Programme

Collingwood College, Durham
under the presidency of Professor George Brooke

Printable Programme
The Booking Form for the Winter meeting
Location and Directions to Collingwood College

The venue for all sessions is Collingwood College, Durham University, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LT. Publishers are invited to display books for sale during the Meeting. Members who have had books published recently are also invited to display copies.

TUESDAY 3rd JANUARY

(2.00 p.m.) [Committee Meeting]
2.15 p.m. Optional Guided Tour of Durham
4.30 p.m. Registration
6.00 p.m. Reception (sponsored by Durham’s Department of Theology and Religion)
6.45 p.m. Dinner
8.15 p.m. Presidential Address: Prof. George Brooke (Manchester), ‘The Scribal Aesthetics of the Dead Sea Scrolls’

WEDNESDAY 4th JANUARY

8.00 a.m. Breakfast
9.15 a.m. Dr Adrian Curtis (Manchester) and Dr Rebecca Watson (Cambridge), ‘Churning the Mighty Waters: A Dialogue on Habakkuk 3’
10.45 a.m. Coffee
11.15 a.m. Dr Hector Patmore (Kampen), ‘The Transmission of Targum Jonathan in Europe’
12.00 noon Dr Katie Edwards (Sheffield), ‘The Never-changing Face of Eve: Representations of Eve in Nineteenth Century Art and Twenty-first Century Advertising’
12.45 p.m. Lunch
2.15 p.m. Tour of Durham Cathedral and its allusions to the Old Testament, led by the Very Revd Michael Sadgrove, followed by tea at the Deanery (numbers limited)
4.30 p.m. Prof. Graham Davies (Cambridge), ‘The Reception of William Gesenius’ Dictionary in England in the Nineteenth Century’
5.30 p.m. Prof. David Clines and Dr David Stec (Sheffield), ‘Reflections on the Dictionary of Classical Hebrew’
6.30 p.m. Celebratory Reception
7.00 p.m. Dinner
8.15 p.m. Prof. John Day (Oxford), ‘The Monarchy in Ancient Israel’ (Special Lecture to Commemorate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee)

THURSDAY 5th JANUARY

8.00 a.m. Breakfast
9.15 a.m. Dr Alastair Hunter (Glasgow), ‘Midrash and Lexicon in Exodus’
10.00 a.m. Dr Dominik Markl (Heythrop College, London), ‘“Today” and the Pragmatics of Deuteronomy’
10.45 a.m. Coffee
11.15 a.m. Dr Siobhan Dowling Long (Cork), ‘Tales of Wickedness, Heartache and Blessing: The Reception of the Genesis Flood Narrative in Music’
12.00 noon Business Meeting (Members only)
1.00 p.m. Lunch, followed by departure

Domestic Arrangements

The venue for the Meeting is Collingwood College, Durham University, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LT; the telephone number for the College is 0191 334 5000. Please refer to the enclosed map for information on how to get to the University. There is plenty of parking at the College but we would recommend public transport where possible.

The charges for hospitality are shown on the enclosed Booking Form. Members are requested to pay their accounts in full when returning the form but, if necessary, a non-returnable booking fee of £30 will be accepted and the balance will be payable on arrival at the Meeting. A discounted price is available to those whose bookings are received by Wednesday 9th November (please see the details on the form). There is a subsidized price for those on low incomes or from economically disadvantaged countries. All bookings must be received by 1st December 2011; no bookings can be accepted after that date. Bookings can be made by email with cheques follow by post. Please note that in making a booking, members render themselves liable for payment of the full cost of that booking, a liability that will be waived only in the light of extenuating circumstances and only when the final conference accounts permit a refund. You may wish to consider taking out insurance on your booking (or check that your annual travel insurance is applicable) to cover the possibility of you having to cancel your booking. You are advised to make a copy of your completed Booking Form for your own records.

Members wishing to attend the Meeting should send the attached Booking Form to Ms Elizabeth Harper, SOTS Hospitality Secretary, Chadkirk, School Lane, Impington, Cambridge CB24 9NS (tel. 01223 741 030, Email), so as to arrive by 9th November 2011 (for the discount price) or at the latest by 1st December.

Correspondence concerning the affairs of the Society should be sent to the Secretary, Dr Francesca Stavrakopoulou, Department of Theology and Religion, University of Exeter, Amory Building, Rennes Drive, Exeter EX4 4RJ (tel. 01392 7264290, Email). Applications for a Conference Grant to assist in meeting the costs of attending the Meeting must reach the current Secretary by 9th November. Proposals for new members must reach her by 15th December. Application forms for grants and membership are available on this website.

Changes of address should be sent to the Membership Secretary, Mrs Vivienne Rowett, The New Vicarage, Beck Hill, Barton-upon-Humber DN18 5EY (tel. 01652 632202, Email).

