“Sound The Trumpet!” Redaction And Reception Of Joshua 6:2–25

Abstract

The Deuteronomistic addition of Josh 4:21- 5:8 to the pre-deuteronomistic statement in Josh 5:9 prompted the Greek translator to produce his much disputed text about the two categories of Israelites circumcised by Joshua. A later nomistic deuteronomistic editor (DtrN) transformed the address of Yhwh to Joshua for his own nomistic purposes (Josh 1:7-8). It is the author contention that something similar can be said about Joshua 6:2-25. In author views, textual and literary criticisms do not overlap in the case of Joshua 6. From a modern critical perspective, the Greek version should rather be seen as another example of stylistic shortening of a redactionally layered Hebrew text. In order to substantiate author thesis, the chapter first presents a synopsis of the Greek and Hebrew texts of the passage, then a redaction-critical analysis of the Hebrew text and subsequently an examination of the Greek text in its own context. Keywords: deuteronomist; Greek text; Hebrew text; Joshua