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More recently, the Oxford Hebrew Bible project has commenced work on a critical edition. It has published as samples Deut 32:1-9; 1 Kgs 11:1-8; and Jer 27:1-10.[10] The scope of both of these projects in conjunction with the unceasing publications on textual criticism make it likely that the publication of both editions is not forthcoming.
Witnesses, Versions, and Manuscripts
It may be helpful to mention two terms that one also finds when doing textual criticism and that intersect with the editions discussed above. A “witness” is a Hebrew text of the OT (e.g., 1QIsaa, Samaritan Pentateuch) and a “version” is a translation of a witness (e.g., Septuagint, Vulgate).[11] The term “manuscript” (Ms[s]), signifies a Hebrew text(s).
[1] When reading in the area of textual criticism, one sometimes encounters the phrase “the editions.” Page LXIX of BHS 5, for instance, lists the abbreviation “Ed, Edd,” which denotes “One or several editions of the Hebrew Old Testament.” On page XLVII, the abbreviation “Ed(d)” refers to “edition(s) of the Hebrew text according to Kennicott, de Rossi and Ginsburg cf. Ms(s).” On page XLIX, “Ms(s)” designates the editions of B. Kennicott, J. B. de Rossi, and C. D. Ginsburg. Page L seems to say that for 1-2 Samuel (“1/2 S”), Ms(s) includes the same editions as well as fragments from the Cairo Geniza. The terms “edition(s)” and “manuscript(s)” are thus used somewhat interchangeably. Incomplete and complete editions exist that predate those named by BHS, e.g., an edition of the Psalms in AD 1477 and the Soncino Bible of AD 1488. In any case, all of the editions were based on medieval manuscripts.
[2] William R. Scott, A Simplified Guide to BHS: Critical Apparatus, Masora, Accents, Unusual Letters and Other Markings (3rd ed.; N. Richland Hills, TX: BIBAL Press, 1995; orig. publ., 1987), 18.
[3] E. Würthwein, The Text of the Old Testament (2nd ed.; trans. Erroll F. Rhodes; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1995), 39, n. 85.
[4] Würthwein, Text of the Old Testament, 39.
[5] Würthwein, Text of the Old Testament, 39.
[6] Würthwein, Text of the Old Testament, 40.
[7] Würthwein, Text of the Old Testament, 40.
[8] Würthwein, Text of the Old Testament, 41-42.
[9] Würthwein, Text of the Old Testament, 43.
[10] For a review, see Ronald Hendel, "The Oxford Hebrew Bible: Prologue to a New Critical Edition," VT 58 (2008: 324-51). Download the review at http://ohb.berkeley.edu/Hendel,%20OHB%20VT.pdf.
[11] On p. LI of BHS5, “Vrs” stands for “versions all or most of.”