Texts in Conversation
In Numbers, Moses calls out “Rise up, O Lord” when the ark sets out and “Return, O Lord” when it rests. The Aramaic translation in Targum Onkelos turns the first into a request that God reveal himself and says God’s glory returns rather than God.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
Numbers 10:35
Hebrew Bible
33 So they traveled from the mountain of the Lord three days’ journey; and the ark of the covenant of the Lord was traveling before them during the three days’ journey, to find a resting place for them. 34 And the cloud of the Lord was over them by day, when they traveled from the camp. 35 And when the ark traveled, Moses would say, “Rise up, O Lord! May your enemies be scattered, and may those who hate you flee before you!” 36 And when it came to rest he would say, “Return, O Lord, to the many thousands of Israel!”
Onkelos Numbers 10:35
Targum
33 And from the mountain on which the glory of the Lord had been revealed they went forward, journeying three days; and the ark of the Lord's covenant went before them, three days' journey, to provide for them a place of encampment. 34 And the Cloud of Glory of the Lord overspread them by day as they went forth from their encampments. 35 And when the ark went forward, Mosheh said: Reveal thyself, Lord, that Thine enemies may be scattered, and Thy adversaries may flee before thee. 36 And when it rested, he said: Return, Lord, and dwell in Thy glory among the multitudes of the thousands of Israel.
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Notes and References
“... see page 379. BEFORE YOU. Onkelos circumvents the poetic but anthropomorphic Hebrew “Your face.” 36. RETURN. The Aramaic retains the biblical “return,” but has the divine “glory reside among” the Israelites, as indicated below. Thus, contrary to Scripture, “return” does not refer to God, but to the “glory.” [...] LET YOUR GLORY RESIDE AMONG. Onkelos supplies the implied connecting phrase “let your glory reside among.” By “glory,” our targumist means the feeling that the Israelites have of the significance and majesty of the divine. Sifrei; the Babylonian Talmud, Yevamot 64a and Bava Kamma 83b; and Saadiah have Moses request the return of the Shekhinah. Saadiah understands Shekhinah as a divine creation of a special light to impress the people. In contrast, when our targumist uses Shekhinah, he is referring to the feeling that people have of a divine presence. Thus, Shekhinah refers to the people’s feelings, and not to God. Onkelos uses “glory” four times in Numbers, in 10:33, 34, 36, and 12:8. ...”
Drazin, Israel, and Stanley M. Wagner
Onkelos on the Torah, Numbers: Understanding the Bible Text
(p. 95) 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.
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