Papyrus 967 is an early witness to the text of the Translation of the Seventy — the Septuagint (LXX). The lines contain on average 24 characters shaped like 2-3rd century CE.
The whole story is less focused on the persons involved — their names and relatives — than it is in later manuscripts.
Colours used:
Red — misspelled
Green — spelling variation
Purple — deviate materially from the text of Ralph & Hahnhart (RH)
Blue — added or omitted in comparison with RH
Brownscale — sections displaced to the end in Jerome’s Vulgate
[Brighter — outside page or illegible and supplied from RH]
It was transcribed from these images.
| A:1-6 | (1/6) |
| [ετους δ]ευτερου βασιλευοντος | [Year’s s]econd of reign (as king) |
| αρταξερξου του μεγαλου´ τη μια̣ | of Artaxerxes The Great, the first |
| του μηνος1 ενυπνιον ειδον2 Μαρ | of the month a dream saw Mor- |
| δοχαιος ο του ϊα̣ειρου του σεμεει | decai the of Jair’s of Shime- |
| ου του κισαιου εκ της φυλης βενι | i’s of Kish’s out of the tribe Benj- |
| αμειν´ ανθρωπος ϊουδαιος οικω_ | amin, a man Jewish livin’ |
| εν σουσοις τη πολει´ ανθρωπος | in Susa the city, a man |
| μεγας θεραπευων εν τη αυλη | great he is attending in the court |
| του βασιλεως´ ην δε εκ της αχμα | king’s, was however from the capt- |
| λωσιας3 ην4 ηχμαλωτευσεν να | ives was he captured Ne- |
| βουχοδονεσορ ⸆ βασιλευς βαβυ | buchadnezzar ⸆ king Baby- |
| λωνος εξ ϊερουσαλημ μετα ϊε | lon’s out of Jerusalem with Je- |
| χονιου του βασιλεως της ιουδα̣ι̣ας | coniah’s the king of Judah |
| και τουτο αυτου το ενυπνιον [κ]αι | and this his the dream [a]nd |
| ϊδου φωναι και θορυβος βρον | look voices and noise rumb- |
| ται και σεισμος ταραχος επ̣ι̣⸆ | les and shaking tumult upon⸆ |
| γης´ και ϊδου δο5 δρακοντε[ς] μ[ε] | earth, and look two reptile[s] g[r-] |
| γαλοι ετοιμοι´ προσηλθ[ον αμ] | eate prepared, to advan[ce b-] |
| φοτεροι παλαιειν´ κ[αι εγενετο] | oth wrestled, a[nd became] |
| αυτων φωνη μεγ̣α̣[λη και τη φω] | their voice grea[te and the voi-] |
| νη αυτων ητο̣[ιμασθη παν εθνος] | ce theirs was pr[epared whole people] |
| ει[ς πολεμον ωστε πολεμησαι] | i[nto fight so that to fight] |
| δ̣ι[καιων εθνος και ιδου ημερα] | ri[ghteous people and look a day] |
| Notes 1. Νισα 2. ειδεν 3. αιχμαλωσιας 4. ης ⸆ ο ⸆ της 5. δυο |
|
| A:12-17 | (2/6) |
| ευνουχων του βασιλε[ως των] | eunuchs of the kin[g that] |
| φυλασσοντων την α[υλην ηκου] | guarding the co[urt-hall (he) hea] |
| σεν τε αυτων τους λογισμους κα̣ι̣ | rd both their deliberations and |
| τας μεριμνας αυτων εξηραυ | concerns their (he) found |
| νησεν´ και εμαθεν οτι ετοιμα | out, and learned that (they) pre- |
| ζουσι1 τας χειρας αυτων επιβα | pared the hands theirs to sei- |
| λειν αρταξερ̣ξη τω βαλει2´ και υ | ze Artaxerxes the king, and (he) |
| πεδ̣ιξεν τω βασιλει περι αυ̣τ̣ω̣_ | forewarned the king about the(m) |
| και εξητασεν ο βασιλευς τους | and interrogated the king the |
