Paper Category: Old Testament

The aim of this short paper is quite narrow: to propose an alternate solution to the source behind the citation of Zechariah 9.9 in Matthew 21.5. Scholars have already proposed various solutions: the Old Greek, Masoretic Text, a combination of both Greek and Hebrew texts, and even the possibility of a Greek recension distinct from … Read more

Because of its manifold treasures, the Psalter has been rightly referred to in many complementary ways. It has been called a book of praises (tehilim), a book of prayers, a book of songs of faith, a royal hymnbook, the hymnbook of the church, sacred space, a little Bible (Martin Luther), a great house (Jerome), etc. … Read more

Taking methodological cues from Richard Hays’ important monograph, Echoes of Scripture in the Letters of Paul (1989, 20), many interpreters have adopted Hays’ figure of metalepsis as a way of understanding how “unstated or suppressed (transumed) points of resonance” from a source text might inform the use of the OT in the NT. This paper … Read more

In his Editio Princeps Mercati dedicates a space to discuss the relationship and textual profile of the last two columns of the Hexapla of the Psalms extant in Ra 1098 (Ambrosiano O. 39 sup.). His discussion is extensive and detailed. In this proposal the main objective is to review Mercati’s original question of whether the last … Read more

While translation technique is a popular topic within LXX studies, the Greek translation of Chronicles has seen little attention. There are only a small number of full studies on LXX Chronicles, most notably Gillis Gerleman’s Studies in the Septuagint II. Chronicles, Leslie Allen’s 2 volume The Greek Chronicles, and Roger Good’s The Septuagint’s Translation of … Read more

Traditional interpretations of Elijah face problems with the events of 1 Kings 19, where Elijah’s actions after Jezebel’s threat are viewed as depression (at best) or a major character flaw (at worst). When interpreted through the lens of depression, his actions are understandable to anyone who has experienced the highs and lows of ministry. But … Read more

Commentators are divided on the meaning of הַצִּרְעָה in Exodus 23:28, Deuteronomy 7:20, and Joshua 24:12.(1) The term has been taken literally for the flying insect.(2) Other commentators have suggested a representative usage, where the hornet stands for the Egyptian Pharoah and is iconic of Lower Egypt.(3) Still others suggest a psychological interpretation, where “hornet” … Read more

[Ideally intended for a Septuagint section, but there is none this year for some reason!?] In the last three centuries before Christ, the books of the Hebrew Scriptures were translated into Greek at various times and in various places. For some books, the original translation (the Old Greek, OG) was also accompanied by later translations … Read more