Textual and Literary Criticism of the Books of Kings: Collected Essays by Julio Trebolle Barrera

Abstract

Reviewed by: Textual and Literary Criticism of the Books of Kings: Collected Essays by Julio Trebolle Barrera David B. Schreiner julio trebolle barrera, Textual and Literary Criticism of the Books of Kings: Collected Essays (VTSup 185; Leiden: Brill, 2020). Pp. xiii + 462. €115/$138. Modern biblical scholarship in general and scholarly discussions from the latter portion of the twentieth and early portion of the twenty-first centuries have demonstrated just how controversial historical-critical investigations can be. Paradigmatic assumptions may not be universally accepted. Methods of application may be critiqued by, or used differently in, certain scholarly circles. In many cases, obstacles are constructed that damper any advantageous conversation. Yet, when redaction critical, source critical, or any other historical-critical investigation proceeds without the proper textual foundation, then the controversies become something altogether different. Debates about rival methods or antagonistic assumptions become debates over incompatible foundations. Julio Trebolle Barrera has made a career of pressing scholars on the textual foundations assumed by so much critical scholarship, particularly scholarship associated with the Bible's historical literature. In doing so, he has blazed trails in synthesizing methods and forced hard conversations. Sadly, however, his work has largely flown under the radar, save among specialists in textual criticism. While the reasons for this are many, the fact that a large portion of his research was originally published in Spanish (traditionally not a major research language promoted by doctoral programs) is certainly a contributing factor. Consequently, this volume functions as a partial remedy to this situation. Republishing older work in English (chaps. 1–16) alongside work previously unpublished (chaps. 17–20) will henceforth ensure that T.B.'s proposals about the textual foundations of Kings are more widely disseminated. The sixteen previously published articles are the following: "Recensional Criticism of 4 Kingdoms 25:18–19"; "Jeroboam and the Assembly at Shechem (MT 1 Kings 12:2–3a; LXX 3 Kingdoms 11:43; 12:24d, f, p)"; "The Alternative Stories about Solomon and Jeroboam (MT 1 Kings 12, 14 and LXX 3 Kingdoms 12:24b–z)"; "The Supplements of LXX 3 Kingdoms 2:35a–o and 2:46a-l and the Main Body of the Composition of MT/LXX 1 Kings 4–10"; "Redaction, Recension, and Midrash in the Books of Kings"; "'Kaige' Texts in the Vetus Latina of Kings (4 Kingdoms 10:25-28)"; "Two Texts for a Story of a Resurrection: 2 Kings 13:20-21 (MT LXXb/LXXl OL)"; "The Old Greek of 3–4 Kingdoms: The Antiochene Text 'before Lucian': A Revision of A. Rahlfs, Lucians Rezension der Königsbücher"; "2 Kings 11 (MT/LXXB/L): Textual Variants and Literary Unity of the Narrative"; "From the 'Old Latin' through the 'Old Greek' to the 'Old Hebrew' (2 Kings 10:23–25)"; "The Text-Critical Use of the Septuagint in the Books of Kings"; "Textual Affiliation of the Old Latin Marginal Readings in the Books of Judges and Kings"; "The Text-Critical Value of the Old Latin in the Post-Qumranic Textual Criticism (1 Kings 18:26–29, 36–37)"; "Samuel/Kings and Chronicles: Book Divisions and Textual Composition"; "Kings (MT/LXX) and Chronicles: The Double and Triple Textual Tradition"; "Textual Criticism and the Literary Structure and Composition of 1–2 Kings/3–4 Kingdoms: The Different Sequence of Literary Units in MT and LXX." The novelty and value of this volume will be tempered for those who are familiar with T.B.'s work; the sixteen previously published essays (listed in chronological order on pp. 9–11) constitute the bulk of the book. The new contributions further develop established ideas and will prove beneficial for all. In particular, chap. 17 ("The Contribution of the Old [End Page 531] Latin to the Reconstruction of the Old Greek of Judges and Kings: 'Doublets' and 'Additions' of the Antiochene Text Missing in the Old Latin") focuses on the Book of Judges with a specific question of how the Old Latin tradition aids the reconstruction of the Old Greek behind Judges and Kings. Chapter 18 ("The Old Greek of Kings Preserved in Recent Witnesses: Manuscripts 158 and 56–246, the Marginal Readings of the Syro-Hexaplaric Text and the Syriac Text...