So-called Deuteronomic Addenda in the Samaritan Pentateuch Numbers 10-14 and 20-27. Where Do They Belong?”

Abstract

Abstract
Since Gesenius’ seminal analysis of the Samaritan Pentateuch in the early 19th century, it has been customary to consider the MT as the primary text and deviations between the MT and SP as additions or interpolations into the SP. Gesenius termed such variants additamenta maiora e locis parallelis interpolata (major expansions interpolated from parallel passages), thereby indicating a priority not only of the Masoretic text, but also of Deuteronomy, which in most cases is considered the source text of the additions. Avoiding such a priori assumptions, I prefer to use the term “major variants”, most of which can be found in SP Exodus and Numbers. The article examines literary and linguistic relationships between Number’s Wilderness narratives and Deuteronomy 1-3’s retelling in the Samaritan Pentateuch and ask whether the variants in SP reflect a Samaritan or a (proto)-Masoretic Vorlage. Since most of the larger variants are found in Numbers 10-14 and 20-27, both of which are “summarized” in Deuteronomy 1-3, it is also relevant to ask, how the SP variants differ from shared Deuteronomic passages in MT and SP Numbers.
Translated title of the contributionSåkaldte deuteronomistiske tilføjelser in den Samaritanske Pentateuch, Numeri 10-14 og 20-27. Hvor hører de til?
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationThe Samaritans in Historical, Cultural and Linguistic Perspectives
EditorsJan Dusek
Place of PublicationBerlin
PublisherDe Gruyter
Publication date2018
Pages19-34
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2018
SeriesStudia Samaritana
Volume11
SeriesStudia Judaica
Volume110
ISSN0585-5306

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