| δυο ευνουχους και ομολογησαν | two eunuchs and (they) conceding |
| τες εξηχθησαν3´ και εγραψεν ο | were led out, and wrote the |
| βασιλευς τους λογους τουτους | king the words these |
| εις μνημοσυνον´ και μαρδοχαι | in remembrance, also Mordec- |
| ος εγραψεν περι των λογων | ai wrote about events |
| τουτων´ καϊ επεταξεν ο βασι | these, and appointed the ki- |
| λευς μαρδοχαιω θεραπευειν | ng Mordecai to be an attendant |
| εν τη αυλη´ και εδωκεν αυτω | in the court-hall, and (he) gave him |
| [δομ]ατα περι τουτων´ κα̣ι ην α | [pay]ment for that, and (there) was Ha- |
| [μα]ν̣ αμαδαθου βουγαιος ενδο | [ma]n Hammedatha’s (a) Bougaj estee- |
| [ξος εν]ωπιον του βασιλεως´ και | [med in] presence of the king, and |
| [εζητησε]ν κακοποιησαι τον | [(he) sought] (to) bully the |
| [μαρδοχαιο]ν και τον λα̣ον αυτ̣ο̣υ´ | [Mordeca]i and the people his, |
| [υπερ των δυο] ευνου[χ]ων [το]υ | [for sake of the two] eunu[ch]s of [th]e |
| [βασιλεως και εγενε]το̣ [μετα] | [king and it happen] ed[after] |
| Notes 1. ετοιμαζουσιν 2. βασιλει 3. απηχθησαν |
|
| 1:6-10 | (3/6) |
| [και κα]ρπασινοις τεταμενοις επι | [and l]inen tensioned bou- |
| σ̣χ̣ι̣νι̣οις1 βυσσινοις και πορφυροις | nd up linen cloth and purple |
| επι κυβοις χρυσοις και αργυροις επι | by cubes golden and silvery on |
| στυλοις παρεινοις και λιθοις2 κλει | pillars marble and stony couch- |
| ναι χρυσαι και αργυραι´ επι λιθοστρω | es golden and silvery, on paveme- |
| του ζμαραγδιτου λιθου και πιπι | nt of emerald stone and mother of |
| νου3 και παρεινου λιθου και στρω | pearl and marble stone and sofa- |
| μναι επιφανεις4 ποικιλως διην | fabric translucent embroidered |
| τιςμεναι κυκλω’ ροδα πεπασμε | with flowers around’ roses laid |
| να´ ποτηρια χρυσα και αργυρα´ και | out, cups gold and silver, and |
| ανθρακιον5 κιλικιον6 προκειμε | carbuncle cloth for show |
| νον απο ταλαντων τρισμυριων | worth talents thirty thousand |
| οινος πολυς και ηδυς´ ον αυτος | wine lots of and sweet, which himself |
| ο βασιλευς επινεν´ ο δε ποτος ου | the king drank, the however drinking |
| τος ου κατα προκειμενον νομον | this not according to published law |
| εγενετο´ ουτως δε ηθελησεν | it happened, so however desired |
| ο βασιλευς´ και επεταξεν τοις | the king, and put on the |
| οικονομοις ποιησαι το θελημ̣[α] | housholders to do the wil[l] |
| αυτου και των ανθρωπων [και] | his and the people’s [and] |
| αστιν η βασιλεισσα επο̣[ιησε] | Astin the queen arr[anged] |
| ποτον ταις γυναιξι[ν ??????7 βα] | drinking the wome[n ?????? ki] |
| σιλ̣ευς αρταξερξη̣[ς εν δε τη η] | ng Artaxerxe[s on however the d] |
| μ[ερα] τη εβδο̣[μη ηδεως γενομε] | a[y] the seve[nth pleasantly beca] |
| νο̣[ς ο βασιλευς ειπεν τω αμαν] | me [the king said to Haman] |
| Notes 1. σχοινιοις 2. λιθινοις 3. πιννινου 4. διαφανεις 5. ανθρακινον 6. κυλικιον = small glass κιλικιον in the sense cloth is not so likely since it was a coarse kind of cloth used for sails (LSJ) 7. εν τοις βασιλειοις οπου ο However only about 6 characters fit in. |
