A Critical Edition of the Hexaplaric Fragments of Genesis

Abstract

The aim of this project is to present an updated critical edition of the hexaplaric fragments for the book of Genesis. The reconstruction, nevertheless, will not be presented in its columnar order, which Origen originally organized. This reconstruction will follow the project format that has been prescribed by the Hexapla Project editorial board. In chapter 1, this dissertation presents its methodology, project format, a brief history of hexapla research, and contributions to the Hexapla Project in the recent research. Although this dissertation relies heavily upon the primary sources in Wevers Göttingen edition of Genesis in 1974, chapter 2 also provides new materials for the book of Genesis. 17 Greek manuscripts— 68, 83, 126, 350, 373, 374, 394, 431, 461, 483, 552, 628, 633, 651, 666, 691, 723 —are included and analyzed in this chapter. Six new papyri—879, 883, 886, 891, 894, 929 —are also examined to determine whether their existences contain hexaplaric fragments. Contributions from 10 Armenian manuscripts— 26, 33, 40, 42, 57, 65, 121, 143, 153, 224 —are also included in this chapter since they provide Aristarchian signs. Princeton Syriac manuscript will be used as well. This chapter also incorporates the works of Françoise Petit, a four-volume critical edition of the catena manuscripts of Genesis and the edition of the Catena Graecae in Genesim et in Exodum. Her work contributes to this dissertation in providing a Petersburg manuscript (628). In addition to Greek catenae manuscripts, there are some Greek commentaries that benefit this project. First, Theodoret of Cyrus’s Quaestiones in Genesim, which contained fifty-three sources, contributes to the number of readings and the works of Prokop von Gaza by Karin Metzler. An ancient Armenian and Syriac translation of Eusebius of Emesa’s commentary on Genesis is also incorporated as new materials since the publication of Wevers’ edition. An Armenian commentary on Genesis by Ephrem, the Syrian, will offer an additional information. The reading from Theophilos von Antiochia will be evaluated as well. At the end of this chapter, we provide the stemma of Greek manuscripts. Chapter 3 presents the critical text. The Hebrew (BHS) and Greek text (Wevers’ edition) is laid out first. Then, the hexaplaric reading is presented in a larger font. The first apparatus (Wit 1) of this critical edition consists of the primary hexaplaric witnesses. The second apparatus (Wit 2), which is based on the apparat I of the Wevers’ edition, consists of the manuscripts transmitting the text of the LXX that have been corrupted by hexaplaric readings. The third apparatus (Attr) enlists the sources that contain variant attributions from the lemma. The fourth apparatus (Var) helps readers to notice variants or different hexaplaric readings. All of the non-Greek sources (NonGr) cover the hexaplaric materials in Latin, Syriac, and Armenian text. The last apparatus (Notes) consists of observation and explanations of the variant readings on the previous five apparatuses. Since this project covers the whole book of Genesis (50 chapters), we will focus on translation technique and textual criticism. Other factors will be consulted and included if necessary. If the readings are dubious as hexaplaric readings, then these readings will be placed and discussed in chapter 4. Notes will discuss every word in the Hexapla. Chapter 4 enlists the dubious hexaplaric reading. This chapter contains some of anonymous fragments that could not be identified whether these fragments were hexaplaric readings or not. Therefore, this chapter lists all these fragments for a future research to examine their relationship to the Hexapla. Chapter 5 summarizes this project. This chapter lists the new hexaplaric readings, new sources, and new variants, the Aristarchian signs, and the corrections to Göttingen Edition of Genesis.