Some Sundays (though not nearly 70 or 72) have gone by without a Septuagint Sunday post, an erstwhile major focus of this blog. Today rectifies the paucity, at least for this week.
William Ross, a doctoral student at the University of Cambridge, interviewed James K. Aitken just after Christmas. Aitken is the editor of the exciting T & T Clark Companion to the Septuagint. The companion, to my knowledge, marks a first in Septuagint studies, as it presents a “handy summary of features for each of the Septuagint books.”
The interview is fascinating and enjoyable, and you get a sense of a scholar who is both rigorous in his study and writing, yet also approachable.
Aitken offers encouragement to those interested in Septuagint studies by suggesting the field still has much ground (bad pun, all mine) to till:
I do not think there is any area that is overworked in LXX studies, so that any aspect of the field is possible. Currently for most books of the LXX, there has been only one or two monographs in the past century – an enviable position in biblical studies! Some books have now received more attention (Isaiah, Psalms, Minor Prophets) but there is still plenty to do even for them. So, a student may pick any book and still have plenty to say.
You can find the whole interview here.
Words on the Word 
For those not conversant with Greek, an excellent English translation of LXX is available in the form of the Orthodox Study Bible. It’s available in several different formats, the most recent follows the text of the New King James Version (NKJV) for the New Testament. The notes are of particular interest: whilst I don’t fully agree with everything contained therein, those that relate to how the early Church Fathers received and interpreted the text are particularly worthwhile. I own a really nice leather edition, which was very reasonably priced!
Thank you for the recommendation!
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