Hello again Friend. Today we are going to learn about the Targums.
Targum is an Aramaic word that means "Translation." The plural form is Targumim.
They are ancient translations; and, paraphrases of a Biblical text that predates the Masoretic Text (MT). The Rabbi's have passed off the MT to mankind as being authentic; original; and, unchanged.
But. Is it really?
Prior to the Assyrian & Babylonian Deportations of Israel; (detailed briefly in our bibles) the Children of Israel had the original Hebrew Tongue (Spoken); and, the original Hebrew Language (Written) which was known as the IVRIT.
They also lacked the body of writings today called "Jewish Law"
- Tanakh The Hebrew Old Testament
- Mishnah The Primary Written Compilation of the Oral Law
- Gemara Commentaries on the Mishnah
- Talmud Central Text of Rabbinic Judaism
- Midrash First major work of Rabbinic Literature
- Halakhah Means "The Way to Walk"
- Kabbalah Esoteric Teaching, Discipline, and School of Thought
in Jewish Mysticism - Schulchan Aruch ("The Set Table")
THESE WRITINGS CAN BE ACCESSED FOR FREE AT: SEFARIA.ORG.
THE NATION OF ISRAEL (BOTH NORTHERN & SOUTHERN TRIBES) DID NOT POSSESS ALL OF THESE ADDITIONAL "JEWISH WRITINGS" UNTIL MUCH, MUCH LATER IN THEIR HISTORY.
*** AFTER BOTH THE ASSYRIAN & BABYLONIAN DEPORTATIONS. ***
THE DEPORTATION OF THE NORTHERN TRIBES A.K.A. "ISRAEL" WAS A CAMPAIGN UNDERTAKEN BY (3) THREE ASSYRIAN KINGS WHO DEPORTED THEM TO HALAH, HABOR, GOZAN & MEDIA EFFECTIVELY REPLACING THEM WITH FOREIGNERS (ASSYRIANS); "THE IMPORTED."
- TIGLATH PILESER (745 - 727 BCE)
- SHALMANESER V (727 - 722 BCE)
- SARGON II (722 -705 BCE)
THIS LED TO THE MINGLING OF THOSE "IMPORTED" INTO THE LAND WITH THE SAMARITANS WHO WERE ALREADY LIVING IN THE LAND.
THESE SAMARITANS HAD A COPY OF A TORAH SCROLL ALLEGEDLY OBTAINED FROM AARON'S GREAT GRANDSON ABISHAH; JUST 13 YEARS AFTER THE ISRAELITE CONQUEST OF CANNAN--MORE THAN 3,000 YEARS AGO.
IT IS CALLED THE SCROLL OF ABISHAH, A.K.A. THE ABISHAH CODEX.
Samaritan High Priest with Abisha Scroll 1905
ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE ITSELF ABISHAH WAS THE SON OF PHINEHAS; MAKING HIM A DESCNDANT OF AARON; A KOHEN, A HIGH PRIEST.
SEE: 1 CHRONICLES 6: 3-5 & EZRA 7:5
ABISHUA WAS A PRIEST OF THE TRIBE OF LEVI, HE IS FIRST MENTIONED IN 1 CHRONICLES 6:4. HIS LINEAGE IS CRUCIAL AS IT DEMONSTRATES THE CONTINUATION OF THE PRIESTLY LINE FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION. ABISHUA WAS THE SON OF PHINEHAS AND THE FATHER OF BUKKI. THE NAME ABISHUA (אֲבִישׁוּעַ) MEANING "FATHER OF DELIVERANCE" IN HEBREW, REFLECTS THE IMPORTANCE OF HIS ROLE WITHIN THE PRIESTLY HEIRARCHY.
THE SAMARITAN PENTATEUCH HAS MORE IN COMMON WITH THE (LXX) GREEK SEPTUAGINT; AND, FINDS ITSELF IN AGREEMENT WITH THE LXX SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAN IT DOES WITH THE MASORETIC TEXT.
SAMARITAN PENTATEUCH MANUSCRIPTS
- Samaritan MS 1 – Samaritan Pentateuch copied by Berakhāthah ben Av Śaśon in 1211 AD.
