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 509
research culminated in two large publications: an edition of the
commentary of Theodore of Mopsuestia on the Psalms in 1939 and
an extensive essay on Theodore, published in 1948 (22).
In an article published in 1930, Devreesse attended to the question
of the sources for the reconstruction of the commentaries of
Theodore (23). In this article he responded to an article of Vosté
published in two instalments in 1929 (24). For this study Vosté’s section
on the Psalms is especially important (25). He began by referring to the
well-known statement of Leontius of Byzantium that Theodore had
rejected the headings of the Psalms and that he had linked the
interpretation of the Psalms to the Jews, especially Zerubbabel and
Hezekiah and he connected only three Psalms to Christ (26).
In 1939 Devreesse published a very important edition of the
commentary of Theodore on the Psalms (27). This was an attempt to
reconstruct Psalms 1-80 from various sources. This publication of the
commentary was very important for the study of the headings in the
East Syriac tradition. Theodore had had a summary of his exegesis as
an introduction to the commentary on each Psalm. The East Syriac
headings had on these introductions been based. This edition
contained only Psalm 1-80.
In his extensive work on the works and approach of Theodore,
Devreesse discussed the commentary on the Psalms in detail (28).
Most of the Psalms had been linked to historical circumstances in the
life of David or the people of the Old Testament, such as the time of
Hezekiah and the siege of Jerusalem, the Babylonian exile or the era
of the Maccabees (29). He regarded David as the author of all the
sur les Psaumes (Suite)â€, RB 38 (1929) 35-62 and “Par quelles voies nous sont
parvenus les Commentaires de Théodore de Mopsueste?â€, RB 39 (1930) 362-377.
(22) R. DEVREESSE, Le Commentaire de Theodore de Mopsueste sur les
Psaumes 1-80 (Studi e Testi 93; Rome 1939) and Essai sur Thèodore de
Mopsueste (Studi e Testi 141; Rome 1948).
(23) DEVREESSE, “Par quelle voiesâ€, 362-377.
(24) J.M. VOSTÉ, “L’oeuvre exégétique de Théodore de Mopsueste au IIe
Concile de Constantinopleâ€, RB 38 (1929) 382-395 and “L’oeuvre exégétique
de Théodore de Mopsueste au IIe Concile de Constantinople (Fin)â€, RB 38
(1929) 542-554.
(25) VOSTÉ, “L’oeuvre exégétique (Fin)â€, 542-553.
(26) VOSTÉ, “L’oeuvre exégétique (Fin)â€, 542.
(27) DEVREESSE, Commentaire.
(28) DEVREESSE, Essai.
(29) DEVREESSE, Essai, 69-70.
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