Damsma, A.;
(2008)
An analysis of Targum Ezekiel and its relationship to the Targumic Toseftot.
Doctoral thesis , UCL (University College London).
Abstract
This study focuses on Targum Ezekiel and its additional liturgical and alternative readings, the so-called Targumic Toseftot, as well as their mutual dependency. The seemingly distinctive position of Targum Ezekiel within the corpus of Targum Jonathan to the Prophets is examined, with special attention for its rendering of key terms, such as ben-’adam, the approach to anthropomorphism, Merkabah mysticism, and Messianism. On the strength of the findings it is argued that Targum Ezekiel’s translational strategy is not at odds with the rest of Targum Jonathan. Neither has the Targum emerged in circles other than those which produced the rest of the corpus, nor has it been subjected to an overall revision. In addition, both critical text and translation of the Targumic Toseftot to Ezekiel are provided, accompanied by an analysis of their contents, with special reference to the long segments of unique mystical lore that are preserved in the Targumic Toseftot to Ezekiel 1, the mysterious prelude to the Book of Ezekiel, which describes the prophet’s vision of the divine ‘throne-chariot’. It transpires that this unique material sheds light on a relatively dark chapter in the reception history of early Jewish mysticism, being closely related to Hekhalot literature, and to the Shi‘ur Qomah tradition in particular, with implications for the latter’s dating. It is furthermore established that the intriguing mixture of Aramaic dialect use that characterizes the Targumic Toseftot to Ezekiel as a whole bears strong resemblances with Late Jewish Literary Aramaic, the literary dialect of Targum Pseudo-Jonathan to the Pentateuch and the Targums to the Writings, which is dated to the Geonic period.
Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
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Title: | An analysis of Targum Ezekiel and its relationship to the Targumic Toseftot |
Language: | English |
Additional information: | Authorisation for digitisation not received |
UCL classification: | UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > Faculty of Arts and Humanities > Dept of Hebrew and Jewish Studies |
URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/16754 |
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