- Samaritain 2 – Bibliothèque nationale de France. Département des Manuscrits
- Samaritain 4 – Bibliothèque nationale de France
- MS Add.1846 – MS Add.1846 is believed to be the earliest extant manuscript of the Samaritan Pentateuch and dates from the early 12th century AD. Epigraphs and scholia in Samaritan Hebrew/Aramaic and Arabic follow the end of each biblical book
- Ms. Heb. 228 – written in 1232 AD by Abraham ben Israel ha-Nasi, the manuscript of the Samaritan Pentateuch held at The New York Public Library is considered one of the oldest known and reputable Samaritan manuscripts in existence.
- Samaritain 15 – written in 1367-1368. Bibliothèque nationale de France.
- Samaritan MS 2 – Bilingual Samaritan Pentateuch in Samaritan Hebrew and Arabic, copied by Mashlamah, the Physician, son of Jacob the Ascetic, for his son Jacob in 1328.
- Gaster Samaritan MS 814 (Robertson, 1962: 38; F 19523) – Trilingual Samaritan Pentateuch in Samaritan Hebrew (right column), Arabic (middle column), and Aramaic (left hand column), all in Samaritan characters. Written in 1905.
- Gaster Samaritan MS 1133 (Robertson, 1962) – Samaritan Pentateuch in microscopic Samaritan majuscule script. Written in 14th or 15th century.
- Gaster Samaritan MS 1858 (Robertson, 1962: 65) – Samaritan biblical manuscript containing the Book of Leviticus 1:1-15:33. Written in 1904.
OK, SO, YOU ARE PROBABLY WONDERING WHY I AM WRITING ABOUT THE SAMARITANS WHEN THE PAGE TITLE SAYS "TARGUMS."
RIGHT NOW I'M GIVING YOU PLENTY OF CONTEXT BEFORE I LAY SOME ASSERTIONS AT YOUR FEET FOR YOU TO CHEW ON. THERE EXISTS TODAY ARAMAIC TARGUMS IN BOTH TRADITIONAL JUDAISM & ALSO WITHIN THE SAMARITAN TRADITION.
WERE YOU AWARE THERE IS A 1,000 YEAR GAP BETWEEN THE OLDEST COPY OF THE (MT) MASORETIC TEXT; AND, THE OLDEST COPY OF THE (LXX) GREEK MANUSCRIPT?
THE ISRAELITES; THOSE PRIMARILY FROM JUDAH WHO RETURNED TO THE LAND, REJECTED THE SAMARITANS. THE ISRAELITES SAW THEM AS "HALF BREEDS."
SEE: 2 KINGS 17:3-6; 18:11-12.
THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY THE DEPORTATION OF THE SOUTHERN TRIBES A.K.A. "JUDAH" WHO WERE DEPORTED TO BABYLON UNDER THE RULE OF KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR.
TWO (2) NATIONS -- TWO (2) LANGUAGES
THESE DEPORTATIONS ARE AMONG THE MOST IMPORTANT PIVOT POINTS IN ISRAEL'S HISTORY. WHY? BECAUSE BOTH THE ASSYRIAN EMPIRE; AND, THE BABYLONIAN EMPIRE USED (2) DIFFERENT LANGUAGES; (BOTH WRITTEN & SPOKEN) TO GOVERN THEIR EMPIRES. A PATTERN THAT ISRAEL WOULD COPY; AND, EMPLOY. ONE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE; AND, ONE COMMON TONGUE.
THE FIRST LANGUAGE CONVENTION WAS THE OFFICIAL "IMPERIAL" GOVERNMENT LANGUAGE OF BOTH EMPIRES AKKADIAN WHICH HAPPENS TO BE A CUNEIFORM STYLE WRITING WHICH WE SEE BELOW.
THE SECOND; ARAMAIC, WAS THE "COMMON TONGUE" OF BOTH ASSYRIAN & BABYLONIAN EMPIRES. ARAMAIC ITSELF CAN BE EXPRESSED IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT "SCRIPTS." IT'S EASIER TO THINK OF THEM AS "FONTS." THIS ALONE CAUSED ME SOME DIFFICULTIES ALONG THE WAY BECAUSE IT WOULD CAUSE ME CONFUSION.
