ov fxr/ irapaSodrj 'lepovo-aXrjfi els xeVa? /Saa-tXew? 'AcrtrvpCwv.' ni8ov av tJkovo-cls vdvra ocra eirotrjcrav ^8a-criXets 'AacrvpLOiv iracrats rats yat?, rov dvaOefiaTLcraL avras • /cat en) pvo-drjo-Q; 12ju/r) i^ecXavro avTov? ol deal rav edvZav; ov hie^Oetpav ol Trarepes fJ-ov rqv re Tcoldv
cis ain-6r. § 91. — KctTapaXiS avTov Iv pofi(f>aC^: Is. 37' 7re(reiTat /ia%a£p^t. The former is the more correct, as the Hebrew verb is causative. It is to be noticed that Isaiah's message contains no reference to the destruction of the host.
8. itria-Tpityev: Is. 378 ATriarpefer.— evptv: Is. KaT^Xa/Sev. — vdkiy.ovvra. kin Aojj-va : Is. woKiopKOvvra Abfivav. The name of the place in the Hebrew is I/ibnah. — &ti ijkovct«v : Is. nal i)Kov
9. Ka.1 rJKOvorev . . . itoXe|jicCv (icrd
— iroXcjietv jieTa
— «r&rTp«4»«v kdX &ir&rTtiAev: he sent
again. A Hebraism. — trpos 'E^ckCov iyav : after this in the Hebrew come the words, ' Thus shall ye speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying.' They are to be found also (all but the last) in Is. 3710.
10. €<} id="iv.i.i.iv.p4016.1">'§... Iv vlvtv : Is. 3710 itf
■ Is. S71(> iv Xupl. § 91.
11. tSoii orli TJKOvcras: Is. S711
12. fit] . . . ov: /rf = num, oi = nonne. A comparison with the Hebrew however and with Isaiah makes it seem certain that the right reading is ovs, with a comma after /*ou, but
303 |
VII. THE STORY OF HEZEKIAH AND SENNACHERIB 303
iv Kings XIX 17
/cat rrjv Xappav /cat Packets /cat vlovs "ESeju tous if ©aecrdei/; wttov icrnv 6 /3acrtXevs Mad /cat 6 /SacrtXeus 'Ap/cat Ov8ov;" 14/cat ikafiev 'E£e/ctas ra /8t/3Xta e* Xet/P^? T®v d-yy&Qiv /cat aviyva* aura • /cat avefit) et? ot/coi/ Kv^otou /cat aveirTv-£ev avra 'E£e/aas ivavrCov Kvplov, 15 /cat et7rev " Kv/Dte 6 #eos 'laparjk 6 Ka0y]jx€voeVt rail' -^epov /xovos ev Tracrais Tats ^SacrtXetats t^s y^Sj crv eTronjcras ovpavov Kal ttjv yrjv- wk1vov, Kvpie, to ot>s crou /cat aKovcrov • avoi^ov, Kupte, tou? 6
no question mark till the end of the sentence. —r«o^av: the Assyrian province of Guzanu, ■which was on the river Habor (1711), a tributary of the Euphrates. — Xappdv: Haran, an ancient city in north Mesopotamia.— 'Pd+eis: Is. 'P<£0e0, R.V. Sezeph. This is supposed to be identical with the modern BusGfa, three and one-half miles southwest of Sura on the Euphrates, on the road leading to Palmyra. (Cheyne, Enc. Bib.) — vio)s"E8t(i tovs ev ©aetrflev : Is. a'i el
13. Mdfl : 183*Ai/id«, Is. 3713 'E/xdff, Hebrew Hamath. Hamath had been
recently conquered by Sargon (721-705 B.C.). —'Ap
14. to PipXto: Is. 371* ri> PipXlor. Plural in the Hebrew. — dWirrufiv: Is. tfvoifcv. — "EJeKtas : omitted in Isaiah, but occupying just this place in the Hebrew. — IvavTiov Kvpfov: after this Is. 3716 has Koi 7r/3O(rei5|aro 'Efcicfas wpbs Kiptov 4ywv, words which have their equivalent in the Hebrew also at this point.
