The Targum of Jeremiah By Robert Hayward Translated, with a Critical Introduction, Apparatus, and Notes Michael Glazier, 1987, 206 pages ISBN 0-89453-475-0

Reviewed by Israel Drazin - July 28, 2010

My reviews of the other books in the nineteen volume Michael Glazier English rendering of the Aramaic translations of the Hebrew Bible, explain the origin of the Targums (Aramaic translations of Hebrew Scripture) and give examples how the Aramaic translators changed the text of Scripture to insert their own views. See, for example, Targum Jonathan of the Former Prophets. This volume contains the English translation of the Jeremiah Targum.

Robert Hayward points out that among the many types of changes that the Jeremiah translator made in his text are alterations to show love and concern for the people of Israel. The prophet himself in the original Hebrew criticized the Israelites repeatedly. But the translator modified these statements. He stressed that only the wicked will be punished, not the entire people. He turns the prophet into a teacher of Torah who stresses that the Israelites must obey God's words, and who assures the people that if they do so they will be rewarded. He has Jeremiah say that God will never forsake Israel, they are always loved by God, and God will treat them as a loving father.

• The Targum of Psalms, by David M. Stec.
  Aramaic Bible - Translated, with a Critical Introduction, Apparatus, and Notes.
  
  
• The Targums of Job, Proverbs, Qohelet, by C. Mangan, J. F. Healey, and P. S. Knobel Aramaic Bible - Translation and Notes.