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.
518 H.F. van Rooy
In Psalm 77, 6t1, as well as 13t2, has nwhYNcLw*) (oppres-
sions) for nwhY*cwL) (oppressors) in the other manuscripts.
In Psalm 84, 6t1 and 12t4 have htYK*wdB for )tKwdB of the
other manuscripts (He makes known about the return of the people and
that they eagerly observed the place of the temple after their return and
they remembered the former things and marvelled at them).
In Psalm 94, the majority of manuscripts read in the middle of
the heading oYNtMd (He prophesies about the people in Babylon
who told their sufferings which they experienced during the time of
their captivity). 18>8dt1, together with 13t1 and 13t4, has oYNtMw,
while only 6t1 has l( )(t$Mw (and narrated about). The reading
of 18>8dt1 is problematic, because of the change of subject.
At the beginning of Psalm 124, 6t1 has l( )M(L )NtM
htwKz (the l before )M( has been left out in error), while the other
manuscripts have )M(d htwKz l( )NbtM (He prophesies about
the acquittal of the people by God after their return, that they
prevailed over their enemies in their surroundings when they
assembled against them).
In these instances the heading of 6t1 should not necessarily be
taken as closer to the original.
5. 6t1 has a variant that situates the Psalm differently
In Psalm 20, 6t1 has the verb ycpt) (to be delivered), while the
other manuscripts have cL)t) (to be tormented).
The heading of Psalm 41 refers to the sickness (hNhrwK) of
Hezekiah in 6t1. This is the reading of the majority of the witnesses
as well. However, 18>8dt1, 12t1, 12t4 and M25 refer to his affliction
(hNcLw)). In the commentary of Theodore reference is made to his
illness in this Psalm (59), making it possible that 6t1 retained the
original heading.
Psalm 46 is one of the instances where 6t1 goes its own way,
with the following heading:
)YQSwMrd oM wBzwt$)d )dwhY tYBdw )YQzX l(
*
mYrP) tYBd oMw
About Hezekiah and those of the house of Judah who were delivered
from the Damascenes and from those of the house of Ephraim.
(59) Cf. HILL, Theodore, 506-509.