- OLD ARAMAIC (10th - 8th CENTURY BCE)
- IMPERIAL ARAMAIC (6th - 4th CENTURY BCE)
- SYRIAC
- HEBREW SQUARE SCRIPT *** (CALLED "HEBRASTI") ***
- NABATAEAN
- PALMYRENE
- MANDAIC
- HATRAN
Alphabet chart from Segert 1975. Column 1 is Old Aramaic and would be unified with
Phoenician. Columns 2 and 3 are Imperial Aramaic. Column 4 is Biblical Aramaic and would be unified
with Hebrew
Syriac Alphabet Estrangela is a form of Aramaic
The Peshitta Aramaic is written in Estrangelo
THIS HEBREW SQUARE SCRIPT WAS EMPLOYED BY THE JEWISH BABYLONIAN RABBIS AS THEY SET ABOUT TO CODIFY THE MISHNAH & TALMUD INTO A WRITTEN FORMAT. IT APPEARS WITHIN IN THE BABYLONIAN TALMUD & THE MISHNAH. HENCE; IS CALLED "MISHNAIC HEBREW."
HEBREW SQUARE SCRIPT
THE HEBREW SCRIPT IS BASED UPON IMPERIAL ARAMAIC.
IMPERIAL ARAMAIC WAS UTILIZED BY THREE (3) OF THE GREATEST MIDDLE EASTERN EMPIRES IN HISTORY WHO SHARED A COMMON TONGUE.
- THE ASSYRIAN EMPIRE
- THE BABYLONIAN EMPIRE
- THE PERSIAN EMPIRE
THE HEBREW SQUARE SCRIPT USES THE ARAMAIC ALPHABET. THIS WOULD RESULT IN THE LANGUAGE OF ARAMAIC BEING ADOPTED; OR, RATHER "INTEGRATED" INTO THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL WHO WERE IN CAPTIVITY IN BOTH ASSYRIA; AND, BABYLON.
AFTER 70 YEARS OF CAPTIVITY IN BABYLON ONLY A SMALL NUMBER OF THOSE SCATTERED WOULD ACTUALLY RETURN TO THE LAND. ONLY A REMNANT RETURNS TO THE LAND. ONLY A REMNANT.
OF THOSE WHO DID RETURN TO THE LAND OF ISRAEL; MANY OF THEM WERE NO LONGER ABLE TO READ; WRITE; OR SPEAK HEBREW.
WHY?
BECAUSE ARAMAIC HAD PERSISTED AS THEIR COMMON TONGUE FOR THE LAST 70 YEARS. PLENTY OF TIME FOR IT TO BECOME THE PRIMARY LANGUAGE OF THOSE WITHIN THE DIASPORA. BECAUSE OF THIS; WHEN THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL RETURNED TO THE LAND THERE NEEDED TO BE AN INTERPRETOR (CALLED A "METURGAMON") WHO WAS ABLE TO TRANSLATE THE HEBREW TEXT INTO ARAMAIC PARAPHRASES THE COMMON PEOPLE COULD UNDERSTAND.
מְתוּרגְמָן = Meturgamon
FRIEND. THIS IS THE ORIGIN OF THE TARGUMS
THESE ARE THE ARAMAIC PARAPHRASES OF
A HEBREW TEXTUAL TRADITION
THAT PREDATES THE MASORETIC TEXT
BENEATH I HAVE PROVIDED YOU LINKS TO PDF VERSIONS OF THE TARGUMS I HAVE IN MY POSSESSION. I HAVE DONE THIS THAT YOU MAY EXAMINE THEM YOURSELF AT YOUR OWN PACE WITHOUT NEEDING TO CONSULT WITH A "RABBI" FOR CLARITY. THESE ARE PUBLISHED BY LITURGICAL PRESS AND HAVE 22 VOLUMES IN TOTAL.
