Full Description
Henry Barclay Swete (1835-1917) published An Introduction to the Old Testament in Greek in 1900 as a manual to accompany his three-volume edition of the Septuagint (1887-1894) and to provide a guide through the vast corpus of Septuagint literature. Part 1 covers the textual history of the Septuagint, providing an in-depth analysis of its complex tradition, surveying the most important Greek witnesses and the earliest versions. Part 2 discusses the Alexandrian manuscript tradition, and covers the order and grouping of books, titles, comparison with the Hebrew Canon, and the textual divisions used in the manuscripts. Part 3 is concerned with the influence and use of the Septuagint in later works. An appendix contains the letter of pseudo-Aristeas with an introduction explaining the forgery. For over a century Swete's work has been an indispensable tool for every scholar and student of the Septuagint.
Contents
Part I. The History of the Greek Old Testament and of Its Transmission: 1. The Alexandrian Greek version; 2. Later Greek versions; 3. The Hexapla; 4. Ancient versions based on the Septuagint; 5. Manuscripts of the Septuagint; 6. Printed texts of the Septuagint; Part II. The Contents of the Alexandrian Old Testament: 1. Titles, grouping, number, and order of the books; 2. Books of the Hebrew canon; 3. Books not included in the Hebrew canon; 4. The Greek of the Septuagint; 5. The Septuagint as a version; 6. Text divisions: stichi, chapters, lections, catenae, etc.; Part III. Literary Use, Value, and Textual Condition of the Greek Old Testament: 1. Literary use of the Septuagint by non-Christian Hellenists; 2. Quotations from the Septuagint in the New Testament; 3. Quotations from the Septuagint in early Christian writings; 4. The Greek versions as aids to biblical study; 5. Influence of the Septuagint on Christian literature; 6. Textual condition of the Septuagint, and problems arising out of it; Additions and corrections; Appendix: The letter of pseudo-Aristeas; Indices.
