Textual Witnesses and Sacrificial Terminology in Leviticus 1–7

Abstract

The author began to work on the Book of Leviticus within the Biblia Hebraica Quinta (BHQ) project in April 2003. The sacrificial terminology in Leviticus 1-7 is one of the first problems he encountered when he was comparing the textual witnesses with Masoretic Text (M). Sacrificial terminology is not only a problem for the versions, but also for the Hebrew witnesses. However, there is a difference, since it is not possible to have confusion between the terms in the Hebrew witnesses. The question is whether the differences between M and the other Hebrew textual witnesses are only a textual matter, or represent a development of the sacrificial conception in Leviticus 1-7. The text of M is that of the Leningrad Codex. The Septuagint (G) is the main witness among the Greek versions. Its sacrificial terminology brings back to the consideration of its readings as one of the ancient textual witnesses. Keywords: Biblia Hebraica Quinta (BHQ) project; Hebrew textual witnesses; Leningrad Codex; Leviticus 1-7; sacrificial terminology