- The Aramaic Bible Vol. 1B. Targum Pseudo Jonathan Genesis
- The Aramaic Bible Vol. 4. Targum Neofiti 1: Numbers & Targum Pseudo Jonathan: Numbers
- The Aramaic Bible Vol. 5A Targum Neofiti 1: Deuteronomy
- The Aramaic Bible Vol. 5B Targum Neofiti 1: Targum Pseudo Jonathan: Deuteronomy
- The Aramaic Bible Vol. 6 The Targum Onqelos to Genesis
- The Aramaic Bible Vol. 7 The Targum Onqelos to Exodus
- The Aramaic Bible Vol. 8 The Targum Onqelos to Leviticus & Numbers
- The Aramaic Bible Vol. 9 The Targum Onqelos to Deuteronomy
- The Aramaic Bible Vol. 10 Targum Jonathan to the Former Prophets
- The Aramaic Bible Vol. 14 The Targum of the Minor Prophets
This volume is 280 pages in length and includes the following
prophets. Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum,
Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.
Since I do not possess this volume as a "Full Copy" of this volume in 1 PDF so you will need to download them individually. My apologies.
- The Aramaic Bible Vol. 14 Jonah
- The Aramaic Bible Vol. 14 Nahum
- The Aramaic Bible Vol. 16 The Targum of Psalms
- The Aramaic Bible Vol. 17A The Targum of Canticles
- The Aramaic Bible Vol. 17B The Targum of Lamentations
- The Aramaic Bible Vol. 18 The Two Targums of Ester
- The Aramaic Bible Vol. 19 The Targums of Ruth and Chronicle
- The Aramaic Bible Vol. 20 The Targum of the Chronicles
- The Aramaic Bible Vol. 21
- The Aramaic Bible Vol. 22
It wasn't until I began to study the Talmud ("Jewish Law") that I would discover the Rabbi's had made material changes to the Bible's text that we should be aware of.
Hidden away from the majority of Christians; because they do not dig into Rabbinic writings, is a passage that declares the Rabbi's had adopted the Aramaic Block Letter system they call "Hebrew" leaving the IVRIT to the Samaritan's.
The IVRIT is the original Hebrew script which existed prior to the Assyrian and Babylonian Captivities of the Children of Israel.
IVRIT (ON THE LEFT) THE ORIGINAL HEBREW SCRIPT
Samaritan Hebrew (Left) -- Rabbinic/Mishnaic Hebrew (Right)
NOW PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO WHAT THE TALMUD
IN TRACTATE "SANHEDRIN 21B" STATES
SANHEDRIN 21b
§ Mar Zutra says, and some say that it is Mar Ukva who says: Initially, the Torah was given to the Jewish people in Ivrit script, the original form of the written language, and the sacred tongue, Hebrew.
IVRIT IS CONNECTED TO THE ORIGINAL FORM
OF THE WRITTEN HEBREW LANGUAGE
(SANHEDRIN 21B CONTINUED)
It was given to them again in the days of Ezra in Ashurit script and the Aramaic tongue. The Jewish people selected Ashurit script and the sacred tongue for the Torah scroll and left Ivrit script and the Aramaic tongue for the commoners
ASHURIT IS CONNECTED TO THE BABYLONIAN
BLOCK LETTER ARAMAIC WHICH THEY ADOPTED
AS YOU CAREFULLY READ THROUGH THIS SECTION OF THE TALMUD TAKE NOTE. THERE ARE TWO (2) COMPONENTS TO A LANGUAGE. THE FIRST IS WRITTEN & THE SECOND IS SPOKEN.
(SANHEDRIN 21B CONTINUED)
The Gemara asks: Who are these commoners? Rav Ḥisda said: The Samaritans [Kutim]. The Gemara asks: What is Ivrit script? Rav Ḥisda says: Libona’a script.
THE SAMARITANS ARE 'THE COMMONERS' WHO WERE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE ORIGINAL HEBREW SCRIPT KNOWN AS THE IVRIT. THE IVRIT IS ALSO CALLED 'LIBONA'A SCRIPT' THE TALMUDIC TERM FOR THE ANCIENT PALEO HEBREW; THE PRE-DEPORTATION HEBREW SCRIPT.
