Texts in conversation

Compare Exodus 30:23 and Onkelos Exodus 30:23 and Chullin 139b

Hebrew Bible · Targum · Rabbinic

Summary

Exodus lists 'free-flowing myrrh' as an ingredient in anointing oil. The Aramaic translation in Targum Onkelos simply translates it as 'clean myrrh,' meaning pure, not following how Rabbinic tradition in tractate Chullin tries to connect it to Mordechai.

Passages

Exodus 30:23

Hebrew Bible

22 The Lord spoke to Moses, 23 “Take choice spices: 12½ pounds of free-flowing myrrh, half that—about 6¼ pounds—of sweet-smelling cinnamon, 6¼ pounds of sweet-smelling cane, 24 and 12½ pounds of cassia, all weighed according to the sanctuary shekel, and four quarts of olive oil.

750–400 BCE (scholarly estimate) Read in Exodus

Onkelos Exodus 30:23

Targum

22 And the Lord spoke with Moses, saying, 23 Take also for yourself the finest spices: pure myrrh, five hundred shekels; and fragrant cinnamon, half as much, two hundred and fifty shekels by weight; and fragrant cane, two hundred and fifty shekels; 24 and cassia, five hundred shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary; and a hin of olive oil;

50–500 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in Onkelos Exodus

Chullin 139b

Rabbinic · Babylonian Talmud

They also asked Rav Mattana: From where in the Torah can one find an allusion to the events involving Esther? He replied to them that the verse states: “Then My anger shall be kindled against them on that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide My face from them, and they shall be devoured, and many evils and troubles shall come upon them; so that they will say in that day: Have not these evils come upon us because our God is not among us? And I will hide [haster astir] My face on that day for all the evil which they shall have wrought, in that they are turned to other gods” (Deuteronomy 31:17–18). They also asked him: From where in the Torah can one find an allusion to the greatness bestowed upon Mordecai? He replied: As it is written with regard to the anointing oil in the Tabernacle: “And you shall also take the chief spices, of flowing myrrh [mor deror]” (Exodus 30:23); and we translate mor deror into Aramaic as: Mira dakhya, which resembles the name Mordecai.

450–550 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in Chullin

References

"... Onkelos is a translation intended to explain the simple, overt meaning of the biblical text. Many, however, read interpretations into the Aramaic words that were never intended by the targumist, and are actually contrary to the purpose of the translation. In verse 30:23, the Targum clarifies Scripture's metaphor 'free myrrh' as 'clean myrrh,' i.e., free of mixture. Playing on the targumist's words, mora dachi ("clean myrrh"), the Babylonian Talmud (Chullin 139b) states that the Aramaic is a reference to Mordechai, Esther's relative. Homiletic interpretations of Scripture are appropriate, since they are in keeping with generally acceptable exegetical norms. However, treating a translation in a similar fashion is a questionable interpretive practice ..."

Israel Drazin and Stanley M. Wagner, Onkelos on the Torah, Exodus: Understanding the Bible Text (Jerusalem: Gefen, 2006), 212.

References are not endorsements of their contents. Read each reference in full to understand its author's intentions in using these texts.

139b

Compare Exodus 30:23 and Onkelos Exodus 30:23 and Chullin 139b

Summary

Passages

Exodus 30:23

Onkelos Exodus 30:23

Chullin 139b

References

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