Bibliography
| Title: Hosea 9.13 and Josephus, Antiquities IX, 277-287 Secondary Title: PEQ Volume: 123 Pages: 103-108 Type: Journal Article Year: 1991 Abstract: "Comparing the MT, G, Syr and Targum to Hos 9:13 the author's analysis furnishes evidence against the preference given to the LXX because "the usage of the third masculine plural in verse 13a and the third masculine sigular in verse 13b ... is unprecedented in the book of Hosea" (105). He translates the verse as follows: "Ephraim, just as I have seen Tyre planted in a pleasant place, so Ephraim must lead his children out to the slaughterer" (106). Finally, he uses Josephus, Ant. IX, 277-287 to reconstruct the historical context for Hosea 9:13. "When we compare the history of Israel and Tyre during this period, we see that they ran almost parallel. They both revolted in Shalmaneser V's accession year (727-26 BCE), and became Assyrian vassals when the Assyrian king came to put down the revolts in Syria-Palestine. Both nations revolted against when Shalmaneser was back in Assyria. Later when Shalmaneser campaigned in the west again, first Tyre and then Samaria wer placed unter siege. In this situation, Ephraim must now send its people out to defend Samaria against the Assyrian forces, just as the Tyrians had done. Against this historical context, we understand why the prophet Hosea proclaimed that just as Tyre had done, so too Ephraim would bring out his children to the slaughterer"" (107).
"After showing that the Septuagint of Hos 9:13 rests on a textual misreading, the article offers the following translation of the Masoretic text: "Ephraim, just as I have seen Tyre planted in a pleasant place, so Ephraim must lead his children out to the slaughterer". Josephus in Antiquities 9:277-287 with his use of 2 Kgs 17:3-6 and Menander's quotations from Tyrian annals provides evidence for reconstructing the text's historical context in the almost parallel histories of Israel and Tyre under Shalmaneser V from 727/6 to 721/0 B.C.". - D.J.H. Keywords: Relation of Josephus to Hebrew Bible, Septuagint, and Rabbinic Literature |