Recherche – Detailansicht
Ausgabe: | Oktober/2022 |
Spalte: | 932-934 |
Kategorie: | Altes Testament |
Autor/Hrsg.: | Gottlieb, Leeor |
Titel/Untertitel: | Targum Chronicles and Its Place Among the Late Targums. |
Verlag: | Leiden u. a.: Brill 2020. XVIII, 581 S. = Supplements to Aramaic Studies, 16. Geb. EUR 192,00. ISBN 9789004416970. |
Rezensent: | Andrew W. Litke |
This study of Targum Chronicles (TC) is a revision of Leeor Gott-lieb’s dissertation at Hebrew University of Jerusalem under the direction of Menahem Kister. G. notes that interest in the biblical book of Chronicles (Chron) was never high, and TC »has hardly left any mark upon history until the modern era« (4), but he argues there is much that TC has to offer as an object of study. Following a discussion of the targumist’s Vorlage and a brief survey of previous scholarship, G. lays out the structure of the book. The first section addresses translation techniques. The second and third sections are concerned with TC’s source material, with the second focused on its relationship to other targums and the third focused on TC’s aggadic commentaries.
The first section (chapter 2) addresses translation techniques in TC’s translational material. G. addresses six »principal« techniques, and he provides many examples of each. As is standard for the book, the biblical and targumic texts are set in parallel lines, and the words are separated so that translational equivalents are clear; this is fol- lowed by English translations of both. G. concludes that the TC targumist is continuing earlier targumic translational traditions, albeit in a different diction. Of note is the discussion of »translation consistency«, which addresses the equivalents of six Hebrew terms. He makes gestures to the dialect of Late Jewish Literary Aramaic (LJLA) in which the targums to the Writings were composed, but the comments remain somewhat limited. For instance, he notes that (י)ד לוטמ »because« occurs in Targum Pseudo-Jonathan (PsJ), Targum Psalms (TgPs), and Targum Job (TgJob), but he does not men-tion its presence in other targums to the Writings.
The second section addresses the relationship between TC and other targums. Chapter 3 focuses on Targum Jonathan (TgJon) where Chron parallels Samuel and Kings. G. shows that TC pri-marily reflects the Hebrew of Chron when it is different, but TgJon serves as a foundation document from which to depart. G. could have explored how some of the parallel translational decisions are also seen in Onqelos, such as the addition of »in prayer« after the phrase »he spread his hands« (c.f. Exod 9:33). This would have bol-stered the argument that TC was following a translational tradi-tion. Regardless, G. succeeds in proving his main point, that TgJon serves as the translational base of TC.
Chapter 4 focuses on the genealogies that parallel Gen 10; 25; and 36. G. proceeds verse-by-verse with each targum in parallel. He nicely describes overlaps and differences with some fascinating results, such as the ways that TC reflects multiple traditions in the same verse. It is clear that the targumist was dependent on these targumic traditions, and while TC has similarities with all of them, it is most like PsJ.
G. addresses the relationship between TC and PsJ in chapter 5, seeking to show their linguistic similarity and TC’s literary dependence on PsJ. Since he argues for a twelfth century date for PsJ, TC would have to be dated later. He analyzes linguistic features that they share before turning to non-parallel passages which suggest TC’s literary dependence. He includes a brief discussion of Aramaic piyyutim in Medieval Ashkenaz, setting the stage for his later discussion of TC’s Sitz im Leben. At the beginning of the chapter, G. states that some of the linguistic features occur »in a handful of other targumic works, as well« (177), but he does not fully engage with the matter or its implications. In fact, some of the lexical items he highlights are attested in other late targums beyond those he indicates and a somewhat broader analysis would be a welcome addition to the discussion. Again, G. occasionally notes that this linguistic situation is a larger phenomenon, but he does not explicitly address it. While the chapter’s main focus is on the relationship between PsJ and TC, the lack of broader engagement with the linguistic topics limits what is otherwise a solid contribution. It would have made sense to address these features as a broader phenomenon of the late targums of which TC and PsJ are exemplars, and then turn to features showing literary dependence.
Chapter 6 focuses on two topics related to TgPs. First, G. suggests that the יארגנוה in both targums is the appellation »Hungarians«. If true, it would indicate that the targums should be dated later than has been suggested, since it is a datable term. Second, G. discusses passages in TC that parallel Psalms, and he addresses each verse in turn. He argues that the two targums share a linguistic environment and similar traditions, but one is not dependent on the other.
The third section of the book addresses the sources of TC’s aggadic expansions. Chapter 7 concerns the Babylonian Talmud (BT). G. discusses 41 aggadic expansions that he classifies as »probable« or »possible« usage of BT. Each example begins with the biblical verse to show how the aggadic expansion is incorporated. He then turns to possible sources. G. helpfully includes large text selections in original language and English translation from many possible sources (not just the one he believes is the targumist’s source). This allows scholars to engage with all of the material in future examination. G. guides the reader through the complicated web of interpretive traditions. He shows how the targumist follows targumic translational practices while also incorporating traditions, and he showcases TC’s tendency to include different Talmudic opinions. At times, he is also able determine which version of BT the targumist utilizes. G. engages with previous scholarship when others have commented on a passage, and while some may disagree with a particular point, the value of the presentation is that G. has included much of the possible source material for such a dialogue to occur. G. proves that BT was a major source for TC, much greater than all the other rabbinic sources combined.
Chapter 8 addresses the other aggadic expansions, whose sources include PsJ, Targum Toseftot in MS Reuchlin, and an assortment of other rabbinic sources. For the sake of completion, G. notes the expansions with no known source. He explicitly points to at least one area of future cross-targumic research, namely the sons of Salma also mentioned in TgRuth 4:20. Concluding chapters 7 and 8, G. states that only 12 of the 75 expansions are exclusive to TC, though these may also have come from sources unknown to us. BT is the primary source for aggadic commentaries, and the targumist is shown to be a compiler and preserver of traditions (not an autonomous exegete). Also, some of the other sources may point to a late date for TC.
In chapter 9, G. summarizes the major findings before turning to one more topic: the date, location, and purpose of TC. He argues that it was composed at some point between the late 12th–late 13th century in Italy, and it was primarily a learning aid for Bible study.
This book is a significant contribution to the field for which we should all be thankful, and it will serve as a starting point for any future research on TC and related literature.