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Job 4.18
In an adult bible class I'm currently leading, I recently included a
reference to Job 4.18 as one of the many characteristics of angels. Job
4.18 (LXX) reads: "...KATA DE AGGELIWN AUTOU *SKOLION TI EPENOHSE* "
which I have translated "..and he (God) perceives the crooked way of
his angels". Some translations of the LXX use perversness for SKOLION but
this seems to impute a moral decision rather than a simple, but less than
omniscient exercise of free will. Since most english texts are based on
the Hb (ToHoLo), they are often rendered as "..and he charges *error*
(mistakes?) to his angels". Since the Hb seems to be pretty
straightforward here I am looking for some exegetical clarification. If
we stick with the Hb text we are left, it seems, with imperfect angels,
who make errors (in judgement? or perhaps only random mistakes - harmless
or non-benign?) to which they seem to be held accountable. But if we
stick with the LXX, a much softer exegesis can be made. Which tradition
has the greater strength? Be gentle - I didn't want this to be viewed as
a "Scholastic" exercise in angels and pinheads :-)
Regards,
Chuck Arnold
Upper Marlboro, MD