Lectionary Year B
July 16, 2003
Acts 17:22-31

Step I: Initial Acquaintance/Rough Translation

A. Comparing Translations

(JFC) The English Standard Version of 2001 and the New English Translation of 1996 differ some, as indicated in these notes:

2b it was you who led out and brought in Israel. - ESV
you were Israel's general. - NET

9c from the Millo inward. - ESV
from the terrace inwards. - NET

10 And David became greater and greater, for the LORD, the God of hosts, - ESV
David's power steadily grew, for the Lord God who leads armies - NET

B. Textural Criticism

(JFC) 1 For laer'f.yI yjeb.vi-lK' WaboY"w:, "coming" or " arriving", it is suggested to read, laer'f.yI yjeb.vi-lK' Wcb.Q'Yiw:, with I Chorinicles 11:1, "gathered" or "collected' in place of the more common terms, for what reason remains unexplained other than to parallel the Book of Chronicles, which seems suspect at this point. As the study proceeds, we'll see. Then Chronicles and the Vulgate omit, Wrm.aYOw:, while several manuscripts read, woooool wrmayw, which might clarify the sentence's meaning here, but would be a bit longer and therefore possibly not original. 2 More significantly, it is suggested we read with Qere for ybiMeh;w. ayciAm ht'yiyIih', conferring with Chronicles, ybiMeh;w. ayciAMh; tiyyihe'` htyiyh. Longer yet possibly clearer might make it more nearly original, we need more data to decide, so, later. 4 For ~y[iB'r>a;, the number 40, it is suggested we read with 14 other manuscripts, ~y[iB'r>a;w., which seems necessary for smoother reading. Did these authors try to write readable reports of such events of significance? Were they at all literarily advanced?

C. Rough Translation

(JFC) 1 And came all the tribes of Israel to David at Hebron and said saying, "Your bone and your body (are) we." 2 Even formerly heretofore in past times in the happening of Saul's (being) the king over us you became to go forward and exit and in and out to come to pass Israel and Yahweh said to you, "You shall shepherd my people Israel and you shall be (the) leader/ruler of Israel." 3 And came all the elders of Israel to the king at Hebron and he cut with them King David a covenant in Hebron before Yahweh and king they anointed David king over Israel. 4 And a son of thirty years (was) David to become king [qal, infinitive] forty years he reigned [qal, perfect]. 5 In Hebron he reigned [qal, perfect] over Judah seven years and six months and over Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah. 9 And lived David in the stronghold and he called it a city of David and built David in a circuit from a rampart/mound Millo to a house. 10 And was going [qal, imperfect] David and to go [qal, infinitive] to grow [qal, infinitive] and Yahweh God of hosts besides.



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