The Tyrian King in MT and LXX Ezekiel 28:12b–15
The biblical prophecy in Ezekiel 28:11–19 records a dirge against the king from Tyre. While the Hebrew Masoretic Text (MT) identifies the monarch as a cherub, the Greek Septuagint (LXX) distinguishes the royal from the cherub. Scholarly debates arise as to which edition represents the more original...
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MDPI AG
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Religions |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/12/2/91 |
| _version_ | 1797405900542050304 |
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| author | Lydia Lee |
| author_facet | Lydia Lee |
| author_sort | Lydia Lee |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The biblical prophecy in Ezekiel 28:11–19 records a dirge against the king from Tyre. While the Hebrew Masoretic Text (MT) identifies the monarch as a cherub, the Greek Septuagint (LXX) distinguishes the royal from the cherub. Scholarly debates arise as to which edition represents the more original version of the prophecy. This article aims to contribute to the debates by adopting a text-critical approach to the two variant literary editions of the dirge, comparing and analyzing their differences, while incorporating insights gleaned from the extra-biblical literature originating from the ancient Near East, Second Temple Period, and Late Antiquity. The study reaches the conclusion that the current MT, with its presentation of a fluid boundary between the mortal and divine, likely builds on a more ancient interpretation of the Tyrian king. On the other hand, while the Hebrew <i>Vorlage</i> of LXX Ezekiel 28:12b–15 resembles the Hebrew text of the MT, the Greek translator modifies the text via literary allusions and syntactical rearrangement, so that the final result represents a later reception that suppresses any hints at the divinity of the Tyrian ruler. The result will contribute to our understanding of the historical development of the ancient Israelite religion. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T03:17:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5d78eb710a5147ed985f11ed04e82b97 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T03:17:54Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj.art-5d78eb710a5147ed985f11ed04e82b972023-12-03T15:15:58ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442021-01-011229110.3390/rel12020091The Tyrian King in MT and LXX Ezekiel 28:12b–15Lydia Lee0Department of History, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, ChinaThe biblical prophecy in Ezekiel 28:11–19 records a dirge against the king from Tyre. While the Hebrew Masoretic Text (MT) identifies the monarch as a cherub, the Greek Septuagint (LXX) distinguishes the royal from the cherub. Scholarly debates arise as to which edition represents the more original version of the prophecy. This article aims to contribute to the debates by adopting a text-critical approach to the two variant literary editions of the dirge, comparing and analyzing their differences, while incorporating insights gleaned from the extra-biblical literature originating from the ancient Near East, Second Temple Period, and Late Antiquity. The study reaches the conclusion that the current MT, with its presentation of a fluid boundary between the mortal and divine, likely builds on a more ancient interpretation of the Tyrian king. On the other hand, while the Hebrew <i>Vorlage</i> of LXX Ezekiel 28:12b–15 resembles the Hebrew text of the MT, the Greek translator modifies the text via literary allusions and syntactical rearrangement, so that the final result represents a later reception that suppresses any hints at the divinity of the Tyrian ruler. The result will contribute to our understanding of the historical development of the ancient Israelite religion.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/12/2/91BibleMasoretic TextSeptuagintbook of EzekielTyrian kingtextual criticism |
| spellingShingle | Lydia Lee The Tyrian King in MT and LXX Ezekiel 28:12b–15 Religions Bible Masoretic Text Septuagint book of Ezekiel Tyrian king textual criticism |
| title | The Tyrian King in MT and LXX Ezekiel 28:12b–15 |
| title_full | The Tyrian King in MT and LXX Ezekiel 28:12b–15 |
| title_fullStr | The Tyrian King in MT and LXX Ezekiel 28:12b–15 |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Tyrian King in MT and LXX Ezekiel 28:12b–15 |
| title_short | The Tyrian King in MT and LXX Ezekiel 28:12b–15 |
| title_sort | tyrian king in mt and lxx ezekiel 28 12b 15 |
| topic | Bible Masoretic Text Septuagint book of Ezekiel Tyrian king textual criticism |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/12/2/91 |
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