Wednesday: Breslauer chapter 4. pp. 82-95

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Wednesday Breslauer chapter 4. pp. 82-95
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www.ucalgary.ca/elsegal/TalmudMap/MG.html

• Masorah
• Chapter numbers
• Targum (a few links)
• Sedrah

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Jewish Bibles

• 1 Proper contents
• 2 Proper versions of each book
• 3 Meaning (translations)
• 4 Traditions of reading / vocalizing
• 5 Physical forms / Structures of Bibles.
• 6 Uses. Ritual, private uses, etc.
• 7 Exploring the meanings
• 8 Preserving authoritative commentaries.

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1. Proper content

• Which books were and were not, scriptural?
• Not finalized until early centuries C.E.

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Post 70 c.e. Fixed canon

• Torah / Prophets already accepted
• List of other Writings determined.
• Tanakh comes into being

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Criteria uncertain

• Only Hebrew / Aramaic
• Greek Septuagints extra books out.
• Ancient Latest early 2nd Temple (i.e., before
  450 bce).
• Radical Apocalypses rejected.
• Sectarian texts rejected.

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2. Proper versions

• Ancient manuscripts show great diversity.
• Rabbis determined a correct text. Wanted
  consistency to the last letter.
• By mid 2nd century One version becomes
  standard. Some variants remain.

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Masoretic Text

• Name of the modern version of biblical books
• Rabbis decided on the Proto-M.T.
• Masorah the rabbinic traditions of reading and
  recitation of the proto-M.T.

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Proto- and early M. T.

• On Scrolls
• Multiple titles on one scroll
• No complete consistency in order of books
• No vowels.
• Few could read them

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3 Meaning (translations)

• Targums Aramaic
• In worship Hebrew read aloud
• Translated orally for congregation with some
  added explanations.

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Targums 2nd century onwards

• Onkelos early very literal
• Jonathan interpretative.
• Became important in communal worship.
• Sometimes used in Talmud.

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Gen. 12

• MT The earth was formless and void, and
  darkness was over the surface of the deep, and
  the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of
  the waters.
• T. J. And the earth was vacancy and desolation,
  solitary of the sons of men, and void of every
  animal and darkness was upon the face of the
  abyss, and the Spirit of mercies from before the
  Lord breathed upon the face of the waters.

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4 Traditions of reading / vocalizing

• Sacred text in a sacred language requires
  specific pronunciation.
• Oral reading of text without vowels difficult
• nd h sd t mss s t th srlts b crfl t kp ths lw

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Masorah Tradition

• System of correct text and pronunciation.
• Taught by rote memorization of scripture.
• Later MT copied out with vowels, accents, etc.
  added

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Masoretes

• Scholars who established correct text and
  vocalizations
• Masoretic text the version they adopted and
  further developed.
• Some variety remains.

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masorah

• Vowels accents
• Reading variations
• Section divisions
• Word lists / counts

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Leningrad CodexOldest complete Hebrew Bible ca.
1010 C.E.
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5 - 6 Physical forms of Biblesand Uses

• Scroll form generally used for ritual purposes.
• All of Tanakh NOT put on a single scroll.
• Codex form used for study purposes.

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Torah

• Scroll (unvocalized) used for synagogue worship.
• Codex (vocalized) for congregations to read
  along. Chumash
• Codex with full masorah for study

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Haftarah

• Readings from the Prophets to accompany weekly
  Torah reading
• Antiochus forbade Torah readings Jews
  substituted Prophets reading.
• Reading from Codex permitted

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Megillah5 festival scrolls

• Song of Songs Passover Sabbath
• Ruth Shavuot
• Lamentations Tisha BAv
• Ecclesiastes / Qohelth Sukkoth Sabbath

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Esther Purim
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7 Exploring the meanings

• Study of words, themes becomes important.
• Bible interpreted in the light of developed
  tradition.
• Serious questions about tradition could be
  raised.

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