The Literary History of the Book of Jeremiah in Light of its Textual History

Abstract

The LXX of Jeremiah often differs from MT of that book in major details. Since the LXX's translation technique in Jeremiah is relatively literal where the two texts overlap, it is unlikely that the translator would have abridged his Hebrew Vorlage. When inserting his own words and thoughts in a book that was transmitted under the name of the prophet Jeremiah, editor II took considerable liberty. The main aspects of the additions and changes of ed. II are reviewed. Editor II took the liberty of adding and changing many minor details and a few major ones: Addition of headings to prophecies, Repetition of sections, Addition of new verses and sections, Addition of new details, and Free rewriting. Among the homogenizing additions, the filling in of personal names in ed. II is the most manifest. Ed. I contained several formulaic expressions, especially at the beginning and end of prophetic utterances.Keywords: Hebrew Vorlage; Jeremiah; LXX's translation technique; prophecies