The Targum and Messianic Cornerstone

Jewish Quarterly Review, 2020

London : Longman, Green, Longman and Roberts + The New Alexandria Library of Texas , 1862

This very rare Text is a comprehensive translation of two foundational Aramaic paraphrases of the Hebrew Bible, complemented by fragments of the Jerusalem Targum. This work aims to render these pivotal texts accessible to English-speaking scholars and theologians of the 19th century. The Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan Ben Uzziel, traditionally attributed to early Jewish scholars, date back to the late Second Temple period and serve as interpretive translations and commentaries on the Pentateuch, reflecting theological, cultural, and linguistic developments within Jewish communities under Greco-Roman influence. Etheridge’s translation draws upon earlier scholarly traditions, engaging with the Chaldee (Aramaic) text and its rich exegetical heritage. The work situates itself within the Victorian era’s burgeoning interest in textual criticism, Oriental studies, and Biblical scholarship. By including the Jerusalem Targum fragments, Etheridge highlights the variances and regional diversity in Jewish interpretation and exegesis. The translation offers insights into the linguistic dynamics of Aramaic as a lingua franca of Jewish communities and explores theological themes such as covenant, divine providence, and eschatology as interpreted through the Targumic lens. Etheridge’s work also provides a foundation for comparative studies between the Targums, the Masoretic Text, and other ancient versions such as the Septuagint and the Peshitta. His annotations further contextualize the text within broader Judaic traditions and Christian theological perspectives of his time. Etheridge’s contribution remains significant in historical and philological studies, offering a bridge between ancient Aramaic literature and modern Biblical exegesis. However, the translation reflects its historical context, with Victorian theological biases occasionally shaping interpretive choices. This underscores the importance of reading Etheridge’s work alongside more recent scholarship to appreciate the evolving understanding of Targumic studies. Historical Significance: • Victorian Biblical Scholarship: Etheridge’s translation is emblematic of the 19th-century interest in ancient languages and sacred texts, contributing to the broader field of Oriental studies and Christian theology. • Textual Preservation: The book preserves key Targumic texts in a period when access to Aramaic manuscripts was limited. • Philological Contributions: It advances the understanding of the interplay between Aramaic and Hebrew in Jewish exegetical traditions. Etheridge’s work continues to serve as a useful entry point for scholars investigating the Targums’ role in shaping Jewish theology and their broader influence on Abrahamic scriptural traditions. Tags- Targum, Onkelos, Jonathan Ben Uzziel, Pentateuch, Genesis, Exodus, Jerusalem Targum, Chaldee, Aramaic, Hebrew Bible, Torah, translation, Etheridge, 1862, Biblical exegesis, Jewish commentary, Second Temple, covenant, divine providence, eschatology, Masoretic Text, Septuagint, Peshitta, philology, linguistics, Oriental studies, theology, Biblical criticism, paraphrase, Jewish theology, sacred texts, Biblical literature, Victorian scholarship, textual criticism, Aramaic language, Judaica, synagogue, targumic tradition, Jewish history, Jewish law, interpretation, Biblical studies, religious texts, hermeneutics, ancient translations, midrash, targumic commentary, Jewish exegesis, Aramaic Bible, Hebrew-Aramaic, Bible studies, sacred scripture, Greco-Roman era, Jewish heritage, Semitic studies, ancient Judaism, Aramaic script, Judaic studies, theological studies, covenant theology, targumic variants, targum fragments, Jewish-Aramaic, Hebrew-Aramaic translation, targum scholars, Biblical Aramaic, targum interpretation, targumic texts, targum authorship, targumic translation, targum literature, targum analysis, targumic theology, Aramaic paraphrase, Jewish tradition, targumic history, targum manuscript, targum research, Biblical manuscript, ancient Bible, targum translators, targum culture, targum studies, targumic language, targumic interpretation, targumic heritage, targum fragments, targum editions, targumic parallels, targum parallels, targum linguistics, targum variants, targum scholars, targumic exegesis, targumic narratives, targum traditions, targum regions, targumic style, targum manuscripts, targumic annotations, targum authors, targumic translation, targum interpretations, targumic usage, targumic fragments, targumic influence, targumic themes, targumic practices, targumic legacy, targumic adaptations, targumic theology, targumic studies, targumic philology, targumic