Language:
English
Year of publication:
2020
Titel der Quelle:
Liber Annuus
Angaben zur Quelle:
70 (2020) 67-87
Keywords:
Naaman,
;
Bible. Criticism, Textual
;
Leprosy in the Bible
;
Assyro-Babylonian literature Relation to the Bible
Abstract:
Who knows if, at the time of Naʿaman the Syrian, leprosy or what this term meant, created the same fear or panic that a pandemic now raises? However, it seems that Naʿaman moved without restrictions and problems. In 2 Kings 5:1-5 Naʿaman is called ‘of Aram’ according to the MT and ‘of Syria’ in the LXXB version. If for these textual witnesses Naʿaman’s leprosy is not a serious matter, then for other witnesses (LXXL, Pesh, Vg) it is. Naʿaman may be a valiant warrior, a charming man but, for these textual witnesses he is still a leper. Why? What did he do? Regardless, he has leprosy.Where does Naʿaman really come from? Aram, Syria or ‘Edom’? Textual criticism, literary criticism and the comparison with Ancient Near East’s texts reveal that Naʿaman actually comes from Ugarit, where he is well known. Who would really know him? The reader, who will have to convince himself that, only YHWH, the God of Israel will be able to cure Naaman of leprosy.
DOI:
10.1484/J.LA.5.125220
URL:
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