The Aramaic Bible: Targums in their Historical Context

MAKER Targum Pseudo-Jonathan of Deuteronomy 1.1-8 279
The verb used by Pseudo-Jonathan for 'delay' is 'hr, the verb that is
used by Onqelos and Pseudo-Jonathan in a similar context in Num.
32.15. In this latter text Neofiti uses the verb till. In our present verse,
Deut. 1.2, Neofiti, Fragmentary Targums and Ctg Br all use the verb
'kb.
The Month of Shevat
At the end of forty years, in the eleventh month, that is the month of
Shevat, on the first day of the month, Moses spoke to the children of
Israel just as the Lord had commanded him (to speak) to them (Pseudo-
Jonathan Deut. 1.3).
Pseudo-Jonathan, Neofiti, Neofiti marginal gloss, Fragmentary
Targums (V; P is not preserved) add 'the end of in the phrase 'in the
fortieth year'. See also in similar phrases in Neofiti Gen. 7.11; 8.12. 36
However, in translating 'in the thirteenth (fourteenth) year' in
Gen. 14.4, 5 none of the Targums adds 'the end of. But see 'at the
end of seven days' in Gen. 7.10 (Neofiti, P); cf. Ctg E: 'at the end of a
few days'; Pseudo-Jonathan; 'after (Izmri) seven days'.
Pseudo-Jonathan is the only Targum of this verse to clarify that the
eleventh month is Shevat. This is so when Nisan is taken to be the first
month of the year (cf. m. Ros Has. 1.1: 'Nisan is the new year for
kings and festivals'). It is characteristic of Pseudo-Jonathan to give
names to months and seasons that are not named in the Bible. See, for
example, Exod. 12.18 (also Onqelos); 40.2, 17; Lev. 23.5 etc., where
the first month is identified as Nisan. In Exod. 16.1; Num. 1.1, 18;
9.11 and 10.11 the second month is said to be lyyar. Following a different
reckoning according to which Tishri is the first month Gen.
7.11 and 8.14 (also Neofiti marginal gloss) call the second month
Marchesvan. In Gen. 8.4 the seventh month is identified as Nisan; but
see Lev. 16.29 (also Neofiti marginal gloss); 23.24; Num. 29.1, 7
where Tishri is regarded as the seventh month. In Gen. 8.5 the tenth
month is called Tammuz.
36. Cf. M. McNamara, Targum Neofiti 1: Genesis. (The Aramaic Bible 1A;
Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 1992), p. 75, n. 10.