Books by Bas ter Haar Romeny
Series: SBL Resources for Biblical Study 75 (Atlanta, GA: SBL, 2014); x + 255 pages.
Evidence of Editing lays out the case for substantial and frequent editorial activity within the ... more Evidence of Editing lays out the case for substantial and frequent editorial activity within the Hebrew Bible. The authors show how editors omitted, expanded, rewrote, and compiled both smaller and larger phrases and passages to address religious and political change.
Features:
• Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic examples of editorial activity
• Clear explanations of the distinctions between textual, literary, and redaction criticism
• Fifteen chapters attesting to continual editorial activity in the Torah, the Prophets, and the Writings
Series: Traditio Exegetica Graeca 6 (Leuven: Peeters, 1997); xii + 484 pages.
The identification and publication of an ancient Armenian translation of Eusebius of Emesa’s Comm... more The identification and publication of an ancient Armenian translation of Eusebius of Emesa’s Commentary on Genesis (1980) and the edition of fragments of his work in the Greek Catena in Genesim have opened new perspectives for the study of this fourth-century scholar and bishop of Syrian descent. This book now brings together the evidence of the various branches of tradition of this work, the oldest complete Antiochene commentary to survive. The author concentrates on one of the most striking characteristics of Eusebius’ commentary: its interest in translation problems and appeal to alternative readings. Apart from the Septuagint, the version commented on, Eusebius quotes "the Syrian" (ho Syros) and "the Hebrew" (ho Hebraios). It has long been unclear what or who answered to these names. The author proposes a new solution to this problem. The first part of this study deals with the content and affiliations of all biblical quotations in the Commentary, and with their place in Eusebius’ method of exegesis. The author demonstrates that Eusebius refered to the Hebrew and Syriac texts in their original languages. He had direct access to the Syriac text (and is thus one of the oldest witnesses to the Peshitta version), but used informants for his knowledge of the Hebrew text. His approach in assessing the value of the different versions of the biblical text is contrasted with that of his predecessors Origen and Eusebius of Caesarea, his contemporary Jerome, and later Antiochene exegetes who followed or criticized him. The second part gives the basis of the first: it is a collection of all passages that cite alternative readings. All texts are given in their original languages and in English translation. A commentary deals with the textual tradition of each passage, identifies the questions Eusebius wanted to solve by the use of alternative readings, contrasts his handling of the text with that of others, establishes his sources, and studies the biblical quotations in detail.
The book was awarded the Praemium Erasmianum Dissertation Award 1998. The full text is available from the Leiden Repository (http://hdl.handle.net/1887/10195).
Edited Volumes by Bas ter Haar Romeny
Prepared by M. Albert and A. Penna† in collaboration with K.D. Jenner, D. Bakker, and Ch. Nakano
The Peshitta is the Syriac translation of the Old Testament made on the basis of the Hebrew text ... more The Peshitta is the Syriac translation of the Old Testament made on the basis of the Hebrew text during the second century CE. Much like the Greek translations of the Old Testament, this document is an important source for our knowledge of the text of the Old Testament. Its language is also of great interest to linguists. Moreover, as Bible of the Syriac Churches it is used in sermons, commentaries, poetry, prayers, and hymns. Many terms specific to the spirituality of the Syriac Churches have their origins in this ancient and reliable version of the Old Testament.
The present edition, published by the Peshitta Institute in Leiden on behalf of the International Organization for the Study of the Old Testament, is the first scholarly one of this text. It presents the evidence of all known ancient manuscripts and gives full introductions to the individual books. This volume contains Ezra, Nehemiah, and 1–2 Maccabees.
Series: Eastern Christian Studies 9 (Leuven: Peeters, 2010)
This volume contains the Acts of the Expert Meeting on the Syriac Renaissance. A Period of Interr... more This volume contains the Acts of the Expert Meeting on the Syriac Renaissance. A Period of Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue, organized by the Institute of Eastern Christian Studies, Radboud University, Nijmegen and the Pionier Programme in Syriac Christianity of the University of Leiden (Nijmegen, 2-4 June, 2005).
