THE SEPTUAGINT OF PROVERBS SUPPLEMENTS TO VETUS TESTAMENTUM EDITED BY THE BOARD OF THE QUARTERLY J.A. EMERTON - H.M. BARSTAD - PHYLLIS A. BIRD R.P. GORDON - A. HURVITZ - A. VAN DER KOOI] A. LEMAIRE - R. SMEND - Je. v ANDERKAM H.G.M. WILLIAMSON VOLUME LXIX THE SEPTUAGINT OF PROVERBS jEWISH AND/OR HELLENISTIC PROVERBS? Conceming the Hellenistic Colouring rif LXX Proverbs BY jOHANNCOOK BRILL LEIDEN . NEW YORK' KOLN 1997 This book is printed on acid-free paper. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Bible. O.T. Proverbs. Greek. Septuagint. Selections. 1997. The Septuagint ofProverbs : Jewish and/or Hellenistic Proverbs? conceming the Hellenistic colouring of LXX Proverbs / by Johann Cook. p. cm. - (Supplements to Vetus Testamentum, ISSN 0083-5889 v.69) Includes bibliographical references and indexes. ISBN 9004108793 (cloth : alk. paper) l. Bible. O.T. Proverbs. Greek-Versions-Septuagint. 2. Bible. O.T. Proverbs-Criticism, interpretation, etc. 1. Cook, Johann. II. Title. III. Series. BS4l0.V452 vol. 69 BS1465.2 221 s-dc2l 97-37344 CIP r972 ISSN 0083-5889 ISBN 90 04 10879 3 © Copyright 1997 by Koninklijke Britt NV, Leiden, The Netherlands Att rights reseroed. No part of this publication may be reproduced, translated, stored in a retrieval vstem, or transmitted in al!)' flrm or by al!)' means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission ftom the publisher. Authorization to photocopy items for internai or personal use is granted by Britt provided that the appropriate fies are paid directly to 77ze Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Suite 910 Danvers MA 01923, USA. Fees are suiject to change. PRINTED IN THE NETHERLANDS CONTENTS Preface ............................................................................................. xv List of Abbreviations ....................................................... , ............. XIX CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................... 1 1. History of research .. ........ ............ .............. ........ .............. .......... 3 2. Issues ofmethod ........................................................................ 12 2.1 The textual history of LXX Proverbs .............................. 12 2.1.1 Double Translations ................................................. 13 2.1.2 The hexaplaric text .................................................. 17 2.1.3 The available manuscript evidence ........................ 20 2.1.3.1 Uncials .................................................................... 21 2.1.3.2 Minuscules .............................................................. 23 2.1.3.3 Papyri ...................................................................... 26 2.2 The translation technique of LXX Proverbs .................. 29 2.3 The literary genre of Proverbs ......................................... 32 2.3.1 The Hebrew .............................................................. 32 Genre classifications ................................................ 32 2.3.2 The Septuagint ......................................................... 35 2.4 The Septuagint as exegetical writing ............................... 35 3. The research problem ............................................................... 37 4. Method and plan of research .................................................. 40 CHAPTER 2. ANALYSIS OF SELECTED CHAPTERS FROM PROVERBS ......................................................................... 44 Proverbs 1 ................................................................................... 44 A. The text ...................................................................................... 44 1. Proverbs 1 verses 1-7 ......................................................... 44 Synopsis ............................................................................... 63 1. On the semantic (lexical) level ................................... 63 2. Syn tactic considerations ................................................ 64 3. Style and literary aspects .............................................. 64 II. Proverbs 1 verses 8-19 ....................................................... 65 Synopsis ............................................................................... 82 1. On the semantic (lexical) level ................................... 82 ~ CONTENTS 2. Syntactic considerations .............................................. 82 3. Stylistics and literary perspectives ............................. 83 III. Proverbs 1 verses 20-33................................ ............. ...... 83 Synopsis ............................................................................. 97 1. On the semantic (lexical) level................................. 97 2. Syntactic considerations .............................................. 97 3. Stylistic and literary considerations .......................... 98 B. Conclusion .......... ..... ......................................................... ....... 99 1. Translation technique ......................................................... 99 1. On the semantical level: .............................................. 100 1.1 Application of Greek words ................................. 100 1.1.1 Hapax legomena ......................................... 100 1.1.2 Lexemes found only in Proverbs ............. 100 1.1.3 Lexemes used uniquely in Proverbs 1 ..... 100 1.1.4 The particles ................................................ 101 1.1.4.1 The Greek particles ....................... 101 1.1.4.2 The Hebrew particles .................... 102 1.1.5 Conclusion ................................................... 102 2. On the syntactic level: ................................................. 103 2.1 Macro-structural level ............................................ 103 2.2 Changed grammatical aspects .............................. 105 2.3 Singular for plural and vice versa ....................... 105 3. On the stylistic and literary level: .............................. 105 3.1 General stylistic features ....................................... 105 3.2 Word combinations ............................................... 106 3.3 Explication of passages ......................................... 106 4. Miscellaneous: ............................................................... 