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The 1967-1977 edition retained L as the base text and revised the critical apparatus by taking a more cautious approach to conjectures. Würthwein remarks that “the individual books vary considerably in their scope and quality, so that in many books the use of BHK is recommended.”[9]
3. Biblia Hebraica Quinta (BHQ)
4. Hebrew University Bible Project (HUBP) and Oxford Hebrew Bible (OHB)
Two efforts are underway to produce new editions of the Hebrew Bible. The first is by the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, which actually published is still producing a critical edition which was inaugurated with the publication of a sample back in 1965. It uses the Aleppo Codex, including the Mp and the Mm, as it base text. Of distinction are its six critical apparatuses: (1) early variants, (2) the texts of the Judean desert and rabbis, (3) medieval manuscripts, (4) orthographical anomalies, and (5-6) critical remarks. More recently, the
5. Oxford Hebrew Bible (OHB)
The Oxford Hebrew Bible project has commenced work on a critical eclectic edition - i.e. it is picks the best readings from various manuscripts rather than transcribing a single manuscript. 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.
[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. On p. LI of BHS5, “Vrs” stands for “versions all or most of.”
[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.”