Journal for Christian theology and religious studies

KS Studies 2024, 1(1):39-53

Deuteronomy 21:1–9 LXX: a Synchronic Interpretation

Július Pavelčík
Faculty of Theology, University of South Bohemia, Czech Republic

In terms of its content, the passage of Deuteronomy 21:1-9 is entirely unique within the entire Old Testament. It describes a procedure that must be carried out upon finding the corpse of a person murdered by an unknown individual outside any city in the land given by God. The article presents a purely synchronic interpretation of the Greek Septuagint version of this difficult text, meaning its explanation only within the context of the Greek Deuteronomy, or the Pentateuch, without considering the original Hebrew text. The goal is to determine how an ancient Greek reader could perceive and understand the unusual ritual described in this biblical text. The interpretation presented here emphasises the significant theological aspect of the entire described case, related to the unique and exceptional relationship between God and His chosen people.

Keywords: Deuteronomy, Septuagint, anonymous crime, atonement rite

Received: October 1, 2024; Revised: October 1, 2024; Accepted: November 28, 2024; Prepublished online: December 17, 2024; Published: December 22, 2024  Show citation

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Pavelčík, J. (2024). Deuteronomy 21:1–9 LXX: a Synchronic Interpretation. KS Studies, 1(1), 39-53
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