STUDIES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE TEXT OF THE TABERNACLE ACCOUNT (QUMRAN, OLD GREEK, SAMARITAN PENTATEUCH)

This dissertation reexamines the differences in vocabulary, content, and order between the Hebrew and Greek texts of the Tabernacle Account as found in Exodus 25-31 and 35-40. The Introduction discusses the solutions offered by Popper, Finn, and Gooding and offers a new approach based on recent text critical theories.;Chapter I compares 141 Hebrew words found in the Tabernacle Account with their Greek translations in Exodus, 1 Kings 6-8, 2 Chronicles 3-6, Josephus, and the Kaige Recension. The comparison reveals that the Old Greek is preserved in Greek chapters 37 and 38 of Exodus. The remainder of the Greek of the Tabernacle Account compares with the Palestinian Greek of Josephus and 2 Chronicles. Further comparison with known Kaige characteristics reveals a shared background but does not point to the Palestinian Greek of the Tabernacle Account as belonging to the Kaige Recension. It is concluded that the Old Greek of the Tabernacle Account has been revised by a latter translator.;Chapter II examines the possible reasons for two Greek translators. A synoptic study of each section of the Tabernacle Account demonstrates a consistent pattern of development in the text from the account as preserved in the Old Greek to the Hebrew text of chapters 35-40 to the Hebrew chapters of 25-31 to the Greek of 25-31 and the remainder of Greek chapters 35-40. Other texts, such as the Samaritan Pentateuch, the Qumran fragments, Josephus, Numbers, 1 Kings, and 2 Chronicles, provide support for the various stages of development of the text of the Tabernacle Account. It is concluded that the Old Greek was revised as a result of the revision of its Hebrew Vorlage.;Chapter III reviews the order of the Tabernacle Account as preserved in the various Hebrew and Greek texts and compares them with the lists of objects made for the tabernacle. From both content and vocabulary it is demonstrated that none of the lists were present in the Vorlage of the Old Greek. It is concluded that the change in order between the Old Greek and the Hebrew of 35-40 was the result of a change in the Hebrew text which sought to expand the account.;The Conclusion suggests relative dates for each of the stages of development in the text of the Tabernacle Account.;The thesis was written under the direction of Frank Moore Cross, Hancock Professor of Hebrew and Other Oriental Languages at Harvard University.