When interpretation traditions speak too loud for ethical dilemmas to be heard: On the untimely death of Haran (Genesis 11:28)

 

 

C. Wynand Retief

University of Stellenbosch

Correspondence

 

 

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ABSTRACT

The author argues that the majority of modern day translations of Genesis 11:28a, reading "Haran died in the lifetime of Terah, his father" (or wording to that effect) missed the intention of the narrator's actual words "Haran died in the face of (in confrontation with) Terah, his father." His working hypothesis, concluding the exegesis of the text, is that the narrator faced the ethical dilemma of having the task to tell a positive story about the origins of Israel while knowing the dark side which he, as an honest witness, could not negate, and consequently alluded to. This "small voice" of the author/narrator can easily be silenced and is consequently not picked up by strong translation traditions, as indeed happened in this case.

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BIBLE TRANSLATIONS

Buku Lopatulika, 1922 revised 1936, 1966

Buku Loyera, 1998

Contemporary English Version (cev), 2000

Biblia Sacra (Vulgata) (vul83), revised 1983

De Naardense Bijbel, 2004

De Nieuwe Bijbelvertaling (nbv), 2004

Die Bybel in Afrikaans (afr), 1933, revised 1954

Die Bybel in Afrikaans, Nuwe Vertaling (afrnv), 1983

Gute Nachricht (gn), 1997

King James Version (kjv), revised 1982 as New King James Version (nkjv)

Luther Translation (lut), revised 1984

Nederlands Bijbelgenootschap (nbg), 1951

New International Version (niv), 1984

New Living Translation (nlt), 1996

New Revised Standard Version (nrsv), 1989

Revised English Bible (reb), 1989

Revised Standard Version (rsv), 1952

Septuaginta (lxx)

Staten Bijbel 1657, 1997

Today's English Version (tev), 1994

The Jewish Study Bible (jsb), 2004

 

 

Correspondence:
Dr. Wynand Retief
Research Fellow at the Department of Old and New Testament
University of Stellenbosch. Justo Mwale Theological University College
P. O. Box 310199, LUSAKA, 15301, ZAMBIA
E-mail: cwretief@gmail.com