The Text of the Old Testament: An Introduction to the Biblia Hebraica

by Ernst Würthwein, Erroll F. Rhodes (Translator)

Ernst Wurthweins introduction to the Biblia Hebraica has long served as a textbook for generations of students interested in the history of the Old Testament text and the problems of textual criticism. From its first appearance in 1952 to the fifth German edition in 1988, the book was faithfully updated by Wurthwein himself in light of new research. But now a new edition of Wurthwein is due.

While staying true to the original structure and character of Wurthweins classic work, Alexander Fischer has rewritten the text completely to bring it up to date with the new Quinta edition of Biblia Hebraica. Besides updating information throughout, this edition includes a new chapter on the texts from the Qumran. This third edition of The Text of the Old Testament will be an indispensable resource for serious students of the Biblia Hebraica and Old Testament exegesis.

Genres: Old Testament, Biblical Studies, Theology, History, Reference, Religion, Scripture

307 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

Reviews

[Louis Lapides · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read many Introductions to the Old Testament. But this work dealt mostly with manuscripts, versions, editions and loose parchment containing OT Passages. I woul recommend this book as a great introduction to textual studies of the OT. However, this work should be kept handy for constant reference. This is not a book you read through and then relegate to a bookshelf to gather dust.

[Nathaniel McVay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Given to me by my Hebrew professor. A wonderful gift, an introduction to the main points of textual criticism and manuscript history. A necessary guide to Biblia Hebraica. I hear that, due to the new style of Biblia Hebraica Quinta, this book might require some updating. Nonetheless, so important if you’re interested in embarking on a more-than-surface-level confrontation of the text.

[Johnny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Experiencing the joy of reading directly from the Isaiah scroll from Qumran (ie. One of the so-called Dead Sea Scrolls) and from the Aleppo Codex upon a visit to Jerusalem, I was inspired to re-read The Text of the Old Testament by Ernst Wurthwein (in the translation by Erroll F. Rhodes). This had been my textbook in a graduate seminar, but re-reading the volume reminded me of how much of my research had been zeroing in on the major manuscripts and only considering the manuscripts related to whatever passage I was translating. This reading offered a more comprehensive look at the puzzle of how biblical manuscripts fit together within various traditions.

One of the many useful aspects of this volume is the abundance of photographic plates from important manuscripts and the helpful chart of the Old Hebrew alphabet, comparing the script of the Gezer almanac, various inscriptions, a form of cursive, coin inscriptions, literary passages, and the writing of the Samaritan Pentateuch with that square script associated with Hebrew today (p. 217). I remember using this chart as a quick reference during my grad school days. Reading The Text of the Old Testament again without deadlines and the tunnel vision of gleaning what one needs for an assignment has been incredibly refreshing. For example, when I was working from photographic plates and the footnotes of a critical apparatus, I didn’t pay a great deal of attention to such matters as “ink.” I remembered that many of the inks were vegetable and non-metallic, but I overlooked the clear explanation that metallic ink, usually comprised of gall nuts and vitriol, both damaged the writing material and was prohibited by Talmudic scholars (p. 10). I missed some delightful quotations such as Rabbi Akiba’s comment on the Masora (critical notes in the margin of the text): “The Masora is a (protective) fence about the Law.” (p. 19)

At some point in my previous use of the book, I seem to have missed a vital point: “Although the text of BHS [the standard Hebrew Bible with critical apparatus] reproduces manuscript L [Codex Leningradensis] with the greatest fidelity, the editor of the Masora, G. E. Weil, is much freer with it.” (p. 28) Hmm! Maybe that explains certain discrepancies between the margin notes in BHK [the standard Hebrew Bible with apparatus before BHS] and BHS. It makes me glad I’ve kept both.

Such insights kept popping up frequently in my re-reading and it’s quite embarrassing to someone who once taught Hebrew at the graduate level, even though I’m thrilled with new and re-discoveries. Wurthwein’s discussions of ancient texts and versions reminded me of why a reliance on the Septuagint to adjust the Hebrew text needs careful sifting of evidence, and why it is always interesting to consider the Aramaic Targums, even though the copyists of those many versions were more interested in interpretation than fidelity to the text (p. 76). I did remember the causes of accidental changes in the texts from my previous reading of the book: transposition of letters (metathesis), dropping phrases after similar consonants (haplography) or dropping two identical or similar words, accidental repetition of a letter (dittography), omission when two words are similar enough and close together so the copyist’s eyes move from one word to another (homoioteleuton), errors in joining and dividing words, mistaking vowels for consonants, and confusing abbreviations for words (pp. 107-108).

I also remember the deliberate alterations of the text: adding small, common connecting and distinguishing words to clarify a reading, using euphemisms to soften use of a harsher word (hence Job is urged to “bless” God in 1:5, 11, 2:5, 9 instead of the harsher and somewhat blaspheming “curse”), and adding words or phrases to force a given interpretation (pp. 109-110). I remember paying great attention to Wurthwein’s descending order of confidence regarding the texts and versions: Masoretic text, Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint, Aquila, Origen, Theodotion, Syriac, Targums, Vulgate, Old Latin, Codex Ambrosianus, Coptic, Ethiopian, Arabic, and Armenian (p. 112).

As both a walk down memory lane and a refresher in paying more attention to the critical apparatus when translating, The Text of the Old Testament has been one of the most valued books I’ve ever used.

[Josh Holloway · Rating 4 out of 5]

very dry read at point, but in its context as a text book as an overview of OT textual criticism and scholarship, it is a very helpful read.

[Bfleegs · Rating 3 out of 5]

A helpful introduction to the history and apparatus of BHS.

[Abram · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was my privilege to translate this book into Arabic with expanded footnotes and new plates , I can't wait to see my Masterpiece to see the light of publishing.

[Frankie · Rating 4 out of 5]

First book of the year and it’s for college. Wow! I feel so studious haha

Good introduction and a solid complement to what I already knew and the other books I have regarding the topic.

[Barry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a scholarly book through and through. The depth and compilation of research is amazing! The succinct descriptions of the various major works that comprise the modern understanding of the ancient Hebrew texts of the Bible are helpful and insightful. Additionally, the translation into English has been done in a way that is highly readable and fluid - something that isn't always the case with translated works. Anyone desiring to research textual criticism of the Hebrew Bible, or anyone wanting to know more about how the modern Hebrew texts came to be ought to read this book as it is well done from cover to cover. There is a wealth of easily accessible information both for the serious researcher as well as for the interested student of the Old Testament.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hmm. I'm not quite sure this is the edition I have. Certainly the cover is different.

In any case, this is a thorough and fascinating (to me, anyway) coverage of textual issues with the Old Testament manuscript tradition.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a short read. Half of the book is just appendix. This is good introduction to the subject and nice directions for further studies.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good introduction to the issues surrounding textual criticism of the Hebrew Bible, particularly if you are diving in to the text-critical process for the first time.