The Syriac Renaissance (11th-13th cent.) is a period which has received relatively little attention as such. Traditionally, the focus of attention has been on the literary production of individual authors as Barhebraeus or 'Abdiso' bar Brikha, without trying to study them in relation with other contemporary authors or within the context of the general theological, cultural and artistic orientations of this period.
For this reason, the aim of the Expert Meeting was:
- To complete the picture of this presumed Renaissance by presenting the works of less known authors such as Khamis Bar Qardahe, Ghiwarghis Warda, Michael Badoqa, Abu Ghalib and Dioscorus d-Gozarto (David Taylor, Martin Tamcke, Gerrit Reinink, Hidemi Takahashi, Carmen Fotescu).
- To discuss the works of better known authors such as Michael the Syrian, Barhebraeus and 'Abdiso' bar Brikha from the intercultural, interreligious and interconfessional perspectives of this period (Dorothea Weltecke, Jan van Ginkel, John Watt, Peter Joosse, Helen Younansardaroud).
- To investigate whether these perspectives can also be found in the field of biblical interpretation, manuscript production, church construction, etc. (Bas ter Haar Romeny, Ray Mouawad, Nada Hélou, Bas Snelders, Mat Immerzeel).
- To draw the attention to comparable developments among the Copts and the Armenians (Adel Sidarus and Jos Weitenberg).
The work is preceded by a general introduction to the renaissance (by Herman Teule).
Series: Vetus Testamentum Supplements 138 (Leiden: Brill, 2010)
The present volume contains a collection of essays on the Book of Isaiah offered as a tribute to ... more The present volume contains a collection of essays on the Book of Isaiah offered as a tribute to Arie van der Kooij on the occasion of his sixty-fifth birthday, which coincides with his retirement as Professor of Old Testament at Leiden University. The twenty-four contributions, written by leading scholars in the field of Old Testament studies, focus on the Book of Isaiah within the context of Hebrew and ancient near-eastern writings, particularly those from the Neo-Assyrian period, as well as on the book's reception history , particularly in its Greek and Syriac translations. Together these studies offer a rich and original contribution to the study of the Book of Isaiah in its Hebrew, Aramaic, Assyrian, Greek, Syriac, and Dutch contexts.
Series: Monographs of the Peshitta Institute 18 (Leiden: Brill, 2008)
Jacob of Edessa (c.640-708) is considered the most learned Christian of the early days of Islam. ... more Jacob of Edessa (c.640-708) is considered the most learned Christian of the early days of Islam. In all fifteen contributions to this volume, written by prominent specialists, the interaction between Christianity, Judaism, and the new religion is an important issue. The articles discuss Jacob’s biography as well as his position in early Islamic Edessa, and give a full picture of the various aspects of Jacob of Edessa’s life and work as a scholar and clergyman. Attention is paid to his efforts in the fields of historiography, correspondence, canon law, text and interpretation of the Bible, language and translation, theology, philosophy, and science. The book, which marks the 1300th anniversary of Jacob’s death, also contains a bibliographical clavis.
Series: Late Antique History and Religion 1 (Leuven: Peeters, 2007)
From Rome to Constantinople is a collection of articles offered as a tribute to Averil Cameron, t... more From Rome to Constantinople is a collection of articles offered as a tribute to Averil Cameron, the prominent historian of Rome and Byzantium, and Warden of Keble College, Oxford. Opening with an introduction by Peter Brown, who illustrates the sweeping developments in the field and the role of Averil Cameron in them, this volume highlights topics which reflect the breadth of Dame Averil's interests, arranged in following five sub-sections: Historiography and Rhetoric, Christianity in its Social Contexts, Art and Representation, Byzantium and the Workings of Empire, Late Antiquity in Retrospect. Asceticism and monasticism, cults of saints and icons, Mariology, Byzantine historiography, and art history are but a few of the subjects which are discussed here in the English language by some of the leading scholars in the field. The volume also includes a full bibliography of the honorand, as well as indices. It appears as the first volume of the series Late Antique History and Religion, which is dedicated to the study of Late Antiquity and its legacies.
