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Re: "Love" in the DSS
On Sat, 6 Apr 1996 HuldrychZ@aol.com wrote:
> Professor Cook,
>
> In a message dated 96-04-06 12:17:13 EST, you write:
>
> >in Targum Neofiti ( and other targums as well perhaps) the
> >biblical expressions concerning "love for God" are usually translated e.g.
> >"you shall love the Torah of God" etc. In Judaism love seems to be directed
> >to Torah, not to God.
>
> Thank you for this note. It is remarkable that the targumim would make this
> transition. Why do you think direct love for God (as commanded in Torah) was
> transferred to love for Torah? Was it because one cannot love God DIRECTLY,
> or some related idea?
> I am grateful for your help in this matter.
>
>
> Jim West
>
Jim,
I still think you should check out the use of <.h>esed, including
checking out its semantic range, because I think that you will find that
it is the term that includes the meaning you're looking for. One
possible translation of <.h>esed is "covenant loyality," I believe, which
might well explain the focus on Torah that you just queried Ed about.
David Suter
Saint Martin's College