15. Kipic 6 8«6s: cp. 19 and the oft-recurring formula in St. Augustine's Confessions — Domine Deus rneus. Is. 3716 has Kipios oapaiid 6 8ebs 'l
i K. 17*5 n.—Iv irdcrais ttjs •yns : Is. 3716 ira
304 |
304 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
iv Kings XIX 18
Xets 'Acrcrvptav to, eOvr), 18Kai ehooKav rows 6eovets to irvp, otl ov 6eoi elcnv dXA* fj epya ^eipSiv avdpco-iroiV) fvXa Kal Xt#os, kcu atruikecrav avrovs. 19/cai vvv, Kvpte 6 Beb1; -qyuwv, craxxov i^as etc ^etpos avrov, /cat y^ajcrovrat iracrai at ^SacrtXetat r*}? yrjs on av 6 #e6s ^xoVos-" 20Kat airecrTeikev 'Hcratas vtos '
77po? 'E^e/ciai' 4yutv " TaSe Xeyet Kupios 6 ^eos T
ev ere kcu ijxvKTTJpia-ev ere irapdevos Ovyarqp
em o~oi Ke
koX eVt rtva vi/;wcras (fxovrjv /cat i^/oas ets vv//os tovs
6(f>6aX(lavs crov; ets tov aytov rov 'Icrpa^X.
6ebs /i6vos. —In the latter place the ex-act rendering of the Hebrew would be — Srt o-i Ktfpios ^6tos.
20. airetrrtiXev . . . Kiyav : Is. 3721 direo-raX*) . . . kcu el-jrev, incorrectly. — fleos tmv Swdn€cov: not in the Hebrew here or in Isaiah.
21. Kipios: Is. 3722 6 ffe6s, against the Hebrew. — lir' avrdv: Is. irepl airov, K. V.' concerning him.' —'E£ot>-S6t|ircv: Is. 3722 "EQatXurev. Both Qovtievelv and O-ovdevodv are common in the LXX. ~l|iVKT-r)pi
22. epXa
7dp. —t4 «6vt| : Is. 3718 r^> SXr/v, the Hehrew also being different. After this the Hebrew has ' and their lands,' and Isaiah nai t^v x^P^" atir&ii, which does not suit with the rendering of the preceding words.
18. eSuKttv . . . wip: Is. 3719 ivi-fiahov t4 eKwXa air&v eh rb irOp. The Hebrew is in both places ' gods.' — dX.' tj : § 108. — Kal airioXeo-av ovtous : Is. 3719 ml airdxravTo airofc. These renderings are more literal, but less faithful, than that of our version— ' therefore they have destroyed them.'
19. owov Tinas: the Greek neg-lects the particle of entreaty which is rendered in the English ' I beseech thee.' — Kttl yvi&o-ovtcu .. . yfs: Is. 3720 Xva yvQ tSito (3a(riXe(o t^j yijs. —in
305 |
28
VII. THE STORY OF HEZEKIAH AND SENNACHERIB 305
iv Kings XIX 26
iv XeLPl dyyeXwv crov &>ye«Was tcvpiov crov Kal eimis "'Ef rw trXijdti tu>v apfidrwy (jlov iyco dfa;8ijcro/x.cu el?
vxjjos opecav, (JLypovs rov Aifidvov Kal eKOxjja to fxiyedos rijs Kehpov avrov, to. eK
KVTrapicrcroiv avrov-
Kal r/XOev ets [lecrov hpv^iov kcu Kap/xijXov. uiya> ifyvtja Kal eiriov vSa/ra dWorpia,
Kal i^rjpyjixcdcra Tea i^yei tov ttoSos /xou
25e77Xacra avnp, crvvqyayov avrqv
Kal iyeurjOrj ets iTrdpcrei<; dnb oiKecnZv
6/cai ot evoi/fouvres iv avrats rjcrdivrjcrav Trj Xei/Ph koI KaTrjcr)(yi>6r]crav
oSk ?pas, apparently from misunderstanding his original, the ' lifting up of the eyes,' denoting pride, not worship.
23. 4v x«P^ dyy&uv: Is. 37M Si 6.yy£K
24.
