The first major commentary to focus on LXX Ezekiel in any modern language, this work, based on Co... more The first major commentary to focus on LXX Ezekiel in any modern language, this work, based on Codex Vaticanus and its paragraphing, seeks to understand the text as used by Greek readers. Included are transcription and English translation.
Oracles against nations are a feature of a number of prophetic books. Originating probably in con... more Oracles against nations are a feature of a number of prophetic books. Originating probably in contexts of war and known in the ancient Near East they have become "the literary mode of a prophetic judgment speech against both military foes and the nation of Israel". While in Amos 1 the oracles serve as a rhetorical introduction to judgment on Judah and Israel, in Isaiah 13-23 and Jer 25:14-31:44 they concern nations who are either enemies or are part of the Babylonian empire and the setting is one of hope for the future of God's people. Unlike Jeremiah and Isaiah however, Ezekiel includes no oracle against Babylon. Firstly comes short oracles against the small states surrounding Jerusalem, sons of Ammon, Moab, Edom and Philistia. They are followed by oracles against Tyre, against Sidon which includes a note of hope for Israel, and finally oracles against Egypt.Keywords: Ammon; Egypt; Ezekiel; Israel; Jerusalem; military foes; oracles; prophetic judgment; Tyre
This chapter presents verses from EZEKIEL 1:1-19. It commences with those based on the call of Ez... more This chapter presents verses from EZEKIEL 1:1-19. It commences with those based on the call of Ezekiel (1:1-3:21) and provides insights on the fifth year of the captivity of king Ioakeim and the Lord's word thta came to Iezekiel, son of Bouzi, the priest in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chobar. Several other verses are avaialble, classified under various headings, including Signs and their signification (3:22-5:17); Judgment on Israel's mountains (6:1-14); 'The end is come' (7:1-27); and The exile dramatised (12:1-16). The verses are in Greek and their translations are presented.Keywords: Chaldeans; Codex Vaticanus; Ezekiel; river Chobar
A Commentary based on Iezekiēl in Codex Vaticanus, 2009
Ezekiel is the only book in the Old Testament (OT) which opens with a vision of God, and further ... more Ezekiel is the only book in the Old Testament (OT) which opens with a vision of God, and further it is received in a most unexpected place. Detailed descriptions of the vision of God's glory frame messages of judgment in the opening major portion of chs. 1-11: the vision is seen in exile, leading to Ezekiel's call to announce Lord's word to an 'embittering' people, expressed in several messages of judgment, some with symbolic action, before he is taken in a vision to see the horrific behaviour of the leaders in the temple and then to see God's glory leaving the temple. In B the opening major section is 1:1-3:21, the structure explicitly linking vision and call: the purpose of the vision is to commission Ezekiel, the God who commissions is the God of the vision, and the indescribable glory of the vision reinforces the importance of the message.Keywords: exile; Ezekiel; God's glory; judgment; Old Testament (OT); temple; vision of God
The connotation of b'o has been treated very briefly by Bultmann 1) and in more detail recent... more The connotation of b'o has been treated very briefly by Bultmann 1) and in more detail recently by Seebass 2). Both stress the objective aspect of the situation which gives rise to "shame" or "disgrace", hence their use of "Schande, beschamt sein, zuschanden werden", etc., rather than the feeling, "Scham(gefihl)". In contrast Pedersen 3) emphasises the psychological aspects, particularly contrasting "shame" with "honour". Our comments below will support the objective aspects. While Bultmann states that amzxuv0o is mainly used in the context of the judgement of God, this requires major modification in that several instances of bos, and in the Septuagint ao-xuvow 4), are in contexts relating to "shame" that one has received at the hands of men. To be preferred is the general description given by Seebass 5):
The Hezekiah narrative (2 Kings 18-20 // Isaiah 36-39) is unique in the Former Prophets in its re... more The Hezekiah narrative (2 Kings 18-20 // Isaiah 36-39) is unique in the Former Prophets in its repeated use of בָטַח trust, rely on’. An exploration of the context and content of חַטָּב in the narrative and elsewhere in Isaiah, Psalms, Proverbs and other prophetic literature points to a consistent pattern of true and false grounds for ‘trust’. In particular there is no basis in the ‘inviolability of Zion’. The drama of the narrative is sharper in the context of Isaiah and may have been shaped soon after Sennacherib’s death, with possible wisdom influence. At the same time, the redactor of Kings has seen ‘trust’ as a key feature in Hezekiah’s reign. The relevance of the narrative to readers of the canonical Kings and Isaiah is also considered. There is significance for all in the worship of YHWH alone together with humble obedience. It is his honour that is affirmed among the nations.