hermeneutics, targumic culture, targumic text, targumic history, targumic research, targumic analysis, targumic publication, targumic variants, targumic relevance, targumic text history, targumic commentary, targumic notes, targumic introduction, targumic fragments research, targumic theological themes, targumic versions, targumic comparative studies, targumic Biblical influence, targumic covenant themes, targumic sacred texts, targumic scripture, targumic Biblical traditions, targumic linguistic analysis, targumic covenant, targumic theological exploration, targumic Biblical interpretation, targumic cultural significance, targumic scholarly works, targumic Victorian scholarship, targumic history research, targumic Bible studies, targumic sacred interpretation, targumic Jewish tradition, targumic Biblical narratives, targumic Jewish theology, targumic textual study. Aramaic studies, Biblical paraphrase, ancient translations, targumic scholarship, Pentateuchal commentary, Torah studies, Onkelos tradition, Jonathan Ben Uzziel legacy, Jerusalem Targum analysis, covenant themes, ancient Judaism, sacred language, divine interpretation, Aramaic exegesis, targumic influence, Jewish mysticism, theological translation, Biblical Aramaic text, Chaldee traditions, Jewish linguistic heritage, targumic theology, sacred writings, targumic manuscripts, Biblical linguistics, synagogue traditions, targumic heritage, Second Temple literature, ancient scriptural commentary, targumic prose, Judaic wisdom, targumic history, Biblical adaptations, targumic linguistics, textual studies, targumic exegesis methods, targumic parallels, Jewish Aramaic literature, ancient Biblical thought, targumic annotations, religious hermeneutics, targumic variants, targumic perspectives, targumic legacy, targumic traditions, Aramaic Bible fragments, targumic synthesis, targumic theology development, targumic regions, targumic interpretations, targumic practices, targumic textual dynamics, targumic religious context, targumic style diversity, targumic intellectual heritage, targumic translations history, targumic textual criticism, targumic authorship, targumic theological reflection, targumic Jewish life, targumic sacred reflections, targumic textual preservation, targumic cultural themes, targumic philosophical insights, targumic theological discourse, targumic translation techniques, targumic parallels analysis, targumic interpretive nuances, targumic textual structure, targumic narrative patterns, targumic interpretive challenges, targumic theological constructs, targumic intellectual traditions, targumic sacred history, targumic interpretations influence, targumic textual frameworks, targumic text dissemination, targumic interpretive strategies, targumic community impact, targumic spiritual insight, targumic literary value, targumic theological resonance, targumic interpretive evolution, targumic textual richness, targumic cultural insights, targumic mystical depth, targumic narrative style, targumic textual layers, targumic exegetical tools, targumic scriptural depth, targumic sacred significance, targumic historical roots, targumic textual evolution, targumic Jewish beliefs, targumic narrative innovations, targumic scriptural engagement, targumic spiritual tradition, targumic divine understanding, targumic textual clarity, targumic textual integrity, targumic textual influence, targumic theological analysis, targumic sacred connections, targumic textual continuity, targumic community transmission, targumic interpretive foundations, targumic liturgical use, targumic theological heritage, targumic sacred exegesis, targumic historical influence, targumic spiritual exegesis, targumic historical reflection, targumic scriptural connections, targumic textual fidelity, targumic intellectual dialogue, targumic textual influence across eras, targumic liturgical resonance, targumic community tradition, targumic covenant interpretation, targumic eschatological themes, targumic linguistic heritage, targumic theological sophistication, targumic exegetical traditions, targumic intellectual bridges, targumic sacred storytelling, targumic textual richness, targumic scholarly dialogue, targumic sacred texts exploration, targumic theological concepts, targumic comparative studies, targumic Biblical scholarship, targumic religious studies, targumic theological development, targumic intellectual thought, targumic textual resonance, targumic theological influence, targumic religious commentary, targumic Jewish heritage, targumic narrative heritage, targumic scholarly exploration, targumic intellectual heritage, targumic theological traditions, targumic Biblical exegesis, targumic sacred heritage, targumic textual analysis, targumic interpretive history, targumic intellectual contributions.

