Texts in Conversation
1 Samuel 3 is part of a tradition of scribal corrections known as “tiqqune soferim,” where editors changed disrespectful language. The Masoretic text says Eli’s sons were “cursing themselves,” but the earlier Greek said they were “cursing God.”
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
1 Samuel 3:13
Hebrew Bible
12 On that day I will carry out against Eli everything that I spoke about his house—from start to finish! 13 You should tell him that I am about to judge his house forever because of the sin that he knew about. For his sons were cursing themselves, and he did not rebuke them. 14 Therefore I swore an oath to the house of Eli, ‘The sin of the house of Eli can never be forgiven by sacrifice or by grain offering.’”
Date: 600–501 BCE (based on scholarly estimates)
LXX 1 Samuel 3:13
Septuagint
12 In that day I will raise up against Eli all things that I have said against his house; I will begin, and I will make an end. 13 And I have told him that I will be avenged on his house perpetually for the iniquities of his sons, because his sons spoke evil against God, and he did not admonish them, not even so. 14 I have sworn to the house of Eli, the iniquity of the house of Eli shall not be atoned for with incense or sacrifices for ever.
Date: 100–1 BCE (based on scholarly estimates)
Jonathan 1 Samuel 3:13
Targum
12 On that day I will fulfil against Eli all that I have spoken concerning the people of his house. I will destroy and I will end 13 And I told him that I take revenge on the people of his house for ever, for the sins which he knew, because his sons are provoking and he did not restrain them 14 Therefore, I swore to the house of Eli that the sins of Eli’s house shall not be forgiven by holy slaughterings or offerings for ever.’
Date: 200–300 CE (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... In several lists of the tiqqune sopherim, the Hebrew לָה (lah) in 1 Samuel 3:13 is regarded as a euphemistic reading of the original אֱלֹהִים (Elohim, "God"). The latter reading is also attested in the Septuagint (LXX). Scribes of the Hebrew text changed the word אֱלֹהִים (Elohim, "God") according to the teaching of Rabbi Johanan, transmitted by Rabbi Hiyya ben Abba, 'It is better that one letter be uprooted from the Torah than that the Name of names be publicly profaned' ..."
Eveline van Staalduine-Sulman, The Targum of Samuel, SAIS 1 (Leiden: Brill, 2002), 131.
* 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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