[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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