Series: Monographs of the Peshitta Institute 15 (Leiden: Brill, 2006)
For the first time, this volume brings together biblical scholars and specialists in Syriac litur... more For the first time, this volume brings together biblical scholars and specialists in Syriac liturgy and patristic literature. It contains introductory essays on the Syriac versions in the liturgy, the Syriac Old Testament commentary tradition, and the challenges posed to exegetes by the different Syriac versions of the New Testament, written by the leading scholars in the field. Twenty-one further contributions discuss the patristic and liturgical evidence for the development of the text of the Peshitta and other Syriac versions, as well as the reception and use of those versions in the exegesis and liturgy of the Syriac Churches. These studies are fully updated versions of the papers read at the Third Peshitta Symposium, held in Leiden, 12-15 August 2001.
Series: Monographs of the Peshitta Institute 14 (Leiden: Brill, 2006)
This volume contains eighteen articles in honour of Konrad D. Jenner written by his friends and c... more This volume contains eighteen articles in honour of Konrad D. Jenner written by his friends and colleagues from all parts of the world and presented to him on the occasion of his sixty-fifth birthday. The laureate has been a staff member of the Leiden Peshitta Institute for 35 years and has been its director since 1993. The contributions cover the broad field of Peshitta studies, addressing text-critical and text-historical questions, linguistic and translational issues, and the use of the Peshitta in the Syriac tradition. Thus the reader is given an up-to-date picture of research into the Syriac Bible. The editors, Wido van Peursen and Bas ter Haar Romeny, are two colleagues of Konrad Jenner at the Leiden Peshitta Institute.
Journal for the Aramaic Bible, 2001
Papers by Bas ter Haar Romeny
X Congress of the International Organization for Septuagint and Cognate Studies: Oslo, 1998, 2001
The Hexapla Working Group formed at the 1994 Rich Seminar on Jjhe Hexapla in Oxford aims to produ... more The Hexapla Working Group formed at the 1994 Rich Seminar on Jjhe Hexapla in Oxford aims to produce a new collection of Hexapla fragments. The authors report on a preliminary database of fragments for Genesis, a pilot Project of the new collection. The aim of the project, its sources, the method and scope of the work as well as an indication of new material are presented along With a discussion of the format of the new publication.
Rémi Gounelle et al. (eds.), La Bible juive dans l’Antiquité, Histoire du Texte Biblique 9 (Lausanne: Éditions du Zèbre, 2014), pp. 97–115.
Dale C. Allison, Jr. et al. (ed.), Encyclopedia of the Bible and its Reception 8 (Berlin: Walter de Gruyter, 2014), pp. 257–59, 2014
Enyclopedia entry on Eusebius of Emesa, the fourth-century exegete and bishop who is of central i... more Enyclopedia entry on Eusebius of Emesa, the fourth-century exegete and bishop who is of central importance for our understanding of the Antiochene School.
Inaugural lecture delivered on the occasion of the acceptance of the Chair of Ancient Mediterranean and Middle Eastern History at the Faculty of Humanities of the Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, on 27 October 2016
'Big data' is a buzzword nowadays. But people also made collections of data and texts in ancient ... more 'Big data' is a buzzword nowadays. But people also made collections of data and texts in ancient times. Often these collections are considered to be composed at random and by chance. Compilers and collectors from that time are not seen as creative; their freedom of choice is usually overlooked. But in reality these people knew very well what they were doing. Their decisions to preserve knowledge even entail the neglect and destruction of other data. A decision to retain knowledge is often also a decision to forget other things: there is a positive and a negative side to the selection of knowledge. Given our dependence on these collectors and compilers for our own knowledge of areas such as ancient philosophy, the Early Church, Greek and Latin literature, and Mesopotamian history, this paper argues that it is necessary to recognize the important role of the collector and compiler.
