The Biblical Annals

Donne straniere nel libro di Rut e nell’inizio del libro dei Proverbi (capp. 1–9)

Donatella Scaiola — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0100

The texts of Prov 1–9 and Ruth present the reader with contrasting visions concerning the relationship with the ‘other.’ In spite of the still-open extensive debate on the identification of the female figure described in Prov 1–9, it seems fairly certain that both texts can be ascribed to the post-exilic period and thus fall within the issue of mixed marriages, which can be read at various levels: religious, identity, economic, also thanks to the elaboration of an extensive exegesis of the biblical texts.

Suretyship in the Teaching of Ben Sira (Sir 29:14–20)

Andrzej Piwowar — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0100

The article is an analysis of the teaching of Ben Sira on becoming surety for individuals in need of that form of economic and material assistance contained in Sir 29:14–20. First, the way of functioning of suretyship in Israel and the approach to it is discussed, mainly based on the Book of Proverbs, which quite strongly and emphatically forbids that practice. This is followed by a delimitation of the pericope in the work of Ben Sira devoted to that issue and the presentation of its structure. The main part of the article is devoted to the exegetical analysis of Sir 29:14–20 based on the historical-critical method, taking into account elements of syntactic and semantic analysis. Ben Sira does not forbid becoming surety for those in need of such support; on the contrary, he encourages it (cf. 29:14a, 20a). However, influenced by abuses of that practice (cf. 29:16–19), he urges his disciple to be cautious and become surety only for acquaintances – neighbours (cf. 29:14a, 20a), not to risk and become bankrupt (cf. 29:16a, 17a, 20b) or be forced to leave the home country in case the borrower (cf. 29:18), for whom one had vouched, does not pay the obligations to the creditor. At the same time, Sirach reminds the person for whom someone has vouched of the need to fulfil the obligation towards the guarantor (cf. 29:15) as not doing so means becoming a sinner (cf. 29:16a, 19a). The main motive for Ben Sira’s change in approach to suretyship, in relation to the Book of Proverbs, seems to be primarily drawing attention to the commandment to help one’s neighbour, to which the Sage refers implicitly, and the desire to protect the Jewish community and strengthen it economically at a time when Hellenistic influence on it was increasingly stronger and more significant.

Critical Edition and Philological Analysis of the Last Chapters of Deutero-Isaiah (Isa 54–55) Based on the Coptic Manuscript sa 52 (M 568) and Other Coptic Manuscripts in the Sahidic Dialect and the Greek Text of the Septuagint

Tomasz Bartłomiej Bąk — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0100

This article is a critical edition and philological analysis of the last two chapters of the biblical book of Deutero-Isaiah (Isa 54–55), based on the Coptic manuscript sa 52 and other available manuscripts in the Sahidic dialect. The first part outlines general information about the part of codex sa 52 (M 568) that contains the analysed text. This is followed by a list and brief overview of other manuscripts featuring at least some verses from Isa 54–55. The main part of this article focuses on the presentation of the Coptic text (in the Sahidic dialect) and its translation into English. The differences identified between the Sahidic text and the Greek Septuagint, on which the Coptic translation is based, are illustrated in a tabular form. It includes, for example, additions and omissions in the Coptic translation, lexical changes and semantic differences. The last part of this article aims to clarify more challenging philological issues observed either in the Coptic text itself or in its relation to the Greek text of the LXX.

"Breaking a Dog’s Neck" as a Metaphor for Oppressing the Weak. An Exegetical-Historical Analysis of the Expression ערף כלב (Isa 66:3)

Andrzej Łukasz Jędrzejczak — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0100

This paper analyses Isa 66:3 and presents a new interpretation of the expression ערף כלב “breaks a dog’s neck.” There are various proposals to explain this enigmatic expression. One points, for example, to a possible ritual in which dogs were to be sacrificed by breaking their necks. This ritual was supposed to have been practised in the ancient Levant, including the Israelites/Judahites. This explanation is called into question in this article. It is pointed out that the phrase can be understood as a metaphor for people who impinge on the dignity of others. The exegesis of biblical texts, the examples cited from ancient Near Eastern literature, and the analysis of archaeological material indicate that this expression may have a different meaning from that hitherto accepted.

