1 The Masoretic Text
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 ก.ย. 2024
- by Sean Finnegan
This class covers the transmission of manuscripts as well as the translation process so you understand where Bibles come from. This episode focuses on the manuscripts that underlie the Masoretic Text. You’ll learn about the Aleppo Codex: probably the most accurate Masoretic Text on the planet. We’ll cover the Leningrad Codex which to this day dominates textual studies since it is the oldest complete Hebrew Bible. We’ll look at a handful of other important manuscripts in an effort to begin understanding where our Bibles come from.
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Sean,
Thank you for making these lectures available for free
The Masoretic Text (MT) was an alteration of significant portions of the Square Hebrew Old Testament that began early (noted by the Talmud and Mishnah showing conflicting texts, contradictions, and multiple competing rabbis making alterations) though Jews also used the Septuagint (translated from the Square Hebrew around the mid third century BC), and older than the MT; The MT are hardly original scriptures anyway. See Jeremiah 8:8 (Septuagint) concerning the MT.
Paleo Hebrew, used from the 12th to 6th century BC (around 2000 years older than the MT), gave way to Square Hebrew (around 1300 years older than the MT), which then eventually gave way to Greek, as evidenced by the Septuagint, which is around 1000 years older than certain MT portions. The Septuagint predates Christianity, used when Greek became the lingua franca, and its use in synagogues by Jews around the Mediterranean was substantial.
Paleo Hebrew, Square Hebrew, and the Septuagint (LXX) within the Dead Sea Scrolls (DSS) preserve the originals, and overwhelmingly disagree with the MT in numerous instances.
1.) Exodus 1:5 in the DSS Square Hebrew agrees with the Septuagint against the MT that all the souls from Jacob were 75, not 70 which the MT claims.
2.) The older Square Hebrew in the DSS agrees with the Septuagint against the MT for Deut. 32:8-9 in using Sons/angels of God and not sons of Israel.
3.) The Square Hebrew in the DSS for Deuteronomy 32:43 lines up with the Septuagint against the MT.
4.) The Septuagint for 1 and 2 Samuel are backed up by 3 DSS and the MT is known among scholars as botching 1 and 2 Samuel badly.
5.) The MT wrongly has Saul becoming King at age one and ruling for two years.
6.) The MT actually left out an entire line from a Psalm that the Square Hebrew and the Septuagint preserved, thus the so-called masters of vowel memorization not only forgot vowels but also consonants.
7.) Psalm 40:6: a messianic proof text for the Incarnation:
The MT: Thou hast dug out my ears.
The Septuagint: A body thou hast prepared for me.
8.) Concerning another messianic psalm, Psalm 22:16/17, the DSS Square Hebrew and lines up with the Septuagint against the MT.
9.) Baruch, Sirach, Tobit, and Psalm 151 are written in Hebrew in the DSS.
10.) ▪︎The chronologies of Genesis 5, 11 of the Paleo Hebrew and the Septuagint line up against the MT.
▪︎Literary sources before 100 AD line up with the LXX not the MT on this: Josephus and Philo (30/70 AD) did not use the Septuagint to come to their conclusion that lines up with the Septuagint.
▪︎Eupolemus, the Jewish 2nd century BC historian's chronology, comes close to aligning with the Paleo Hebrew and Septuagint and not the MT.
▪︎Jewish Demetrius the Chronicler's (3rd century BC) chronology comes very close to the Paleo Hebrew and Septuagint and against the MT.
▪︎biblearchaeology.org/research/biblical-chronologies/4349-mt-sp-or-lxx-deciphering-a-chronological-and-textual-conundrum-in-genesis-5
Since synagogues around the Mediterranean used Septuagint and Square Hebrew, even in Palestine, Greek was the lingua franca, Jesus grew up near Sepphoris where Hebrew and Greek were both spoken and where Joseph could ply his trade, Christ quoted the scriptures, spoke to the Syrophoenician woman, and Mark/Luke were written to Romans/Greeks, some will be hard-pressed to prove Jesus used only Hebrew.
Concerning key messianic scriptures, Catholics, Copts, Orthodox, and Protestants see that the leaven of the rabbis and then the Masoretes seemed to target scriptures that point to Jesus Christ.
The Paleo Hebrew, Square Hebrew, and the Septuagint all agree with each other against the MT far more than they disagree, thus the starting point is to sideline the MT.
There are dozens and dozens of instances where the, Paleo Hebrew, Square Hebrew, and the Septuagint agree against the MT: By the mouth of 2 or 3 witnesses let every word be established. Deut. 19:15; 2 Cor. 13:1.
The MaSoretic texts are untrustworthy, distorted, and altered as evidenced by the Talmud/Mishnah, Tov, Haaretz, the DSS, etc:
Early rabBinic sources, from around 200 AD, mention several passages of Scripture in which the conclusion is inevitable that the ancient reading must have differed from that of the present text. RaBbi SiMon bEn PaZzi (3rd century) calls these readings “emEndations of the ScriBes", assuming that they made these changes. Unfortunately, there's no evidence that Ezra or any other in very ancient times are responsible for the so-called "emendations", whereas the Dead Sea Scrolls are objective evidence and provide over 400 instances where the Paleo Hebrew and Square Hebrew therein disagree with the Masoretic.
