Jacob of Edessa's version of the Books of Samuel was an attempt to "marry" the traditional Syriac and Greek biblical texts and their interpretations. It gives a glimpse into attitudes to Scripture among Syrian Christians in the Early Islamic period.

Jacob of Edessa (c.640-708) is considered the most learned Christian of the early days of Islam. In all fifteen contributions to this volume, written by prominent specialists, the interaction between Christianity, Judaism, and the new religion is an important issue. The articles discuss Jacob’s biography as well as his position in early Islamic Edessa, and give a full picture of the various aspects of Jacob of Edessa’s life and work as a scholar and clergyman. Attention is paid to his efforts in the fields of historiography, correspondence, canon law, text and interpretation of the Bible, language and translation, theology, philosophy, and science. The book, which marks the 1300th anniversary of Jacob’s death, also contains a bibliographical clavis.

This volume treats the sources utilized by Jacob of Edessa in his Syriac revision of the biblical books of Samuel, focussing on the relationship between the major Syriac texts (Peshitta and Syro-Hexapla) and the Greek textual families of the Septuagint.

Textual critics and biblical scholars recognize the need to understand the unique character of a biblical version before comparing its readings to the Masoretic Text. This study focuses on the character of the Syriac version of 1 Samuel and its relationship to the MT, the LXX, Targum Jonathan and the Hebrew texts from Qumran. Readings that are unique to this version are organized so as to expose its translation techniques, exegesis, and other characteristics. Readings that agree with the LXX and Targum Jonathan against the MT are evaluated with a view to detecting traces of influence from these versions. This study will assist biblical scholars, text critics, and students of the Peshitta who wish to learn more about a particular reading or about the Peshitta’s overall character.

This study focuses on the character of the Syriac version of 1 Samuel (translation techniques, exegesis, and other characteristics) and its possible dependence on the LXX and Targum Jonathan. The relationship between this version and the Hebrew texts from Qumran is also investigated.

Jacob of Edessa (c.640-708) is considered the most learned Christian of the early days of Islam. In all fifteen contributions to this volume, written by prominent specialists, the interaction between Christianity, Judaism, and the new religion is an important issue. The articles discuss Jacoba (TM)s biography as well as his position in early Islamic Edessa, and give a full picture of the various aspects of Jacob of Edessaa (TM)s life and work as a scholar and clergyman. Attention is paid to his efforts in the fields of historiography, correspondence, canon law, text and interpretation of the Bible, language and translation, theology, philosophy, and science. The book, which marks the 1300th anniversary of Jacoba (TM)s death, also contains a bibliographical clavis.

Authoritative, Based on the Best Syriac Text, and Fully Annotated The Bible of Edessa is an authoritative translation of the Peshitta, the Syriac version of the Hebrew Bible. It is named after the city of Edessa in upper Mesopotamia, the birthplace of the Peshitta and home to the form of Aramaic now called Syriac. The Bible of Edessa is based on the oldest and best Syriac manuscripts, as made available in the Leiden–Amsterdam Peshitta edition. Its volumes also come with an introduction and extensive annotations. The Bible of Edessa is authorized by the International Organization for the Study of the Old Testament (IOSOT) and published by the Amsterdam Peshitta Institute under supervision of an international editorial board. CHRONICLES– This is the first volume of this new series. It contains David Phillips’ annotated English translation of the Book of Chronicles according to the Peshitta.