[B-Greek] Numbers 23:19 (LXX) & I Samuel 15:29 (LXX)
Albert Pietersma
albert.pietersma at sympatico.ca
Tue Oct 21 02:05:37 EDT 2003
Dear Bryant,
Carl has already identified the specific forms you asked about, and his
general comments are apt. Let me just add a few notes about the issue
of interpretation, with specific reference to "repentance."
Although MT's 1Sam 15:29a+b may reasonably be thought to contain an
allusion to MT Num 23:19a+b, such a derivative relationship is not in
evidence in the Greek (though as an aside one may note that Greek Num
23:19 is being cited in Judith 8:16). Thus the only issue I see is how
1Reigns (= 1Sam) 15:29 and Num 23:19 respectively relate to their
Hebrew source text.
Though the parent text of 1Rgns 15:29 seems to have differed in a
number of respects from MT, such is less obviously the case in Num
23:19. Differences in text are, of course, not attributable to
exposition by the Greek translator. That having been said, it is clear
that both Greek translators do some interpreting though, in my view,
what the Numbers translator does is of the more deliberate kind.
1. Num 23:19. You aptly focus on the two verbal forms.
a) The equation KZBpi - DIARTAW occurs only here in Num and,
furthermore, in the LXX as a whole. The Greek term, moreover, is a
hapax in the LXX. For that reason alone the translation attracts
attention. Furthermore, since KZBpi can be glossed as "to lie, tell a
lie" (see NRSV "lie) and since DIARTAW means inter alia "to mislead,
deceive", it would seem that the Greek translator has deliberately
adapted his text to its immediate context, namely, that God is not
hoodwinked by a change in location (see v.13)
b) NXMhitp - APEILEW. This equation too calls attention to itself
since elsewhere in the LXX it occurs only in Gen 27:42. Since NXMhitp
can mean "to console oneself" (see NRSV Gen 27:42) and APEILEW means
"to threaten" it is possible that the Numbers translator derived the
equation from the Gen reference. Whatever the case, APEILEW is clearly
a progression from DIARTAW: God can neither be hoodwinked nor bullied.
Thus the NETS translation of Num 23:19 (Peter Flint) will read: "God is
not to be put upon like man, nor is he to be threatened like a son of
man" (= Ioud 8:16).
2. 1Rgns (= 1Sam) 15:29.
On the issue of "repentance" I can be brief here. Twice in the verse
NXMni is translated by METANOEW. Given the fact that this equation is
common in the LXX, it is unlikely to reflect deliberate exposition on
the part of any given translator. Of the two main Septuagintal choices
available, METAMELEW and METANOEW, the latter best fits the context.
With regard to your closing note, though the Numbers translator gives
his text a deliberate twist (from "lying" to "misleading"), the Reigns
translator is at most inadvertently changing his text--if at all.
Al
On Monday, October 20, 2003, at 12:59 AM, Bryant J. Williams III wrote:
> Dear List,
>
> I am presently working over these two passages for an article on
> "Repentance."
> The question I have is relation to the following:
>
> Numbers 23:19a:
>
> OUX hWS ANQRWPOS hO QEOS DIAPTHQNVAI,
> OUD' HWS HUIOS ANQRPOU APEILHQHNAI
>
> What is DIARTHQHNAI & APEILHQHNAI?
>
> I Samuel 15:29a & b:
>
> KAI DIAREQHSETAI ISRAEL EIS DUO,
> KAI APOSTREPSEI OUDE METANOHSEI,
> HOTI OUX HWS ANQRWPOS ESTI' TOU METANOHSAI AUTOS,
>
> What is DIAREQHSETAI?
> The Hebrew text in Numbers uses a different word for "lie" than the
> quote of I
> Samuel. It appears that the Hebrew and the LXX are trying to make a
> distinction
> between "to actually speak falsehood; to lie" in Numbers; and "to
> mentally think
> of lying or telling a falsehood" in I Samuel. There could also be
> overlap here,
> but the contexts are seeming to make a clear distinction between the
> two? Any
> thoughts?
>
> En Xpistw,
>
> Rev. Bryant J. Williams III
>
>
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—
Albert Pietersma
Professor of Septuagint and Hellenistic Greek
Near & Middle Eastern Civilizations
University of Toronto
Home: 21 Cross Street,
Weston ON Canada M9N 2B8
Email: albert.pietersma at sympatico.ca
Homepage: http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/~pietersm
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