... Fahlgren, sedaka, nahestehende und entgegengesetzte Begriffe im Alten Testament (Uppsala, 193... more ... Fahlgren, sedaka, nahestehende und entgegengesetzte Begriffe im Alten Testament (Uppsala, 1932), p. 82, and WH Irwin, Isaiah 28-33: Translation with Philological ... 180, 185-6). 7 See, most recently, LC Allen, The Books of Joel, Obadiah, Jonah and Micah (London, 1976), pp. ...
“The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom” rings out in the wisdom books. The book of Psalms... more “The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom” rings out in the wisdom books. The book of Psalms in its structure and content exemplifies the intertwining of wisdom and worship. Yet it is stories that are powerful in changing lives, so alongside Proverbs and Psalms belongs Chronicles. For a community that was probably somewhat dispirited, struggling to carry on "life as usual" in a small province within the all-pervasive Persian empire, Chronicles tells of ways to "prosper, succeed" (the verb so translated occurs 13 times in Chronicles, only 2 in Kings). Temple worship is central and closely associated are arrangements for teaching throughout the land. Wisdom is required in the exercise of worship and worship is central to a life lived with wisdom. Wisdom (seen in practical understanding, discernment and ability) is exercised by many people in diverse contexts (building with its varied crafts, music and singing, administering a nation, defence, and common life). The story can encourage a community, helping to sustain integrated living that brings success.
Building on awareness of how text layout influences reading today, examples are presented that de... more Building on awareness of how text layout influences reading today, examples are presented that demonstrate the importance and value of examining sense-delimitation evident in ancient manuscripts (verses, paragraphs, chapters, books), including versions. Such data, commonly overlooked in commentaries, can point to understanding and emphases of the scribe/community responsible for the manuscript. They can also suggest readings different from those that follow MT versification and Vulgate chapters. While most illustrations are from the OT, one NT example is provided. TEXT LAYOUT INFLUENCES READING—AND PROVIDES CLUES AS TO THE understanding of those responsible for the layout. This applies to both ancient and current texts but is rarely a factor considered by commentators. My first copy of the RSV changed my own bible reading. I had been brought up with the AV with each verse starting on a new line. The paragraph symbol ¶ rarely made any difference when reading. With my RSV I found I was reading large blocks of Scripture, especially in the Old Testament. I read in paragraphs and pages rather than verses. In Psalms and prophetic books the poetic layout opened new understanding, with forms of parallelism more evident. Verse numbering facilitates quick reference—no-one suggests abandoning verses—but versification can encourage neglect of context. Single " memory verses " and " texts for the day " suit our sound bite age. While such verse quotes once evoked contexts, this is now too commonly absent. As a counter to current reading of " little fragments, " editions of the NIV published by Biblica do not include sectional headings and the introduction encourages one " to read big. " 1 1 See <Biblica.com>. Although Biblica is the organisation responsible for the NIV, it can publish only outside the USA as Zondervan has sole publishing rights there.
... "Righteousness" in the Septuagint of Isaiah: A contextual study. Post a Comment. CO... more ... "Righteousness" in the Septuagint of Isaiah: A contextual study. Post a Comment. CONTRIBUTORS: Author: Olley, John W. ... SUBJECT(S): Righteouness; Tsdòk (Hebrew root); Biblical teaching; Bible; Greek; OT; Isaiah; Versions; Septuagint. DISCIPLINE: No discipline ...
... Did the patronym become standard to avoid confusion with another, to us unknown, Isaiah?'... more ... Did the patronym become standard to avoid confusion with another, to us unknown, Isaiah?'2 Given this pattern, it is striking that "ben Amoz" is ... 8 AE Brooke, N. McLean and H. St J. Thackeray, The Old Testament in Greek, 2.3 (Cambridge, 1932), shows the same reading in a ...
The story of the book of Ezekiel does not end with a reasonably fixed form sometime around the ex... more The story of the book of Ezekiel does not end with a reasonably fixed form sometime around the exile or soon after. Our access to the book derives from later manuscripts, both in Hebrew and in translations. The differences among these can illumine the journey of the text as it is used by various communities. The present article explores the
... David Kimchi explicitly draws comparison with the Passover,2 the association is made much ear... more ... David Kimchi explicitly draws comparison with the Passover,2 the association is made much earlier in the LXX of the passage, with echoes of the ... First, while there are several difficulties in the text of MT Ezekiel,3 and gaps in the LXX suggest that the Vorlage represents an ...