This view of the emendations of the scribes was adopted by the later MiDrash and by the majority of MaSoretes.
There are three periods in the textual transmission reflected in the textual evidence of the Hebrew manuscript (ms) tradition. Respectively, they are as follows: the first period in the textual transmission of the Hebrew mss *has uncertain origins.* According to Tov, “its beginning is not clear, since *it is not known when it (MT) came into being,* and its end coincides with the destruction of the Second Temple” (Tov, Textual Criticism of the HeBrew BiBle, 29).
The second period of transmission with a “relatively large amount of textual consistency, extends from the destruction of the Second Temple until the eight century” (68AD-8th century AD). [But they don't possess complete consistency]. During this period the HeBrew texts in the MaSoretic tradition diminished textual variations. [i.e., the TalMud/MisHnah declares there were competing raBbis, contradictory texts, alrerations of scripture, etc, corrupting the texts].
Finally, the “third period of transmission, characterized by almost complete textual unity, extends from the eighth century until the Middle Ages” (Tov, 30). Tov, on page 35, informs his readers that the oldest (AlePpo Text 925 AD) or the earliest MaSoretic mss extant is from the ninth century. Thus they are dated from early Middle Ages (until about 1100 and later mss). *“In all aspects the early mss are more reliable” (Tov, ibid).* More reliable than the LeNingrad.
From HaAretz: Israeli Scholars Discover Corrections, Erasures, Revisions in Oldest BiBlical [MaSoretic] Manuscript
"Analysis of LeNingrad CoDex [oldest complete HeBrew] shows..."the corrections in the LeniNgrad CoDex reveal another stage in the *development* of the MaSoretic text, a *process* that continued for hundreds of years. Early on, during the first centuries of the Common Era there *are still changes in entire sentences.* Later, the changes are limited to individual words, and finally merely to vocalization marks and cantillation notes."
There's alot more where that came from and it shows the MaSoretic texts are all untrustworthy and thus Christianity is the only option left...
JuStin MarTyr even declared the Jws were altering texts in his time; this isn't something new.
This was brilliant. Thank you!
Excellent session, thank you! Love your study office too.
Thank you for hearing that, it's a lot better than reading, now i understand it a little better, because it's more sorted, a very good help.
Thanks a lot.
Ps Sean, you have done a great job with this series. I have been working my way through these lecures and have found my curiosity peeked. You have encouraged me to search and study, your wok here has really blessed me as I have studied Gods word. Thank you so much.
I realize I'm kind of off topic but does anyone know of a good place to watch newly released tv shows online?
Great video, very edifying. I’m not sure why the views are so low on this.
Please share to help us get the word out!
Thank you for hearing that, it's a lot better than reading, now it is more sorted, so i understand it a little better, a very good help.
Thanks a lot.
Great video
Wonderful job and information! Thanks and God Bless!
Interesting....wasn't aware of the details...thanks Sean
Sean this was super. Thanks so much. It was very informative, well structured, clearly delivered and fascinating to listen to. I am studying this area in detail and your research and presentation is very thorough. May I ask why you pronounce YHVH as Yahweh? And have you had a chance to seriously assess the evidence (historical, cultural, grammatical etc) set out by Nehemia Gordon / Keith Johnson and others on the issue who believe it should be pronounced Yehovah / yehowah? From your presentation I am struck by a point I have heard before that Gesinious, the German theologian who proposed the pronunciation as ‘Yahweh’ would not have had access to almost any of the most reliable Hebrew manuscripts? And As I understand it, there is not one single instance instance of the word ‘Yahweh’ in any text - despite (with respect) how you pronounced it in the video? I also note, that Gesenious’s best guess for the origin of Yahweh is in fact from a pagan God, most likely Jupiter? I am struck how no Jewish rabbi I have ever read about has agreed that the pronunciation is Yahweh - however, they will audibly say it isn’t (which is a bit of a give away in my opinion:) is they won’t pronounce the memorial name but they happily say ‘Yahweh’. Also, the growing movement of karaite jews in Israel now openly profess and confess that Gods name is Yehovah. Clearly, there are many other points that could be raised on this important issue. If you have time, I would be grateful to hear your thought as you are clearly an individual who has a deep love for the father and his word.
It's considered unpronounceable.
Do you do anything like a Bible school?
A class starts in January, you can find information here: lhim.org/events-calendar/read-the-bible-for-yourself/
Explore the LHIM.ORG website and you will find many exciting teachings, classes, articles and more! At the bottom of the webpage is - "Research by Topic" - where you can find seven valuable topics to explore!
ok
aleppocodex.org is no longer available
With all due respect, I see you are missing the real point here regarding the skills of the Masoretes. it is not that "They" were so skilled but that the Lord God gave them the skill and direction to be so with something so important and valuable to us all in the coming days.