The Targums: A Critical Introduction

by Paul V. M. Flesher, Bruce D. Chilton

Overview

The value and significance of the targums—translations of the Hebrew Bible into Aramaic, the language of Palestinian Jews for centuries following the Babylonian Exile—lie in their approach to translation: within a typically literal rendering of a text, they incorporate extensive exegetical material, additions, and paraphrases. These alterations reveal important information about Second Temple Judaism, its interpretation of its bible, and its beliefs.

This remarkable survey introduces critical knowledge and insights that have emerged over the past forty years, including targum manuscripts discovered this century and targums known in Aramaic but only recently translated into English. Prolific scholars Flesher and Chilton guide readers in understanding the development of the targums, their relationship to the Hebrew Bible, their dates, their language, their place in the history of Christianity and Judaism, and their theologies and methods of interpretation.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781602583825
Publisher:	Baylor University Press
Publication date:	07/15/2011
Pages:	575
Sales rank:	992,593
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.40(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Paul V. M. Flesher is Associate Professor of Religious Studies and Director of the Religious Studies Program at the University of Wyoming. Flesher helped establish the International Organization for Targumic Study and is the founding editor of Studies in the Aramaic Interpretation of Scripture. He lives in Laramie, Wyoming.

Bruce Chilton is Bernard Iddings Bell Professor of Religion at Bard College in Annandale, New York. His previous books include The Glory of Israel, Targumic Approaches to the Gospels, and A Galilean Rabbi and His Bible.

Table of Contents

Preface

Acknowledgments

List of Abbreviations

Section I: Getting Started

1 Introduction

2 Defining Targum

3 The Seven Rules of Targum

4 Rabbinic Literature

Section II: The Pentateuchal Targums

5 Pentateuchal Targums: The Basics

6 Sources of the Palestinian Targums

7 Targum Onqelos and the Targums of Israel

8 The Pentateuchal Targums in Rabbinic Literature

9 Dating the Targums of Israel

Section III: The Targums of the Prophets and the Writings

10 Targum Jonathan of the Prophets: Its Development as Revealed by the Targum of Isaiah

11 Targum Jonathan: Former and Latter Prophets

12 Targums to the Writings

Section IV: The Targums in Late-Antique Judaism

13 Aramaic in Judaism

14 Targums and Translation in the History of Rabbinic Literature

15 Targum as Scripture and Hidden Interpretation

16 Ancient Scripture Translations

Section V: The Targums and Early Christianity

17 Comparing the Targums and the New Testament

18 The Aramaic Retroversion of Jesus Sayings

19 The Fourth Gospel and Targumic Memra

Section VI: Conclusions and Prospects

20 Genesis 22 in the Targumim and in Early Jewish and Christian Interpretation

21 Targums in the Rabbinic World and Beyond

Appendix A: The Parallel Expansions of Genesis 28-50

Appendix B: A Guide to Babylonian Pointing

Glossary

Bibliography

Index

What People are Saying About This

Chilton and Flesher have finally given us the critical introduction to the Targums that has been needed for decades. The Targums is an excellent book that defines and explains these important Aramaic translations of Hebrew Scripture with with nuance and insight. Anyone interested in biblical interpretation—Jewish or Christian—must read this book. I recommend it with enthusiasm.

Craig A. Evans

Chilton and Flesher have finally given us the critical introduction to the Targums that has been needed for decades. The Targums is an excellent book that defines and explains these important Aramaic translations of Hebrew Scripture with with nuance and insight. Anyone interested in biblical interpretation—Jewish or Christian—must read this book. I recommend it with enthusiasm.

Bernard Grossfeld

Targum, the ancient Aramaic Bible version, bridges the gap between the Biblical and Rabbinic texts. In a critical sense, it is a valuable witness to the Hebrew text itself. A general work on the Targum has been a desiderata for a long time, and this work fits this need admirably. This book will prove to be invaluable to students of religion, Biblical scholars, students of the Ancient Near East, of Semitic linguistics, and those interested in Rabbinics and the early history of Christianity.

Dr. Martin McNamara

The most complete and up-to-date introduction to Targums, with clear presentation of current research, of issues involved, including Targums and the New Testament, and a rich bibliography. An outstanding achievement. Highly recommended.

Editorial Reviews

Indeed, it is a desideratum for future research, after reading this excellent Critical Introduction to the Targums, that biblical scholars and students should find themselves reading a similar work that will do the same kind of justice to the scope and depth of the Arabic tarjamat in years to come.

Journal of Theological Studies - Meira Polliack

... a truly monumental resource for the study of the Targums.

Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society - Daniel M. Gurtner

"Chilton and Flesher have finally given us the critical introduction to the Targums that has been needed for decades. The Targums is an excellent book that defines and explains these important Aramaic translations of Hebrew Scripture with with nuance and insight. Anyone interested in biblical interpretation--Jewish or Christian--must read this book. I recommend it with enthusiasm."

--Craig A. Evans, Payzant Distinguished Professor of New Testament, Acadia Divinity College, Nova Scotia, Canada

"Targum, the ancient Aramaic Bible version, bridges the gap between the Biblical and Rabbinic texts. In a critical sense, it is a valuable witness to the Hebrew text itself. A general work on the Targum has been a desiderata for a long time, and this work fits this need admirably. This book will prove to be invaluable to students of religion, Biblical scholars, students of the Ancient Near East, of Semitic linguistics, and those interested in Rabbinics and the early history of Christianity."

Bernard Grossfeld, Professor Emeritus, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Adjunct Professor of Hebrew and Aramaic, Spertus College of Judaica

"The most complete and up-to-date introduction to Targums, with clear presentation of current research, of issues involved, including Targums and the New Testament, and a rich bibliography. An outstanding achievement. Highly recommended."

--Dr. Martin McNamara, Emeritus Professor of Scripture, Milltown Institute, Dublin, Ireland

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