Research Articles (Ancient Studies)
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Browsing Research Articles (Ancient Studies) by Author "Cook, Johann"
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- ItemContextuality and the Septuagint(AOSIS, 2019-04-04) Cook, JohannThis article will emphasise that the time has arrived for another phase in LXX research that goes beyond text-critical studies. Studying the Septuagint entails dealing with translated literature, which requires an appropriate methodology. The truth of the matter is that the Septuagint (the Old Greek) is a translation of a translation. Therefore, translation studies (TS) come into play. It is, moreover, important to determine the translation technique followed by a translator, which should be done in conjunction with TS. Finally, in order to understand the Septuagint (the exegesis of the LXX), addressing issues of contextuality is a sine qua non. The Septuagint version of Proverbs is used as a case study. This article will argue that the context in which this translated unit came into being was an apocalyptic one, inter alia, because of the devastating reforms of Antiochus Epiphanes.
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- ItemPsalm 39 (LXX 38) : a retributive Psalm?(Old Testament Society of South Africa, 2019) Cook, JohannThis paper is a contribution to the Festschrift for Prof. Phil Botha. As a teacher in Semitic Languages, he specialised in two corpora: poetry (Hebrew) and more specifically the Psalms, and Syriac, a prominent Aramaic dialect. He also demonstrated an interest in the Septuagint. It is an honour to dedicate this contribution to my colleague of many years, who has also had an impact on the international stage. In a recent international contribution, he argues that Ps 39 is effectively a song of retribution. This paper focuses on this Hebrew Psalm from the perspective of the Greek Psalms, as a pilot study, in order to test Botha's assumption; in his own words the psalm is intended "to serve as a wisdom reflection on how to overcome theologicalfrustration caused by delayed retribution."
- ItemRecent developments in Septuagint research(AOSIS, 2018) Cook, JohannThe time and opportunity have finally arrived for the next phase of Septuagint research. Even though not all the books of the LXX have been completed by the Septuaginta-Unternehmen in Göttingen, by far the largest number of books have been assigned and are being prepared. Thus, text-critical work has largely been completed, or is in the process of being prepared. The next phase, hermeneutical research, is at hand. This phase naturally requires correct methodology. This applies to an acceptable textual theory as well as to the reconstruction of the textual history of the LXX. This article takes the Septuagint of Proverbs as its point of comparison and discusses the following issues: novel research (monographs) and new research projects in conjunction with existing projects (exegetical commentaries, a theology of the Septuagint).
- ItemResearching the Septuagint in South Africa(AOSIS, 2021) Cook, JohannOne could argue that the Septuagint is an African document. After all, Alexandria is regarded as the birthplace of the Septuagint – at least the original LXX, namely the Pentateuch. As is well known, the Aristeas letter, inter alia, tells the story of the translation of the Hebrew Bible into Greek after some Jews were forcibly removed from Palestine to Egypt by Ptolemy III and others emigrated for economic reasons (Wright 2015). But this is only one side of the story; there are a number of books that originated elsewhere. Tov mentions the Greek translation of Isaiah (Tov 2010:7). I have identified numerous examples of Jewish exegesis in LXXProverbs and I argued that LXXProv came into being in Palestine (Cook & Van der Kooij 2012:174). Be that as it may, what is clear is that the Septuagint is being extensively researched throughout Africa, including South Africa. The recent evidence of this ongoing research is the presentation of a number of international congresses with outcomes in the publications of the proceedings. The latest example is the online congress held on 05 and 06 September 2020. The proceedings of this conference together with the contributions of a number of prominent researchers are being published in the international series Vetus Testamentum Supplementum (VTS), entitled The Septuagint South of Alexandria. The volume is edited by Johann Cook and Gideon Kotzé.
- ItemThe Septuagint as a holy text – the first ‘bible’ of the early church(AOSIS, 2020) Cook, JohannThis article acknowledges the fact that historically there are two phases in the emergence of the Septuagint – a Jewish phase and a Christian one. The article deals first with methodological issues. It then offers a historical orientation. In the past some scholars have failed to distinguish between key historical phases: the pre-exilic/exilic (Israelite – 10 tribes), the exilic (the Babylonian exile ‒ 2 tribes) and the post-exilic (Judaean/Jewish). Many scholars are unaware of the full significance of the Hellenistic era, including the Seleucid and Ptolemaic eras and their impact on ‘biblical’ textual material. Others again overestimate the significance of this era; the Greek scholar Evangelia Dafni is an example. Many are uninformed about the Persian era, which includes the Achaemenid, Parthian and Sassanian eras, each one of which had an impact on Judaism. An example is the impact of Persian dualism. Another problem is the application of the concept of ‘the Bible’. The notion of ‘Bible’ applies only after the 16th century Common Era, specifically after the advent of the printing press. Earlier, depending on the context, we had clay tablets (Mesopotamia), vella (Levant-Judah) and papyri (Egypt) to write on. This is followed by a discussion of the Masoretic Text and the LXX, including the reasons for the rejection of the LXX by the Jews. This is significant because the LXX was originally a Jewish document. Attempts to re-evaluate the concept of the Bible are discussed. The Septuagint subsequently followed, which leads to the conclusion that the LXX became the first Bible of the Christian church. Contribution: This article fits into the focus of HTS because it argues that the Septuagint is the first Bible of the early church. It also underscores the scope of this Theological periodical, for the Greek Bible is part of its subject matter that is researched.
