Introduction
The Holy Scriptures “help us very greatly, too, in living a good life.”[1] St. John Chrysostom wrote these words to men who were thinking of entering the priesthood. Throughout his writings, he teaches the Christian to love God and hold fast to Scripture. John Chrysostom held to his own teachings. One may pick up any of his writings at random and see the sprinklings of Scripture scattered across the pages. John used the Septuagint for his Old Testament text.
Begun ca. 300 B.C.,[2] the Septuagint translation of the Old Testament stands as the oldest complete translation of the Hebrew Scriptures in the world.[3] Besides what became the New Testament, no other text shaped Christianity’s early years more than the Septuagint (or LXX). However, the questioning mind might ask how closely the LXX follows the Masoretic Text (or MT). This paper examines that question regarding a brief passage in Numbers 27.
Further, the paper examines the MT and LXX of Numbers 27:12-23 for similarities and differences. The similarities and differences will allow some conclusions about the translator of Numbers. This paper will examine the texts to see how the translator[4] took Hebrew Scripture into the Greek language. Additionally, the papers consults other ancient sources dealing with or originating from the era in question (e.g. Talmud, Midrash Rabbah, Qumran writings, and Apocrypha) to shed light on some problems within the passage.
As the paper examines the respective texts verse by verse, several differences will become apparent. Many of these differences count for little, as they simply add or subtract information that a reader may find elsewhere in the Pentateuch (i.e. the LXX of vs. 13 adds the name of the mountain where Aaron died. Cf. Num 20:28). Such differences may point to a different vorlage for the translator of Numbers. However, a few of the differences do not imply a different vorlage but a purposeful change in meaning to reflect the translator’s bias.
Perhaps less interesting but more beneficial to the modern translator of Numbers are the similarities. Where the translation fully agrees with MT, one may assume the Hebrew vorlage of the Septuagint agrees with the ancestor manuscript of the MT.[5] The Septuagint translator’s way of handling the constructs of Hebrew grammar may enlighten modern translators who seek to place the words of God into the language of the listener.
In addition, this paper will examine the theological implications of Numbers 27:12-23. God teaches mankind through Holy Scripture, and mankind does well to listen. The key theological insights appear throughout. With these the paper will seek to understand how the early readers of the respective texts would understand the passage.
Author’s Translation of Numbers 27:12-23 (FLV – from the Hebrew)
12And YHWH said to Moses, “Go up to this mountain of Abarim and see the land which I gave to the sons of Israel. 13And you shall see it, and you shall be gathered to your people, even you, just like Aaron, your brother, was gathered. 14Because in the wilderness of Tzin, during the strife of the congregation, you rebelled [against] my word to consecrate me at the water in their eyes.” (that is the water of Meribah [at] Kadesh in the wilderness of Tzin).
15And Moses spoke to YHWH, saying: 16“Let YHWH, God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation. 17Who will go out before them, and who will come in before them, and who will cause them to go out, and who will cause them to come in, so that the congregation of YHWH shall not be like sheep who do not have a shepherd.”
18And YHWH spoke to Moses, “Take Joshua, the son of Nun, a man who [has] the Spirit in him, and lay your hand on him. 19And you will make him stand before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation and give a charge to him in their eyes. 20And put [some of] your glory on him in order that all the congregation of the sons of Israel be obedient. 21And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, and he shall ask of him in judgement of the Urim before YHWH. Upon his word they shall go out, and upon his word they shall come in, he and all the sons of Israel, he and all the congregation.”
22And Moses did like YHWH charged him, and he took Joshua and made him stand before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation. 23And he laid his hands upon him and gave him charge as YHWH had spoken by the hand of Moses.
Author’s Translation of Numbers 27:12-23 (FLX – from the Septuagint)
12. And the Lord said to Moses, “Ascend to the mountain which is in the beyond, this mount Nabau, and see the land of Canaan, which I give to the sons of Israel to take possession.” 13. “And you will see it, and you will be added to your people, even you, just like Aaron, your brother, was added at Mount Or.” 14. Because in the wilderness of Sin, during the resistance of the congregation you disobeyed my word to sanctify me, you did not sanctify me at the water before them.” (this is the water of dispute at Kades in the wilderness of Sin).
15. And Moses said to the Lord, 16. “Let the Lord, the god of the spirits and of all flesh, pick out a man over this congregation.” 17. “Who will go out before them, and who will enter before them, and who will bring them out and, who will bring them in, and the congregation of the Lord shall not be like sheep without a shepherd.”
18. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Take for yourself Joshua, the son of Naue, a man who has the Spirit in him, and you will lay your hand on him.” 19. “And you will set him before Eleazar the priest and give him a charge before all the congregation and you will give a charge to him before them.” 20. “And you will give your glory to him in order that they, the sons of Israel, obey.” 21. “And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, and he shall ask of him in judgement of the Delon before the Lord. At his utterance they will go out, and at his utterance they will come in, he and the sons of Israel with one mind, and all the congregation.”
22. And Moses did as the Lord commanded, and he took Joshua and stood him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation. 23. And he laid his hands upon him and appointed him, just like the Lord instructed Moses.
Outline of the Passage
I.God’s Command to Moses
A.Climb the mountain to see the land
B.God has not forgotten His decree; Moses will not enter the land
II.Moses’ Request for the People
A.The Lord knows all people
B.God must appoint a new leader for the people
III.God’s Answer to Moses
A.Joshua has the Spirit within him
B.Ordain Joshua before the priest and the congregation
IV.Moses’ Obedience to God’s Command
Notes
1 John Chrysostom, Six Books on the Priesthood. trans. Graham Neville (Crestwood, New York: St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 1996), 123.
2 J. A. L. Lee examines the Pentateuch of the LXX with numerous Greek writings from Homer to the New Testament period. He concludes from the vocabulary and grammar that the Pentateuch was translated no later than 250 B.C. and most likely before 270 B.C. J. A. L. Lee, LXX: A Lexical Study of the Septaugint Version of the Pentateuch, Septuagint and Cognate Studies, ed. Harry M. Orlinsky, no. 14 (Chico, California: Scholar’s Press), 148.
3 Douglas Stuart, Old Testament Exegesis: A Primer for Students and Pastors (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1980), 91.
4 This paper uses masculine pronouns for the translator because ancient attitudes toward women in Egypt (where the LXX was started) would render the possibility of a woman translator virtually nil.
5 Or that the LXX has been edited since translation to come in line with MT.
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