The Syriac Version of the Old Testament [Paperback]

An introduction to the Syrian version of the Old Testament examining historical and philological origins.In a wide-ranging introduction to the Syriac version of the Old Testament, the book explores the origins of the translation and surveys the text with reference to all the books in the Bible. It will appeal to philologists and historical linguists, as well as to students of Judaism and Christianity.In a wide-ranging introduction to the Syriac version of the Old Testament, the book explores the origins of the translation and surveys the text with reference to all the books in the Bible. It will appeal to philologists and historical linguists, as well as to students of Judaism and Christianity.While the Syriac version of the Old Testament, known as the Peshitta, was translated from a Hebrew text, it was, surprisingly, preserved by the eastern churches alone. In his book, M. W. Weitzman argues that the translation was put together in around 200 CE by a small Jewish community estranged from the Rabbinic majority. This community eventually embraced Christianity and brought the Peshitta with them. This remarkable theory is the prelude to a comprehensive analysis of the Peshitta itself, which covers all the books in the Bible, surveys the existing scholarship and explores the relationship between the translation and the original Hebrew text. Apart from the philological detail, the book also examines the translation's historical links with Judaism and early Christianity. As a wide-ranging introduction to the subject, the book will appeal to philologists and historical linguists, as well as to biblical studies scholars and theologians.1. Introduction; 2. The relationship between the extant Hebrew and Syriac texts; 3. The Peshitta and other versions; 4. Unity and diversity in the Peshitta; 5. The background of the Peshitta; 6. The establishment of the text.