Philo's Bible

INTERMEDIATE

While passing by whatever observations may be interspersed in the speculative works on Philo written by members of the Hegelian school a century ago, I have to mention two comprehensive studies only, Carl Siegfried's contribution of 1873 (Z. wiss. Theol. 16, 1873, pp. 217-38, 411-28, 522-40) and Herbert E. Ryle's Philo and Holy Scripture or the Quotations of Philo from the Books of the Old Testament, with Introduction and Notes (1895). It is proper to take them together, because without Siegfried's previous study Ryle's notes could not have been written, as he himself is aware.

C. SIEGFRIED

Siegfried, to whom we owe a series of instructive studies on Philo's interpretation of the O.T., here works with the obvious intention of paving a way for his subsequent book by clearing up Philo's relation to his source, the Septuagint. His study consists of a complete list of Philo's quotations, which are arranged after a very well considered scheme of headings, and this scheme retains its value though Ryle thought it was too complicated. There are no references to other students' contributions in his list, but in the introductory paragraph he mentions Hornemann, whereas his early Dutch predecessors are long forgotten, and with them their special problem.

Siegfried's observations are careful and scholarly; yet they are marred by his prevailing point of view, that that alternative version is a priori commendable which is closest to the Hebrew original. It is obvious that in this light the Aquila readings of the inferior group, as far as they formed part of the received text after Mangey, were considered of incomparable superiority to their competitors. This was seen from our occasional references to Siegfried; and therefore in our problem we cannot learn from him, since his consistent adherence to this opposed position serves only as a warning.