The Aramaic Bible: Targums in their Historical Context

GROSSFELD Onqelos, Halakha and the Halakhic Midrashim 229
translation of that particular passage since the targeted agency, being
comprised of scholars, was well aware of the Halakha. As a result the
Onqelos translation was literal. In contrast, if the direction was nmoa
L ?^>, affecting each individual, the Halakha had to be reflected either
through a change of phrase or a simple addition in Onqelos in order
to guide the uneducated masses in the proper way to understand the
Hebrew passage. Translating literally here could result in a serious
misunderstanding, and at times, with disastrous consequences. A few
examples of 1"±> rrmoD and tt nmoa will suffice for purposes of
illustration:
Y±> nmoa
1. Exod 21.29—The passage deals with a IDIO mto who had gored
twice before, and now a third time, killing someone. The decision was
that the ox is stoned nav vbm an, which Onqelos translates literally as
t »prp ma *]«i—'its owner is likewise executed'. This translation is in
direct opposition to the Halakha, according to which the owner is not
executed, but rather makes monetary compensation. 4 Since we are
dealing here with a judgment, however, it is the courts who are
directly involved and their officials who know the Halakha; and they
would act appropriately. There was, therefore, no problem for
Onqelos to render the verse literally.
2. Exod. 21.24—The context here involves Onqelos's literal
translation of KPU tpn tfru for the Hebrew ]'U nnn py. Here again, it is a
case of a judgment to be rendered against two individuals who are
involved in a fight and inadvertently strike a pregnant woman, causing
her to have a miscarriage. Since it is the concern of the court, the
officials knew the Halakha in this case to be one of monetary compensation.
5 Consequently, Onqelos had no qualms in rendering the verse
literally.
4. See b. Sanh. 15b: A Tanna of the School of Hezekiah said: 'The one who
struck him down should surely be executed, he is a murderer' (Num. 35.31) for a
murder committed by himself you may execute him not for a murder committed by
his ox—
5. Cf. b. B. Qam. 83b: pan—]'j> nnn py :im» nnn' p 'wion '~\ R. Dosthai
b. Juda said: 'An eye for an eye' means monetary compensation, and b. B. Qam. 84a
pnn—]'a nnn ]'a :ini« '«nv p pyno 'i ~[T« &nn. Cf. also Mek. D'cson VIII,
p. 277.