Of Gods and Kings: The Case for Reading “Milcom” in Zephaniah 1:5bβ
Manuscript evidence disagrees between reading the final word in Zeph 1:5 as meaning “their king,” “Molech,” or “Milcom.” The affinity of these three readings with the MT consonantal text, combined with the lack of agreement among the manuscript evidence, allows for plausible arguments supporting eac...
| Published in: | Vetus Testamentum |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
|
| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Brill
2018
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| In: |
Vetus Testamentum
Year: 2018, Volume: 68, Issue: 3, Pages: 505-513 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Bible. Zefanja 1,5b
/ King
/ Gods
/ Idea of God
/ Juggernaut
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| IxTheo Classification: | HB Old Testament |
| Further subjects: | B
Zephaniah 1:5
textual criticism
Milcom
Molech
Septuagint
Minor Prophets
Zephaniah
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| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Parallel Edition: | Non-electronic
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| Summary: | Manuscript evidence disagrees between reading the final word in Zeph 1:5 as meaning “their king,” “Molech,” or “Milcom.” The affinity of these three readings with the MT consonantal text, combined with the lack of agreement among the manuscript evidence, allows for plausible arguments supporting each of these readings. A majority of commentators conclude that this entity must refer to a deity, but disagree on which manuscript tradition to follow. The present essay surveys each of these readings, arguing that “Milcom” best fits the literary context and syntax patterns in Zeph 1:5bβ. This essay examines comparable text-critical difficulties in 2 Sam 12:30; 1 Chr 20:2; 1 Kgs 11:7; Jer 49:1, 3; and Amos 5:26, concluding that similar examples of the MT reinterpreting the name “Milcom” as “their king” occur in Jer 49:1, 3. |
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| ISSN: | 1568-5330 |
| Contains: | In: Vetus Testamentum
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1163/15685330-12341328 |