A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on Isaiah 56–66 . By J ohn G oldingay .

Extract

This substantial commentary is the latest installment from John Goldingay's prolific pen. The commentary takes full advantage of the ICC 's commitment to textual detail. It includes a long introduction, a very full set of textual notes accompanying each translation, and extensive commentary on every passage.

The textual notes summarize a substantial body of scholarly opinion on the text of Isaiah 56-66. Except for its handling of the accents, the commentary offers a conservative treatment of the traditional Hebrew text, closely adhering to what has been preserved in the Masoretic tradition. In contrast to the older mode of textual scholarship reflected in the original ICC volumes (but in line with much of textual scholarship today), Goldingay resists the conjectural emendation of difficult passages, though he dutifully lists such proposals. Where the Judean Desert texts or the versions differ from the MT, they are (with few exceptions) explained as secondary. Occasionally Goldingay adopts a reading against the MT, but he seems reluctant to do so. In one instance involving only vocalization in 65:1, he acknowledges that a case can be made against MT's pual ארָקֹ in favor of an active reading ארָקָ or ארֵקֹ. Goldingay gives both in his translation and discusses both in the interpretation, but does not say which is to be preferred. Not uncharacteristic of Goldingay's commentary, such deliberate indecision will likely disappoint readers seeking a clear judgement regarding ‘originality’ and ‘preference’. But it may also have the advantage of highlighting inadequacies in certain text critical categories, as well as communicating the genuine uncertainties sometimes inherent in textual evaluation.