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LXX Ending of Job and the Syriac Bible

Posted: August 4th, 2014, 11:30 pm
by mahlonsmith6582@att.net
I was reading the LXX of Job 42 and found this curious heading in 42:17b Οὗτος ἑρμηνεύεται ἐκ τῆς Συριακῆς βίβλου = "This is what is translated from the Syriac Bible". There is additional material giving an alleged Edomite lineage for Job in the LXX. My question is: 1). Is the Syriac Bible here the Peshitta? 2). Did the LXX derive this from the Peshitta or vice-versa 3). Are there any other versional witnesses containing this Edomite genealogy as found in the LXX?

Re: LXX Ending of Job and the Syriac Bible

Posted: August 5th, 2014, 2:44 am
by RandallButh
first,
the word συριακη is Greek for "Aramaic" and the LXX translator's note is apparently referring to an Aramaic copy of Job that was used instead of or along with the Hebrew text.
second,
The use of Aramaic is understandable because the Hebrew text of Job has many unique phrases and is a strange sort of Hebrew. An Aramaic copy of Job is noted in four other places in antiquity. There are two copies of an Aramaic Job found at Qumran, one little snippet, and then a long text with characteristics that show that the translation was imported from the East. There are also two rabbinic stories concerning the first century Gamiliel family that revolve around a tranalstion of Job and most would assume that that was an Aramaic Job.
third
Job is the first and only whole book of the Hebrew Bible that is attested in Aramaic in the pre-Christian era. The little piece of Lev 16 at Qumran may have been either from a pilgrimage reading for Yom ha-kippurim or from a translation of Leviticus.
fourth
the Aramaic translation called Syriac Peshitto is a Christian era translation and not the background for the LXX Job.

Re: LXX Ending of Job and the Syriac Bible

Posted: August 5th, 2014, 6:43 am
by mahlonsmith6582@att.net
To Randall: Thanks for the insight and information.