Shalom Chaverim,
As many of you should know, work has now begun on the Scripture Restoration Project. Words cannot express the mixture of sober responsibility and enthusiastic exhilaration that I feel as I work on this project. It is impossible to describe what it feels like to delve deeply into the original text of the Scriptures, for hours at a time, surrounded by facsimiles of ancient manuscripts, critical editions, and reference books. My desk is literally piled with stacks of source texts. As I play Motzart on my headphones and work, I am caught up in the intricacies of the various manuscripts and texts before me, I lose myself in the literal Word of YHWH and the passage of time ceases to have meaning.
As I begin this project, I started with a test run to restore the original Hebrew of Mark, using the Greek Text types, the Old Syriac and Peshitta Aramaic and the synoptic parallels to Matthew to use Hebrew Matthew as a guide to restore Hebrew Mark. When I got to Mark 1:6 = Matthew 3:4 discovered something very important about Hebrew Matthew. The DuTillet/Munster and Shem Tob Hebrew versions of Matthew each preserve parts of the original Hebrew Matthew, and my work will involve weaving these two traditions together using the relationships between the Greek Text types, and the ancient Aramaic witnesses as a guide. (See my last blog for a detailed understanding of Mark 1:6 = Matthew 3:4).
I will be using synoptic parallels to restore Matthew, Mark and Luke (and the Gospel according to the Hebrews) concurrently, and I am jumping ahead temporarily,to restore the words of Yeshua in the “Sermon on the Mount” (Matthew 5-8) and the parallel “Sermon on the Plain” (Luke 6:20-49).
The work is meticulous but rewarding.
But this project needs your help. I cannot do this alone. Our need is great. The rent was due yesterday. This work will take hours of my time. As many of you know, my wife is chronically ill (her medications have cost us almost $300 this week, after insurance), and I spend most of my time at home as her caretaker. I work at a desk less than six feet from her bed. So I am in a position to dedicate many hours to this important work that I have been directed to do.
Donations can be sent by paypal to donations@wnae.org.