The first major commentary to focus on LXX Ezekiel in any modern language, this work, based on Co... more The first major commentary to focus on LXX Ezekiel in any modern language, this work, based on Codex Vaticanus and its paragraphing, seeks to understand the text as used by Greek readers. Included are transcription and English translation.
Oracles against nations are a feature of a number of prophetic books. Originating probably in con... more Oracles against nations are a feature of a number of prophetic books. Originating probably in contexts of war and known in the ancient Near East they have become "the literary mode of a prophetic judgment speech against both military foes and the nation of Israel". While in Amos 1 the oracles serve as a rhetorical introduction to judgment on Judah and Israel, in Isaiah 13-23 and Jer 25:14-31:44 they concern nations who are either enemies or are part of the Babylonian empire and the setting is one of hope for the future of God's people. Unlike Jeremiah and Isaiah however, Ezekiel includes no oracle against Babylon. Firstly comes short oracles against the small states surrounding Jerusalem, sons of Ammon, Moab, Edom and Philistia. They are followed by oracles against Tyre, against Sidon which includes a note of hope for Israel, and finally oracles against Egypt.Keywords: Ammon; Egypt; Ezekiel; Israel; Jerusalem; military foes; oracles; prophetic judgment; Tyre
This chapter presents verses from EZEKIEL 1:1-19. It commences with those based on the call of Ez... more This chapter presents verses from EZEKIEL 1:1-19. It commences with those based on the call of Ezekiel (1:1-3:21) and provides insights on the fifth year of the captivity of king Ioakeim and the Lord's word thta came to Iezekiel, son of Bouzi, the priest in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chobar. Several other verses are avaialble, classified under various headings, including Signs and their signification (3:22-5:17); Judgment on Israel's mountains (6:1-14); 'The end is come' (7:1-27); and The exile dramatised (12:1-16). The verses are in Greek and their translations are presented.Keywords: Chaldeans; Codex Vaticanus; Ezekiel; river Chobar
A Commentary based on Iezekiēl in Codex Vaticanus, 2009
Ezekiel is the only book in the Old Testament (OT) which opens with a vision of God, and further ... more Ezekiel is the only book in the Old Testament (OT) which opens with a vision of God, and further it is received in a most unexpected place. Detailed descriptions of the vision of God's glory frame messages of judgment in the opening major portion of chs. 1-11: the vision is seen in exile, leading to Ezekiel's call to announce Lord's word to an 'embittering' people, expressed in several messages of judgment, some with symbolic action, before he is taken in a vision to see the horrific behaviour of the leaders in the temple and then to see God's glory leaving the temple. In B the opening major section is 1:1-3:21, the structure explicitly linking vision and call: the purpose of the vision is to commission Ezekiel, the God who commissions is the God of the vision, and the indescribable glory of the vision reinforces the importance of the message.Keywords: exile; Ezekiel; God's glory; judgment; Old Testament (OT); temple; vision of God
The connotation of b'o has been treated very briefly by Bultmann 1) and in more detail recent... more The connotation of b'o has been treated very briefly by Bultmann 1) and in more detail recently by Seebass 2). Both stress the objective aspect of the situation which gives rise to "shame" or "disgrace", hence their use of "Schande, beschamt sein, zuschanden werden", etc., rather than the feeling, "Scham(gefihl)". In contrast Pedersen 3) emphasises the psychological aspects, particularly contrasting "shame" with "honour". Our comments below will support the objective aspects. While Bultmann states that amzxuv0o is mainly used in the context of the judgement of God, this requires major modification in that several instances of bos, and in the Septuagint ao-xuvow 4), are in contexts relating to "shame" that one has received at the hands of men. To be preferred is the general description given by Seebass 5):
The Hezekiah narrative (2 Kings 18-20 // Isaiah 36-39) is unique in the Former Prophets in its re... more The Hezekiah narrative (2 Kings 18-20 // Isaiah 36-39) is unique in the Former Prophets in its repeated use of בָטַח trust, rely on’. An exploration of the context and content of חַטָּב in the narrative and elsewhere in Isaiah, Psalms, Proverbs and other prophetic literature points to a consistent pattern of true and false grounds for ‘trust’. In particular there is no basis in the ‘inviolability of Zion’. The drama of the narrative is sharper in the context of Isaiah and may have been shaped soon after Sennacherib’s death, with possible wisdom influence. At the same time, the redactor of Kings has seen ‘trust’ as a key feature in Hezekiah’s reign. The relevance of the narrative to readers of the canonical Kings and Isaiah is also considered. There is significance for all in the worship of YHWH alone together with humble obedience. It is his honour that is affirmed among the nations.