1 defence' as a marginal alternative. The Hebrew word which is thus ambiguous is rendered in the LXX ten times in all by the word Tepwx'fi-But irepiox'/i itself is not univocal. In iv K. 2410, 252, Jer. 199 it clearly means ' siege'; perhaps so also in Nahun 314, Zech. 122, ii Chr. 3210: in the two remaining passages, Ps. 3021, 5960, it is taken to mean 'stronghold,' which is the prevailing meaning of the word in the LXX, e.g. in i K. 22*5, i Chr. II6. The passage most akin to this is Nahum 31* 'iSoip irepioxijs (Trio-iraffat (reavrr; (R.V. ' Draw thee water for the siege'), from which perhaps we may infer that it is here intended in the sense of ' siege.' If so, the Greek translator agrees with the A.V. —' and with the sole of my feet have I dried up all the rivers of besieged places.'
25. «rWa kt. : the translation of this verse is defective and unintelligible, whereas the corresponding pas-
306 |
306 SELECTIONS PROM THE SEPTUAGINT
iv Kings XIX 27
iyivovro ^d/)Tos dypov 7) ^Xwyaa ftoTavr), '
X^°y $ci)fJLa,T<0V /cat TraTrjfia airivavri ecrnj/coVos. 27/cat ttjv Ka9eopav crov /cat ttjv efoSoV crov /cat rr]v elcrohov
crov eyvcav,
/cat tov Ovfxov crov iif ifx4.-28Sta to bpyiadyjvaL ere. in' if^e,
Kal to crTprjvo? crov avej3r) iv rots oxrCv fiov koX dyjerco ra ayKtcrrpa [jlov iv rois [jLVKTrjpcriv crov Kal
^aXtFov ev rot? ^eiXecrw o-ov, /cat diroo-Tpexpco ere iv Trj 68w ^ -^X^es eV 29 /cat rovrd crot to o-7]fietov •
/cat
(pCw piLfiv /caTca, /cat wonjaei Kapirbv dvco.
sage in Isaiah is not far from the where in the LXX, hut is found in
original. The word oUeirla is not Rev. 183___9fj
known elsewhere. Is. ^j3affl ^^hv ds t^v ptvd a-ov. —
26. irdTt)(ia avivavri €
grownup.' The word rendered Trcirij/ia 29. aiTona/ra : Is. 3730 & %o-irapKas
(a thing trodden) means blighted grain, erroneously.—t& dvareXXovTa: Is. rb
and that rendered eo-r^Kdros means mrdXifiixa, E.V. ' that which springeth
standing corn. The word represented of the same.' — o-iropd . . . d|iir€X<6v«v:
by &irivavTi means 'hefore' either of Is. aireipavres aitdjo-are Kal (pvreiaare
place or time. The Greek translator d/u.-rre'Xwyas.
has mischosen the local instead of the 30. tov Si.a
temporal meaning. subject has been turned into the object
27. KaWSpav: Is. 3728 i.vdirav
28. To crTpfjvos a-ov: Is. 3729 r) inapta KaraXeXi/XjU^coi fv ttj 'lovSatq,, (pvq
307 |
VII. THE STORY OF HEZJEKIAH AND SENNACHERIB 307
iv Zings XIX 85
31 ort e£ 'lepovaaXrjiJL efeXevcrerat «araXe(,ju.jaa, Kal avaLe£ opovs %ua>v • 6 £>5Aos Kuptov tZv Bwafxecou iroLijaet, tovto.'
ovtw raSe Xeya Kvpios irpos /SacrtXe'a 'AcrcrvpCav ' Ovk elcreXevo-eraL et? Trv ttoXip Tavrrjj/, l ov To£evo~£L e/cet /SeXos, i ov irpo
88rrj 68(2 y rj6a>, iv airy diTocrTpa(f>y]o-eTaf
Kal eis Trju ttoXiv ravTTjv ovk etcreXevcrerai,' Xeyet /cat virepaanna) vrrep T~q<; 7roXecus
St e/ie Kat Sta AaueiS toi^ 8o{iXoi'
35Kal iyeveTO pvktos koi e^rj ev ayyeXos Kvpiov
iiraTagev iv tyj 7rapeju,ySoX-g rcDi' 'Aacrvpuav e/carbf 6ySo>j-
KOVTa TievTe ^tXtaSas • /cat £>p6pi,o~av to TTpcaC, Kal ISoi)
33. ovk elo-eXewcTai.: Is. 37s* oi) ^
31. 4£ee'6opeTai KardXii|i|ia: Is.