Abstracts

Prof. George Brooke (Manchester), ‘The Scribal Aesthetics of the Dead Sea Scrolls’ (presidential address)

After a brief introduction in which the iconic character of the Dead Sea Scrolls was highlighted, the lecture sought to describe some of the scribal features of the Scrolls, paying particular attention to various aesthetic items. Five manuscripts were considered in turn. First, attention was drawn to the principal fragment of 4QJudg^b. The fragment has been fairly reconstructed to indicate two striking features at the end of Judges: the last few verses of the book are laid out by the scribe in lines of gradually decreasing length, and the last verse (Judg. 21.25) is physically set apart from the rest of the text as has long been sensed. Second, there was discussion of the bisection of Isaiah between chapters 33 and 34, a matter that strongly suggests that the Book of Isaiah was copied in two halves in the Second Temple period. Third, the layout and size of 4QGen^d was considered; its very small size and damage patterns allowed the conclusion that the manuscript had only ever contained the first four or five chapters of Genesis. Fourth, the choice of a manuscript ruled with eight lines for the copying of the acrostic Psalm 119 in 4QPs^g had seemed aesthetically sensible until the scribe recalled the tradition of leaving a blank line between each set of eight lines; a layout of nine lines per column should have been selected. Fifth, the highly distinctive arrangement of Pesher Habakkuk (1QpHab) on just two sheets of leather with room for seven columns on each was commented upon, as also several features of the principal scribal hand.

Dr Adrian Curtis (Manchester) and Dr Rebecca Watson (Cambridge), ‘Churning the Mighty Waters: A Dialogue on Habakkuk 3’

The intention of this presentation was as much methodological as concerned about content. The dialogue-format was an attempt to avoid the polarization of views that, for ease of argumentation and due to the characteristic scholarly quest for originality, is customary in modern academic discourse. Instead, it sought to identify differences in presupposition and definition which occluded areas where agreements were greater than first appeared and to pinpoint real areas of difference. The format also allowed for a close engagement whereby areas of disagreement and uncertainty were more thoroughly explored than is possible where a single paper attempts to engage with the full range of scholarship. The dialogue sought to re-assess the interpretation of Habakkuk 3 as reflecting the Chaoskampf myth and to evaluate the extent to which, and for what purpose, the myth may here be employed. Adrian offered a history of scholarship and advanced the view that Habakkuk 3 (especially v. 8) indeed describes a conflict between Yahweh and the sea. He also highlighted some key areas of disagreement between the two speakers, with some defence of his own perspective. In response, Rebecca addressed Adrian’s immediate criticisms before offering her interpretation of sections of Habakkuk 3 which were crucial to the debate. In particular, she argued on the basis of an analysis of all occurrences of the double-question ה… … אם in the Hebrew Bible that Hab. 3.8 can only be expressive of a question expecting the answer ‘no’. Overall, a dialogic approach resulted in a convergence of opinion rather than an accentuation of difference. Both speakers acknowledged areas where their views were – or could be brought – closer than they first supposed.

Dr Hector Patmore (Kampen), ‘The Transmission of Targum Jonathan in Europe’

A major research project is currently underway at the Protestant Theological University of the Netherlands (Kampen) that aims to collate all the extant manuscripts of Targum Jonathan to the books of Samuel. On the basis of this material the project aims to increase significantly our understanding of the nature of the text’s transmission in the West. It is intended that this project will provide the necessary foundational work for the production of new critical editions of Targum Jonathan by assessing the value of each manuscript for reconstructing the most antique form of the text and by identifying and explaining the textual variants. This paper provided a general overview of this important project and presented some results from my own research. Using examples drawn from the manuscripts, I highlighted tendencies observable to a greater or less extent in all Western manuscripts to revise the Targum’s text for exegetical or ideological reasons. Under consideration were manuscripts containing the continuous text of Targum Jonathan as well as shorter units of the text that appear in liturgical collections, which offer a text that is exegetically much fuller in nature.

Dr Katie Edwards (Sheffield), ‘The Never-changing Face of Eve: Representations of Eve in Nineteenth Century Art and Twenty-first Century Advertising’

[no abstract provided]

Prof. Graham Davies (Cambridge), ‘The Reception of William Gesenius’ Dictionary in England in the Nineteenth Century’

The paper celebrated simultaneously the bicentenary of the completion of Wilhelm Gesenius’s first Hebrew Dictionary and the recent publication of the final volume of the Sheffield Dictionary of Classical Hebrew, edited by David Clines. After a brief account of Gesenius’s life (including at least two visits to Britain) and his lexicographical works, indications of his influence in Britain in the nineteenth century was examined. In terms of copies in British libraries an admittedly limited survey suggested that it was the Thesaurus (rather than the single-volume dictionaries) which was most widely available. The dictionaries were, however, extensively known through English translations by J.W. Gibbs (1824: from the 1815 edition), by Christopher Leo (1825-28: from the original 1810-12 edition) and by Edward Robinson (1st ed. 1836) and S.P. Tregelles (1st ed. 1846), both using the 1833 Latin edition. Further evidence of the reception of Gesenius’s work was drawn from the writings of Samuel Lee (1783-1852) and T.K Cheyne (1841-1915). Alongside admiration for Gesenius’s philological expertise there was both open and veiled criticism of what was seen as his opposition to established Christian beliefs.

