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After a long break in the translation process on Genesis 1-11, I've finally been able to make the time to continue. Sorry if I left anyone hanging.
In this chapter I have added translation footnotes based upon the Targums (Onqelos, Neofiti, and Pseudo-Jonathan) and Septuagint (LXX). The Targums are Aramaic translations/interpretations of the Hebrew scriptures used during the Second Temple period and later. The Septuagint is the translation of the Hebrew scriptures into Greek during the same period.
The Translation:
The Earthlings began to be numerous upon the face of the earthen soil, and daughters[1] were born to them. And sons of the Elohim[2] saw that the daughters of the Earthlings were
good [3], so they took for themselves women from all that they chose
[4]. And YHWH said, “my spirit will not remain in the Earthling forever because he is flesh, and his days will be 120 years.[5]
The nephilim [7] were in the land in those days, and also afterward,
when the sons of the Elohim came the daughters of the Earthling, and
they brought forth to them the Mighty[8] which from forever, Men of
Name.
And YHWH saw that the wickedness [9] of the Earthling had increased in
the land, and every formative movement [10] of the thoughts of his
heart were only wicked all day. And YHWH regreted that he had made the Earthling in the Land, and he was painfully grieved to his heart.[11] And said YHWH, “I shall wipe out the Earthling which I created from
upon the face of the earthen soil--from Earthling to beast to creeper
to flyer of the heavens--for I regret[12] that I have made them.
But Noach found favor in the eyes of YHWH.[13]
These are the generations of Noach: Noach was a just [14] man, blameless in his generation. Noach walked with the Elohim.[14b] And brought forth Noach three sons: Shem, Kham, and Yaphet.
And the Land was ruined[15] before the Elohim, the land was filled with unjust violence. [16] And Elohim saw the Land and, look, it was ruined because all flesh[17] had ruined its way upon the Land.
And Elohim said to Noach: “The end of all flesh has come before me
because the Land is filled with unjust violence because of them[18],
and here I am, I will ruin them with the Land. Make to you an ark of gopher[19] wood; nests[20] you shall make with
the ark, and cover it from house and from outside with a smeared
covering[21]. And this is how you shall make it, 300 cubits is the length of the ark, 50 cubits in width, and 30 cubits in height. A roof[22] you shall make to the ark, and to a cubit you shall finish
above, and set the door of the ark in her side. Make it with a lower,
second, and third.
"Here I am[23], I am bringing the flood of waters upon the Land to
destroy all flesh in which there is the breath of life from under the
heavens. All which is in the Land shall die. And I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall
come to the ark, you and your sons, and your woman, and your sons women
with you. And from all the living, from all flesh,
you shall bring to the ark two from all, to keep them alive with
you[24], they will be male and female. From the Flying according to his kind and from the Beast from her kind
from all the Crawling of the earthen soil to their kind, two from all
shall come to you[25] to keep them alive. And you take to you from all the food which is eaten, and gather it to you, and it will be food for you and for them."
And Noach made it; everything which Elohim commanded him, he made.
Notes:
[1] Targum Neofiti has “female daughters”. Psuedo-Jonathan “beautiful daughters”. On "increase"/"multiply", Genesis Rabba interpreted hhl as "profane, rebel"--meaning Earthlings began to rebel upon the Land.
[2] Targums have “leaders” (Onqelos), “judges” (Neofiti), “chiefs” (PJ). LXX has “God.” Genesis Rabbah: "R. Simeon b. Yohai referred to them as sons of the nobility" and "cursed anyone who called them 'sons of God'".
[3] Targums: “beautiful wives” (Onqelos), “beautiful of appearance” (Neofiti), “that they were beautiful, that they put kohl on the eyes, and put on rouge, and were walking about with their flesh exposed, and they gave thought to fornication”. LXX: καλαί.
[4] Targums Onqelos and Pseudo-Jonathan: ”they were pleased with” or “they desired”.
[5] Targums make significant modifications to this text. Targum Onqelos has “This evil generation will not be established before me forever, because they are flesh and their deeds are evil. A prolongation (אַרכָא) shall be given to them: one hundred twenty years, if they should repent.” Targums Neofiti and Pseudo-Jonathan have similar modifications with each other. Neofiti: “All the generations that will rise up will not be judged according to the legal decision of the generation of the flood. Has not the legal decision of the generation of the flood, to destroy and to annihilate them from the midst of the world, been sealed before me? Behold, I have put my spirit into the children of man, since they are flesh, but their deeds are evil. Behold, I have given to you a respite of one hundred twenty years that perhaps they would make repentance, but they have not done it.” Pseudo-Jonathan: “None of the evil generations that will arise will be judged by the order of judgments of the generation of the flood, which is to be destroyed and wiped out from the midst of the world. Indeed I put my holy spirit in them so that they might do good deeds, but behold they have made their deeds wicked. Behold I gave them a respite of one hundred twenty years so that they might repent, but they did not do so.” LXX agrees with MSS.
