The samaritan torah the version of the pentateuch in the hands of the samaritans, written in the ancient hebrew script. Likewise, samaritan tradition holds that the samaritan pentateuch is the genuine version of the torah, faithfully preserved through the centuries by the samaritans and traceable all the way back to abisha, greatgrandson of aaron, brother of moses. Textual criticism of the hebrew bible, qumran, septuagint. Pentateuch, samaritan, hebrew text of the penta teuch used by the samaritans.
Yet these same harmonising additions are witnessed in jewish hebrew dead sea scrolls like 4qpaleoexodm, 4qnumb, and 4qdeutn and 4qreworked. True keepers of the ancient israelite law or heretical jewish sect. A critical edition of the samaritan pentateuch is one of the most urgent desiderata of hebrew bible research. In fact, the torah or pentateuch is the only part of the jewish scriptures that samaritans use for worship. The israelite samaritan version of the torah download ebook. An excerpt from the book a grammar of samaritan hebrew it is well known that there are thousands of differences between the jewish and samaritan pentateuchs. Jewish and samaritan versions compared hebrew edition mark shoulson on. The samaritans acquired their copy from josiah after he found the book of the law torah in 723 ad. First english translation compared with the masoretic version tsedaka, benyamim, sullivan, sharon, charlesworth, james h. The reader on opening one of the codices of the samaritan pentateuch recognizes at once the difference of the writing from the characters in an ordinary hebrew bible. The hebrew pentateuch of the samaritans logos bible software. Here is a raw unedited translation from hebrew wikipedia differences between the samaritan text and the masoretic text according to the accepted study, the samaritan version of the masoretic text was changed by about 6,000 individuals, of which so. Oldest hebrew and samaritan script and language were nothing. Samaritan pentateuch introduction the samaritan pentateuch sp.
Torah, israelite samaritan and masoretic versions in english. The samaritan bible consists of the torahthat is, the five books of mosesalso called the samaritan pentateuch sp. Variants in the samaritan pentateuch of the hebrew bible as. The samaritan pentateuch is one such text, with an ancient history of competition with the jewish masoretic text. Samaritan pentateuch introduction the samaritan pentateuch sp constitutes the entire canon of sacred text for the samaritan community. These claims are difficult for modern historical scholarship to confirm or deny. Variants in the samaritan pentateuch of the hebrew bible as compared to the masoretic text. In some cases, the stories in the jewish torah seem truncated, with wandering logic and unclear narrative flow. Samaritan community has always recognized as sacred only the rst ve books of the hebrew bible, the pentateuch, but in a version quite distinct from the other two better known ancient versions of the hebrew bible.
The samaritan alphabet is close to the script that appears on many ancient hebrew coins and inscriptions. For over 2,500 years the samaritans, a jewish sect that emerged in the second temple period, have revered the torah. It contains many similarities to the septuagint and. Samaritan pentateuch in english by aleksandr sigalov. The first copy of the samari tan pentateuch to reach. John 4 reconsidering the samaritan woman eli lizorkin. In the course of copying and recopying the forms of some of these letters have so changed that the samaritan writing differs in a number of regards.
So we are left with three very different appearing versions of the old testament. Lexicon of samaritan hebrew according to the samaritan. The samaritan pentateuch, also known as the samaritan torah hebrew. The samaritans have thus preserved the ancient type in its purity. A samaritan priest raises the torah, during passover 2007, mount gerizim in the west bank. This color is used for parallels between the second and third cells of a. It is both the only and the oldest paleo hebrew bible manuscript of the torah known to exist on earth apart from a few dead sea scroll fragments. The samaritan pentateuch, also known as the samaritan torah is a text of the first five books of. The hebrew language comes down to us in several versions, each ethnic community having its own unique tradition of pronunciation. The samaritan pentateuch contains the text of the torah, the first five books of the hebrew bible, written in the consonantal samaritan script, a development from. The samaritan pentateuch and the scribal culture of second temple judaism. Hebrew english torah download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. This scroll was likely written by the scribe shalmah ben abraham around 1160 in nablus, where many samaritans still live.
A complete commentary on the torah is based on the israelite samaritan version of the torah, as it has been delivered for the past 125 generations, since it was originally written by mooshee ban aamraam moses ben amram the prophet of all prophets. Scott watson, a critical copy of the samaritan pentateuch written in ad 1232 in hebraica 9 18923, p. Torah the pentateuch neviim prophets ketuvim scriptures. Masoretic text parallel to the samaritan pentateuch. The samaritan version of the torah differs in several ways from the jewish masoretic version, and those differences are the purpose of this book. Identifying the oldest hebrew text and language is hindered by a diverse set of complications. These shoulder stones are described in hebrew as shoham. This color is used for parallels between the second and third cells of a threecell row. We also know that, prior to receiving these final samaritan revisions, this form of the torah circulated in judea as well, since it appears at qumran in pre samaritan manscripts like 4qpaleoexodm band 4qnum, and served as the basis for a number of other texts.
