Reading Matthew in Hebrew - III

We can pick up the thread from this point:

But we can also consider the possibility that Shaprut's reading with "lands/cities" may be more original than the Greek textual tradition, just on the basis of the likelihood of the reading. Did the Samaritans have more than one city? No doubt. What is "the road" of the Gentiles? Is not "the lands" of the Gentiles more likely? Was there any historical, political, or social reason to suppress such a reading?

The answer, for me, is "yes, there was such a reason." While it is far from certain what "road of the Gentiles" means in this context, "Do not go to the lands of the Gentiles" sounds natural and is very clear. It is also exactly what Paul and his followers did, in spite of these words of Rabbi Yeshua. It may, therefore, be taken as an indictment of Pauline Christianity. If later generations read it that way, they would surely have suppressed it.

While I was studying this passage, I took a look at another passage that also talks about "the lost sheep of the house of Israel," namely Mt. 15:24, the episode of the Canaanite Woman. Here's how it reads in the RSV:

"Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely possessed by a demon." But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, "Send her away, for she is crying after us." He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."

This passage has always presented a problem, because Jesus' answer is a non-answer. but the problem is resolved in Shaprut's Hebrew Matthew, which reads:

"Master, Son of David, have mercy on me because my daughter is possessed by demons." Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples approached him and said to him, "Our master, why do you abandon this woman who is crying out after us?" Jesus answered them: "They did not send me except to the lost sheep from the house of Israel."

So, while all other texts are problematic in this passage, the old Hebrew Matthew presented by Shaprut resolves the problem and makes perfect sense. It certainly seems to me to be more original.

(to be continued)