The Biblical Annals https://czasopisma.kul.pl/index.php/ba <p style="text-align: justify;">"The Biblical Annals" is the official scholarly journal of the Institute of Biblical Studies at the Faculty of Theology, the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Poland. It is dedicated to biblical studies and it is divided into the following sections: Old Testament, Intertestamental Literature, New Testament, Varia, Review Articles, Book Reviews, and Biblical News. The journal covers fields of research such as biblical archeology, history, exegesis, philology, hermeneutics, literary studies, studies on culture and religion, and theological studies. It is aimed at presenting the research of Polish and international scholars focusing on problems and methodologies current in the contemporary biblical studies. The articles and reviews are published in Polish, English, Italian, French, Spanish and German. <a href="https://czasopisma.kul.pl/ba/about">(więcej)</a></p> en-US <ol> <li>Pursuant to the Act on Copyright and Related Rights of February 4, 1994, the Author of the publication grants to the Publisher of the journal <em>„The Biblical Annals”</em> e a non-exclusive and royalty-free license to use the Work submitted for publication, without time and territorial restrictions in the following fields of use:<br />a) record the Work and copy it by means of any technique (including printing and electronic recording) on all known data carriers (including IT, electronic and polygraphic), and in all IT systems (in particular those available online);<br />b) enter the Work into computer memory, disseminate the Work and its copies, as well as market the Work and its copies;<br />c) publicly perform, replay, display and screen the Work, as well as lend, rent and lease the Work and its copies;<br />d) make available, market and disseminate the Work and its copies via IT networks, and in particular via the Internet, including the promotion or advertising of the Work, the journal or the Publisher.</li> <li>The Author shall further grant his/her consent for the Publisher to use and dispose of derivative works.</li> <li>The Publisher may sublicense the work.</li> <li>Third parties may use the articles and other materials containing the Works, or developed on the basis of the Works in line with the model Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (also referred to as CC BY 4.0).</li> </ol> biblical.annals@kul.pl (Monika Popek) help@libcom.pl (Piotr Karwasiński) Fri, 31 Jan 2025 08:57:18 +0100 OJS 3.3.0.8 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 60 Donne straniere nel libro di Rut e nell’inizio del libro dei Proverbi (capp. 1–9) https://czasopisma.kul.pl/index.php/ba/article/view/15828 <p>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.</p> Donatella Scaiola Copyright (c) 2024 The Biblical Annals https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.pl https://czasopisma.kul.pl/index.php/ba/article/view/15828 Fri, 31 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0100 Suretyship in the Teaching of Ben Sira (Sir 29:14–20) https://czasopisma.kul.pl/index.php/ba/article/view/16493 <p>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.</p> Andrzej Piwowar Copyright (c) 2025 The Biblical Annals https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.pl https://czasopisma.kul.pl/index.php/ba/article/view/16493 Fri, 31 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0100 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 https://czasopisma.kul.pl/index.php/ba/article/view/16565 <p>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.</p> Tomasz Bartłomiej Bąk Copyright (c) 2025 The Biblical Annals https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.pl https://czasopisma.kul.pl/index.php/ba/article/view/16565 Fri, 31 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0100 "Breaking a Dog’s Neck" as a Metaphor for Oppressing the Weak. An Exegetical-Historical Analysis of the Expression ערף כלב (Isa 66:3) https://czasopisma.kul.pl/index.php/ba/article/view/16140 <p>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.</p> Andrzej Łukasz Jędrzejczak Copyright (c) 2025 The Biblical Annals https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.pl https://czasopisma.kul.pl/index.php/ba/article/view/16140 Fri, 31 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0100 Genesis 5:24 in Karaite Exegesis: "Sefer maamar Mordekhai" https://czasopisma.kul.pl/index.php/ba/article/view/17348 <p>This article deals with a little-known commentary on the Pentateuch (more precisely, a supercommentary on Aaron ben Joseph’s <em>Sefer ha-mivḥar</em>) titled <em>Sefer maamar Mordekhai </em>(<em>Book of Mordecai’s</em> <em>Speech</em>). 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 <em>Sefer ha-shemenha-tov </em>by Aaron ben Judah, also a Polish-Lithuanian Karaite. Mordecai ben Nisan quotes the text of <em>Sefer</em> <em>ha-shemen ha-tov </em>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, <em>Maamar Mordekhai</em> (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 <em>Elle pekude</em> (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 <em>Ziv</em>, i.e. <em>Iyyar</em>, 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 <em>Sefer maamar Mordekhai</em>.</p> Piotr Muchowski Copyright (c) 2025 The Biblical Annals https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.pl https://czasopisma.kul.pl/index.php/ba/article/view/17348 Fri, 31 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0100 David as a Prophet in the Text of "David’s Compositions" (11Q5 xxvii 2–11) against the Background of the Qumran Literature https://czasopisma.kul.pl/index.php/ba/article/view/15827 <p>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.</p> Marcin Biegas Copyright (c) 2025 The Biblical Annals https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.pl https://czasopisma.kul.pl/index.php/ba/article/view/15827 Fri, 31 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0100 The Intermediate State: Revelation 6:9–11 and 20:4–6, 13 in the Light of Daniel 12:2, 13 https://czasopisma.kul.pl/index.php/ba/article/view/17474 <p>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.</p> Bohdan Kuryliak, Ihor Kuryliak Copyright (c) 2025 The Biblical Annals https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.pl https://czasopisma.kul.pl/index.php/ba/article/view/17474 Fri, 31 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0100 C.G. Bartholomew – H.A. Thomas, "The Minor Prophets. A Theological Introduction" (A Theological Introduction series; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press 2023) https://czasopisma.kul.pl/index.php/ba/article/view/18053 <p><strong>Book review:</strong> 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.</p> Mariusz Szmajdziński Copyright (c) 2025 The Biblical Annals https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.pl https://czasopisma.kul.pl/index.php/ba/article/view/18053 Fri, 31 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0100