107 4.1 Relationship with other scriptural passages ...... 107 4.2 Relationship with the Peshitta ............................. 107 4.3 Relationship with Ben Sira .................................. 107 4.4 Minuses ................................................................... 107 4.5 Other characteristics ............................................. 108 4.5.1 Confusion of consonantsjlexemes ............ 108 5. Conclusion concerning translation technique ......... 108 II. Conclusion concerning the exegesis ("theology") of LXX Proverbs .......................................................................... 109 Proverbs 2 ........................................................................................ 111 A. The text .................................................................................... 111 CONTENTS VII 1. Proverbs 2 verses 1-5 ................................................. 112 Synopsis ...................................................................... 118 1. On the semantic (lexical) level ........................... U8 2. On the syntactic level ........................................... 118 3. On the stylistic level .............................................. 118 II. Proverbs 2 verses 6-12 ............................................... 118 Synopsis ...................................................................... 128 1. On the semantic (lexical) level ........................... 128 2. On a syntactic level ............................................... 128 3. On a stylistic level ................................................. 128 III. Proverbs 2 verses 13-16 ............................................. 128 Synopsis ...................................................................... 133 1. On a semantical (lexical) level ............................ 133 2. On the syntactic level ........................................... 133 3. Stylistics ................................................................... 133 IV. Proverbs 2 verses 17-22 ............................................. 134 Synopsis ...................................................................... 146 1. On the semantic (lexical) level ........................... 146 2. On the syntactic level ........................................... 146 3. On the stylistic/literary level ............................... 146 B. Conclusions .............................................................................. 147 1. Translation technique ......................................................... 147 1. On the semantic level: .............................................. 147 1.1 Application of Greek words ............................... 147 1.1.1 Hapax legomena ........................................ 147 1.1.2 Lexemes used uniquely in Proverbs 2 ... 147 1.1.3 The particles .............................................. 148 1.1.3.1 The Greek particles .................... 148 1.1.3.2 The Hebrew particles ................. 148 1.1.4 Conclusion .................................................. 149 2. On the syntactic level: ............................................... 149 2.1 Macro-structural level ......................................... 149 2.2 Variation of grammatical constructions ........... 149 2.3 Singular for plural and vice versa .................... 150 3. On the stylistic and literary level: ............................ 150 3.1 General stylistic features ..................................... 150 3.2 Word combinations ............................................. 151 3.3 Explication of passages ....................................... 151 4. Miscellaneous: ............................................................. 151 4.1 Relationship with other scriptural passages .... 151 VIII CONTENTS 4.2 Relationship with the Peshitta ........................... 151 4.3 Relationship with Ben Sira ................................. 151 4.4 Minuses ................................................................. 151 4.5 "Hexaplaric" text ................................................. 152 4.6 Other characteristics ........................................... 152 4.6.1 Confusion of consonants/lexemes .......... 152 4.6.2 InternaI relation of stichs/verses ............ 152 5. Conclusion translation technique ....................... 152 II. Conclusion concerning the exegesis ("theology") of LXX Proverbs .......................................................................... 153 Proverbs 6 ...................................................................................... 154 A. The text .................................................................................... 154 1. Proverbs 6 verses 1-5 ................................................. 155 Synopsis 160 1. Semantics ................................................................ 160 2. Syntax ...................................................................... 161 3. Style ...................................................................... 161 II. Proverbs 6 verses 6-11 ............................................... 161 Synopsis 172 1. On the semantic level ........................................... 172 2. On the syntactic level ........................................... 173 3. On the stylistic/literary level ............................... 173 III. Proverbs 6 verses 12-19 ............................................. 173 Synopsis 173 IV. Proverbs 6 verses 20-35 ............................................. 179 Synopsis 193 1. On the semantic level ........................................... 193 2. On a syntactic level ............................................... 193 3. On a stylistic level ................................................. 193 B. Conclusions .............................................................................. 193 1. Translation technique ....................................................... 193 1. On the semantical level: ................................................ 194 1.1 Application of Greek words .................................... 194 1.1.1 Hapax legomena ............................................. 194 1.1.2 Lexemes found only in Proverbs 6 ............. 194 1.1.3 Lexemes used uniquely in Proverbs 6 ....................................................... 194 1.1.4 The particles ................................................... 196