The Peshitta of Ezekiel and the Septuagint : a study of the two traditions in Ezekiel 1

Abstract

The version of the book of Ezekiel in the Septuagint has received a lot of attention in recent years, especially due to the importance of papyrus 967. The same is not true of the text of Ezekiel in the Peshitta. It is difficult to divide the manuscripts of the Peshitta into families, except for the family of 9a1. There are, however, groups of manuscripts with textual agreement. Their actual relationship is difficult to determine. This paper will discuss the version of Ezekiel 1 in the Peshitta, in comparison with the Septuagint and Masoretic Text, looking especially at instances where the Peshitta agrees with (such as in verses 1, 12 and 21) and differs from the original Greek (such as in verses 9, 24 and 26). That the Septuagint represents an own tradition can be taken as given. Although the Peshitta stands close to the Masoretic tradition, some influence from the side of the Septuagint may be indicated. The importance of the variants in the manuscripts of the Peshitta will be indicated. The first section will deal with the variants in the manuscripts of the Peshitta, the second with the Peshitta and the Masoretic Text and the third with the Peshitta and the Septuagint. The Peshitta is a representative of the same tradition as the Masoretic Text. Instances where the Peshitta and the Septuagint agree, may be an indication of the original Hebrew behind the Masoretic Text, especially in instances where the Masoretic Text is corrupt.