3732 iaovra.i ol KaTaeififiUvoi, incorrectly. — ava
32. o«x ovrus: Is. 3788 Sii tovto, correctly. The translator of Fourth Kingdoms has fallen into this mistake before. I3 n. — irpos pao-i«i: Is. M /SacriX^a. — Ovk €io-eev
34. (nrepoo-irtw virep:
occurs twenty-two times in the LXX. It is followed by bvtp again in 206 : Zech. 128: Is. 315, 3785, 386.—t^s irdXews Tavr^s: the Hebrew adds ' to save it,' which is represented in Is. 37s5 by tov cQxxai avr^v.—^8ovXov : Is. 7ra?5a.
35. Kal i-yiviro vdktos: not in Isaiah. — lirdra^ev Iv ktX. : Is. 3736
ix Trjs 7rape(ipoijs. Cp. i Mac. aov
which is the spirit rather than the letter. x&PaZ = vallum, wpoax «j"a = agger.
— koI 5p8pto-av ktX. : E.V. ' and when men arose early in the morning,' thus avoiding the bull which exists in the A.V. — ' and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.' The Greek translator of Isaiah escapes it thus — Kal avao-Tavres t6 Trpal tvpov iravTO. to (Tili/MTa vtKpa.
308 |
308 SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
iv;KtagB XIX 36
crw/Aara vtupd. 86kcu airrjpev Kal eitopevdrj l
^peijU, jSacriXeus 'Acrcrvpiwv, Kal aK /ecu eye^ero axjrov trpocrKwovvTOS ev aurou, Kal 'Ahpafiekex «al Xapacrap ol viol ai/Tov eTT&Ta£;av ai/rov iv /xa^aCpa' Kal avToi icr<6drjcrav els yrjv 'ApapdO- Kal ifiaaiXevcrcv 'AcropSav 6 vlbs airov dvr' avrov.
36. Kal oLirfjpcv Kal liropevSr) Kal dir4
37. Kal 4-y^veTO airov irpo
understands the proper name to be that of the temple — Kal avypieri t£ ISlip
Is. rbv v&rpapxov airov. § 57. — ot viol a-uToO: omitted in the Hebrew text here, but appearing in Isaiah. Jos. Ant. X 1 § 5 Soo
309 |
GREEK INDEX TO THE TEXT AND NOTES
o as local suffix, Ex. 1287.
ctppa Ex. 26.
d-yaOvvEiv Jdg. 1625.
&-ya8(Srepos Jdg. 152.
d-yairav = <{ id="iv.i.i.iv.p4120.1">iXciv Jdg. 164.
a-y-ytXos Kvptou = fleos Ex. 32.
&8pvv«r8ai Ex. 210.
'ASwvate Jdg. 138.
otfldXT] Ex. 98.
atpeiv Gen. 452i*.
at
ot&va, used adverbially, Ex. 1418.
dico-ueiv = obey, Gen. 37'27.
------= understand, iv K. 1826.
okovo-tov kyiviro Gen. 452.
- Jdg. 1323.; Ex. 10". &XXa
------= ?Kao-Tos Jdg. 166.
------used superfluously, iv K. 1821.
diraip«iv Gen. 3717. diravTri iii K. 2018.
309
dirdvuOcv iv K. 2s. airag Kal airo? Jdg. 16™. dii-eiXTi9iivoi Nb. 231'. dirr)Y|j.«vos Gen. 3922. diro Gen. 41". diroKTe'vvw Ex. 428. diroXiflovv Ex. 1516. diroir£|i'rrTOvv Gen. 4184. diroo-Ktv^j Ex. 108. diro
Gen. 4013.
Gen. 3922. Gen. 40*.
Gen. 3736.
Gen. 4013. dpxioivox
BdoX t) iv K. I6. papeiv Ex. 714.
t-uwv paa-iXtwras Gen. 378.
Ex. 32.
6 (collective) Ex. 8«. pv (causative) Ex. 521. P<5as (ace. pi.) Gen. 41*. PoXCs Nb. 248.
310 |
810
SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
PouvcSs iv K. 2i6. Pp^X«v Ex. 923. Pv
■yata iv K. 183S. ■yajiPpos Ex. 31. ■yaupioCv Nb. 23s*. ■y*|A€iv Gen. 3726. •yevewv ■yeveais Ex. 315. ■ycpovo-Ca Ex. 316.