|
| 1:15-19 | (4/6) |
| κατους1 νομους ως δει πο̣ι̣[η̣σαι ⸆] | according to the laws as it is neces[sary ⸆] |
| τη βασιλεισση´ οτι ουκ επο̣[ιησεν] | the queen, that not d[id] |
| τα υπο του βασιλεως προσταχθεν | that by the king ordain- |
| τα δια των ευνουχων´ και ειπεν | ed through the eunuchs, and said |
| ο μουχα̣ιος προς τον βασιλεα και | Mouchaios to the king and |
| τους α̣ρχοντας´ ου τον βασιλεα | the generals, not the king |
| μο[νο]ν ηδικησεν ⸆ η βασιλισσα´ | o[nl]y injusticed ⸆ the queen, |
| αλλα και παντας τους αρχοντας | but also all the generals |
| και τους ηγουμενους του βασιλε | and the leaders of the kin- |
| ως´ και επιδιηγησατο αυτοις τα | g, and it has been related to them |
| ρημα̣τ̣α̣ της βασιλεισης´ και ως2 αν | the statement of the queen, and how |
| τειπ̣ε̣ν̣ τω βασιλει αρταξερξη´ | (she) defied the king Artaxerxes, |
| ουτως σημερον αι τυραννιδες | therefore today the executive (wives) |
| αι λοιπαι των αρχοντων περ | the others of the leaders Per- |
| σων και μηδων´ ακουσασαι τα | sian’s and Mede’s, hearing what |
| [τ]ω βασιλει λεχθεντα υπ αυτης´ | [th]e king was told by her, |
| [τολ]μησωσιν3 ομοιως ατιμασαι | [(will) d]are in the same way to disdain |
| [τους] ανδρας εαυτων4´ ει ου5 δοκει | [the]men theirs, so that if not pleases |
| [τω βασιλ]ει προσταξατω βασιλει | [the kin]g (issue) command roy- |
| [κον και] γ̣ραφητω κατα τους νο | [al and] write according to the l- |
| [μους μη]δ̣ων και περσων´ και | [aws of Me]des and Persians, and |
| [μη αλλως χρη]σασθω και μη6 ει | [not otherwise eng]age and not (may she) |
| [σελθατω ετι η βασιλισσα πρ]ος | [enter even the queen t]o |
| [αυτον και την βασιλειαν αυ]της | [him and the queenship h]er |
| Notes 1. κατα τους ⸆ αστιν ⸆ αστιν 2. (και γαρ διηγησατο αυτοις τα ρηματα της βασιλισσης και ως αντειπεν τω βασιλει) ως ουν 3. τολμησουσιν 4. εαυτον 5. ουν 6. μηδε |
|
| 2:2-6 | (5/6) |
| [του βασιλεως ζη]τηθητω τω βα | [of the king se]arched for the k- |
| [σιλει κορ]α̣σ̣ια αφθαρτα1 καλα τω | [ing gi]rls of (lasting) quality good in |
| [ειδει]και κ̣αταστησει ο βασιλευς | [appearance] an[d (he) will] appoint the king |
| κω̣μα̣ρχας εν πασαις χωραις της | mayors in all lands of the |
| βασιλειας [α]υτου´ και επιλεξατω | kingdom [h]is, and they elect- |
| σαν κορασ[ι]α παρθενια2 καλα τω | ed gir[l]s maiden good in |
| ειδει εις σουσαν την πολιν | appearance into Susa the city |
| εις τον γυναικωνα´ και παραδο | into the harem, and handed them |
| θητωσαν τω ευνουχω του βα | to the eunuch of the ki- |
| σιλεως τω φυλακι των γυναι | ng that watches the har- |
| κων´ και δοθητω ζμημα3 και | em, and they were given cosmetics and |
| η λοιπη επιμελεια και ⸆ γυνη | the other coddely-care and ⸆ woman |
| η εαν4 αρεση τω βασιλει βασι | the whichever pleased the king will re- |
