Uncle Chip, let me ask you a question: is your assertion that the only legitimate Old Testament is the Jewish Masoretic Text (the oldest extant manuscript of which dates from about 900 C.E.)?
If so, then to discuss the Bible with you, do we need to stipulate that the Masoretic Text, and only that, is the Hebrew text you will accept in translation?
And if that is so, given that no human being has spoken ancient Hebrew as a native speaker for at least 1500 years, every version - even the 900 C.E. parchment of the Masoretic Text itself when read by a Hebrew scholar - is read in translation into his native language (not one person on Earth is capable of reading ancient Hebrew as a native; no human being has a native proficiency in ancient Hebrew idiom, and no human being can acquire it, there being no ancient Hebrew-speaker to consult), which translation into English do you accept as authoritative?
The debate about the Septuagint becomes moot, doesn't it, if I accept your premise that the Septuagint is something you totally reject, and accept your demand that the translation of the Old Testament be limited to the Hebrew Canon, and be limited to a translation of the Masoretic Text?
I am willing to do just that, in order to have a fruitful discussion with you, but in order to do it I have to know which English translation you are willing to accept as authoritative? All of the Christian translations of which I am aware cross-reference the Septuagint, the Vulgate, or other maunscripts for their translations. I know of none that exclusively binds itself to the Word of the Lord contained in the Masoretic Text.
Only the Jewish translation does that, to my knowledge.
So, are you willing to accept the Jewish Publication Society's translation of the Masoretic Text as the authoritative English-language translation of the only PURE Hebrew Old Testament?
Iscool, please see post #214. Same question for you.
Is the Masoretic Text the ONLY legitimate Hebrew Text of the Old Testament?
My preference is the King James Version and the Greek and Hebrew Texts that underlie it. And your preference?
The King James does.