Enjoying the Tension: Reading Qoh 2:25 in the Context of Qoh 2:24-26
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Authors
Dell, KJ
Forti, Tova L
Publication Date
2019-07-08Journal Title
Vetus Testamentum
ISSN
0042-4935
Publisher
Brill
Volume
69
Issue
3
Pages
481-489
Language
English
Type
Article
This Version
AM
Metadata
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Dell, K., & Forti, T. L. (2019). Enjoying the Tension: Reading Qoh 2:25 in the Context of Qoh 2:24-26. Vetus Testamentum, 69 (3), 481-489. https://doi.org/10.1163/15685330-12341363
Abstract
Qoheleth’s experiential method and inner-dialogue creates tensions on the levels of language, style, content and theological ideas. In this paper we seek to explore this tension in relation to a short section (Qoh 2:24-26) that is placed at the end of chapter 2. In the process we question the section division itself and the usual emendation of the translation of v. 25 to fit into the thought of these three verses and that of their neighbouring verses. We engage in a detailed analysis of the versions and of scholarly opinion on the translation, key terms and structure of these verses. We argue that this is just one example of where literary structure has dictated translational options and we prefer instead to ‘enjoy the tension’ of the more convincing and less accepted translation of verse 25 as “For who can eat or even sense, apart from me.”
Keywords
tension, ideational contradictions, literary structure, royal autobiography, experience
Identifiers
External DOI: https://doi.org/10.1163/15685330-12341363
This record's URL: https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/292434
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