| dc.description.abstract | Five chapters of Peshitta Chronicles have been examined,
I Chronicles 1-3, 10; II Chronicles 19.
While there are occasional links there is no evidence of any
powerful impact from Septuagint or Vulgate.
Apart from a few textual contacts there is no real sign of influence
from the Chronicles Targum, which we possess in three manuscripts.
This Targum is a filter for many of the exegetical traditions found
elsewhere, the Targumist using various exegetical techniques to bring
out the meaning of the text, with alterations and expansions of varying
length. Occasionally there is a quality of lateness about the Targum
whose final redaction seems to be considerably post Babylonian Talmud.
Perhaps there was no influence on Peshitta Chronicles from our
Chronicles Targum because the latter did not exist when the former
was translated.
Peshitta Chronicles seems to be based on Massoretic Text which it
reproduces sometimes faithfully, sometimes badly, with gaps in the
text. There is some paraphrasing, a small number of Jewish 'set expressions'
and, especially in unparalleled passages, strange departures
from the text. If we accept a very broad definition of 'Targum', this
could be called a Targum. Otherwise it is a mediocre translation of
the Hebrew text, made by someone from a poor text or with a poor know-
ledge of Hebrew but with a feeling for Syriac style, from a Jewish
background. This translation was later revised with help from parallel
passages especially Samuel.
If Chronicles was overshadowed by Samuel-Kings in Judaism and in
the early Church, this may have resulted in a loss of popularity leading
to neglect which would account for the low translation quality
and the careless way in which the text has been transmitted.
An attempt to get closer to the 'original Syriac' through an
Armenian text did not prove very rewarding. | en |