Whenever a story is retold, whenever something is referred to in the past e. Masoretic text parallel to the samaritan pentateuch with morphology, transliteration, strongs concordance numbers and idiomatic translation. The form of the letters in the manuscript copies of the samaritan pentateuch is different from that of the hebrew copies, and is probably the same as that which was in general use before the captivity. Topics samaritan, samaritantorah collection opensource language english.
The samaritan pentateuch is an essential text for understanding the complex textual history of the old testament texts. Jewish and samaritan versions compared hebrew edition. We also know that, prior to receiving these final samaritan revisions, this form of the torah circulated in judea as well, since it appears at qumran in pre samaritan manscripts like 4qpaleoexodm band 4qnum, and served as. A text of growing interest and importance in the field of biblical studies, the samaritan pentateuch preserves a version of the hebrew text distinct from the traditional masoretic text that underlies modern bible translations. Vestiges of qaraite translations in the arabic translations of the. Click download or read online button to get the israelite samaritan version of the torah book now. First english translation compared with the masoretic version. The samaritan pentateuch an introduction to its origin, history, and significance for biblical studies by robert t. This landmark volume presents the firstever english translation of the ancient israelite samaritan version of the pentateuch, or torah. The samaritan torah is therefore longer, in terms of letter or word count, than the masoretic version. Even though these traditions are subject to the various vernaculars and sometimes differ markedly from each other, their common basis is evident. Oldest hebrew and samaritan script and language were. Masoretic text parallel to the samaritan pentateuch step bible. Anderson and terry giles society of biblical literature.
Torah commentary on the israelite samaritan pentateuch, by b. A grammar of samaritan hebrew zeev benhayyim hebrew. English translation of the entire tanakh tanach with rashis commentary. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. Info is a polyglot online bible that contains the hebrew bible and its ancient versions in parallel masoretic text, samaritan pentateuch, aramaic targums, syriac peshitta, greek septuagint, old latin, and latin vulgate, and also the greek versions of aquila of sinope, theodotion, and symmachus. The reading of the torah will always begin with the preface of the verse from deut 32.
That script was used by the ancient israelites, both jews and samaritans. This is how the paleo hebrew samaritan pentateuch, exodus 12. The lexicon of samaritan hebrew according to the samaritan pentateuch tradition is a joint project of moshe florentin and stefan schorch. The first english translation of the samaritan pentateuch.
Text was compiled by manually and electronically comparing several kosher torah scrolls that are currently in use in the synagogues. Mount gerizim and the polemic against the samaritans torah. Its prominent role within the samaritan community is clear. In contrast, the texts of the samaritan torah seem to have a much smoother narrative flow. The validity of the samaritan torah in comparison to the jewish torah was debated in the second century bce before the king of egypt in alexandria, and in addition to this debate. The samaritans have continued to use the paleo hebrew script for writing aramaic and hebrew texts to this day.
Samaritan pentateuch definition and meaning bible dictionary. Mount gerizim not mount ebal is the mountain upon which the altar is built and the torah teaching. This hebrew bible was edited by esteemed translator and scholar, rabbi a. Public reading of the pentateuch is a central component of communal worship and religious festivals. Every child or girl starts studying the reading of the torah, at a very young age. Free online bible library the samaritan pentateuch. Samaritan is a direct descendant of the paleo hebrew alphabet, which was a variety of the phoenician alphabet in which large parts of the hebrew bible were originally penned. This color is used for parallels between the first two cells of a threecell row. This is fundamental in the is raelite samaritan ver sion that abraahm went. For those who believe that the torah is historically true, they are convinced that moses lived in the latter part of the second millenium b. Full text of variants in the samaritan pentateuch of the.
The jews admit that the character in which the samaritan pentateuch is written is older than their square character. May 16, 2014 the samaritan torah the version of the pentateuch in the hands of the samaritans, written in the ancient hebrew script. The best part of it is that one of the team members is a prominent samaritan priest benjamin tsedaka the published book is made in the comparison form, where they put the two versions of the torah side by side i know that logos had enlisted the hebrew version of the samaritan pentateuch but removed it from the prepub list afterward. Masoretic text parallel to the samaritan pentateuch spmt. All names in the torah are given in the original hebrew pronunciation, as well as being listed in an appendix. Ironically, this obscure village was also the seat of the romans rabbanite nasi, the traditional birthplace of rabbinic judaism known in hebrew as yavneh. It contains many similarities to the septuagint and the dead sea. This is how the paleohebrew samaritan pentateuch, exodus 12.
