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A Text-Critical Analysis of the Lamentations Manuscripts

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A Text-Critical Analysis of the Lamentations Manuscripts View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Stellenbosch University SUNScholar Repository AText-criticalAnalysisoftheLamentationsManuscripts fromQumran(3QLam,4QLam,5QLam aand5QLam b) EstablishingthecontentofanOldTestamentbookaccordingtoits textualwitnessesamongtheDeadSeascrolls by GideonR.Kotzé DissertationpresentedinfulfilmentoftherequirementsforthedegreeDoctorofTheology(Old Testament)attheUniversityofStellenbosch Promoters: Prof.LouisJonker FacultyofTheology DiscplineGroupOldandNewTestament Prof.JohannCook FacultyofArtsandSocialSciences DeptofAncientStudies March2011 Declaration Bysubmittingthisdissertationelectronically, I declarethattheentirety ofthework contained thereinismyown,originalwork, thatIamthesoleauthorthereof(savetotheextentexplicitly otherwisestated),thatreproductionandpublicationthereofbyStellenboschUniversitywillnot infringeanythirdpartyrightsandthatIhavenotpreviouslyinitsentiretyorinpartsubmittedit forobtaininganyqualification. Date:15February2011 Copyright©2011StellenboschUniversity Allrightsreserved ii Summary This study takes as its point of departure the contributions of the Dead Sea scrolls to the disciplineofOldTestamenttextualcriticism.Itdealswithaparticularapproachtothisdiscipline and its application to the four Lamentations manuscripts from Qumran (3QLam, 4QLam, 5QLam aand5QLam b).TheapproachtoOldTestamenttextualcriticismfollowedinthestudy treatstheQumranmanuscriptsofLamentations,theMasoretictextandtheancienttranslationsas witnessestothecontentofthebookandnotmerelyaswitnessestoearlierformsofitsHebrew wording.Theuniquereadingsin3QLam,4QLam,5QLamaand5QLam bandtheirdifficultor ambiguousreadingsaresubjectedtoacomparativetext-criticalanalysis. Thisanalysisfocuses on how the variant readings in the Qumran manuscripts were created by scribes during the processofcopying.Itthereforeexaminestheinfluencethatthescribaltransmissionexercisedon thewordingsofthepassagesfromLamentationsthatarepreservedin3QLam,4QLam,5QLam a and 5QLam b. The analysis also considers whether comparative philology and/or the ancient Greek,Syriac,LatinandAramaictranslationscanshedlightonthetextualproblemswhichthe HebrewwordingsoftheLamentationsmanuscriptsfromQumransharewiththeMasoretictext. The aims of this study are to establish, by means of this text-critical analysis, how the LamentationsmanuscriptsfromQumranpresentthecontentofthebookandtherebygainabetter understandingofthesemanuscriptsastextualwitnesses. iii Opsomming Hierdie studie neem die bydraes van die Dooie See rolle tot die dissipline van Ou Testament tekstekritiek as uitgangspunt. Dit handel oor ’n bepaalde benadering tot die dissipline en die toepassing daarvan op die vier Klaagliederemanuskripte wat by Qumran gevind is (3QLam, 4QLam,5QLam aen5QLam b).DiebenaderingtotOuTestamenttekstekritiekwatindiestudie toegepas word, hanteer die Qumranmanuskripte van Klaagliedere, die Masoretiese teks en die antiekevertalingsasgetuiesvandieboekseinhoudennieslegsasgetuiesvanvroeërevorms vandieboekseHebreeusebewoordingnie.Dieuniekelesingsin3QLam,4QLam,5QLam aen 5QLam b en die moeilike of dubbelsinnige lesings word onderwerp aan ’n vergelykende tekstekritieseanalise.Dieanalisefokusopdiewyseswaaropdiewisselvormeindiemanuskripte geskep is gedurende die proses van kopiëring. Die analise ondersoek dus die invloed wat die oorleweringsprosesuitgeoefenhetopdiebewoordingvandiegedeeltesuitKlaagliederewatin 3QLam,4QLam,5QLam aen5QLam bbehouegeblyhet.Dieanalisestelookvastothoe’nmate vergelykende filologie en/of antieke Griekse, Siriese, Latynse en Aramese vertalings lig kan werpopdietekstueleproblemewatdieHebreeusebewoordingvandieKlaagliederemanuskripte vanQumranmetdieMasoretieseteksingemeenhet.Diedoelvandiestudieisomdeurmiddel van’ntekstekritieseanalisevastestelhoedieKlaagliederemanuskriptevanQumrandieinhoud vandieboekweergeeensodoende’nbeterverstaanvanhierdiemanuskripteasteksgetuieste bekom. iv Acknowledgements A number of professors, friends and family members have assisted me during the time of researchandwritingofthisdissertation.Iwouldliketomakeuseofthisopportunitytoexpress mygratitudetothemall. Iamgratefultomydoctoralpromoters,ProfessorLouisJonkerandProfessorJohannCook, for their joint effort of advising me in this study. Their comments and critical remarks have saved me from many “scribal errors”. Professor Jonker was also a source of encouragement duringmysixmonthstayinBerlin,whileProfessorCookarrangedformywife,Manitza,and metogotoMunichaspartofthe“Text-criticalandHermeneuticalStudiesintheSeptuagint” researchprojectwhichheandProfessorHerman-JosefStippareconducting.Igreatlybenefited