Texts in Conversation
1 Samuel 9 describes Samuel at a sacrificial meal at a “high place,” a term that elsewhere depicts invalid worship. To avoid this negative image, the Greek Septuagint translator does not translate it and treats it like a place named “Bama.”
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1 Samuel 9:12
Hebrew Bible
11 As they were going up the ascent to the town, they met some girls coming out to draw water. They said to them, “Is this where the seer is?” 12 They replied, “Yes, straight ahead! But hurry now, for he came to the town today, and the people are making a sacrifice at the high place. 13 When you enter the town, you can find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. The people won’t eat until he arrives, for he must bless the sacrifice. Once that happens, those who have been invited will eat. Now go on up, for this is the time when you can find him.”
Date: 6th Century B.C.E. (Final composition) (based on scholarly estimates)
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LXX 1 Samuel 9:12
Septuagint
11 As they were going up the ascent to the city, they came upon some young girls coming out to draw water and asked them whether the seer was here. 12 The young girls answered them and said to them, “He is, look, opposite your face. Now on account of the day, he has come into the city because the people have a sacrifice today at Bama. 13 As you enter the city in this way, you will find him in the city before he goes up to Bama to eat; for the people will not eat until he enters because this man blesses the sacrifice, and after these things the guests eat. Now go up, for because of the day, you will find him.”
Date: 1st Century B.C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... According to the Masoretic text of 1 Samuel 9:12, Samuel attends a feast of sacrificing at a המב ('high place'). This smacks of idolatry. Therefore, the translator of the Septuagint transliterates this word and interprets it as toponym (“Bama”) whereas the Targumist renders it as “house of feasting” ..."
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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