Digital Commons @ George Fox University Seminary Masters Theses Theses and Dissertations 5-1-2002 Manasseh in Scripture and Tradition: An Analysis of Ancient Sources and the Development of the Manasseh Tradition Steven A. Graham George Fox University, [email protected] This research is a product of the Master of Arts in Theological Studies (MATS) program at George Fox University. Find out more about the program. Recommended Citation Graham, Steven A., "Manasseh in Scripture and Tradition: An Analysis of Ancient Sources and the Development of the Manasseh Tradition" (2002). Seminary Masters Theses. Paper 24. http://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/seminary_masters/24 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses and Dissertations at Digital Commons @ George Fox University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Seminary Masters Theses by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ George Fox University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. GEORGE FOX UNIVERSITY MANASSEH IN SCRIPTURE AND TRADITION: AN ANALYSIS OF ANCIENT SOURCES AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MANASSEH TRADITION A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF THE GRADUATE DEPARTMENT OF MINISTRY IN CANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN THEOLOGICAL STUDIES DEPARTMENT OF THEOLOGY BY STEVEN A. GRAHAM PORTLAND, OREGON MAY2002 PORTLAND CENTER LIBRARY GEORGE FOX UNIVERSITY PORTLAND, OR. 97223 t:I'~Wi1 nnn i1WlJJ 1w~-',:;, ',lJ i1~::ln:l 1m',, w,,,', ':l',-n~ 'nm, ,:l n,Jl]" t:l1~i1 'J:l" t:l'i1"~ lnJ lJ1 rjl] ~,i1 I have given my heart to search and to seek by wisdom concerning all that has been done under heaven. It is a task of distress that God has given to the children of men to be afflicted with. Eccesiastes I, 13 (author's translation). Copyright © 2002 by Steven A. Graham All rights reserved GEORGE FOX IVANeiLICAL SEMINARY THESIS ACCEPTANCE CERTIFICATE Title: Manasseh in Scripture and Tradition: An Analysis of Ancient Sources and the Development of the Manasseh Tradition Presented by: --~S..... t..,e._.v..... eu.n .....A..LJ • ._,G......._,ralo&Jh ..... a.._.m......_ _______________ We, the undersigned, certify that we have read this thesis and approve it as adequate in scope and quality fort degree of Master of Arts in Theological Studies. CONTENTS Abbreviations......................................................................................................................... viii Preface ................................................................................................................................... x PART ONE I. Introduction................................................................................................................ 1 A. Assumptions Within This Study.................................................................... 3 B. Time, Place and Purpose: The Deuteronomist............................................... 5 C. Time, Place and Purpose: The Chronicler ..................................................... 6 II. Biblical Texts............................................................................................................. 9 A. Kingly Presentation Formula in the DH: An Overview ................................. 10 B. Kingly Presentation Formula in 2 Kings 21:1-18: An Outline ...................... 12 C. Inductive Analysis: 2 Kings 21:1-18 ................ ............................................. 13 1. Introduction and Conclusion.............................................................. 13 2. Body ................................................................................................... 16 a. Culpability ofManasseh ........................................................ 18 b. Culpability of the People .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .... 24 c. Announcement of Judgment .................................................. 25 3. Doctrine of the Transferability of Guilt ............................................. 29 4. Comparing and Contrasting the Pericopes ......................................... 31 5. The Doctrine oflndividual Reward and Retribution ......................... 47 PART TWO III. Early Biblical Translations and Versions: 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles........................ 51 A. Tar gums . .. .. ... .... ...... .. .... ..... .. ....... ........ ...... ......... ........ ............. ................... .... 53 B. Overview of section: Septuagint, Vulgate and Peshitta ................................. 60 C. One Textual Variation Unique in Septuagint. ................................................ 61 D. Common Word Change in Septuagint and Vulgate ....................................... 62 E. Five Textual Variations Unique in Peshitta ................................................... 63 IV. Other Second Temple Period Writings on the Traditions .......................................... 67 A. The Pseudepigrapha.......................................................................... .... .. .. ... 68 1. Ascension oflsaiah (1: 1-5: 16) ........................................................... 69 2. 2 Baruch (64:1-65:2) .......................................................................... 70 3. Hellenistic Synagogal Prayer (6:1-10) ............................................... 71 4. Prayer of Manasseh (9-11 and 11-15)................................................ 71 5. Jubilees (1:19ff.) ................................................................................ 74 6. Testament of Moses (2:8-9) ............................................................... 74 B. Apocrypha Text Concerning Manasseh ......................................................... 75 1. Tobit(14:10) ...................................................................................... 75 C. Josephus ......................................................................................................... 76 V. Early Jewish Tradition ............................................................................................... 84 A. Babylonian Talmud........................................................................................ 85 1. Sanhedrin 90a ..................................................................................... 85 2. Hagigah 15b .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 86 3. Sanhedrin 99b .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 86 4. Sanhedrin lOlb .................................................................................. 87 IV 5. Sanhedrin 102b-103a ......................................................................... 87 6. Sanhedrin 103b .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 90 7. Sanhedrin 104a ................................................................................... 90 8. Baba Bathra 109b ............................................................................... 91 9. Yebamoth 49b .................................................................................... 91 10. Zebahim 61b ...................................................................................... 92 B. The Midrash Rabbah .......................................................................... 92 1. Leviticus (METZORA) 17:7 ................................................................ 93 2. Leviticus (EMOR) 30:3 ....................................................................... 93 3. Leviticus (BECHUKKOTHAI) 36:3 ...................................................... 94 4. Numbers (NASO) 9:7 .......................................................................... 95 5. Numbers (NASO) 12:4 ........................................................................ 96 6. The Song of Songs 3:10 § 3 ............................................................... 96 7. Numbers (NASO) 14:1 ........................................................................ 97 8. Deuteronomy (VAETHCHANAN) 2:20 ................................................ 98 9. Esther 9:2 ........................................................................................... 99 10. Song of Songs 2:5 § 3 ........................................................................ 100 11. Song of Songs 4:4 § 9 .................................. ........ .............................. 100 12. Ecclesiastes 3:3 .................................................................................. 101 VI. Early Christian Tradition . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .... .. .. .. .. .. .. .... .. .. .. .. .... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 102 A. The Early Patristic Texts................................................................................ 102 1. Constitutions of the Holy Apostles. v.7 ANF bk. 2 chpt. 22 ............... 102 2. Constitutions of the Holy Apostles. v.7 ANF bk. 2 chpt. 23 ............... 103 3. Constitutions of the Holy Apostles. v.7 ANF bk. 7 chpt. 39 ............... 104 4. Chrysostom v. 10 NAPNF hom. 67 ...................................................... 105 5. Jerome v.6 NAPNF let. 77 .................................................................... 106 6. Gregory ofNazianzen v. 7 NAPNF or. 39 ............................................ 106 7. Revelation ofPaul v. 8 ANF ................................................................ 107 8. Augustine v. 2 NAPNF bk. 18 chpt. 25 ...............................................