The Aramaic Bible, Volume 14: The Targum of the Minor Prophets
Overview
While any translation of the Scriptures may in Hebrew be called a targum, the word is used especially for a translation of a book of the Hebrew Bible into Aramaic. Before the Christian era, Aramaic had in good part replaced Hebrew in Palestine as the vernacular of the Jews. It continued as their vernacular for centuries later and remained in part as the language of the schools after Aramaic itself had been replaced as the vernacular.
Although the term “minor prophets” is a familiar one in English Bible translations, it is not a felicitous one, since it applies as much to Hosea as to Haggai and to Amos as to Obadiah. The Targum offers no such pecking order. Nuggets of importance are as likely to be found in a Targumized “minor” prophet as a “major” one.
Included in this volume are the books of Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. The authors’ apparatus in the introduction provides the translational characteristics, theology, life-setting, text and versions, language, rabbinic citations and parallels, dating, manuscripts, and bibliography. A series of indexes is also included.
In the Logos edition, this volume is enhanced by amazing functionality. Scripture citations link directly to English translations, and important terms link to dictionaries, encyclopedias, and a wealth of other resources in your digital library. Perform powerful searches to find exactly what you’re looking for. Take the discussion with you using tablet and mobile apps. With Logos Bible Software, the most efficient and comprehensive research tools are in one place, so you get the most out of your study.
- Offers a translation by experts in Aramaic and Hebrew
- Contains succinct verse-by-verse translation
- Preserves the particular and peculiar nature of the original Aramaic translations
- Includes introductory materials that provide insight into the translation
Most Highlighted Verses in The Aramaic Bible, Volume 14: The Targum of the Minor Prophets
Micah 4:1–2: It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lord’s Sanctuaryshall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised up above the hills. All the kingdomsshall turn to worshipupon it. And many nations shall come and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord’s Sanctuaryand to the house of the Shekinahof the God of Jacob, that he may teach us ways which are right before him,and that we may walk in the teaching of his law.”For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the teaching ofthe word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
The Aramaic Bible series, under McNamara’s able leadership, has brought the difficult world of Targum to a larger audience of biblical scholars.
—Gary A. Rendsburg, Blanche and Irving Laurie Chair in Jewish History, Cornell University
- Title: The Aramaic Bible, Volume 14: The Targum of the Minor Prophets
- Translators: Kevin J. Cathcart and Robert P. Gordon
- Publisher: Liturgical Press
- Publication Date: 1990
- Pages: 259
- Christian Group: Catholic
- Resource Type: Ancient Texts
- Topic: Judaica
Kevin J. Cathcart is emeritus professor of Near Eastern languages at University College in Dublin.
Robert P. Gordon is regious professor of Hebrew at the University of Cambridge.