1 Background Traditionally, text-critical analysis of Hebrew Scripture started with mt and sp, and since 1947 it also covers the Judean Desert texts. The picture must be completed by also consulting the ancient translations, even though the Hebrew texts behind those translations must be reconstructed first, and this procedure often involves an almost impossible enterprise. It is an accepted view that the Hebrew parent text of the lxx needs to be taken into consideration in the textual praxis, but we hear little about the other versions, t s v,1 because v and t almost always agree with mt. They are less significant for textual analysis, but remain important for understanding the biblical exegesis in antiquity. Specialists find more variants in s, but they often state that s, also, differs very little from mt. In this study, we will make some general remarks on these three versions, in an attempt to place them in their right position in the textual praxis. These three versions ought to be recorded in the critical editions of the Hebrew Bible, but in my view their status in the textual descriptions is in need of some refinement.2 We wish to reiterate that v and t, as well as kaige-Th, Aquila, and Symmachus are virtually identical to mt, and to a great extent this also pertains to s. At the beginning of the critical inquiry into Hebrew Scripture and its translations , scholars described the wealth of available evidence for the early text of the Bible as sources for an analysis. However, they did not necessarily have the critical insight to realize the different types of contribution made by these sources to our understanding of the ancient Hebrew text. A good example is the 1 The following abbreviations are used: t = Targum(im), s(yriac) = Peshitta, v = Vulgate. The earliest written evidence for these versions is available for the fragments of the Targumim from Qumran. 2 In this analysis, we exclude the Arabic translation of Saadia (882-942 ce) and the secondary translations made from the lxx: Latin (the Vetus Latina), Syriac (the Syro-Palestinian trans

This article investigates possible sources behind the Targum in Jacob ben Hayyim's Rabbinic Bible (Venice 1525), which served as the authoritative text for centuries. The previous edition of the Rabbinic Bible (Venice 1517) already received much attention in this regard and this inquiry builds on those findings. It focuses on the Targum of 1 Samuel and compares ben Hayyim's deviations from the former Rabbinic Bible with various manuscripts. It allows for a tentative conclusion regarding ben Hayyim's Targum Vorlage.

2008

Jewish communities in Europe often lived in a Christian surrounding. They studied and transmitted the text of their Targums in this environment. There are many hints that textual and codicological variants relate to the history of the various Jewish communities and especially to the influence-either positive or negative-of the Christian environment. Therefore, this project aims to answer the following question: How do the diverse appearances of the authoritative Aramaic Bible translation, especially that of the Books of Samuel, relate to the internal development of the several Jewish communities and the external influences of the Christian surroundings? 2. Institutional environment Protestant Theological University of the Netherlands (PThU), location Kampen, Departments of Biblical Studies and Church History; in cooperation with the Evangelical Theological Faculty (ETF), Leuven, Departments of Church History and Old Testament, and the VU University at Amsterdam, Department of Biblical Studies.

Aramaic Studies, 2012

How do we put text and translation on a par in the Bilingual Concordance to the Targum of the Prophets? In this article I will focus on the parity of source and target text and the editorial decisions underlying equations of Aramaic with Hebrew lexemes in the afore-mentioned concordance. 1 I will briefly discuss the character of Targum Jonathan and present a sample of translations and their Aramaic-Hebrew relationships, especially concentrating on the substitution and glosses of words by way of multiple translation.

Collectanea Theologica, 2021

The main objective of the article is to show the features of the Aramaic translation of the First and the Second Books of Chronicles, which belongs to late Targums. The work presents the main data related to the authority, date and origin of the Targum and its manuscripts, as well as a review of major translation techniques and the method of rabbinic interpretation, which are all important elements of targumism. Linguistic changes, as well as cultural and religious ones, conditioned by various processes that occurred in the community of believers in YHWH over the centuries, were reflected in a variety of interpretative tendencies.

Journal for Semitics, 2015

The study of Aramaic Bible translations (Targumim) continues to be a valuable source of information, not only for uncovering the history of biblical interpretation but also for providing insights for the study of linguistics and translation techniques. In comparison with work done on the Pentateuchal Targumim and Targum Former Prophets, research on the individual books of Targum Minor Prophets has been scant. By providing an overview of selected source material this review seeks (i) to provide incentives for more focused studies in the field of Targum Minor Prophets and (ii) to motivate new integrated research approaches which are now made possible with the assistance of highly developed software programmes.