... Fahlgren, sedaka, nahestehende und entgegengesetzte Begriffe im Alten Testament (Uppsala, 193... more ... Fahlgren, sedaka, nahestehende und entgegengesetzte Begriffe im Alten Testament (Uppsala, 1932), p. 82, and WH Irwin, Isaiah 28-33: Translation with Philological ... 180, 185-6). 7 See, most recently, LC Allen, The Books of Joel, Obadiah, Jonah and Micah (London, 1976), pp. ...
“The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom” rings out in the wisdom books. The book of Psalms... more “The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom” rings out in the wisdom books. The book of Psalms in its structure and content exemplifies the intertwining of wisdom and worship. Yet it is stories that are powerful in changing lives, so alongside Proverbs and Psalms belongs Chronicles. For a community that was probably somewhat dispirited, struggling to carry on "life as usual" in a small province within the all-pervasive Persian empire, Chronicles tells of ways to "prosper, succeed" (the verb so translated occurs 13 times in Chronicles, only 2 in Kings). Temple worship is central and closely associated are arrangements for teaching throughout the land. Wisdom is required in the exercise of worship and worship is central to a life lived with wisdom. Wisdom (seen in practical understanding, discernment and ability) is exercised by many people in diverse contexts (building with its varied crafts, music and singing, administering a nation, defence, and common life). The story can encourage a community, helping to sustain integrated living that brings success.
Building on awareness of how text layout influences reading today, examples are presented that de... more Building on awareness of how text layout influences reading today, examples are presented that demonstrate the importance and value of examining sense-delimitation evident in ancient manuscripts (verses, paragraphs, chapters, books), including versions. Such data, commonly overlooked in commentaries, can point to understanding and emphases of the scribe/community responsible for the manuscript. They can also suggest readings different from those that follow MT versification and Vulgate chapters. While most illustrations are from the OT, one NT example is provided. TEXT LAYOUT INFLUENCES READING—AND PROVIDES CLUES AS TO THE understanding of those responsible for the layout. This applies to both ancient and current texts but is rarely a factor considered by commentators. My first copy of the RSV changed my own bible reading. I had been brought up with the AV with each verse starting on a new line. The paragraph symbol ¶ rarely made any difference when reading. With my RSV I found I was reading large blocks of Scripture, especially in the Old Testament. I read in paragraphs and pages rather than verses. In Psalms and prophetic books the poetic layout opened new understanding, with forms of parallelism more evident. Verse numbering facilitates quick reference—no-one suggests abandoning verses—but versification can encourage neglect of context. Single " memory verses " and " texts for the day " suit our sound bite age. While such verse quotes once evoked contexts, this is now too commonly absent. As a counter to current reading of " little fragments, " editions of the NIV published by Biblica do not include sectional headings and the introduction encourages one " to read big. " 1 1 See <Biblica.com>. Although Biblica is the organisation responsible for the NIV, it can publish only outside the USA as Zondervan has sole publishing rights there.
... "Righteousness" in the Septuagint of Isaiah: A contextual study. Post a Comment. CO... more ... "Righteousness" in the Septuagint of Isaiah: A contextual study. Post a Comment. CONTRIBUTORS: Author: Olley, John W. ... SUBJECT(S): Righteouness; Tsdòk (Hebrew root); Biblical teaching; Bible; Greek; OT; Isaiah; Versions; Septuagint. DISCIPLINE: No discipline ...
... Did the patronym become standard to avoid confusion with another, to us unknown, Isaiah?'... more ... Did the patronym become standard to avoid confusion with another, to us unknown, Isaiah?'2 Given this pattern, it is striking that "ben Amoz" is ... 8 AE Brooke, N. McLean and H. St J. Thackeray, The Old Testament in Greek, 2.3 (Cambridge, 1932), shows the same reading in a ...
The story of the book of Ezekiel does not end with a reasonably fixed form sometime around the ex... more The story of the book of Ezekiel does not end with a reasonably fixed form sometime around the exile or soon after. Our access to the book derives from later manuscripts, both in Hebrew and in translations. The differences among these can illumine the journey of the text as it is used by various communities. The present article explores the
... David Kimchi explicitly draws comparison with the Passover,2 the association is made much ear... more ... David Kimchi explicitly draws comparison with the Passover,2 the association is made much earlier in the LXX of the passage, with echoes of the ... First, while there are several difficulties in the text of MT Ezekiel,3 and gaps in the LXX suggest that the Vorlage represents an ...
After a consideration nof the place of narratives in the shaping of worldviews and so life and th... more After a consideration nof the place of narratives in the shaping of worldviews and so life and thought, this paper argues for the iumpirtance of preaching biblical narratives. Various examples are presented.
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