How did we get variant David and Goliath stories?

PROF. JEREMY M. HUTTON: Why Is David and Goliath’s Story 40% Longer in the MT Than in the LXX? (TheTorah.com).

The version of the story of David’s triumph over Goliath (1 Samuel 17–18) in the Septuagint (LXX) is missing many details present in the Masoretic Text (MT). The explanations provided by the Addition and Omission Hypotheses do not fully account for the differences. Taking into account how ancient scrolls were written and repaired offers a new approach.

For PaleoJudaica posts on this fascinating textual problem, see here and here.

Visit PaleoJudaica daily for the latest news on ancient Judaism and the biblical world.