Abstract

ABSTRACT Judges 19:2 poses a text critical problem that has vexed scholars for over a century. According to the MT, the Levite's concubine left her husband and returned to her father's house in Bethlehem because she had "played the harlot against him." According to LXXA, the woman left her husband because she was "angry with him." However, no other Greek, Latin or Aramaic variant of the verse supports MT or LXXA. This article proposes a new hypothesis for understanding the relationship among the various textual variants of Judg 19:2. It will be argued that the earliest Vorlage used the verb עבר in the hitpa 'el form which has the meaning "to be furious". This Vorlage is reflected in LXXA. Later scribes then read the verb עבר in the qal form that has multiple meanings that depend on context. LXXB translated the verb in Greek with the meaning of "to move on". In contrast, Pseudo-Philo interpreted the verb with the meaning of "to transgress". The MT, which emended "to transgress" to "to play the harlot" , represents the final stage in the redaction process. Keywords: Judges 19:2, Textual criticism, Septuagint, Pseudo-Philo, Masoretic Text

Highlights

  • Introduction toJudges.” Pages 195–200 in New English Translation of the Septuagint

  • This article will propose a new text critical analysis that supports the anteriority of the LXXA version of Judg 19:2 on different grounds than those that have been proposed to date

  • I will attempt to demonstrate that the Vorlage underlying LXXA, LXXB and Massoretic Text (MT) read ‫( ַו ַת ְת ַע ֵּבר‬and she was furious); that is, the wayyiqtol third person singular feminine of the verb ‫ עבר‬in the hitpa‘el form.[3]

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Summary

A INTRODUCTION

Judges 19 tells a gruesome story about the gang rape and murder of a nameless woman identified as the “Levite’s concubine.” After introducing the two principal characters in the narrative, the text states that the woman left her husband to return to her father’s house in Bethlehem (Judg 19:2). After introducing the two principal characters in the narrative, the text states that the woman left her husband to return to her father’s house in Bethlehem (Judg 19:2). The reason for her flight is because, according to certain translations of the verse, “His concubine became angry with him [the Levite].”1 other translations propose: “His concubine played the harlot against him.”[2] Was the woman unfaithful to her husband or did she become angry with him? This article will propose a new text critical analysis that supports the anteriority of the LXXA version of Judg 19:2 on different grounds than those that have been proposed to date. I will attempt to demonstrate that the Vorlage underlying LXXA, LXXB and MT read ‫( ַו ַת ְת ַע ֵּבר‬and she was furious); that is, the wayyiqtol third person singular feminine of the verb ‫ עבר‬in the hitpa‘el form.[3]

B STATEMENT OF THE TEXT CRITICAL PROBLEM
C PROPOSED SOLUTION TO THE TEXT CRITICAL PROBLEM
Change of the Vorlage in MT Judg 19:2
D CONCLUSIONS
E BIBLIOGRAPHY

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