Texts in Conversation
Exodus 40 describes the placement of the lampstand in the Tabernacle without further detail. The Aramaic translation in Targum Pseudo-Jonathan interprets the seven lamps as the seven planets and seven righteous people who bring light to the world.
Share:
Exodus 40:4
Hebrew Bible
3 You are to place the ark of the testimony in it and shield the ark with the special curtain. 4 You are to bring in the table and set out the things that belong on it; then you are to bring in the lampstand and set up its lamps. 5 You are to put the gold altar for incense in front of the ark of the testimony and put the curtain at the entrance to the tabernacle.
Date: 5th Century B.C.E. (Final composition) (based on scholarly estimates)
Source
Pseudo Jonathan Exodus 30:4
Targum
And thou shalt bring in the candelabrum, on the south side, because there are the paths of the sun and of the moon, and the pathways of the luminaries; and thence are the treasures of the wisdom which resembleth the light. And thou shalt kindle the seven lamps, corresponding to the seven stars which resemble the just, who shine unto eternity in their righteousness. And thou shalt place the golden altar for sweet incense before the ark of the testimony; because the wise who are diligent in the law have a perfume fragrant as the sweet incense.
Date: 300-1200 C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
Source
Search:
Notes and References
"... Despite some ten thousand differences between the biblical Hebrew and the Aramaic translation of the Pentateuch, Onkelos is considered to be the most literal of the ancient Bible translations. The targumist avoids inserting imaginative legends or midrashic interpretations, which abound in and indeed are the very raison d'etre of the homiletic Targum Pseudo-Jonathan. The Bible student who is focused on the meaning of the text, not wishing to be deflected by interesting interpretations, exegesis, or expositions that, although valuable for educational and inspirational purposes, often stray from the literal meaning of the biblical text, will find Onkelos most helpful. Thus, our targumist does not explain the purpose of the Tabernacle's candlesticks (Exodus 40:4). In contrast, Pseudo-Jonathan states that the seven branches correspond to the seven planets (the planets known at the time this Targum was composed), and to the seven righteous people through whose merit (zekhut) light was given to the world ..."
Drazin, Israel, and Stanley M. Wagner
Onkelos on the Torah, Exodus: Understanding the Bible Text
(p. 278) Gefen, 2006
* 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.
Your Feedback:
Leave a Comment
Anonymous comments are welcome. All comments are subject to moderation.