8-25-23 The Septuagint Vs. the Masoretic Text, Part II

The Septuagint Vs. the Masoretic Text, Part II :: By Randy Nettles Published on: November 1, 2022 by Admin10 Category:General Articles After the destruction of the First Temple in approximately 586 BC, the religious leaders of Judah split into several groups, each with their own Torah text. The rabbis took the Proto-Masoretic text of the Torah, and the Samaritans took theirs, which was called the Samaritan Pentateuch. The Qumran community had assembled texts of different types that were written (throughout the following centuries) by a religious sect which most scholars believe were the Essenes. These documents would be found hundreds of centuries later and are now known as the Dead Sea Scrolls. They were written in both Hebrew and Greek. In 250 BC, a Hebrew version of the Torah was translated into Greek and would later be used by the early Christians. This came to be known as the Septuagint or LXX text of the Torah. The other books of the Tanakh would be added over time. As I said in part 1 of this article, while most of the differences between the Masoretic, Septuagint, and Samaritan texts are minor word or phrase variations and sentence structures, a few are quite significant. It is not in the scope of this article to examine all of these scripture discrepancies. Instead, we will only be concentrating on the numbers given in the genealogies and chronologies of the antediluvian and post-flood patriarchs found in Genesis 5 and 11. The differences in the chronology are quite significant as the Septuagint text has a date for the creation of mankind of 5640 BC (some say 5540 BC by way of later recensions). The Samaritan Pentateuch has a date of approximately 4475 BC. The Masoretic text has a date of 4175 BC (some say 3960 BC, depending on different interpretations of Exodus 12:40). The religious Jewish calendar based on the Seder Olam has a date of 3760 BC for the creation. In this article, we will only examine the Septuagint (LXX) and Masoretic (MT) versions. Genesis 5 gives the genealogy from Adam to Noah and his three sons. For each antediluvian that is mentioned, age is given for three events in their lives: when they had their son (in the lineage leading to Noah), years lived after their son’s birth, and total years lived. Let’s look at an example in the MT. In some English translations, it reads, “When Seth had lived 105 years, he became the father of Enosh. After he became the father of Enosh, Seth lived 807 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Seth lived a total of 912 years, and then he died” (Genesis 5:6 – NIV translation). Some translations say “he begat (begot) Enosh” or “he became the father of Enosh.” The Hebrew word for this term is (way·yō·w·leḏ) which can also mean “to show lineage.” We know Seth was the third son of Adam, after Cain and Abel, and we know Adam, as well as the other patriarchs (both before and after the flood), had children after the designated son mentioned in scripture. The only other patriarchs that we know for sure that had children before the designated son is Noah and Terah. I am assuming the others are all firstborn sons. The wording in scripture is rather vague on this issue as it only says, “and had other sons and daughters.” Does this mean the other patriarchs only had other children after the designated one and none before? Ten antediluvian patriarchs are mentioned in this lineage from Adam to Noah (inclusive reckoning). Genesis 6 describes the wickedness of the earth during the antediluvian age. Genesis 7 describes the Great Flood. Genesis 11 gives the genealogies of Noah’s son, Shem. In this article, we are only concerned with Shem’s descendants, as this is the lineage that begot Abraham, David, and Jesus. Noah and his family (and the animals) exited the ark in 1657 AM (Anno Mundi- the year of creation), according to the Masoretic Text. 1 Chronicles 1:24-34 also gives the genealogies of Shem through Abraham, as well as Isaac and Jacob (Israel). The four charts shown below represent