The Text of the Old Testament: An Introduction to the Biblia Hebraica, 3rd ed.

by Ernst Würthwein

Publisher:

Eerdmans

, 2014

Overview

Ernst Würthwein's introduction to the Biblia Hebraica has long served as a textbook for generations of students interested in the history of the Old Testament text and the problems of textual criticism. From its first appearance in 1952 to the fifth German edition in 1988, the book was faithfully updated by Würthwein himself in light of new research. But now a new edition of "Würthwein" is due.

While staying true to the original structure and character of Würthwein's classic work, Alexander Fischer has rewritten the text completely to bring it up to date with the new Quinta edition of Biblia Hebraica. Besides updating information throughout, this edition includes a new chapter on the texts from the Qumran. This third edition of The Text of the Old Testament will be an indispensable resource for serious students of the Biblia Hebraica and Old Testament exegesis.

Key Features

• Covers all the most important information about the textual criticism of the Hebrew bible
• Includes discussion importance of the Septuagint and Dead Sea Scrolls
• Newly updated from the most recent scholarship

Contents

• The Hebrew Text of the Bible
  • Language, Script, and Writing Materials
  • The Masoretic Text
  • The Qumran Scrolls
  • The Samaritan Text
• The Ancient Translation
  • The Septuagint
  • Other Translations
• Textual Criticism
  • The Goal and Task of Textual Criticism
  • Textual Corruptions, Changes, and Variants
  • The Method of Textual Criticism

Top Highlights

“This raises the question how this was possible, considering that the Masoretes did not have the modern chapter and verse numbers. The solution lies in their outstanding familiarity with the biblical text, so that a keyword was sufficient to identify a verse. As a result the marginal notes are a concordance reference system comparable to the research functions provided by today’s computer programs.” (Page 36)

“‘It attempts to ferret out all the errors and alterations (variants) that have occurred, and to achieve on the basis of scholarly principles a Hebrew text providing a solid foundation on which higher criticism, exegesis, etc., can build.’” (Page 168)

“Second, underlying the Tiberian vocalization are considerations of the interaction between Hebrew pronunciation and grammar.” (Page 28)

“Textual criticism must always look behind a canonical final text, including its early history, in its perspective.” (Page 162)

“It should be noted especially that in early Judaism ‘holy scriptures’ did not denote a canonical entity but rather scriptures used in a holy place.” (Page 16)

Praise for the Print Edition

This finely revised and nicely updated version of one of the classics in our field can truly be called a grand introduction to the history of the biblical text.

—Kristin De Troyer, University of St. Andrews

Readers familiar with Würthwein's earlier work will discover all of the strengths of his approach to Biblical Hebrew. Old and new readers will enjoy the thoroughly up-to-date discussion of the aims and methods of textual criticism as well as the unbiased analysis of ancient versions and their modern scholarly editions. Beautifully reproduced plates are easy to read, and the updated bibliography is satisfyingly full. . . . This successful project can be easily digested by newcomers and savored by specialists.

—Leonard Greenspoon, Creighton University

A very welcome, thorough revision of the long-honored standard introduction to the Masoretic text. Its integration of recent scholarship is first-rate, and the rewritten text retains the clear, accessible style that won its predecessors decades of popularity as a textbook. Yet another generation of students will find in this book a friendly, reliable guide through the complex terrain of ancient Hebrew texts and their relationships. Highly commended.

—Robert L. Hubbard, North Park Theological Seminary

Product Details

• Title: The Text of the Old Testament: An Introduction to the Biblia Hebraica
• Author: Ernst Würthwein and Alexander Achilles Fischer
• Edition: 3rd
• Publisher: Eerdmans
• Publication Date: 2014
• Pages: 363
• Resource Type: Introduction
• Topic: Textual Criticism

About Ernst Würthwein

Ernst Würthwein (1909-1996) was professor emeritus of Old Testament at Philipps-Universität Marburg in Germany.

Alexander Achilles Fischer is professor of Old Testament at Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Thuringia, Germany.