Provenance, Profile, and Purpose of the Greek Joshua

Abstract

It is generally believed that the Greek translation of Joshua originated in approximately the same period and place as the Greek Pentateuch, but evidence to substantiate such a third-century b.c.e. Egyptian provenance of the Greek Joshua is hard to find. The present contribution examines possible reflections of the Greek Joshua in Jewish Greek literature of the pre-Christian era (particularly Aristobulus). It is further argued that a third-century b.c.e. origin of the Greek Joshua may account for some unusual Greek renderings of toponyms. On the basis of the lexical choices and literary initiatives, the profile of the Greek translator is sketched, a profile that seems to fit to some extent Drimylos and his son Dositheos, known from documentary papyri. Finally, it is argued that the Greek Joshua serves cultural propaganda and contemporary politics rather than religious needs.