Carmela Baffioni, Emidio Vergani et al. (eds.), Bibbia e Corano: edizioni e ricezioni, Orientalia Ambrosiana 5 (Milan: Biblioteca Ambrosiana–Rome: Bulzoni Editore, 2016), pp. 253–67
During the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, several editions of the Peshitta Old Testament app... more During the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, several editions of the Peshitta Old Testament appeared and even more plans for a critical edition were made. This paper discusses the text forms of those editions. In addition it deals with the various planned projects and the reasons why most of them did not succeed. Finally, it reports about the progress of the Amsterdam-Leiden edition, which presents an edition of a base manuscript (in most cases the Codex Ambrosianus B 21 Inf., or 7a1) with an apparatus containing all variant readings from manuscripts from the twelfth century and earlier. It is argued that this edition and the research done on its basis now open the way for a critical edition.
Walter Pohl, Clemens Gantner, and Richard Payne (eds.), Visions of Community in the Post-Roman World: The West, Byzantium, and the Islamic World (Aldershot: Ashgate), pp. 183–204, 2012
Church History and Religious Culture 90 (2010), pp. 225-56., 2010
This paper discusses aspects of the reception of Athanasius in the Syriac-speaking churches. On t... more This paper discusses aspects of the reception of Athanasius in the Syriac-speaking churches. On the basis of a survey of the Syriac translations of Athanasius and references to him by a number of authors, it is argued that he was considered a very important Father by the Syriac Orthodox, the Melkites, as well as the East Syrians, even though most if not all of the translations were made by the Syriac Orthodox. His status was based not only on the fact that especially in matters of Christology he was considered the epitome of Orthodoxy by all parties, but also on the fact that his ascetic writings formed a major source of inspiration to monks. With the help of five examples the importance of the Syriac tradition for the establishment of critical texts of Athanasius's writings is shown here to be considerable, even though there are very many issues and problems connected with the translations.
H.G.B. Teule, C. Fotescu-Tauwinkl, R.B. ter Haar Romeny, J.J. van Ginkel (eds.), The Syriac Renaissance (Eastern Christian Studies 9; Leuven: Peeters), pp. 205–21., 2010
M.N. van der Meer, P.S.F. van Keulen, W.Th. van Peursen, and Bas ter Haar Romeny (eds.), Isaiah in Context. Studies in Honour of Arie van der Kooij on the Occasion of his Sixty-Fifth Birthday (Vetus Testamentum Supplements 138; Leiden: Brill), pp. 289–406., 2010
This chapter answers two questions: first question is should the biblical quotations in the revis... more This chapter answers two questions: first question is should the biblical quotations in the revision of the translation of Severus of Antioch's hymns (JacS) be seen as a preliminary stage of Jacob's full revision of the biblical text (JacR), or is there indeed no connection? The second question has to do with the textual basis of Jacob's work on the biblical text. I reconsider this question for Isaiah: did Jacob indeed use the Syro-Hexapla when producing JacS, and what did he do when he wrote JacR?
Church History and Religious Culture 89.1-3 = Bas ter Haar Romeny (ed.), Religious Origins of Nations? The Christian Communities of the Middle East (Leiden: Brill, 2010), 2009
Among those who opposed the Council of Chalcedon in 451, the West Syrian (or Syriac Orthodox) Chr... more Among those who opposed the Council of Chalcedon in 451, the West Syrian (or Syriac Orthodox) Christians were probably least likely to form a national or ethnic community. Yet a group emerged with its own distinctive literature and art, its own network, and historical consciousness. In an intricate process of adoption and rejection, the West Syrians selected elements from the cultures to which they were heirs, and from those with which they came into contact, thus defining a position of their own. In order to study this phenomenon, scholars from various disciplines, and affiliated to two different faculties, were brought together in a programme financed by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research NWO. This essay introduces their research project and methodology, and presents their results and conclusions.
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Books by Bas ter Haar Romeny
Features:
• Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic examples of editorial activity
• Clear explanations of the distinctions between textual, literary, and redaction criticism
• Fifteen chapters attesting to continual editorial activity in the Torah, the Prophets, and the Writings
The book was awarded the Praemium Erasmianum Dissertation Award 1998. The full text is available from the Leiden Repository (http://hdl.handle.net/1887/10195).