| λευσει αντι αστιν´ και ηρεσεν | ign in place of Astin, and pleased |
| τω βασιλει το πραγμα και εποι | the king the matter and he did |
| ησεν ⸆´ και ανθρωπος ην ιουδαιος | (so) ⸆, and a man (there) was Jewish |
| εν σουσοις τη πολει´ και ονο[μα] | in Susa the city, and nam[e] |
| αυτω μαρδοχαιος ο του ϊαειρ[ου] | his Mordochai Jair[‘s] |
| του σεμεειου του κισιου̣ [εκ φυλης] | Shimei’s Kish’s [of tribe] |
| βενεαμιν´ ος ην αιχ[μαλωτος] | Benjamin, who was a ca[ptive] |
| εξ ϊερουσαλημ’ ον5[??????????] | from Jerusalem ??[??????????] |
| [να]βουχοδονε[σορ βασιλευς] | [Ne]buchadnes[sar king] |
| β[αβυλωνος]´[ και ην τουτω παις] | B[abylonian],[ and was this child] |
| Notes 1. αφθορα 2. παρθενικα 3. σμηγμα expected to be spelled σζμηγμα or ζμηγμα see σμηγμασιν in verse 12. ⸆ η 4. αν ⸆ ουτως 5. ην ηχμαλωτευσεν |
|
| 2:11-15 | (6/6) |
| [καθ εκαστην δε ημεραν ο μαρ] | [dayly however Mor-] |
| δοχαιος περιεπατ[ει ????1 συμ] | dechai walked [by ???? turn] |
| βησεται´ ουτος δε [η̣]ν̣ [και]ρ̣[ος κορα] | up, this however was [ti]m[e a gir-] |
| σιου εισελθιν προ[ς] τον βασιλεα | l’s to enter t[o] the king |
| οταν επληρωσεν2 μηνας ιβ´ ου | whenever fulfills months 12, there- |
| τως γαρ αναπληρ[ο]υνται αι ημε | fore fullfill the days |
| ραι της θεραπειας μ̣ηνας εξ’ | of treatment months six |
| αλειφομενα̣ι̣ εν σ̣ζ̣υρ̣ινω3 ελαιω | getting anointed with myrrh oil |
| και μηνας εκ4 εν τοις αρωμασιν | and months six with the perfumes |
| και εν τοις σζμηγμα̣σ̣ιν ⸆ και το5 | and with the cosmetics ⸆ and the |
| ειςπορευονται6 πρ̣ος τον βασι | getting led in to the king, |
| λεα´ και ω7 εαν ειπη παραδωσι8 | and to whoever he talked to they would fasten |
| αυτην9 συνερχεσθαι10 αυτω11 απο | her to escort for him from |
| του γυναικο̶ωνος εως των βα | the harem to the ki- |
| σιλειων δειλης εισπορευεται | ng in the afternoon enters |
| και προς ημεραν αποτρεχει | and towards the (new) day (she) runs away |
| εις τον γυναικωνα τον δευτε | into the harem the sec- |
| [ρ]ον ου γαι ο ευνουχος του βασι | [o]nd where Gai the eunuch of the k- |
| [λ]εως ο φυλαξ των γυναικων | [i]ng (is) the watcher of the harem |
| [κα]ι̣ ουκετι εισπορευεται προς | [an]d no more enters to |
| [τον βα]σιλεια12 εαν μη κληθη | [the pa]lace unless called (upon) |
| [ονοματι]´ εν δε τω αναπληρουσθαι | [by name], in however the fullfillment |
| [τον χρον]ον εσθηρ του13 εισελθιν | [of tim]e Ester of going in |
| [προς τον βα]σιλεα´ ουδεν ηθετη̣ | [to the ki]ng, without nulli- |
| [σεν ων αυτη] ενετιλατο [ο ευ]νο̣υ | [fied of that to her] enumerated [the eu]nu- |
| [χος ο φυλας των γυναικων η]ν̣/ | [ch that watched the harem wa]s/ |
| Notes 1. κατα την αυλην την γυναικειαν επισκοπων τι Εστηρ 2. αναπληρωση 3. σμυρνινω 4. εξ ⸆ των γυναικων 5. τοτε 6. εισπορευεται 7. ο 8. παραδωσει 9. αυτη 10. συνεισερχεσθαι 11. αυτη 12. βασιλεα 13. της θυγατρος Αμιναδαβ αδελφου πατρος Μαρδοχαιον |
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