Genesis 5:24 in Karaite Exegesis: "Sefer maamar Mordekhai"

Piotr Muchowski — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0100

This article deals with a little-known commentary on the Pentateuch (more precisely, a supercommentary on Aaron ben Joseph’s Sefer ha-mivḥar) titled Sefer maamar Mordekhai (Book of Mordecai’s Speech). Its author is the Polish-Lithuanian Karaite Mordecai ben Nisan of Kukizov (died around the year 1709), one of the founders of the Karaite community in Kukizów near Lwów, the ancestral seat of the Polish king John III Sobieski. This commentary was based on an earlier commentary on Sefer ha-shemenha-tov by Aaron ben Judah, also a Polish-Lithuanian Karaite. Mordecai ben Nisan quotes the text of Sefer ha-shemen ha-tov and adds his own commentary to it. Its importance as an authoritative textbook of Karaite exegesis is evidenced by the fact that it was formally approved for use by leading Karaite scholars of the Polish-Lithuanian communities (between the years 1706 and 1709). Undoubtedly, this commentary should be recognised as the greatest creative achievement of the theological and exegetical thought of the Polish-Lithuanian Karaites, produced during the period of the peak intellectual flourishing of this community (which took place in the 17th-18th centuries). In this article, I present an English edition of the text of this commentary on Genesis 5:24. The edition is based on manuscript C 104, Maamar Mordekhai (manuscript in the collection of the Institute of Oriental Manuscripts, St. Petersburg, 1753). The manuscript contains a commentary on the books of Genesis and Exodus, i.e. up to the parasha Elle pekude (Exodus 38:21–40:38). Another part, containing commentaries on the books of Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, was recorded in manuscript C102. The copyist of both volumes was Mordecai ben Samuel of Halicz. He completed the transcription of the text of the commentary (a total of about 1,000 pages) in the month of Ziv, i.e. Iyyar, of the year 1754, see C102, folio 242 verso (the first volume, manuscript C104, was completed in 1753, see C104, folio 3 recto). In the article, I also mention several minor exegetical works of the Polish-Lithuanian Karaites related to Sefer maamar Mordekhai.

David as a Prophet in the Text of "David’s Compositions" (11Q5 xxvii 2–11) against the Background of the Qumran Literature

Marcin Biegas — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0100

The main aim of this paper is to analyse the biblical figure of King David as a prophet based on the apocryphal text of “David’s Compositions,”which is part of the Great Psalms Scroll from Cave 11 at Qumran (11Q5 xxvii 2–11). The paper consists of three parts. The first part is an analysis of the text of“David’s Compositions” itself. It includes the Hebrew text with its translation into English, the context, and the detailed exegesis of the composition with a strong emphasis on the interpretation of the ending of v. l.3 and the first half of vv. l.4 and l.11 (col. xxvii), relevant to the subject of the presentation. The objective of the second part is to look, in the context of David’s Compositions,” at the terminology defining the function and figure of the prophet in the Qumran Caves Scrolls. This enables us to limit a huge number of manuscripts only to those in which this terminology occurs. Their content is further verified in terms of their connection to the figure of David. The final, third part concerns the interpretation of three fragments from 4QMMT.

The Intermediate State: Revelation 6:9–11 and 20:4–6, 13 in the Light of Daniel 12:2, 13

Bohdan Kuryliak, Ihor Kuryliak — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0100

In the Book of Revelation, John sees souls under the altar, who then come to life (Rev 6:9–11; 20:4–6, 13). The passages describing the scene are often used as arguments to confirm the existence of a conscious state after death. This article criticises this dualistic interpretation and argues that Dan 12:2, 13 are verses of high importance for the correct interpretation of Rev 6:9–11 and 20:4–6, 13. The article discusses the six parallels between these texts and, based on the Old Testament background, shows that the word ψυχή in Rev 6:9–11 means “blood,” which represents the slain martyrs. The article argues that the teaching on the state of the dead in the Books of Daniel and Revelation is based on a holistic anthropological concept.

C.G. Bartholomew – H.A. Thomas, "The Minor Prophets. A Theological Introduction" (A Theological Introduction series; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press 2023)

Mariusz Szmajdziński — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0100

Book review: C.G. Bartholomew – H.A. Thomas, "The Minor Prophets. A Theological Introduction" (A Theological Introduction series; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press 2023). Pp 390. € 52. ISBN: 978-1-5140-0168-4.