First english translation of the israelite samaritan torah pentateuch, alongside the traditional jewish masoretic version, by benny tsedaka. The present volume on leviticus is the first out of a series of five meant to fill this gap. Originally the torah was given to israel in hebrew characters and in the sacred hebrew language. The samaritan pentateuch differs from the jewish masoretic text as well. The project aims at the creation of a scholarly dictionary of the samaritan hebrew dialect which is attested. As a result, and for the first time, readers can see both versions laid out side by side for ease of comparison. The israelite samaritan version of the torah benyamim. All these scripts are believed to be descendants of the protosinaitic script. Before the scholars of our days stand the great works of wilhelm gesenius on the samaritan pentateuch sp and his lexicographical work on the hebrew bible. Bereishit genesis shemot exodus vayikra leviticus bamidbar numbers devarim deuteronomy. Full text of variants in the samaritan pentateuch of the hebrew bible as compared to the masoretic text see other formats eastern michigan university digitalcommons 3emu senior honors theses honors college 2009 variants in the samaritan pentateuch of the hebrew bible as compared to the masoretic text sharon sullivan dufour eastern michigan university follow this and additional works at. Also, the left margin contains benyamims explanations for the most prominent differences, based on the israelite samaritan tradition. Scholars have counted more than 6000 variants, tallied according to various systems. Jewish masoretic text israelite samaritan text hold him guiltless that taketh his name in not leave him unpunished who takes his vain.
Variants in the samaritan pentateuch of the hebrew bible. The jewish bible contains in addition the prophets and the writings, a total of 39. The form of the letters in the manuscript copies of the samaritan pentateuch is different from that of the hebrew copies, and is probably the same as. On the surface, this makes the jewish torah problematic. The samaritan pentateuch contains the text of the torah, the first five books of the hebrew bible, written in the consonantal samaritan script, a development from the paleo hebrew script.
What are the differences between the samaritan torah and. Samaritan hebrew is written in the samaritan alphabet, a direct descendant of the paleo hebrew alphabet very ancient script used by the israelites around 10th century bce, which in turn is a variant of the earlier phoenician alphabet. The samaritan pentateuch is preserved in the early type of rounded hebrew letters formerly called phone which largely ceased to be used by the jews after they adopted the square aram. The original paleo hebrew torah stated that joshuas altar was built on mt. Today, samaritan is most often associated with good, but to ancient jews, samaritans were anything but. This was the only portion of the old testament which was accepted by the samaritans as of divine authority. The original paleohebrew torah stated that joshuas altar was built on mt. Samaritan pentateuch, a recension of the commonly received hebrew text of the mosaic law, in use among the samaritans, and written in the ancient hebrew or socalled samaritan character. Analysis of biblical manuscripts and versions focused. Samaritan community has always recognized as sacred only the first five books of the hebrew bible, the pentateuch, but in a. It is both the only and the oldest paleohebrew bible manuscript of the torah known to exist on earth apart from a few dead sea scroll fragments. Variants in the samaritan pentateuch of the hebrew bible as compared to the masoretic text abstract not long after the destruction of the jerusalem temple in 70 ce began the eventual end of a long history of textual competition between variations of the pentateuch. Although the samaritan pentateuch is most commonly known for its sectarian readings, such as gods command to build. It is both the only and the oldest paleo hebrew bible manuscript of the torah known.
Samaritans jewish hostility dated from the israels split, which led to a religious schism. The samaritan and jewish versions of the pentateuch. Click download or read online button to get hebrew english torah book now. Therefore, every samaritan, like every other israeli, has to learn carefully the secrets of the grammar of the language of his torah if he wants to interpret it properly. Samaritansjewish hostility dated from the israels split, which led to a religious schism. The book the israelite samaritan version of the torah. Genesis, 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 15 16 17 18 19. Hebrew bible judaism, torah and jewish info chabad. Benny is a prolific author on samaritan traditions and published the first english translation of the samaritan torah, which differs slightly from the jewish.
The samaritan language proper is a palestinian aramaic dialect, differing only slightly from the other dialects of aramaic spoken in syria, but preserving an. Mount gerizim appears in the pentateuch as the mountain of blessing and plays a prominent role in samaritan tradition, but the jewish tradition sidelines this mountain and the samaritans themselves in a polemic that began more than two and half thousand years ago. The samaritan pentateuch is closer in text to the septuagint lxx than the masoretic text. April 20 saw a special publishing event, when eerdmans published the first english translation of the israelite samaritan version of the torah alongside the masoretic version, also in english. In the samaritan view, it is only logical to construct the edifice on mount gerizim, designated the mountain of the blessing, rather than the mountain of the curse, mount ebal. The samaritans consider only the pentateuch to be a holy book. The origin of the samaritan pentateuch has given rise to much controversy, into which we cannot here enter. As witnessed by dead sea scroll, 4qdeuteronomy f frag. The samaritan text reads much better than the jewish one. It should also be remembered that the ancient samaritan hebrew of the torah does not exist except in the liturgical reading. Its existence was rediscovered by scholars during the 17th century and its importance as a textual witness has been vigorously debated since that time.
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