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A Comparative Analysis of Three Versions of 2 Samuel 21:1-14

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A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THREE VERSIONS OF 2 SAMUEL 2 1: 1- 14 by Daniel Lee McNaughton A Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Emmanuel College of Victoria University and the Biblical Department of the Toronto School of TheoIogy in partial fulfillment of the requiremenis for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Theology awarded by the University of St. Michael's College Toronto 2000 @ Daniel Lee McNaughton National Library Bibliothèque nationale du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographic Services services bibliographiques 395 Wellington Street 395. rue WdingtOC) OnawaON K1AM OnawaON KlAW Canada Canada The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive licence dowing the exclusive permettant à la National Libraiy of Canada to Bibliothèque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distribute or seil reproduire, prêter, distribuer ou copies of this thesis in microform, vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or electronic foxmats. la forme de microfiche/fiim, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. The author retains ownership of the L'auteur conserve la propriété du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis nor substantial extracts fiom it Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantiels may be pririted or otherwise de celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son pemiission. autorisation. A Comparative Analysis of 'ThreP Versions of 2 Samuel 21 : 1 -14 by Daniel b Mchkwghton A Thesis submitted to the Facuity of Emmanuel Cdege of Victoria University and the Biblid DPpartment of the Toronto School of Theology in partial fidfihent of the quknients of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Thedogy awarded by the University of St Michael's College Toronto 20 This thesis is a comparative anaiysis of tkversions of the bibliml stcxy found in 2 Samuel 2 1: 1- 14. In spite of evidence for diverse versions of Samuel, commentators and modern translations have assumeci that the Hebxew and Greek versions are geneticaily related and that textual problems can be solved by reconstructing derstages of the capying pnress. Whiie some textual difficulties have bcai solved usiag the rwonstnictive method, other texaral divergeIICies resist being explainai as anns in the transmissional process and appear uistead to represent altemate versions. This dissertation argues that Codex Coisiinianus (M),Codex Vaticanus (B), and the Masoretic text (m) are three discrete versions of 2Sam. 2 1: 1-14 wtuch refiect diffaent theological and political intaests. The dissertation begins with a summary of the awareness of mncesbetween the Greek and HcacW versions hmthe first century AD. to the pnseat and a rationale for interpreting manuscripts independently and compatively. Manuscripts M, m, and B of 2Sam. 2 1: 1- 14 are transïated, analyzd, and in- independently and tben compared. The research shows that the three versions agree in their words and word or&r throughout most of the story. Where the vasais differ, some of the diffefences are the result of transmissional erron, conflations, and stylistic improvements, while others point to different Hebrew tex& 'Ihe diffaias, far from haphazsad, cluster amund political and theological issues: Saul's kingship, David's role in wiping out Saul's descendants, God's ii role, the role of outsiders in Isaelite community. Each version addresses these theological and political issues hmdifferent perspectives. The dissertatian then explores ideollogical contexts within which each version of tbe story is at home. In the conclusion, the dissertation gives a brief analygs of the value and i~sultsof the comparative method dong with unne implications of this study fatextual criticism and the literary approach to the Bible. The dissertation coricludes that scholars should intapret the actuai versions and be careful about reconstructing a hypothetid oldest version where the data does not support it. iii 1 would lik to take the oppominity to give thanks to the Lord without whom there would neither be versions of the Biblical text nor a reason to read the versions we & have. I want to also express my gratitude to Staniey D. Walters of Rosedale Presbyterian Church and Knox Coiiege who first introduced me to the diffkzent versions of the stories in Samuel. He has been a constant source of support and encuuragemait thugh this project. 1 also want to thank GddT. Sheppard of Emmanuel Cdlege for his continua1 challenge to rpad the Bible aitidyand as Saipturie. I un grateful to the Advanced Degr& Stuclies Cornmittee at Emmanuel College for the RRobe IaiLaidlaw Schokhip. 1 want to thank the GRAMCORD Institute for allowing me io be a beta tester for the L?~cproject. It sped up my work cunsiderably. 1 am al- gnucfd for my children (nerisse and Seth, my immediate family, my chiirch fanulies, and the Vaky Forge Christian wegecomrnunity Who supported me financialiy, emotidy, and in thBr payas. DEDICATION To Amy PREFACE This study is a comparative analysis of three versions of 2 Samuel 2 1: 1- 14 as presented in manuscripts M, m, and B. Although I wiil ernploy textaitical methods, rny primary focus is neither histarid raicinstniciive nathe establishment of sequence of the fmsof this narrative in histoncai order. 1 have henneneutic umcedlls that go beyond textual and historicai in ta est^. The primary foais of this work is the inkrpmation of acnial texts and not the reconstruction of a hypothetical earliest text 'Ibis thesis seeb to identify, interpret and compare the thrœ versions of 2 Sam. 21: 1-14.1 hope to show that some of the differences between these versions cannot be resolved as ernrrs in the transmissional process but raher as differences in ideology. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACï ................................................................................... ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .................................................................... DEDICATION ................................................................................. PREFACE...................................................................................... LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ................................................................ INTRODUCrION .................................................................. Awareness of Differences Between the Greek and Hebrew Texts in the First Five Centuries A.D ....................................... Awareness of Diffaerices Between the Hebrew and Greek Texts Suice the 16th Centrny ................................................. Divergent Readings in the Greek and Hebrew Texts of Samuel ........... The Significanœ of niis Study ................................................ Interpretatim of llme Versions of 2 Samuel 21: 1-14 ...................... Defining Terms ................................................................... INTERPRETATION OF UNCIAL MANUSCRIPT M'S VERSION OF 2 SAMUEL 21:l-14 ........................................................ The Text of M .................................................................... Translation and Notes of M ..................................................... intequemion of M ............................................................... INTERPRET'ATION OF THE MASORETIC TEXI"S VERSION OF 2 SAMUEL, 21:l-14 ........................................................ TheTextofm ................................................................... Translation and Notes ofnI ..................................................... Interprietationofm ..... .......................................................... INTERPRETATION OF UNCIAL MANUSCRIVT B'S VERSION OF2 SAMUEL21:l-14 ................................................*....... The Text of B ..................................................................... Translation and Notes of B ...................................................... Interpretation of B ................................................................ vii 5. A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE M, !R, AND B VERSIONS OF2 SAMUEL21:1-14 ........................................................ Introduction ................... ...... ........................................... A Summary of the Similarities Among M, nt, and B ......................... The Story Common to M, rn, and B ................... .... .... ................ A Summary of the Differences Between M, IR, and B.. ..................... Transmissional Errors, Conflations and Glosses ................... Sty listic Differences and Improvements.. ........................... The Same Hebrew Consonants with Different Vawei Pointhg ... Different Hebrew Consonants........-..................-..-.......... nieological and ibliticai Issues Raised By the Mererices in M,m,and B ............................ .. ................................ Merences Regarding Saul in the Versions.. ....................... Diff'erences Regardhg David in the Versions ....................... Diffkenœs Regarding God in the Versions.. ....................... DBkences Regarding the Social Outsiders in the Versiais.. ..... Thmlogical and Politid ïntsests of M, in, and B.. ......................... ?he Theo1ogica.i and Political Interests of M ........................ 'Ik Theological and Political Intcnsti of m ........................ The nieological and Politid Iriterests of B ......................... I~logicalContexts of M, m, and B .......................................... The Ideological Context of M ......................................... The Ideoiogical Cmmt of m ........................................
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