(gen.) Gen. 37s.
Ex. II7.
AaveC Jdg. 132.
S6|a(Uvt] Ex. 216.
Sea-jios (pi. of) Gen. 422T.
Stwepovv Gen. 4182.
SiairXriKTC^o-Bai Ex. 218.
8iapTT|e^vai Nb. 2319.
6i.acrd4>T|(r<-s Gen. 408.
S£a
8ia o-Tonaros iii K. 171.
Siac|>av(rKCiv Jdg. 163.
Siax.up(^
8i8<5vai = ' put' or < set,' Gen. 39*.
8Uppiixa iY K. 1837.
8iKaioo-ivr) Ex. 1512.
Siktvotos iv K. I2.
8v
Spa^na Gen. 377.
8pd| iii K. 1712.
8vvan€iov iii. K. 171.
8«o Jdg. 1628.
8vo-C Gen. 402.
S-uo-Kw4>os Ex. 411.
8
lav with indicative, Gen. 4430.
------after a relative, Gen. 441.
iavrwv = t)|j.uv avTwv Gen. 4S22. «PaXa Gen. 441.
i K. 178. iii K. 202.
Gen. 396. (Kpu(|>Cas Ex. 123«. *apaio Gen. 41M.
8id x«<-pos Gen. 39*. t, interrogative, Gen. 398. in oaths, iii K. 171. v Gen. 42W. ts = at, Gen. 3712. ils = tis Gen. 4227. ■to-aKoveiv Ex. 69. eIs ti Jdg. 1318. •is +vx^v Gen. 3721. ei used superfluously, Gen. 403.?Kpa£ev Gen. 41s5. iKKX'qo-ta i K. 17".
IKX.OAJO-6V Jdg. 1518.
Nb. 22*. 'k irdvTwv Gen. 37*.
iii K. 1828. sts Ex. 49.
■tv iii. K. 17". &£os Gen. 392i.
Ex. 67: ;. 102. Ex. 61.
eVa Kal ?va Jdg. 1629. Ex. 612. aXttv Nb. 2222. / Jdg. 1612. Iv c|xoC Jdg. 138.
Iv Tats T)[x^pais Tats iroXXais
Ex. 2".
Iv (rra8|ji$ Gen. 432i. IvTpamivai Ex. 10s. K. 17". Nb. 2318. Gen. 3720. i£iv Ex. 825. «5paKa Jdg. 132. liraoiSos Ex. 7U. lirdpas ttJ pdpSo Ex. 7U. wauXis Ex. 811. lireCvao-ev Gen. 4155.
311 |
GREEK INDEX
311
fcrto-av Jdg. 1319. |
KttSiov i K. 1740. |
Mo-Tr |
Ka8d Gen. 412'. |
far i |
KdOov iv K. 22. |
4irC Gen. 41". |
Ktt8<4s Jdg. 1622. |
liri irpotriiroii Gen. 4155. |
Kd|M)Xos, gender of, Ex. 98. |
lirKTTp€ |
Ka|iivata Ex. 98. |
4p"YoSia)KT^s Ex. 3". |
Kavovv Gen. 4016. |
epi4>os atyuv Gen. 3731. |
Kapua Gen. 4311. |
to-eCovros Tpdirejav iii K. 1819. |
KaTaSuvaa-TiCa Ex. 67. |
«rTw |
KaxaKcvovv Gen. 4235. |
en] T||j.Epuv Gen. 411. |
KaTaXi|Mrdv£iv Gen. 391C. |
tvSoKav Jdg. 1518. |
KttraXvtiv Gen. 4321. |
iiitlav Nb. 233. |
Kara ttjv <| |
««0T|v£a Gen. 4129. |
KaroSwav Ex. I14. |
«ii0tis Jdg. 143. |
KaToiritrfiev Gen. 3717. |
evXo-yelv iii. K. 2018. |
Ktt|;dKi)s iii K. 1712. |
rioSovv Gen. 398. |
KCKpaya Ex. 58. |
cvpa|iEv Gen. 448. |
KXCpavos = Kptpovos Ex. 728. |
'E<| id="iv.i.i.iv.p4227.1">pot|A Gen. 4152. |
kXoios Gen. 4142. |
iQi$ Kal TpCrriv Ti|i«'pav Ex. 57. |
KV^|i1^V €ir! (JLY^pOV Jdg. 158. |
lus cSS« Kal wS« iii K. 1845. |
KovXds Gen. 3714. |
|
kovSh Gen. 442. |
H Ktipios iii K. 171. |
KOVTOS i K. 177. |