(SANHEDRIN 21B CONTINUED)
It is taught in a baraita (Tosefta 4:5): Rabbi Yosei says:
Ezra was suitable, given his greatness, for the Torah to be given by him to the Jewish people, had Moses not come first and received the Torah already. With regard to Moses the verse states: “And Moses went up to God” (Exodus 19:3), and with regard to Ezra the verse states: “This Ezra went up from Babylon and he was a ready scribe in the Torah of Moses, which the Lord, the God of Israel, had given” (Ezra 7:6). Just as the going up stated here, with regard to Moses, is for the Torah, which he received from God and transmitted to the Jewish people, so too, the going up stated there, with regard to Ezra, is for the Torah, as he taught Torah to the Jewish people and was suitable to have originally merited to give it.
The baraita continues:
With regard to Moses the verse states: “And the Lord commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and ordinances” (Deuteronomy 4:14), and with regard to Ezra the verse states: “For Ezra had set his heart to seek the Torah of the Lord his God and to do it and to teach in Israel statutes and ordinances” (Ezra 7:10). And even though the Torah was not given literally by him,
the script of the Torah was changed by him, as it is stated:
So the Talmud itself; which is a collection written by many Sages, assert that EZRA (the ZADOK Scribe) was personally responsible for making the change in the written script from the IVRIT to the Ashurit / THE ARAMAIC BLOCK LETTERS.
Although I have carefully read what they have asserted; I'm not 100% certain that I actually believe their assertion. It's very clear a change was made; but, by whom is something we need to deeply consider; investigating the matter as thoroughly as possible. In truth it was either Ezra; or, somebody else.
Could it be that the Sages made the change themselves attributing it to Ezra? Or, perhaps even a group of somebody's?
We have the Talmud itself that stands as a witness to this change; specifically Sanhedrin 21b; and, we also have the Samaritan Pentateuch (SP); which contains an alphabet that descends from this earlier form of Hebrew; one that was abandoned by the Sages/Rabbi's in Babylon during the 70 year exile favoring the block lettering over the more free-hand for a standardized reading experience.
We also have the LXX (Greek) that stands as a witness; as well as the Peshitta Aramaic TaNaK.
Textual comparison between these three (3) manuscripts show that the (SP) Samaritan Pentateuch has a great deal more in common with the (LXX) Septuagint Greek than with it's Hebrew Counterpart the (MT) Masoretic Text.
The (SP) Samaritan Pentateuch and the (LXX) Septuagint Greek both appear to be sharing an older Hebrew text tradition than the (MT) Masoretic Text; suggesting they both derive from a common source.
Additionally the (SP) Samaritan Pentateuch and the (LXX) Septuagint Greek both share genealogical chronicles that mirror each other; where the (MT) Masoretic Text shortens the lifespans giving the reader a completely different reading than the other two witnesses of the (MT) Masoretic Text & (LXX) Septuagint Greek.
Likewise the (SP) Samaritan Pentateuch; and, the (LXX) Septuagint Greek more frequently find themselves in agreement with each other; and, in disagreement against the (MT) Masoretic Text.
Another point to consider is that the (SP) Samaritan Pentateuch; and, the (LXX) Septuagint Greek both reflect ancient testimony that aligns with writers like Philo and Josephus who must have been working with older Hebrew manuscripts.
This particular article BELOW "STEINMAN" will introduce you to the variants if you have interest.
A COMPARISON OF THE TEXT OF GENESIS IN THREE TRADITIONS: MASORETIC TEXT, SAMARITAN PENTATEUCH, SEPTUAGINT *ANDREW E. STEINMANN* HERE
A COMPARISON OF THE TEXT OF GENESIS IN THREE TRADITIONS: MASORETIC TEXT, SAMARITAN PENTATEUCH, SEPTUAGINT *ANDREW E. STEINMANN* HERE
What troubles me personally is that there exists an enormous gap between the dating of the oldest Hebrew Manuscript (MT); and, the oldest Greek Manuscript of the TaNaK (LXX); with the Greek text being the older.
