13 הִתְע֣וּ The syntactic agreement between the
subject אלהים and its predicate התעו
was problematic for Smr, which adopted the singular to make sure that no
plurality of God is put into the mouth of Abraham. See Schorch,
“Anti-polytheistischen Korrekturen,” 15. Such a problem did not bother the
versions whose term for God is singular by nature (G, V), or by choice (S). In
fact, the versions are mainly concerned about the negative denotation of the
verb תעה, which is troublesome in connection with אלהים (cf. 2 Kgs 21:9; Isa 9:15; Jer 23:13; etc.). Therefore, they
attribute to the verb the sense of “to lead.” Medieval Jewish exegesis took the
same approach (Qimḥi, Rashi). The Targumim, however, unable to ignore the
frequent meaning of “erring,” “going astray,” attributed the verb to pagans. TJ
and TN refer to the story about the attempts made by Nimrod to force
Abraham into idolatrous worship (b. Pesaḥ.
118a; Gen. Rab. 38:13). TO
distinguishes between the nations that went astray in idolatry, and Israel,
whom God brought near to the fear of him. See Prijs, Jüdische Tradition, 81. (Abraham Tal, Genesis:
Critical Apparatus and Notes, Quinta editione, vol. 1, Biblia Hebraica
Quinta [Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 2015], 48)
Targum Pseudo-Jonathan:
והוה כד בעו לאטעאה יתי פלחי טעוותא ונפקית
מבית איבא ואמרית )לה( טיבותיך דתעבדין עימי לכל אתרא דינהך לתמן אימרי עלי דאחי הוא
English:
“And it came to pass that, when they came to ensnare
her, the battalions of temptation issued forth from the gate‑house and said to her:
‘Your good deeds, which you have done with me
throughout every land under your jurisdiction—there you shall proclaim of me
that he is my brother.’”
Targum Onqelos to the Pentateuch:
13 וַהֲוָה כַד טְעֹו עַמְמַיָא בָתַר עוּבָדֵי
יְדֵיהֹון וְיָתִי קָרֵיב יוי לְדַחלְתֵיה מִבֵית אַבָא וַאֲמַרִית לַה דָא טֵיבוּתִיך
דְתַעבְדִין עִמִי לְכֹל אֲתַר דִנהָך לְתַמָן אֵימַרִי עֲלַי אֲחִי הוּא׃
English:
“Now it came to pass that the nations wandered astray,
chasing after the works of their own hands.
The LORD then drew near to humble them from their
ancestral home.
You must say to her, ‘Behold these blessings—your
faithful service to Me wherever I place you.’
And at last you shall proclaim of Me, ‘He is my
brother.’”
Targum Neofiti to the Pentateuch:
13 והוה כד בעין עממיא }}לאטעאה{{ יתי בתר טעוותהון
וממרה דייי דבר יתיה מן ביתה דאבה ואמרית לה דן חסדיך די תעבדון עמי לכל אתר די נעול
לתמן אמרי כען עלי אחי
English:
“And it came to pass, when in the eyes of the peoples
they sought to ensnare her, that after her temptations and rebellions the word
of the Lord went out from her father’s house and spoke to her:
‘Now therefore, your mercies which you show me in every
place that is locked up, there proclaim: “Thus far is my brother.”’”
