The earliest MS evidence available for the OT text is also the most recently discovered. Since 1947 thousands of fragments of MSS, both biblical and nonbiblical, have come to light in the Dead Sea region.
THE BASICS of the Dead Sea Scrolls
WHAT IS OLD TESTAMENT TEXTUAL CRITICISM AND WHY DO WE NEED IT?
Old Testament Textual Criticism (sometimes called lower criticism) is the study of copies of Old Testament documents whose original no longer survives. It is the process of attempting to ascertain the original wording of a text.
OTTC GENESIS 25:18: Was It “They Settled” Or Was It “He Settled”?
The Hebrew Text has the reading “they settled” in verse 18 of chapter 25. On the other hand, the LXX and VG, have “he settled” in verse 18 of chapter 25, the latter translations being a reference to Ishmael for the sake of clarity.
OTTC GENESIS 22:13: Was the ram “behind him” [Abraham] Or was it “one” ram?
The Masoretic Text has the reading “behind him” (אַחַר, ’akhar) in verse 13 of chapter 22. On the other hand, a number of Hebrew MSS, the Septuagint (LXX), Syriac (SYR), and Samaritan Pentateuch (SP) have “one” (Heb. אֶחָד, ’ekhad; Gr. εἷς, heis) in verse 13 of chapter 22.
OTTC GENESIS 21:9: Was “mocking [her son Isaac]” in the original authored by Moses?
The Hebrew has the reading “mocking/laughing” in verse 9 of chapter 21. On the other hand, the Greek Septuagint (LXX) and the Latin Vulgate (VG) have added “her son Isaac” in verse 9 of chapter 21.
OTTC GENESIS 19:17: “they said” or, “one said”
The Hebrew has the reading “he or one said” in verse 17 of chapter 19. On the other hand, the Greek Septuagint (LXX), Syriac Peshitta (SYR), and the Latin Vulgate (VG) have “they said” in verse 17 of chapter 19.
OTTC GENESIS 11:13: The Greek Septuagint (LXX) Differs Tremendously
The Hebrew has the reading “And Arpachshad lived four hundred and three years after he fathered Shelah, and he fathered other sons and daughters.” in verse 13 of chapter 11. On the other hand, the Greek Septuagint (LXX) differs tremendously ...
OTTC ZECHARIAH 12:10 “look upon him whom they have pierced,” OR “look upon me whom they have pierced”?
The Father is the speaker here, the subject of this clause and the shift from the pronoun “me” to “him” in the next clause makes it sounds as though God the Father was the one to be pierced instead of Jesus. (John 19.37; Rev. 1;7)
OTTC GENESIS 11:12: Is it “thirty-five years” or “one hundred and thirty-five years”?
The Hebrew has the reading “thirty-five-years” in verse 12 of chapter 11. On the other hand, the Greek Septuagint (LXX) has “a hundred and thirty-five years” in verse 12 of chapter 11....
Benjamin Kennicott (1718 – 1783) Old Testament Textual Criticism Scholar
Benjamin Kennicott (4 April 1718 – 18 September 1783) was an English churchman and Hebrew scholar. Kennicott was born at Totnes, Devon. He succeeded his father as master of a charity school, but the generosity of some friends enabled him to go to Wadham College, Oxford, in 1744, and he distinguished himself in Hebrew and divinity. While an undergraduate he published two dissertations, On the Tree... Continue Reading →