Linguistic Dating of Biblical Texts: An Introduction to Approaches and Problems, vol 1

374 Pages·2014·10.62 MB·English

by  Ian Young

Linguistic Dating of Biblical Texts
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Linguistic Dating of Biblical Texts
Volume 1
An Introduction to Approaches and Problems
Ian Young
Robert Rezetko
WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF MARTIN EHRENSVARD
O Routledge
Taylor &. Francis Group
LONDON AND NEW YORK
First published 2008 by Equinox, an imprint of Acumen
Published 2014 by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon 0X14 4RN
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017, USA
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© Ian Young, Robert Rezetko, and Martin Ehrensvard
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any
electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and re­
cording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publish­
ers.
Notices
Practitioners and researchers must always rely on their own experience and knowledge in evaluating and
using any information, methods, compounds, or experiments described herein. In using such information or
methods they should be mindful of their own safety and the safety of others, including parties for whom
they have a professional responsibility.
To the fullest extent of the law, neither the Publisher nor the authors, contributors, or editors, assume any li­
ability for any injury and/or damage to persons or property as a matter of products liability, negligence or
otherwise, or from any use or operation of any methods, products, instructions, or ideas contained in the
material herein.
Library of Congress Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the Library of Congress
ISBN 13: 978-1-84553-081-5 (hbk)
ISBN 13: 978-1-84553-082-2 (pbk)
Typeset by Forthcoming Publications Ltd
For Our Families
Karyn and Samantha
Mima, Daniel, Gabriela, Talya and Camila
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Contents
Volume 1:
An Introduction to Approaches and Problems
A
Preface l
t
Abbreviations e
r
n
a
Chapter 1 ti
v
Introduction e

E
Chapter 2 d
u
Early vs. Late Biblical Hebrew: c
a
Principles and Methodology Ati
o
Chapter 3 lten P
rl
na
Early vs. Late Biblical Hebrew: an
t
Critique of Principles i
v
e

Chapter 4
E
Early vs. Late Biblical Hebrew: d
u
Critique of Methodology c
a
t
i
o
Chapter 5
n
P
Early vs. Late Biblical Hebrew: l
a
Linguistic Features and Rates of Accumulation n
A
l
t
Chapter 6 e
r
n
Hebrew Inscriptions of the Monarchic Period a
t
i
v
Chapter 7 e

Dialects and Diglossia E
d
u
Chapter 8 c
a
Aramaic t
i
o
n
P
Chapter 9
l
a
Mishnaic Hebrew n
viii Linguistic Dating of Biblical Texts
Chapter 10
Qumran Hebrew and Ben Sira 250
Chapter 11
Loanwords 280
Chapter 12
Archaic Biblical Hebrew 312
Chapter 13
Textual Criticism 341
Chapter 14
Conclusion 361
Volume 2:
A Survey of Scholarship, a New Synthesis
and a Comprehensive Bibliography
Abbreviations ix
Chapter 1
Survey of Scholarship on the Dating
of Biblical Literature
Chapter 2
Synthesis of the Argument:
EBH AND LBH AS CO-EXISTING STYLES 72
Chapter 3
Linguistic Case Studies 106
Chapter 4
Tables of Linguistic Features
Suggested to be LBH in Major Publications 160
Bibliography 215
Analytical Outline of Subjects 284
Index of Hebrew and Aramaic Words 296
Index of Biblical Literature and References 324
Index of Authors 368
Preface
Despite its ‘yawn-invoking title’ (Zevit 2004) considerable interest in the
question of using language to date biblical texts was generated by the
publication of Biblical Hebrew: Studies in Chronology and Typology
(Young 2003a). This was confirmed by the large attendance at a session
on the topic organised by Ziony Zevit at the Society of Biblical
Literature Annual Meeting in San Antonio, Texas in 2004. That evening,
Rezetko and Young ended up, purely by accident (Ehrensvard has a
better sense of direction), at a reception for Equinox Publishers hosted by
Philip Davies and Janet Joyce. It had been Philip’s brilliant idea that had
led to the earlier book (the title only shows that you can’t be brilliant all
of the time). In San Antonio he had another one: ‘You guys (Young and
Rezetko figured he was talking to them) should write an introduction to
linguistic dating of biblical texts. It should be easy: I mean, you already
know all the stuff.’
Over three years later we may look back on those inspiring, but not
very prescient, words. As we delved deep into the literature and in par­
ticular, the masses (and masses!) of data, our unease with the current
chronological model grew until we arrived at a new model to compre­
hend the linguistic diversity of the Hebrew Bible. Thus, the first volume
contains a lot more argument than we first planned, and an unexpected
second volume has grown out of the first.
On the way, we decided that having a good sense of direction is no
excuse to avoid hard work and so Ehrensvard was drawn deeper and
deeper into the web. Working together has been fun and the resulting
volumes are evidence of a true team effort, usually on three different
continents, but occasionally together in person, most notably in Vienna
in July 2007. We have encouraged, learned from and pushed each other,
and still ended up better friends than ever.
Many people have helped in many different ways in this team effort.
George Athas, Robert Holmstedt, S0ren Holst and Mark Leuchter read
the completed manuscript for us. Of the many others who helped us
along the way, we mention especially Matthew Anstey, Brian Aucker,
Ehud Ben Zvi, Shani Berrin, Lucy Davey, Philip Davies, Greg Doudna,