Texts in Conversation
Exodus describes an anointing oil ingredient as 'free-flowing myrrh.' The Aramaic translation in Targum Onkelos calls it 'clean myrrh,' meaning pure or unmixed. Unlike the Babylonian Talmud's wordplay connecting this to Mordechai, the Targum gives a simple translation.
Share:
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.
Date: 5th Century B.C.E. (Final composition) (based on scholarly estimates)
Source
Onkelos Exodus 30:23
Targum
22 And the Lord spoke with Mosheh, saying, 23 Take also your choice aromatics: pure myrrh, five hundred shekels; and sweet cinnamon, one half as much, two hundred and fifty (shekels') weight; of sweet calamus, two hundred and fifty shekels; and cassia, five hundred shekels, 24 of the shekels of the sanctuary; and olive oil, a hina full;
Date: 100-200 C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
Source
Chullin 139b
Babylonian Talmud
Rabbinic
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.
Date: 450-550 C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
Source
Search:
Notes and 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 ..."
Drazin, Israel, and Stanley M. Wagner
Onkelos on the Torah, Exodus: Understanding the Bible Text
(p. 212) 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.