cheenc03a.pdf

QENERAL EXPLANATIONS
xv
v. Puncltlatim. -As a rule commas are not used between citations, thus: ? K. 6 11 3s Is. 21 7.
Commas are omitted and semicolons or colons inserted whenever ambiguity seems thus to be
avoided-e.g., the father Achbor [I] is called 'Father of Baal-hanan [I] king of Edom,' and the
son Baal-hanan [I] is called 'ben Achbor [I] ; one of the kings of Edom.'
4. Text-Critical Apparatus. - As all sound investigation must be based, not on the ancient
texts as they lie before the student, but on what he believes to be the nearest approach he can make
to their original reading, the soundness of every text is weighed, and if need be, discussed, before
it is used in the Encyclo#edin Biblica.
i. Traditimnl Or@al Text. -In quoting the traditional Hebrew text the editions of Baer
and of Ginsburg have been relied on as a rule; similarly in the case of the New Testament, the
texts of Tischendorf and of Westcott and Hort.
ii. Evidence of Versions. -The Vulgate (ed. Heyse-Tischendorf), the Syriac (ed. Lee, and
London Polyglott; for the Apocrypha, Lagarde and the minor Greek versions (Field, Hexajla ;
Hatch-Redpath, Concordance) have been quoted quite freely; the testimony of the Septuagint has
been attended to on every point.
In exceptional cases 'Hollnes and Parsons' has been consulted; ordinarily Swete's manual
edition (including the variants) and Lagarde's Parr Prim have been considered sufficient. In
general (for the main exception see next pangraph) only variations of some positive interest or importance
have been referred to. Almost invariably a quotation from the LXX is followed by symbols
indicating the authorities cited (thus "cot [UAL]). This does not necessarily imply that in
some other IMS or MSS a different reading is found: it is simply a guarantee that Swete's digest of
~eadings and Lagarde have bath been consulted. The formula [BAL], or @"". standing alone
means that the editors found no variant in Swete or Lagarde to report. In the parts, therefore,
where Swete cites S or other MSS as well as BA, BAL includes them unless the context indicates
otherwise. When BAL stands alone the meaning is everywhere the same; it is a summary report
of agreement in Swete and I.agarde.
Proper names have been felt to demand special treatment; the aim has been to give under
each name the readings of Lagarde and all the variants of BXA as cited in Swete. The commonest,
or a common, form for each witness is given at the head of the article, and this is followed
at once or in the course of the article by such variants as there are. Where all the passages containing
a given name are cited in the article, the apparatus of Greek readings (as in Swete and
Lagarde) may be considered absolutely complete. In other cases, completeness, though aimed at,
bas not been found possible.
The distinction between declinable and indeclinable forms has generally been observed; but
different cases of the same declinable form have not as a rule (never in the case of common nouns)
been taken note of. Where part of one name has been .joined in the LXX to the preceding or succeeding
name, the intruding letters have usually been given in square brackets, though in some very
obvious cases they may have been ignored.
When MSS differ only in some giving rand others giving rr this is indicated concisely thus:
'a/3e~a[B], m/3m [AL],' becomes 'ap[;Jm [BAL].' Similarly, -7..-rr. becomes -[r]r.
Much care has been bestowed on the reaaings, and every effort has been made to secure the
highest attainable accuracy. Naturally the Hatch-Redpath Concordance to the Septuagint has
been freely used. As has been already stated, however (p. xii), the Encyclopedia Bibliia has also
had the benefit of Dr. Redpath's personal help. Unfortunately, misprints and other inaccuraciesinaccuracies
sometimes appea"ng for the first time after the last proof reading- are especially liable
to occur in a work of this kind. Corrections of errors, however minute, addressed. to the publishers,
will always be gratefully received.
Some typographical details require to be explained: -
(a) In giving proper names, initial capitals, breathings, and accents are dispensed with; they
were unknown in the oldest MSS (cp Swete, vol. r p. xiii 2).
(6) The Greek readings at the head of an article are given in uncials, ahd the Vulgate readings
in small italic capitals; elsewhere ordinary type is used.
(6) The first Greek reading is given in full; all others are abbreviated as much as possible.
Letters suppressed at the beginning of a word are represented by a dash, letters at the end by a
period. In every case the abbreviated form is to be completed by reference to the Greek form
immediately preceding, whether that is given in full or not. Thus, e.g., 'aprhm~cr~ p. .. . rr'p.,
-rrnv, prAua" means 'aprAoarrrrp, /3rAuarr~p, prhca~rrrv, /3doa.' That is to say, the
abbreviated form repeats a letter (or if necessary more) of the form preceding. Two exGptions
are sometimes made. The dash sometimes represents the whole of the preceding form-r.~., in
'Bthca.'with aperiod,as it stood in early impressions of the art. ABEL-SHITTIM, wouldmean Behrarrr~r.