Texts in Conversation
The Hebrew version of Judges uses a rare verb for the yearly tradition about Jephthah’s daughter, leaving it unclear whether they just retell her story or mourn her. The Greek translation explicitly says they went each year to weep for her.
Share:
2500 BCE
1000+ CE
Judges 11:40
Hebrew Bible
38 He said, “You may go.” He permitted her to leave for two months. She went with her friends and mourned her virginity as she walked through the hills. 39 After two months she returned to her father, and he did to her as he had vowed. She died a virgin. Her tragic death gave rise to a custom in Israel. 40 Every year Israelite women commemorate the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite for four days.
LXX Judges 11:40
Septuagint
38 So he said, “Go!” And he sent her for two months, and she went, she and her companions. And she wept concerning her maidenhood upon the hills. 39 And it happened at the completion of the two months that she returned to her father, and he did with her his prayer that he prayed. And she did not know a man; it was for an ordinance in Israel. 40 From days to days the daughters of Israel would go about to bewail the daughter of Jephthah Gilead for four days of the year.
Search:
Notes and References
… At Judges 11:40, for example, the Septuagint has thrēnein (from thrēneō) where the Masoretic Text has lĕtannôt (from tānâ ‘commemorate, recount’); and at Joel 1:8 the Septuagint has thrēnēson (also from thrēneō) where the Masoretic Text has ʾĕlî (from ʾālâ ‘weep, mourn’). The Septuagint therefore cannot be relied on to translate the Hebrew consistently where terms for the expression of grief and sorrow are concerned. …
* 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.