H.F. van Rooy, «The Headings of the Psalms in the East Syriac Tradition Reconsidered», Vol. 89 (2008) 505-525
In the first half of the previous century the headings of the Psalms in the East Syriac tradition received a lot of attention, with important contributions by scholars such as Devreesse and Vosté. In 1960 Bloemendaal published an edition of these headings. Since 1960 a number of important new manuscripts became available, as well as a translation of the commentary of Theodore and a translation of the commentary of Diodore on the first fifty Psalms. This paper deals with the light shed on the history of the East Syrian headings particularly by two manuscripts not available to Bloemendaal. The examples discussed lead one to the conclusion that 6t1, used by Bloemendaal, must not be regarded as the paradigmatic witness in all instances.
The Headings of the Psalms
in the East Syriac Tradition Reconsidered
In the first half of the previous century the headings of the Psalms in
the East Syriac tradition received a lot of attention, continuing a
tradition initiated by the work of Baethgen at the end of the Nineteenth
Century. Important contributions were made by scholars such as
Devreesse and Vosté. In the research the relationship between these
headings and the Psalms Commentary of Theodore of Mopsuestia
received special attention. In 1960 Bloemendaal published an edition
of these headings (1). He used the oldest manuscript containing the
Eastern heading as the basic manuscript for his diplomatic edition. This
is manuscript 6t1 according to the notation used for the Leiden edition
of the Peshitta of the Old Testament (2). Since the publication of
Bloemendaal’s dissertation not much has been published on these
headings. However, since 1960 a number of important new
manuscripts became available, as well as a translation of the
commentary of Theodore and a translation of the commentary of
Diodore on the first fifty Psalms (3). This paper will deal with the light
shed on the history of the East Syrian headings particularly by two
manuscripts not available to Bloemendaal. Manuscript 12t4 contains at
least four sets of headings for each Psalm, including the heading
(1) W. BLOEMENDAAL, The Headings of the Psalms in the East Syrian
Church (Leiden 1960).
(2) Cf. PESHITTA INSTITUTE, List of Old Testament Peshitta Manuscripts
(Preliminary Issue) (Leiden 1961). This notation will be used for the
manuscripts studied in this article. In addition to the manuscripts, three editions
containing the Psalms with Eastern headings are referred to as well. They are
the following: ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY’S MISSION, Mazmôrâ deDawîd,
Urmia, 1891 (Urmia Psalter = UP); C.J. DAVID – G. EBED-JESUS-KHAYYAT
(eds.), Biblia Sacra juxta Versionem Simplicem quae dicitur Pschitta (Mosul
1887-1891) (republished with correction of mistakes by J.-M. VOSTÉ, Beirut
1951) (= M); J. PERKINS, KetËbâ qaddîπâ hËn(aw): dediyatîqî cattîqtâ sûryË’ît
wepuπâ demen cebrË’ît (Urmia 1852) (reprint Trinitarian Bible Society; London
1954) (= U).
(3) R.C. HILL, Diodore of Tarsus. Commentary on Psalms 1-51 (Writings
from the Greco-Roman World 9) (Atlanta, GA 2005), and Theodore of
Mopsuestia. Commentary on Psalms 1-81 (Writings from the Greco-Roman
World 5) (Atlanta, GA 2006).