•-----with on iii K. 1815. |
Kwoji-uia Ex. 821. |
Jwo-^ovttv Ex. I17. |
Kvpw ASwvate Jdg. 138. |
|
Kipios Ex. 315. |
ilKare Gen. 427. |
K<0<{)6ii€lV Jdg. 162. |
TiXBart Gen. 4212. |
Xokkos Gen. 3720. |
'HXCov iroXts Gen. 4146. T)[i4pa yevtcrtus Gen. 4020. |
XeyovTes, with impersonal verb, Gen 4516. |
T]|x^pav «| t]|i€pas Gen. 39^°. {||x^pas = for some time, Gen. 40*. |
Xi8opoXetv Ex. 826. |
li^uru Jdg. 163. |
MoStt)vatoi Gen. 3728. |
■IJTIS TOia-UTT) EX. 918. |
|j.ata Ex. I14. |
te Jdg. 1628. |
|iaiov |
etpiv Ex. 23. |
liaXaKia Gen. 424. |
Blllcovvcls UtiAwvtcis Ex. 8^« |
Mavao-o-if| Gen. 4151. |
|
LLdVOVCtS 1 I. 17 • |
SStv Gen. 379. |
(idpo-iiriros Gen. 4227. |
Uecos u|itv Gen. 4323. |
Ha^aipT] Ex. 159. |
Jva tC Gen. 421. |
H^8vo-)ia Jdg. 134. |
l |
Uv and 8«, absence of, i K. 17s. |
txvos iii K. 1844. |
|Mo-aicXov i K. 177. |
312 |
312
SELECTIONS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT
(Ucras vvicras Ex. 11*. |j.&rov as prep., Ex. 142'. ^ and ofl iv K. 1912. liVj for ov Jdg. 16«. |i.ij . . . irav Jdg. 13*. ^ itot€ Gen. 4312. Ex. 1510. Nb. 2323. iii K. 1822. iis Ex. 2W.
va&Cp Jdg. 13s. v«avis Ex. 28. v«vp^ai Jdg. 167. voo-o-id Nb. 242*.
guXdpia iii K. 17".
6S6v ttJs 6aXdo-o~ns iii K. 18*8. o6ovCa Jdg. 1413. 6kcLJ«iv iii K. 19".
oXoKavTwjia iii K. 1829. oXwpa Gen, 40". SiioBuijiaSov Nb. 2424. 6 iras Ex. 452°. opuriios Ex. 8i2. opflptfceiv Ex. 820.
on, with direct oration, Gen. 3736. oti et ^ iii K. 171. ov = ot iii K. 181°. iv K. 1982. Gen. 3920. S+i|ios Ex. 9Si. S»]/iv ttJs yi[% Ex. 10s. 6 &v Ex. 3".
irai-yvta Jdg. 162'.
irats = servant, Gen. 4020.
«av . . . (vf| Jdg. 131*.
irapd of comparison, Gen. 378.
------= owing to, Ex. 1411.
irapaPoX.^ Nb. 236. irapaSogdtciv Ex. 82S.
irapdrolis i K. 17*. irap€|ipdXXeiv Ex. 14». irape|iPoX*| Jdg. 1326. irapoiKctv Gen. 371. iras without article, Ex. 81S. iroTpid Ex. 615. irdxos Nb. 24s. ircpiK£
= mortar, Ex. li*.
s, adverbial, Ex. 82*. irXri9vv€i.v, intransitive, Ex. I20. irXrjv = only, Gen. 41*°. irXivBCaEx. 1". irXivBovp-yCa Ex. 57. irowtv = dress, iii K. 1823. iroXe(i«iv, transitive, Ex. 1426. ir6pia, neuter plural, Gen. 45". iroO = wot Gen. 3731. irpdo-is Gen. 421. irpovoii.ev€iv Nb. 2417. irpoo-8ex«
Ex. 218. Gen. 401. Ex. 9*. ! Gen. 3725. pojt
313 |
[Page 313]
1 1 See Driver Introduction to the Literature of the Old Testament 7th edit. p. 17.
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