[7] This is difficult to translate, so I have transliterated it. It probably should be “the fallen,” based on the Hebrew root nphl, “to fall”. Targums Onqelos and Neofiti have “giants”, “mighty ones” (gybrym), as does the LXX. Targum Pseudo Jonathan has “Shamhazi and Azael fell from heaven and were in the earth in those days . . .”
[8] Hebrew (and Aramaic) “giboriym”. Often translated “giants,” but may more accurately represent “heroes” or “mighty ones”. LXX has gigantes, “giants”.
[9] Or “evil”. The Hebrew root for this word, “ra”, can mean wicked, evil, bad, calamity.
[10] Usually translated (as it is used in Rabbinic tradition) as “inclination” or “leaning”. However, the root is also based upon the shaping of pottery (perhaps with the idea of movement of shaping on the spinning wheel).
[11] Targum Onqelos “then the Lord regretted in his Word that he had made man in the earth, and he thought to break their strength according to his will”. Targum Neofiti: “then there was regret from before the Lord that he had created Adam in the earth, and he debated it in his mind and was persuaded.” Targum Pseudo-Jonathan: “then the Lord regretted in his Word that he had made man in the earth, and he debated about them in his Word.” LXX: “then God laid it to heart that he had made man upon the earth, and he pondered it deeply.” Interestingly, the Hebrew word for "regret" can also mean "comfort". Some of the Rabbis in Genesis Rabbah interpreted this verse this way: "Said R. Levi, 'I am comforted that I made I made him from the earth [mortal, so he will go back to the dust].'"
[12] Targums Onqelos and Pseudo-Jonathan: “regret in my word”.
[13] Targum Neofiti: “But Noah, because there was not a righteous one in that generation, found grace and lovingkindness before the Lord”. Targum Pseudo-Jonathan: “But Noah, who was righteous, found favor before the Lord.”
[14] Hebrew “tsadiq”. Usually translated “righteous”, but carries the idea of “right” in terms of relation with others and community. In Jewish thought it is associated with the idea of “justice,” and to do “tsediqah” is to do “acts of charity”. Targums Neofiti and Pseudo-Jonothan clarify this idea: “Noah was a man, perfect in good work in his generations; Noah served before the Lord in truth.” (Neofiti) “Noah was a righteous man, perfect in good deeds in his generation, walking in the fear of the Lord.” (PJ)
[14b] The LXX clarifies that “walked with” means to be “well-pleasing”.
[15] Or “damaged”. The idea is that the land was affected by the behaviour of the Earthlings. The Targums clarify this: “And the inhabitants of the earth corrupted their deeds before the Lord, and the earth was filled with violence and robbers.” (Neofiti) “And the earth became corrupt because of its inhabitants who went astray from proper ways before the Lord, and the earth was filled with violence.” (PJ)
[16] The Hebrew hamas is used most often in the context of violence which is unjustly wronging another.
[17] Targums Onqelos and Pseudo-Jonathan have “human flesh”.
[18] Again, Targum Neofiti clarifies “violence and robbery”. Targum Onqelos: “because of their evil deeds”.
[19] Gopher is an unknown wood. Some translators use “cypress”. The Targums translate with “cedar” (qdrws). LXX has “square timber” instead of a type of wood.
[20] Literally, “nests”, but most likely “rooms”. The Targums have Noah being told to build the ark with “dwellings”. Targum Pseudo-Jonathan conflates this verse with v. 15 and interprets: “You shall make one hundred fifty compartments for the ark on the left, and thirty six in its breadth, and ten houses in the middle to put food in, and five cisterns on the right and five on the left.”
[21] Most often translated “pitch”, but the Hebrew root kpr means “to cover”. The LXX uses asphalto, “tar” or “bitumen”.
[22] The Hebrew word here (zhr) is a hapax legomenon, occuring only once in the Hebrew scriptures. It is most often translated “roof” in English versions (as I have done), but I’m not sure this is the best translation. The root zhr means “make shiny”, “gleam”, “gleaming patch”, and this idea is followed by all the Targums. Targum Onqelos has “You shall make a light for the ark”. Neofiti has “You shall make a light for the ark.” Targum Psuedo-Jonothan adds the interesting “Go to the Pishon and take from there a sparkling gem and put it in the ark to give you light.” The LXX has “and you shall narrow [or gather together] (episynagon) the ark in making it.” The reconstructed Qumran text of this verse is based upon “make a window”.
[23] Hebrew hineni. Sometimes translated “behold,” but is often used in reference of announcing ones presence.
[24] LXX adds “that you may feed them yourself”.
[25] Targum Pseudo-Jonathan adds: “by means of an angel who will catch them and bring them in to you”.
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