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Sunday, September 30, 2007

Alter translates the Psalms

Maybe he'll do the piyutim next? ;)

http://www.slate.com/id/2174058

NB: In his new translation Robert Alter comes down solidly on the side of those scholars who says the idea of a "soul" was unknown to the Psalmist. Instead, Alter insists that when the Psalmist uses it, the word nefesh means "life breath" or "life" thus nafshi yeshovev in Psalm 23 becomes "My life He brings back."

A bit radical, perhaps, but the case, I think, is made with all of Alter's considerable talent and skill. [See the Slate article referenced above or Kugel v. Alter]

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