Aramaic Daniel and Greek Daniel: A Literary Comparison (Journal for the Study of the Old Testament. Supplement Series, 198)

337 Pages·1995·15.53 MB·English

by  T. J. Meadowcroft

JOURNAL FOR THE STUDY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
SUPPLEMENT SERIES
198
Editors
David J.A. Clines
Philip R. Davies
Executive Editor
John Jarick
Editorial Board
Robert P. Carroll, Richard J. Coggins, Alan Cooper,
J. Cheryl Exum, John Goldingay, Robert P. Gordon,
Norman K. Gottwald, Andrew D.H. Mayes, Carol Meyers,
Patrick D. Miller
Sheffield Academic Press
This page intentionally left blank
Aramaic Daniel and
Greek Daniel
A Literary Comparison
T.J. Meadowcroft
Journal for the Study of the Old Testament
Supplement Series 198
For Sue
'Facts,' murmured Basil, like one mentioning some strange, far-off
animals, 'how facts obscure the truth... Every detail points to something,
certainly; but generally to the wrong thing. Facts point in all directions, it
seems to me, like the thousands of twigs on a tree. It's only the life of the
tree that has unity and goes up—only the green blood that springs, like a
fountain, at the stars.'
G.K. Chesterton in 'The Tremendous Adventure of Major Brown'
Copyright © 1995 Sheffield Academic Press
Published by
Sheffield Academic Press Ltd
Mansion House
19 Kingfield Road
Sheffield, SI 19AS
England
Typeset by Sheffield Academic Press
and
Printed on acid-free paper in Great Britain
by Bookcraft
Midsomer Norton, Somerset
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available
from the British Library
ISBN 1-85075-551-5
CONTENTS
Preface 11
Abbreviations 12
Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION 15
Limits 17
Literary or Historical Approaches 18
'Literary' or 'Narrative' Criticism 21
Form-Critical Considerations 22
The Septuagint as a Translation 23
Some Important Terms 26
Textual Witnesses to the Septuagint 29
Chapter 2
DANIEL 4 31
Arrangement of Material 32
Person of the Narrator 34
The Narrator in Biblical Literature 37
The Nature of the King's Exile 41
Wisdom in Daniel 42
Use of Dialogue 44
Symbol or Allegory? 47
Symbol and Allegory: a Distinction 50
Differences in Interpretation 52
Differences in the Account of the Dream 53
Literary Merit in the Septuagint 54
Conclusion 55
6 Aramaic Daniel and Greek Daniel
Chapter 3
DANIEL 5 57
Setting 58
The Sin of Belshazzar 62
The King's Motivation and Fate 63
Characters 67
Perspective 71
Narrative and Narrator 73
The Writing on the Wall 75
Words and Vision 78
Other Literary Features 79
Links with Daniel 4 81
Conclusion 84
Chapter 4
DANIEL 6 85
Linking of Scenes 87
Ascription of Motive 90
Narratorial Presence 91
Pace 92
Irony in Biblical Narrative 93
'A Cheerful Haggadic Tone' 94
Parody 97
Dramatic Irony 98
The Building Blocks of Irony 101
Perspectives on Prayer 101
The Divinity of the King 105
Darius and his Encyclical 107
The Personalizing of Darius 109
The King and Daniel 111
The Character of Daniel 112
Idols 113
The Trial of Daniel 113
Literary Merit in the Septuagint 116
Narrative Links with Daniel 4 and 5 117
Thematic Links with Daniel 4 and 5 117
Literary Links with Daniel 4 and 5 119
Conclusion 120
Contents 1
Chapter 5
DANIEL 3 122
The Additions: Narrative Insertions? 123
The Additions as Part of the Narrative 128
Differing Interests of the Additions 129
Narrative Shape 130
Narrative Perspective 134
The Repeated Lists 136
Repetition of the Lists as Comedy 140
Repetition of Phrases 142
Setting of the Story 144
Other Literary Devices 147
Theological Differences 148
Narrative Links with Daniel 4-6 154
Literary Links with Daniel 4-6 155
Thematic Links with Daniel 4-6 156
Septuagint Links with Daniel 4 157
Conclusion 159
Chapter 6
DANIEL 2 161
Verses 13-23: Inserted Material? 162
The Song of Praise as Insert 167
Narrative Structure 173
Irony and Ambiguity 173
Point of View 175
Narratorial Stance 181
Literary Devices 182
Interpretation of the Dream 183
Differences in Theological Outlook 187
Differing Traditions about Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar 190
Differing Historical Backgrounds 193
Conclusion: Links with Daniel 3-6 196
Chapter 7
DANIEL 7 198
The Ancient of Days in the Masoretic Text 200
The Son of Man in the Masoretic Text 201
The Holy Ones of the Most High in the Masoretic Text 203
Daniel 7: Coherent and Consistent? 206
8 Aramaic Daniel and Greek Daniel
Narrative Structure 208
A Further Literary Note 212
The Character of Daniel 213
Vision and Interpretation: Insignificant Differences 215
Verses 26-27: Further Insignificant Differences 217
Differences in Understanding of the Four Beasts 221
Differences in Understanding of the Son of Man 223
Differences in Understanding of the Holy Ones 230
Links with Other Stories: Daniel the Visionary 234
Links with Other Stories: Bestiality/Humanity Theme 236
Links with Other Stories: Four Empires Theme 238
Links with Other Stories: The Final Kingdom 240
Further Literary Links with Other Stories 241
Structural Links with Other Stories 242
Conclusion 243
Chapter 8
DIFFERENCES IN DANIEL l AND 8-12 245
The Nature of the Translation 245
Translations of Particular Words 250
Differing Traditions Represented in the Septuagint? 251
Translation of Key Terms 252
Treatment of People 254
Treatment of Geographical Terms 256
The Daughter 258
Dating in 9.24-27 259
Conclusion 260
Chapter 9
CONCLUSION 262
Reasons for Variations 262
Narrative Technique 263
Narrative Structure 265
Literary Merit in the Septuagint 266
The Symbolic 267
Wisdom 268
Theological or Political Concerns 271
Text-Historical Questions 272
Prospects 277
Contents 9
Appendix 1
THEODOTION 281
Daniel 2 281
Daniel 3 282
Daniel 4 285
Daniel 5 286
Daniel 6 286
Daniel 7 287
Appendix 2
SEPTUAGINT DANIEL 2-7 IN ENGLISH 289
Daniel 2 289
Daniel 3 293
Daniel 4 298
Daniel 5 301
Daniel 6 302
Daniel 7 305
Bibliography 307
Index of Biblical References 319
Index of Authors 333