the Genesis 5 and 11 genealogies for both the Masoretic (MT) and Septuagint (LXX) texts. The first two (MT and LXX) reckon the chronology from the year of creation (Anno Mundi), and the next two (MT and LXX) reckon the chronology from the BC-AD calendar year. The starting point can be determined from a fixed point in history that most scholars can agree on, such as the Exodus in 1446 BC or the destruction of the first Jewish Temple in 586 BC, etc. The years of the Septuagint charts were determined by an English translation of the Septuagint Bible found at Read the Septuagint Bible w/ Apocrypha Free Online (biblestudytools.com). It basically coincides with the earliest LXX manuscript known as the Septuagint Vaticanus MS (see below). ANNO MUNDI – YEAR FROM CREATION CHARTS MASORETIC TEXT CHART Patriarch Life Birth Death Son Adam 930 0 930 AM 130 Seth 912 130 AM 1042 AM 105 Enosh 905 235 AM 1140 AM 90 Cainan 910 325 AM 1235 AM 70 Mahalalel 895 395 AM 1290 AM 65 Jared 962 460 AM 1422 AM 162 Enoch* 365 622 AM 987 AM 65 Methuselah 969 687 AM 1656 AM 187 Lamech 777 874 AM 1651 AM 182 Noah 950 1056 AM 1954 AM 502 Flood 1 YR. 1656 AM 1657 AM Shem 600 1558 AM 2159 AM 100 Arphaxad 438 1658 AM 2097 AM 35 Salah 433 1693 AM 2127 AM 30 Eber 464 1723 AM 2188 AM 34 Peleg 239 1757 AM 1997 AM 30 Reu 239 1787 AM 2027 AM 32 Serug 230 1819 AM 2050 AM 30 Nahor 148 1849 AM 1998 AM 29 Terah 205 1878 AM 2084 AM 130 Abram 175 2008 AM 2184 AM 100 Isaac 180 2108 AM 2289 AM 60 Jacob 147 2168 AM 2316 AM 90 *Enoch was raptured and did not see death. SEPTUAGINT TEXT CHART Patriarch Life Birth Death Son Adam 930 0 930 AM 230 Seth 912 230 AM 1142 AM 205 Enosh 905 435 AM 1340 AM 190 Cainan 910 625 AM 1535 AM 170 Mahalalel 895 795 AM 1690 AM 165 Jared 962 960 AM 1922 AM 162 Enoch* 365 1122 AM 1487 AM 165 Methuselah 969 1287 AM 2256 AM 167 Lamech 753 1454 AM 2207 AM 188 Noah 950 1642 AM 2592 AM 502 Flood 1 YR. 2242 AM 2243 AM Shem 600 2144 AM 2744 AM 100 Arphaxad 535 2244 AM 2779 AM 135 Cainan* 460 2379 AM 2839 AM 130 Salah 460 2509 AM 2969 AM 130 Eber 404 2639 AM 3043 AM 134 Peleg 339 2773 AM 3112 AM 130 Reu 339 2903 AM 3242 AM 132 Serug 330 3035 AM 3365 AM 130 Nahor 304 3165 AM 3469 AM 179 Terah 205 3334 AM 3549 AM 130 Abram 175 3474 AM 3649 AM 100 Isaac 180 3574 AM 3754 AM 60 Jacob 147 3634 AM 3781 AM 90 *Enoch was raptured and did not see death. *Cainan’s genealogy is not listed in the Masoretic text. BC-AD CALENDAR YEAR CHARTS MASORETIC TEXT CHART Patriarch Life Birth Death Son Adam 930 4174 BC 3264 BC 130 Seth 912 4044 BC 3132 BC 105 Enosh 905 3939 BC 3034 BC 90 Cainan 910 3849 BC 2939 BC 70 Mahalalel 895 3779 BC 2884 BC 65 Jared 962 3714 BC 2752 BC 162 Enoch* 365 3552 BC 3187 BC 65 Methuselah 969 3487 BC 2528 BC 187 Lamech 777 3300 BC 2523 BC 182 Noah 950 3118 BC 2168 BC 502 Flood 1 YR. 2518 BC 2517 BC Shem 600 2616 BC 2016 BC 100 Arphaxad 438 2516 BC 2078 BC 35 Salah 433 2481 BC 2048 BC 30 Eber 464 2451 BC 1987 BC 34 Peleg 239 2417 BC 2178 BC 30 Reu 239 2387 BC 2148 BC 32 Serug 230 2355 BC 2125 BC 30 Nahor 148 2325 BC 2377 BC 29 Terah 205 2296 BC 2091 BC 130 Abram 175 2166 BC 1991 BC 100 Isaac 180 2066 BC 1886 BC 60 Jacob 147 2006 BC 1859 BC 90 *Enoch was raptured and did not see death. SEPTUAGINT TEXT CHART Patriarch Life Birth Death Son Adam 930 5640 BC 4710 BC 230 Seth 912 5410 BC 4498 BC 205 Enosh 905 5205 BC 4300 BC 190 Cainan 910 5015 BC 4095 BC 170 Mahalalel 895 4845 BC 3950 BC 165 Jared 962 4680 BC 3718 BC 162 Enoch* 365 4518 BC 4153 BC 165 Methuselah 969 4353 BC 3384 BC 167 Lamech 753 4186 BC 3433 BC 188 Noah 950 3998 BC 3048 BC 502 Flood 1 YR. 3398 BC 3397 BC Shem 600 3496 BC 2896 BC 100 Arphaxad 535 3396 BC 2861 BC 135 Cainan* 460 3261 BC 2801 BC 130 Salah 460 3131 BC 2671 BC 130 Eber 404 3001 BC 2597 BC 134 Peleg 339 2867 BC 2528 BC 130 Reu 339 2737 BC 2398 BC 132 Serug 330 2605 BC 2275 BC 130 Nahor 304 2475 BC 2171 BC 179 Terah 205 2296 BC 2091 BC 130 Abram 175 2166 BC 1991 BC 100 Isaac 180 2066 BC 1886 BC 60 Jacob 147 2006 BC 1859 BC 90 *Enoch was raptured and did not see death. *Cainan’s genealogy is not