- ItemA theology of the Greek version of proverbs(AOSIS Publishing, 2015) Cook, JohannThis contribution demonstrates that it is possible to formulate a theology of LXX Proverbs. It limits itself to a pilot study of three passages, Chapters 1, 2 and 8. A contextual approach is followed and the following conclusions, that have implications for a theology, are reached: 1. 1:1–7 indicates what Proverbs is not, i.e. speculative philosophical ideas 2. Chapter 2 demonstrates that the wisdom is foreign wisdom – the Hellenism of the day 3. Sophia in chapter 8 has a subordinate role in relation to God.
- ItemVertaalprobleme wat die Deuterokanonieke Boeke oplewer : Jesus ben Sira as voorbeeld(Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns, 2020-12) Cook, JohannVolgens Wright (2007:715) het hierdie boek drie titels. In die Hebreeus staan dit bekend as die Wysheid van Joshua ben Sira. In die Vulgaat word dit Ekklesiastikus (die kerk se boek) en in die Joods-Hellenistiese geskrifte Sirag genoem. Ben Sirag (BS) beslaan 51 hoofstukke en wat inhoud en vorm betref, ressorteer dit onder die Ou Nabye Oosterse wysheidsliteratuur. Skehan en Di Lella (1987:4) sien dit as 'n soort handboek vir morele optrede wat 'n Jood in die tweede eeu VHJ moes nastreef. Ben Sirag se oupa, Sirag, het in Palestina 'n wysheidsgeskrif in Hebreeus die lig laat sien, skynbaar voor die revolusie wat met Antiogus Epifanes in Palestina geassosieer word (Cook 2020). Dié Seleukied het onder andere probeer om Jerusalem in 'n Griekse polis (stad) te verander (Tcherikover 1959). Joodse gebruike is verwerp en Hellenistiese kulturele waardes in die plek daarvan ingevoer. BS verwys geensins na hierdie gebeure nie, wat 'n aanduiding is dat die wysheidsgeskrif voor die Antiogeense revolusie tot stand gekom het. Die Griekse gimnasium het 'n rol begin speel in die Joodse gemeenskap, tot groot ontsteltenis van die konserwatiewe Jode (liberale Jode het onder andere die gimnasium naak besoek!). Hierdie Hebreeuse weergawes van BS is fragmentaries en plek-plek disjunk. Dit gee aanleiding tot uitsonderlike probleme vir die vertalers. Gelukkig is verskeie Hebreeuse fragmente later ontdek. Gedeeltes van hoofstukke 39-44 is by Masada gevind wat uit die eerste eeu VHJ dateer. Ms. 2Q18 bevat etlike reëls en 11QPsa bewaar dele van hoofstuk 51. Uit die Kairo-Geniza is daar ses fragmente beskikbaar. Opvallend is dat die Hebreeuse tekste, wat ongeveer twee derdes van die boek beslaan, nie by die Hebreeuse kanon ingesluit is nie. Hierdie tekste is nietemin baie belangrik vir die verstaan van die Griekse teks. Hier word dus behoorlike tekskritiese navorsing vereis, 'n probleem van enorme omvang. Die Griekse teks is deur die kleinseun van Sirag geskep toe hy tussen 132 en 117 VHJ, gedurende die heerskappy van Ptolemeus VII Euergetes II in Alexandrië sy oupa se geskrif uit die Hebreeus vertaal het. Hyself skryf in die proloog dat hy in die 38ste jaar van die heerskappy van koning Euergetes in Egipte aangekom het en dat hy baie slaaplose ure aan die vertaling spandeer het. Die omstandighede het grootliks van dié in Palestina verskil. Dit was 'n Hellenistiese wêreld, wat egter nie oorbeklemtoon moet word nie. Martin Hengel het daarop gewys dat alle vorme van die Judaïsme vanaf die tweede eeu VHJ as Hellenistiese Judaïsme beskou moet word. Skehan en Di Lella (1984) oordeel dat die Ptolemeërs die Persiese administratiewe sisteem oorgeneem het waarvolgens die Joodse hoëpriester nie net die geestelike leier van die volk was nie, maar ook 'n soort van sekulêre prins wat belasting moes insamel vir die Ptolemeïese ryk. Die vertaling bestaan uit verskeie latere byvoegings/spreuke, getipeer as GKII (Grieks II). GKI verwys na die oudste Griekse teks en word hoofsaaklik gevind in die unsiale manuskripte A, B, C en S, asook hul kursiewe manuskripte. Die tekspublikasie van Ziegler (Septuaginta Graecum Auctoritate Academiae Litteratum Goetingensis editum XII Sapientia Jesu Filii Sirach, 1965) word gebruik as basis vir die vertaling en interpretasie. Die deuterokanonieke literatuur - ook bekend as die apokriewe geskrifte - word as deel van die Septuagint beskou, wat tegelykertyd die tweede probleem is waarmee die moderne vertaler gekonfronteer word. Die Septuagint bestaan uit die Oudgriekse teks (OG), daardie tekste wat uit die oorspronklike Hebreeus en Aramees vertaal is, sowel as die sogenaamde de novo-komposisies, soos die Wysheid van Jesus ben Sira, of, nog beter, die Wysheid van Salomo. Oor Ben Sira heers daar onsekerheid, aangesien dit uit 'n Semitiese grondteks vertaal is.