I'm going to argue for textual analysis of the (SP) Samaritan Pentateuch; along with the analysis of the (LXX) Septuagint in comparison with the (MT) Masoretic Text; and, the Aramaic Peshitta OT and the Targums.
Here is a list (not exhaustive) of the Witnesses we have for the TaNaK.
BELOW ARE TWO LINKS TO STEVE RUDD'S WEBSITE
Although we do not have manuscript evidence for the Mosaic; or, for the Naiothic (SNT); we DO have manuscript evidence for the (SP) Samaritan Pentateuch. But if we consider what the Bible teaches; there will be a copy of what was given to Moses placed within the Ark of the Covenant itself. Surely the author knows what He wrote; surely He knows what it declares.
FRIEND YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT VIRTUALLY ALL WESTERN "ENGLISH" BIBLES ARE BASED UPON THE (MT) MASORETIC TEXT WHICH IS A CORRUPTED TEXT. IT IS NOT THE ORIGINAL; AND, BEARS EVIDENCE OF MANIPULATION WHEN COMPARED TO OTHER EXTANT SOURCES. ABOVE YOU CAN SEE THAT THE (SP) SAMARITAN PENTATEUCH PREDATES BOTH THE (LXX) GREEK SEPTEUAGINT; AND, THE (MT) MASORETIC TEXT.
If Rabbinic Judaism admits in the Talmud - (Tractate Sanhedrin 21B) that they have altered the text in such a material manner; what else might they have altered that they DIDN'T admit to?
Ezra was Himself a ZADOK if we follow his genealogy; and, I have difficulty believing that a ZADOK would alter the language of the IVRIT given to them by YHVH upon Mt. Sinai. Why would Ezra add to; or take away from what was given by the Most High upon Sinai? Friend I have deep suspicions that the Sages attribute this change to Ezra specifically; so that the change would be accepted by the people. I have great suspicion there has been intentional alterations to the (MT) Masoretic Text itself with the goal of hiding evidence that would corroborate Yeshua is the Messiah.
JEREMIAH 8:8"How can you say, 'We are wise, and, the Law of YHVH us with us? Look, the false (LYING) pen of the scribes certainly works falsehood. The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed; and, taken. Behold, they have rejected the Word of YHVH.
For those who have bothered to read Esdras 1 and 2 within the Apocryphal writings it asserts that Ezra left Babylon; and, went to Jerusalem where he was patently rejected.
I'll leave it up to you what you decide to do with 1 Esdras; and, 2 Esdras.
For me personally; I see challenges with what the Sages/Rabbis are calling "Torah" by the inclusion of many additional books that add to the Written Torah (aka: Torah Schibictov) given to Moses upon Mt. Sinai. Secondarily there are the commandments within the Oral Torah that have the effect of contradicting the Written Torah itself; or of making it of no effect. Then there is what the prophet Malachi has to say to the High Priests in Malachi 2:1-17. The Levites; and, the Cohanim are instructed in Malachi 2:8 that they have:
"But you have departed from the way; you have caused many to stumble at the law.
You have corrupted the covenant of Levi," say the LORD of Hosts. "Therefore I have made you contemptable and base before all the people, because you have not kept My ways but have shown partiality in the law." Malachi 2:8-9
It's clear that YHVH believes the Levites (Levi'im); and, the High Priests (Kohan'im) are involved in leading people away from Moses rather than closer to him. He also accuses them of not giving glory to His name. Calling Him "The Name" or "HaShem" in Hebrew doesn't honor His name.
Let's digress back to the use of Aramaic for just a moment.
Both Assyria; and, Babylon used two (2) languages; both written & oral to govern their nations. This dual language pattern persisted into the Persian Empire as well. Aramaic being the "common tongue" for Assyria; Babylon; and, Persia.
If we do not recognize that something changed within the Hebrew language itself; we will be blinded to what has been done; and, how to recognize the deception.
The Targums (Aramaic Translations) themselves stand as a witness against the MT (Masoretic Text) that may have been altered; and, offer us insights to what was being taught to the common people through the Targums; about the Messiah "the Prophet Like Unto Moses" that was to come.
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