Prof. David Clines and Dr David Stec (Sheffield), ‘Reflections on the Dictionary of Classical Hebrew’

This paper gave an account of my work on the Dictionary of Classical Hebrew over a period of more than 20 years, during which time I worked on all 8 volumes of the Dictionary. I began by referring to some of the advances in computing technology which the project had seen over the years, and also related the great improvements in resources which became available as the project progressed, particularly as far as the Qumran material was concerned. I then went on to describe how the research associates went about their work of preparing an entry for the Dictionary, and pointed out some of the issues involved in analysing and presenting the material.

Prof. John Day (Oxford), ‘The Monarchy in Ancient Israel’ (Special Lecture to Commemorate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee)

First some general comparisons between the monarchy in Britain and ancient Israel were noted. Next, following a discussion of what may be known about the royal coronation rites, the role of the King was considered. The exalted position of the King in the Psalms was discussed, including the idealized picture of his universal rule, his role as a priest like Melchizedek and what it meant to be called ‘son of God’ and even ‘God’. This was contrasted with Deut. 17.14–20 which instructs the king not to multiply gold and silver, horses or wives and the Deuteronomistic history which appears to view Solomon’s multiplication of gold, silver and horses positively, even though he is condemned for his many wives. With regard to royal love and marriage, the problems of Psalm 45 were discussed. In addition, it was argued that the Song of Songs represented a post-exilic depiction of the love between Solomon and his primary wife, the Egyptian princess. Finally, with regard to royal death and burial, the location of the royal tombs in Jerusalem was discussed. It was concluded that the tombs of the earlier kings till Hezekiah, buried in the city of David, were located at the southern end of the city while Manasseh and Amon were buried in the garden of Uzza which was in the grounds of the royal palace near the Temple.

Dr Alastair Hunter (Glasgow), ‘Midrash and Lexicon in Exodus’

The structure of Exodus (in its final form a post-exilic work) involves three grand expositions, revealing an imaginative liturgical and theological mind at work. The first (1.1–15.21) is the story of Yahweh who redeems, a term with strong post-exilic significance. The associated festival is pesaḥ, and Exodus is at pains to give this festival a unique dating, providing a full story and all the necessary background information to enable the celebration of a family event –the only place in Tanakh where this happens. The second (15.22–2 4.8) is the story of Yahweh who covenants; the related festival is almost certainly shevu^cot – though this identification is by no means as clear as with pesaḥ. The third (24.9–40.38) presents us with Yahweh who dwells; Yahweh’s dwelling is the mishkan – the ‘tabernacle’ which is cited frequently in Exodus 26–40, with no references elsewhere in the book; its festival is sukkot. This is readily supported by the fact (agreed by both Kings and Chronicles) that it was at this time that the Temple was dedicated.

Dr Dominik Markl (Heythrop College, London), ‘“Today” and the Pragmatics of Deuteronomy’

Since Gerhard von Rad’s article ‘Das formgeschichtliche Problem des Hexateuch,’ published in 1938, the word ‘today’ is known as one of the outstanding features of the rhetoric of actualisation in Deuteronomy. Yet, no systematic analysis of this expression has been so far advanced. This paper showed that more than half of the 75 usages of ‘today’ in Deuteronomy occur within formulaic language, which proves that this word serves as a literary device. The different references of ‘today’ in Deuteronomy – mainly to the days of Horeb, of Moab, of Exile and the time of the addressees – are deliberately intermingled in complex ways so that the ‘today’ of Moab is both grounded in the day of Horeb and at the same time perforates the ‘today’ of the readers. Within the final form of Deuteronomy, the expression ‘today’ is one of the rhetorical devices, which serve to re-create a collective identity for an early Jewish community after the experience of Exile in a covenant that reaches beyond ‘blessing and curse’. It aims at the readers’ decision for God, for the covenant and the Torah of Deuteronomy (30.15–20).

Dr Siobhan Dowling Long (Cork), ‘Tales of Wickedness, Heartache and Blessing: The Reception of the Genesis Flood Narrative in Music’

This paper discussed the reception of the Flood narrative (Genesis 6–9) in Music in two compositions from the 19^th century: the first, a sacred opera, IlDiluvio universale (1834) by the Italian, Gaetano Donizetti, followed by Poëme Biblique: Le Deluge (1875) by French composer Camille Saint-Saëns; and one from the 20^th century, “Noye’s Fludde” (1957) by British composer Benjamin Britten. Part One illustrated the way in which Donizetti’s Orientalist opera accentuates the theme of wickedness from the Flood narrative (Gen. 6.5). Part two explored the theme of God’s heartache (Gen. 6.6) in Le Deluge by Camille Saint-Saëns. The final part illustrated the joyful mood of God’s blessing in Britten’s Noye’s Fludde (Genesis 9). The paper addressed the question of the value of music as an effective interpretative medium through which listeners and readers view and appreciate the nuances and subtleties of biblical narratives.