listed in the Masoretic text. THE CHRONOLOGY OF GENESIS 5 AND 11 In the Hebrew Masoretic Text of Genesis 5, there are 1,656 years from the creation of Adam to the Flood (the Flood lasted for 1 year). In Genesis 11, there are 352 years from the Flood to the birth of Abram/Abraham. There are 2,008 total years from Adam to the birth of Abram. In the Greek Septuagint text (LXX) of Genesis 5, there are 2,242 years from the creation of Adam to the Flood. If you notice the above LXX charts, they show Methuselah dying 14 years after the Flood. Obviously, this is an error that is corrected with a revised LXX manuscript later in history (see below). In Genesis 11, there are 1,232 years from the Flood to the birth of Abraham. There are 3,474 total years from Adam to the birth of Abram. Regarding the chronology of the antediluvian and postdiluvian patriarchs, there are 1,466 years of difference between the MT and the LXX texts. The chronology of the LXX is nearly a millennia and a half longer than the MT. Starting with the birth of Terah, the biblical timeframes for both the MT and LXX match. No matter if you start the creation of Adam and Eve at 4174 BC (MT) or 5640 BC (LXX), both texts come together, chronologically speaking, at the birth of Terah in 2296 BC. Genesis 11:32 says that Terah died when he was 205 years old, and he died in Haran. Genesis 12:4 says that Abraham was 75 years old when he departed from Haran, so that means Terah was 130 years old when Abraham was born. According to the MT and LXX, Terah was born in 2296 BC, Abram was born in 2166 BC, Isaac in 2066 BC, and Jacob in 2006 BC. Jacob and his family moved to Egypt in 1876 BC. According to Exodus 12:20, the children of Israel were in Egypt for 430 years. That would place the Exodus in 1446 BC. The 430 years in Egypt are known as the “long sojourn.” However, the Septuagint version adds “and in Cainan,” so that would only be 215 years in Egypt. This is known as the “short sojourn.” For the purpose of this article, we will go by the long sojourn. For the dates of the “short sojourn” chronology, deduct 215 years or go to https://www.raptureready.com/2021/07/04/chronology-of-mankind-6000-years-of-history/ for more information. 1 Kings 6:1 says, “And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month; that he began to build the house of the Lord” (1 Kings 6:1). 480 years minus 1446 BC is 966 BC. That was the year Solomon began to build the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. This is as far as we will take this chronology study. See the above link for further Biblical chronology. AGE DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN THE SEPTUAGINT AND MASORETIC TEXTS The numerical differences found in the three textual witnesses of the genealogies of Genesis 5 and 11 (MT, LXX, and the Samaritan Pentateuch) have been the subject of debate and controversy for at least seventeen centuries. Each textual interpretation yields a different chronology from the creation of Adam to the birth of Abraham, as you can tell by the charts above. I have listed the individual differences found in the MT and LXX below. As I said before, when you add them up, the difference is 1,466 years. Evidently, one of them has to be wrong. More on this later. LIFE SPAN DISCREPANCIES Patriarch Masoretic Septuagint Lamech 777 years 753 years* Arphaxad 438 years 535 years* Cainan (2nd) not mentioned 460 years Salah 433 years 460 years* Eber 464 years 404 years* Peleg 239 years 339 years Reu 239 years 339 years Serug 230 years 330 years Nahor 148 years 304 years* PATERNAL AGE DISCREPANCIES Patriarch Masoretic Septuagint Adam 130 years 230 years Seth 105 years 205 years Enosh 90 years 190 years Cainan 70 years 170 years Mahalalel 65 years 165 years Enoch 65 years 165 years Methuselah 187 years 167 years* Lamech 182 years 188 years Arphaxad 35 years 135 years Salah 30 years 130 years Eber 34 years 134 years Peleg 30 years 130 years Reu 32 years 132 years Serug 30 years 130 years Nahor 29 years 179 years* *Indicates changes made in future LXX