Saturday, May 23, 2020

The "Shortness/Paucity" of God's Days in Psalm 102 (101, LXX)


In Psa 102:23-24 the LXX (101:23-24), unlike the MT, God addresses (not weakens) the suppliant:

He answered him in the way of his strength, "Tell me the paucity of my days. Do not take me away at the mid-point of my days, while your years are in generation of generations!" (NETS)

This might sound unusual, as one may naively think that the LXX imputes mortality to God based on his having a "shortness/paucity" of days. Notwithstanding, as B.W. Bacon, "Heb. 1:10-12 and the Septuagint Rendering of Ps.102:23," p. 285 argues, this refers to the period destined to elapse before the consummation of God's purpose, as seen in the Old Testament background to the following texts:

And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. (Matt 24:22)

And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days. (Mark 13:20)

The final stumbling-block (or source of danger) approaches, concerning which it is written, as Enoch says, "For for this end the Lord has cut short the times and the days, that His Beloved may hasten; and He will come to the inheritance." (Epistle of Barnabas 4:3)