SAMARITAN TORAH

Genesis 1:1 of the Samaritan Pentateuch

Back when I When I was doing prison ministry it took me into the study of the Aramaic language. This led me to the Peshitta Aramaic New Testament; and, into the Targums of the Old Testament. In my study I came across Samaritan Hebrew and at some point stumbled upon the Samaritan Torah while doing research. 

What really stands out to me personally are the encounters we read about in the Bible with Samaritans; particularly in the New Testament.

• 2nd Kings 17:29 
  Samaritans and high places
  
  
• Matthew 10:5
  Jesus sends out the 12 and commands them "Do not go into the way of the Gentiles; and, do not enter a city of the Samaritans
  
  
• Luke 9:52
  Jesus enters s Samaritan city but is not received by them
  
  
• Luke 10:33
  The Story of the Good Samaritan
  
  This is the ONLY place in the Gospels that Jesus ("Yeshua") calls someone "good." Friend were you aware that the Samaritan's had a copy of the Torah of Moses? A copy that is allegedly written by the hand of Aaron's Great Grandson Abishua according to Samaritan Tradition.
  (1 Chr. 6:4; 1Chr. 6:5; 1 Chr. 6:50; Ezra 7:5)
                       
• Luke 17:16 
  Jesus Heals the 10 Lepers. Only the Samaritan returns to glorify God with his voice
  
  
• John 4:9
  The Samaritan Woman at the Well
  
  
• John 4:39-40
  Many Samaritans believe in Jesus because of the Samaritan woman's testimony
  
  
• John 8:48
  Jesus is accused of having a demon; and, of being a Samaritan
  
  
• Acts 8:25
  The Apostles preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans

Among the things I have learned to use in my understanding of the Biblical point of view vs. the Pharisaic (Rabbinic) point of view is the use of Sepharia.org to examine the "Jewish Writings." 

One day I was wondering about the Samaritans and wanted to see if the Rabbinic Writings had anything to say. What I discovered would help me to make much better sense of what happened to the Original Pre Exilic Hebrew Alphabet (Pre-Babylonian Exile Hebrew).

This next section is from Tractate Sanhedrin 21b SEE SEPHARIA

INITIALLY THE WRITTEN TORAH WAS GIVEN IN IVRIT
(THE PRE BABYLONIAN EXILE) SCRIPT & THE HEBREW TONGUE.

All languages have a written component; and, a written component.

This tractate below is telling us that the Torah was originally given to them (by Moses) in the IVRIT SCRIPT the "original form of the written language."

In the days of Ezra the Torah was given again; however, this second time it was given to them it was done so in the ASHURIT SCRIPT & ARAMAIC TONGUE. During the Babylonian Exile the use of Hebrew (as a common tongue) had been abandoned; and, the use of the Aramaic language had become adopted by the Hebrews in exile; because Aramaic was the common tongue of the Assyrians; and the  Babylonian's; and, the Persians as well.

אָמַר מָר זוּטְרָא, וְאִיתֵּימָא מָר עוּקְבָא: בַּתְּחִלָּה נִיתְּנָה תּוֹרָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל

בִּכְתָב עִבְרִי וּלְשׁוֹן הַקּוֹדֶשׁ. חָזְרָה וְנִיתְּנָה לָהֶם בִּימֵי עֶזְרָא בִּכְתָב 

אַשּׁוּרִי וּלְשׁוֹן אֲרַמִּי. בֵּירְרוּ לָהֶן יִשְׂרָאֵל כְּתָב אַשּׁוּרִי וּלְשׁוֹן הַקּוֹדֶשׁ, 

וְהִנִּיחוּ לַהֶדְיוֹטוֹת כְּתָב עִבְרִית וּלְשׁוֹן אֲרַמִּי.

This tractate is telling us that the IVRIT SCRIPT & ARAMAIC TONGUE was left for "the commoners." The Gemara tells us that these "commoners" are the Samaritans. The Samaritans have the IVRIT the Original form of the Hebrew Language.

Again, during the Babylonian Exile the use of Hebrew (as a common tongue); had been abandoned, and, the use of the Aramaic had become commonplace under the Assyrian; and, Babylonian Captivity for both houses. Both Judah; and, Ephraim were exposed to Aramaic and it became the common tongue of the Middle East.

BELOW I HAVE EMBEDDED A COPY OF THE SAMARITAN PENTATEUCH IN ENGLISH DOWNLOAD YOUR OWN COPY HERE.

Francis Bedford (1815-94)

The Oldest Book existing in the World [The Abisha Scroll, Nablus] 13 Apr 1862

Albumen print, mounted on card | 28.2 x 20.6 cm (image) | RCIN 2700941

• Does the Samaritan Community in Nablus have a Torah Scroll Written by Aaron's Great Grandson?
  
  
• Samaritan Pentateuch in English