From the Prophecy of Jacob to the Pool of Siloam: The Evolution of the Interpretation of the Term šîlōh (Gen 49:10)

Jakub Jacek Waszkowiak — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0100

The article analyzes the term “Shiloh” (Heb. šîlōh) in Gen 49:10—one of the most widely debated interpretive problems in the Old Testament. The first part presents contemporary proposals for its translation, as well as the philological and semantic difficulties associated with the expression. It then discusses interpretations of the term in ancient Jewish contexts—the Septuagint, the Qumran tradition, and rabbinic literature—in which it acquires a messianic meaning. Particular attention is given to the connection between the motif of Shiloh and the symbolism of the “waters of Siloah” (Isa 8:6). The final part analyzes patristic interpretations (Origen, Eusebius, and Jerome), showing that the prophecy concerning Shiloh in Gen 49:10 finds its fulfillment in the name Siloam (John 9:7), which symbolically points to Jesus himself—the promised Messiah.

The expression χεῖρα / χείρας ἐπιφέρω + dative and LXX Genesis 37:22: A Homerism Linking Calchas and Joseph

Vladimir Olivero — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0100

This article examines a Homeric allusion in LXX Genesis 37:22, where the Greek translator employs the rare expression χεῖρα / χείρας ἐπιφέρω + dative, otherwise attested only in Homer. This deliberate lexical choice establishes a link between the figure of Joseph and that of Calchas. The study further highlights additional shared features between the two figures in order to strengthen and contextualize this parallel.

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From the Prophecy of Jacob to the Pool of Siloam: The Evolution of the Interpretation of the Term šîlōh (Gen 49:10)

The expression χεῖρα / χείρας ἐπιφέρω + dative and LXX Genesis 37:22: A Homerism Linking Calchas and Joseph