manuscripts The majority of the time-span differences in both categories amount to 100 years longer for the patriarchs recorded in the LXX. Regarding the life span category for Genesis 5, there is only one discrepancy, and that is Lamech, which doesn’t amount to that much (6 years). However, there are eight discrepancies in the Genesis 11 account. Regarding the paternal age (begotten) category, there are eight discrepancies in the Genesis 5 genealogy and seven in the Genesis 11 genealogy. Some of these differences can be attributed to scribal errors that occurred when new copies were being made from the manuscript texts that were being used at the time, but some of them seem to be intentional. This is called a recension, where a deliberate editorial revision of a text is made. It appears either the LXX was intentionally inflated to create a longer chronology, or the MT was deflated to give a shorter chronology. There have been many theories on why this was done, and you can find plenty of them online (for either side), but we will refrain from doing that with this article. In comparison with the manuscript evidence for both the Hebrew text and the Samaritan Pentateuch, for which textual variants (specifically chronogenealogies) are absent, the LXX doesn’t fare as well. There are several major uncial manuscripts (MSS) of the Greek LXX from the 4-5th century AD. The oldest MS is that of the Vatican Library called Vaticanus and was written in the 4th century AD. Another old MS we have available is the 5th-century Alexandrinus Codex. Both manuscripts contain the majority of the Greek Old Testament and the majority of the Greek New Testament. By the time the Alexandrinus Codex (and possibly others) of the LXX was written, there were several changes made to the chronogenealogies, as I noted above with the asterisk symbol (*). Arphaxad’s age at death was changed from 535 to 565 years. Salah’s lifespan age was changed from 460 to 533 years. Eber’s total age was changed from 404 to 504 years. Nahor’s total age was changed from 304 to 208 years. Regarding the begotten ages of the patriarchs, Methuselah’s age was changed from 167 to 187 years. Nahor’s age was changed from 179 to 79 years. By inflating Methuselah’s age by 20 years, it pushed the year of the flood back 20 years. The result was Methuselah dying six years before the flood and Lamech 35 years. This Alexandrinus MSS recension corrects the mistake of the earlier manuscript, which had Methuselah dying after the flood. Some recensions have the begotten age for Methuselah at 182 years, which would mean Methuselah died the same year of the flood, similar to the MT. The Samaritan Pentateuch’s genealogies for Genesis 5 are basically the same as the MT for the begotten ages except for Jared, Methuselah, and Lamech. They are deflated by 100, 120, and 135 years respectively. Their lifespans are different as well. Jared’s has been deflated by 65 years, Methuselah’s by 249 years, and Lamech’s by 124 years. This would place both Methuselah and Lamech dying the year of the flood in 1615 AM (anno mundi). Another unique feature of the LXX is the introduction of a Cainan in the list of generations in Genesis 11. After Shem and Arpachshad, a second Cainan is listed who lived 460 years and who was 130 years old when his firstborn son was born. This Cainan does not appear in the Hebrew text, nor is he found in the Samaritan Pentateuch, Vulgate, or Syriac versions. Josephus does not have him listed either. However, he is found in the Book of Jubilees. Whereas the LXX gives the figure of 130 as the age of Cainan at the time of the firstborn, the Book of Jubilees assumes the figure of 57 years. Although there have been numerous speculations, the mystery of this Cainan remains largely unresolved. It appears the LXX needs this patriarch in the lineage to acquire the 2166 BC date for Abraham’s birth. In the next part, we will examine some of the many explanations or reasons why one of these manuscript texts was either inflated or deflated. Randy Nettles rgeanie55@gmail.com