Of Gods and Kings: The Case for Reading “Milcom” in Zephaniah 1:5bβ
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Abstract
Manuscript evidence disagrees between reading the final word in Zeph 1:5 as meaning “their king,” “Molech,” or “Milcom.” The affinity of these three readings with the MT consonantal text, combined with the lack of agreement among the manuscript evidence, allows for plausible arguments supporting each of these readings. A majority of commentators conclude that this entity must refer to a deity, but disagree on which manuscript tradition to follow. The present essay surveys each of these readings, arguing that “Milcom” best fits the literary context and syntax patterns in Zeph 1:5bβ. This essay examines comparable text-critical difficulties in 2 Sam 12:30; 1 Chr 20:2; 1 Kgs 11:7; Jer 49:1, 3; and Amos 5:26, concluding that similar examples of the MT reinterpreting the name “Milcom” as “their king” occur in Jer 49:1, 3.
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Of Gods and Kings: The Case for Reading “Milcom” in Zephaniah 1:5bβ
In: Vetus TestamentumSearch for other papers by Nicholas R. Werse in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Abstract
Manuscript evidence disagrees between reading the final word in Zeph 1:5 as meaning “their king,” “Molech,” or “Milcom.” The affinity of these three readings with the MT consonantal text, combined with the lack of agreement among the manuscript evidence, allows for plausible arguments supporting each of these readings. A majority of commentators conclude that this entity must refer to a deity, but disagree on which manuscript tradition to follow. The present essay surveys each of these readings, arguing that “Milcom” best fits the literary context and syntax patterns in Zeph 1:5bβ. This essay examines comparable text-critical difficulties in 2 Sam 12:30; 1 Chr 20:2; 1 Kgs 11:7; Jer 49:1, 3; and Amos 5:26, concluding that similar examples of the MT reinterpreting the name “Milcom” as “their king” occur in Jer 49:1, 3.
| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 971 | 94 | 11 |
| Full Text Views | 262 | 4 | 0 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 136 | 11 | 1 |