Jehovah: Difference between revisions

18th-century theologian [[John Gill (theologian)|John Gill]] puts forward the arguments of 17th-century [[Johannes Buxtorf II]] and others in his writing, ''A Dissertation Concerning the Antiquity of the Hebrew Language, Letters, Vowel-Points and Accents''.{{r|johngill}} He argued for an extreme antiquity of their use,{{r|johngill}}{{rp|499–560}} rejecting the idea that the vowel points were invented by the Masoretes. Gill presented writings, including passages of scripture, that he interpreted as supportive of his "Jehovist" viewpoint that the Old Testament must have included vowel-points and accents.{{r|johngill}}{{rp|549–560}} He claimed that the use of Hebrew vowel points of {{Script/Hebrew|יְהֹוָה}}, and therefore of the name ''Jehovah'' {{IPAc-en|j|ə|ˈ|h|oʊ|v|ə}}, is documented from before 200 BCE, and even back to [[Adam]], citing Jewish tradition that Hebrew was the first language. He argued that throughout this history the Masoretes did not invent the vowel points and accents, but that they were delivered to Moses by God at Sinai, citing{{r|johngill}}{{rp|538–542}} [[Karaite Judaism|Karaite]] authorities<ref>''[https://www.scribd.com/doc/11539822/Awe-11 In Awe of Thy Word], G.A. Riplinger''-Chapter 11, pp.&nbsp;422–435</ref>{{r|johngill}}{{rp|540}} Mordechai ben Nisan Kukizov (1699) and his associates, who stated that "all our wise men with one mouth affirm and profess that the whole law was pointed and accented, as it came out of the hands of Moses, the man of God."{{r|scribd.com}} The argument between [[Karaite (Jewish sect)|Karaite]] and [[Rabbinic Judaism]] on whether it was lawful to pronounce the name represented by the Tetragrammaton{{r|johngill}}{{rp|538–542}} is claimed to show that some copies have always been pointed (voweled){{r|av1611.com}} and that some copies were not pointed with the vowels because of "[[oral law]]", for control of interpretation by some Judeo sects, including non-pointed copies in synagogues.{{r|johngill}}{{rp|548–560}} Gill claimed that the pronunciation {{IPAc-en|j|ə|ˈ|h|oʊ|v|ə}} can be traced back to early historical sources which indicate that vowel points and/or accents were used in their time.{{r|johngill}}{{rp|462}} Sources Gill claimed supported his view include:

* [[Kuzari|The Book of Cosri]] and commentator [[Rabbi]] Judab Muscatus, which claim that the vowel points were taught to [[Adam]] by God.{{r|johngill}}{{rp|461–462}}

* [[Karaite (Jewish sect)|Karaites]] (120 BCE){{r|johngill}}{{rp|538–542}}

* [[Demetrius Phalereus]], librarian for [[Ptolemy II Philadelphus]] king of Egypt (277 BCE){{r|johngill}}{{rp|544}}

Gill quoted [[Elia Levita]], who said, "There is no syllable without a point, and there is no word without an accent," as showing that the vowel points and the accents found in printed Hebrew Bibles have a dependence on each other, and so Gill attributed the same antiquity to the accents as to the vowel points.{{r|johngill}}{{rp|499}} Gill acknowledged that Levita, "first asserted the vowel points were invented by "[[Masoretic Text#The Age of the Masoretes|the men of Tiberias]]", but made reference to his condition that "if anyone could convince him that his opinion was contrary to the book of Zohar, he should be content to have it rejected." Gill then alludes to the book of Zohar, stating that rabbis declared it older than the Masoretes, and that it attests to the vowel-points and accents.{{r|johngill}}{{rp|531}}

 

 

The 1602 Spanish Bible ([[Reina-Valera]]/[[Cipriano de Valera]]) used the name ''Iehova'' and gave a lengthy defense of the pronunciation ''Jehovah'' in its preface.{{r|scribd.com}}