Special Issue IOSOT 2013 - Books and Journals

S. Japhet / Vetus Testamentum IOSOT (2013) 36-76 63
another style. Thus the basis for comparison is very much reduced. Another
point, which is restricted to our subject, is the fact that Ezr.-Neh. cannot be
defined as a “stylistic whole” and is, at least from a literary point of view, a
much variegated book. Even so there are some traits which do characterize
this book and mark it as an independent composition.
The following discussion deals at first with traits peculiar to Chr. and secondly
with Ezr.-Neh.
1. Chr.
למעלה .A
The adverb למעלה with its own special nuance is a favourite of the Chr. The basic
meaning “upwards”131 is broadened and the word serves as a general adverb
meaning “much”, “exceedingly”, “highly”, etc. This enlarged meaning is confined
to the Chr.’s style132 and is found both in additions to his sources and regularly
in other parts. These are: 1 Chr. xiv 2 (2 Sam. v 12); 2 Chr. xvi 12 (1 Ki. xv 23);
1 Chr. xxii 5; xxiii 17; xxix 3, 25; 2 Chr. i 1, xvii 12; xx 19; xxvi 8.
In the translation every instance is rendered differently, thus emphasizing
the wide range of the meanings given to the single phrase.
There is no such use of למעלה in Ezr.-Neh. A superficial glance is likely to
bring forth the once-mentioned למעלה in Ezr. ix 6: But, the meaning here
does not differ from all the other instances of this adverb in the O.T. denoting
“above”. The verse should be translated as follows: “Our iniquities have risen
above the head”.133 It has nothing to do with the specific use of Chr.134
לרוב .B
The word ‏”לרוב“‏ recurs in Chr. over thirty times having a special nuance.135
With a verb it is parallel to ‏”הרבה“‏ and is actually an adverb. With a noun it
approximates an adjective, and means ‏.‏great‏—רב
131) Cf. BDB, p. 751; KBL, p. 548.
132) Cf. Driver, op. cit., p. 503. “This metaphorical use of upwards as a mere intensive—
“exceedingly” is exlusively a late one and confined to these passages” (i.e., to Chr. alone).
133) RSV ’s translation is “our iniquities have risen higher than our heads”. The Septuagint’s version
both here and in I Esd. viii 72 is “our iniquities [sins] are multiplied above our heads” and
(cf. ‏”מעל הראש“‏ is translated as ὑπέρ. It might be conjectured that the original version was למעלה
למ״ד and then the ‏”מעלה ראש“‏ Ps. xxxviii 4 (5) ), and only by a misdivision was it changed into
was added.
134) Cf. also Driver, op. cit., p. 504.
135) Driver, op. cit., p. 502.