Is Josephus Among The Qumranites? Unraveling A Textual Conundrum In 1 Samuel 10:27b

Abstract

AbstractAlthough Josephus’s biblical works typically reflect a dependence on the LXX, his text of Samuel presents a curious case to Hebrew Bible textual critics. One conundrum is found in 1Sam 10:27b, which includes material not found in the LXX or the MT. The presence of the same plus in 4QSama complicates the textual discussion. Some scholars take its presence in Josephus and 4QSama as evidence that the plus was omitted accidentally by the LXX and MT. While I broadly agree with their conclusions, this paper complicates their arguments and provides a more compelling reason for the omission of this material in the LXX and MT. The paper concludes by recognizing the value that the biblical text preserved in Josephus’s works brings to Hebrew Bible textual criticism.