from the resources in the libraries of the Humboldt University (Berlin) and the Ludwig- Maximilians University (Munich). I therefore want to thank Professors Jonker and Cook for makingthetripstoGermanypossible.Furthermore,theygenerouslymadefundsavailabletome fromtheirrespectiveresearchprojects.Iamindebtedtothembothfortheinvaluablefinancial assistance.Inthisregard,IthanktheSouthAfricanNRFformakingthefundsavailabletome. IthankKarlienvanderSchyffforreadingthroughthestudyandfordoinganexcellentjobof correctingmyEnglish. A special word of thanks goes to Randall Gauthier, a scholar and a friend par excellence . DuringthewritingofourdissertationsRandyprovedtobeareal“brotherinarms”.Wespent manyhourstalkingoverthefinerpointsoftheSeptuagint(hisareaofconsiderableexpertise) and textual criticism (my primary field of interest) during which Randy fulfilled the role of a congenialdialoguepartnerwhochallengedmetoformulatemyideasmoreclearly.Asaresultof our dialogue sessions, I arrived at a greater understanding of many issues relevant to my research.Ithankhimforallhishelpandespeciallyforthecamaraderie. Iwishtothank myfather, Frans,and my mother,Elette,forsupporting methroughout my yearsofstudy.Asparentstheytrulyexemplifythevirtueof“faithfulloving-kindness”.Without themIwouldnothavebeenabletomakeitthisfar.Ialsooweadebtofgratitudetomybrothers, v StephanandArno,forgraciouslyhelpingmetoprocurebooksthatwouldotherwisehavebeen inaccessibletome. Finally, Manitza had to shoulder heavy burdens and experience many uncertainties while I wasdoingtheresearchforthisstudy.Ithankherforherunfailingsupport,careandselflessness inbearingwithmeandmypreoccupationwiththeancientlanguagesandmanuscripts.Withher loveshedemonstratesonadailybasisthatthereisnoflawinher(SongofSongs4:7).Itiswith loveandgratitudethatIdedicatethisworktoher. vi ForManitza כלך יפה רעיתי ומום אין בך vii TableofContents Title ............................................................................................................................................ i Declaration ................................................................................................................................ ii Summary .................................................................................................................................. iii Opsomming .............................................................................................................................. iv Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................... v Dedication ............................................................................................................................... vii TableofContents ................................................................................................................... viii AbbreviationsandSigla .......................................................................................................... xiii CHAPTER1:INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................... 1 RESEARCHTOPIC:OLDTESTAMENTTEXTUALCRITICISM ANDTHELAMENTATIONSMANUSCRIPTSFROMQUMRAN................................... 20 THEAIMSANDMETHODOLOGYOFTHESTUDY ....................................................... 22 OUTLINEOFTHESTUDY .................................................................................................. 24 CHAPTER2:ANOVERVIEWOFTHEQUMRANLAMENTATIONS MANUSCRIPTSANDALISTOFVARIANTREADINGSCOMPARED TOTHEMTANDTHEANCIENTVERSIONS .............................................................. 25 3QLAM(3Q3)......................................................................................................................... 26 Fragment1:Lamentations1:10-12 ......................................................................................... 27 Fragment2:Lamentations3:53-62 ......................................................................................... 28 Variants ................................................................................................................................... 28 viii 4QLAM(4Q111)..................................................................................................................... 28 Fragment1ColumnI:Lamentations1:1-6............................................................................. 32 Variants ................................................................................................................................... 33 Fragment2ColumnII:Lamentations1:6-10.......................................................................... 33 Variants ................................................................................................................................... 34 Fragment3ColumnIII:Lamentations1:10-18
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