Jean Morin (Joannes Morinus, 1591–1659) was a French Oratorian priest, theologian, and biblical scholar who played a pivotal role in the study of the Samaritan Pentateuch. His work was instrumental in bringing this ancient text into mainstream biblical scholarship, challenging prevailing assumptions about the textual history of the Pentateuch. Morin’s comparative analysis of the Samaritan Pentateuch, Masoretic Text, and Septuagint reshaped the understanding of the Hebrew Bible and its transmission. His most influential work on the Samaritan Pentateuch was Exercitationes ecclesiasticae in utrumque Samaritanorum Pentateuchum, published in 1631.
Jean Morin’s Work on the Samaritan Pentateuch
Jean Morin was among the first European scholars to systematically study the Samaritan Pentateuch after it was introduced to Europe by travelers such as Pietro Della Valle. His research culminated in the publication of Exercitations Biblicae (1631), in which he analyzed textual variations between the Samaritan and Masoretic traditions.
Morin’s work was groundbreaking because it directly challenged the notion that the Masoretic Text was the sole authoritative Hebrew version of the Torah. He argued that the Samaritan Pentateuch preserved readings that were in some cases older and more authentic than those found in the Masoretic tradition. This was a controversial stance at the time, as most scholars viewed the Masoretic Text as the definitive Hebrew Bible.
Jean Morin’s Opinions on the Samaritan Pentateuch
1. The Samaritan Pentateuch Preserves an Ancient Tradition – Morin believed that the Samaritan Pentateuch was not merely a late, corrupted version of the Torah but a legitimate textual tradition that had preserved some original readings lost in the Masoretic Text.
2. Alignment with the Septuagint – He observed that in several instances, the Samaritan Pentateuch aligned more closely with the Greek Septuagint than with the Masoretic Text. This led him to argue that the Septuagint, rather than the Masoretic Text, sometimes reflected the more accurate biblical tradition.
3. The Masoretic Text Is Not the Sole Authority – Morin’s most controversial argument was that the Masoretic Text was not the only authoritative version of the Torah. He proposed that biblical scholars should consider the Samaritan and Septuagint traditions when reconstructing the original text of the Pentateuch.
4. Scribal Variations and Textual Changes – He suggested that the Masoretic Text had undergone scribal variations over time, which resulted in certain readings being altered or lost. He saw the Samaritan Pentateuch as an important witness to earlier textual traditions.
Impact of Jean Morin’s Research
Morin’s research on the Samaritan Pentateuch had a lasting impact on biblical textual criticism, though it was met with resistance from many scholars of his time. His work contributed to the recognition that the Pentateuch had multiple textual traditions, rather than a single, fixed version.
His arguments led to greater interest in comparative biblical studies, encouraging scholars to analyze differences between the Masoretic Text, Samaritan Pentateuch, and Septuagint. Over time, Morin’s perspective helped shape modern approaches to textual criticism, where the study of manuscript variations plays a crucial role in reconstructing the earliest biblical texts.
Legacy of Jean Morin’s Work
Despite the controversy surrounding his conclusions, Jean Morin’s scholarship laid the foundation for modern biblical textual studies. His insistence that scholars examine alternative textual traditions rather than relying exclusively on the Masoretic Text has influenced subsequent generations of researchers.
Today, the Samaritan Pentateuch is recognized as a valuable textual witness to the history of the Torah, and Morin’s pioneering work continues to be referenced in studies of biblical transmission and textual diversity. His contributions remain essential to the field of biblical criticism, reinforcing the importance of considering multiple manuscript traditions when studying the development of sacred texts.