Textual Critical Problems Of The Old Testament - 845 Words

Deuteronomy 32:8 and Genesis 49:10 are two examples of textual critical problems in the Old Testament. The phrase â€Å"sons of God† will be examined in Deuteronomy 32:8, and the word â€Å"Shiloh† in Genesis 49:10. These issues have caused much debate as to how one should interpret these verses in light of the textual critical problems. This paper will examine both passages and provide solutions to each of the textual critical issues. Deuteronomy 32:8 Deuteronomy 32:8 has caused controversy because of the phrase × Ã—™×”×Å"×  ×™×  Ã—‘ or × Ã—™×Å"×  ×™×  Ã—‘ â€Å"sons of God.† Some have postulated that this reading renders the Israelite religion to be polytheistic instead of monotheistic. Therefore, translators have changed the Scripture to read â€Å"sons of Israel† (NIV, NASB), â€Å"children of Israel† (KJV), or â€Å"people of Israel† (HCSB). Dr. Heiser has persuasively argued that the translation â€Å"sons of God† is the correct reading of the original Hebrew text, and should be translated that way in our English Bibles for a number of reasons. A few examples will be examined to show that â€Å"sons of God† is the correct translation of Deuteronomy 32:8. First, manuscript evidence is crucial when interpreting a text that has caused there to be textual criticism. There are more manuscripts that interpret Deuteronomy 32:8 to read â€Å"sons of Israel,† but that does not mean that should be the correct translation. Dr. Heiser makes it clear that one cannot determine the meaning of a text by the number of manuscripts. One must evaluateShow MoreRelatedEssay on The Old Testament Law1260 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction The Old Testament law is seen as irrelevant by most modern Christians today. Christians are now under the blood of Jesus Christ, which is said to abrogate the Law. 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