Edited Volumes by Bas ter Haar Romeny
The present edition, published by the Peshitta Institute in Leiden on behalf of the International Organization for the Study of the Old Testament, is the first scholarly one of this text. It presents the evidence of all known ancient manuscripts and gives full introductions to the individual books. This volume contains Ezra, Nehemiah, and 1–2 Maccabees.
The Syriac Renaissance (11th-13th cent.) is a period which has received relatively little attention as such. Traditionally, the focus of attention has been on the literary production of individual authors as Barhebraeus or 'Abdiso' bar Brikha, without trying to study them in relation with other contemporary authors or within the context of the general theological, cultural and artistic orientations of this period.
For this reason, the aim of the Expert Meeting was:
- To complete the picture of this presumed Renaissance by presenting the works of less known authors such as Khamis Bar Qardahe, Ghiwarghis Warda, Michael Badoqa, Abu Ghalib and Dioscorus d-Gozarto (David Taylor, Martin Tamcke, Gerrit Reinink, Hidemi Takahashi, Carmen Fotescu).
- To discuss the works of better known authors such as Michael the Syrian, Barhebraeus and 'Abdiso' bar Brikha from the intercultural, interreligious and interconfessional perspectives of this period (Dorothea Weltecke, Jan van Ginkel, John Watt, Peter Joosse, Helen Younansardaroud).
- To investigate whether these perspectives can also be found in the field of biblical interpretation, manuscript production, church construction, etc. (Bas ter Haar Romeny, Ray Mouawad, Nada Hélou, Bas Snelders, Mat Immerzeel).
- To draw the attention to comparable developments among the Copts and the Armenians (Adel Sidarus and Jos Weitenberg).
The work is preceded by a general introduction to the renaissance (by Herman Teule).
Papers by Bas ter Haar Romeny
Features:
• Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic examples of editorial activity
• Clear explanations of the distinctions between textual, literary, and redaction criticism
• Fifteen chapters attesting to continual editorial activity in the Torah, the Prophets, and the Writings
The book was awarded the Praemium Erasmianum Dissertation Award 1998. The full text is available from the Leiden Repository (http://hdl.handle.net/1887/10195).
The present edition, published by the Peshitta Institute in Leiden on behalf of the International Organization for the Study of the Old Testament, is the first scholarly one of this text. It presents the evidence of all known ancient manuscripts and gives full introductions to the individual books. This volume contains Ezra, Nehemiah, and 1–2 Maccabees.
The Syriac Renaissance (11th-13th cent.) is a period which has received relatively little attention as such. Traditionally, the focus of attention has been on the literary production of individual authors as Barhebraeus or 'Abdiso' bar Brikha, without trying to study them in relation with other contemporary authors or within the context of the general theological, cultural and artistic orientations of this period.
For this reason, the aim of the Expert Meeting was:
- To complete the picture of this presumed Renaissance by presenting the works of less known authors such as Khamis Bar Qardahe, Ghiwarghis Warda, Michael Badoqa, Abu Ghalib and Dioscorus d-Gozarto (David Taylor, Martin Tamcke, Gerrit Reinink, Hidemi Takahashi, Carmen Fotescu).
- To discuss the works of better known authors such as Michael the Syrian, Barhebraeus and 'Abdiso' bar Brikha from the intercultural, interreligious and interconfessional perspectives of this period (Dorothea Weltecke, Jan van Ginkel, John Watt, Peter Joosse, Helen Younansardaroud).
- To investigate whether these perspectives can also be found in the field of biblical interpretation, manuscript production, church construction, etc. (Bas ter Haar Romeny, Ray Mouawad, Nada Hélou, Bas Snelders, Mat Immerzeel).
- To draw the attention to comparable developments among the Copts and the Armenians (Adel Sidarus and Jos Weitenberg).
The work is preceded by a general introduction to the renaissance (by Herman Teule).
collected by Moses of Nisibis, which found its way via Deir es-Suryan to the British Library in London, and which I call, for want of anything better, the London Collection.
The exhibition formed part of the Fitting In / Standing Out research project of the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, which was funded by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO).