Studies in the Targum to the Twelve Prophets

This volume is concerned with the origin and development of the Targum to the Prophets, focusing for this purpose upon the Twelve Prophets (from Nahum to Malachi).
A wide-ranging introductory chapter sets current research in context by surveying almost two centuries of Targumic study. It is argued that the evidence in the extant text for a Second Commonwealth phase in the Targum's history is meagre and that, in particular, the Qumran Habakkuk pesher is not dependent upon the Targum to Habakkuk.
Other issues discussed are the Hebrew Vorlage of the Targum, incipit formulae, 'Additional Targum' and the standard Targum, the haggadah in the Targum to Zechariah 3 in the light of a (so-called) Eastern Aramaic linguistic element, Targum and Peshiṭta, land and divine presence, and the final redaction of the Targum.

Robert P. Gordon, Ph.D. (1973) in the Faculty of Oriental Studies, Cambridge, lectures in Old Testament in the Faculty of Divinity, Cambridge. Has published principally in the areas of Old Testament and the ancient versions. Volumes include 1 and 2 Samuel. A Commentary (Exeter, 1986) and (jointly) The Aramaic Bible, 14 (Wilmington, 1989).

'...a valuable companion to his translation and commentary on the Targum of these prophets...'
A. Gelston, SOTS, 1994.
'Every so often in the history of a scholarly discipline, there appears a work which brings order to that discipline, in such a way that the paths for future investigation stand out with absolute clarity. Robert Gordon's monograph is one such work.'
C.T.R. Hayward, Journal of Theological Studies, 1995.
'This is exemplary work in many ways. ...Professor Gordon understands better than most the complex nature of Targum and abstains from drawing simplistic conclusions about it.'
Alison Salvesen, Journal of Jewish Studies, 1995.
'This book provides a useful survey of many of the issues pertaining to the origin and development of Targum Twelve Prophets and contains much useful bibliographical information.'
David M. Stec, Journal of Semitic Studies, 1995.
'Recommended for advanced students.'
Zev Garber, Religious Studies Review, 1995.