Discovering, Deciphering and Dissenting: Ben Sira Manuscripts after 120 years

Published by De Gruyter 2019

Discovering, Deciphering and Dissenting

Ben Sira Manuscripts after 120 years

Edited by: James K. Aitken , Renate Egger-Wenzel and Stefan C. Reif

Volume 2018 in the series Deuterocanonical and Cognate Literature Yearbook

https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110614473

Overview
Contents

About this book

The discovery of Hebrew manuscripts of Ben Sira in the Cairo Genizah has shaped and transformed the interpretation of the book. It is argued here that a proper appreciation of the manuscripts themselves is also essential for understanding this ancient work.
Since their discovery 120 years ago and subsequent identification of leaves, attention has been directed to the interpretation of the ancient book, the Wisdom of Ben Sira. Serious consideration should also be given to the Hebrew manuscripts themselves and their particular contributions to understanding the language and transmission of the book. The surprising appearance of a work that was preserved by Christians and denounced by some Rabbis raises questions over the preservation of the book. At the same time, diversity among the manuscripts means that exegesis has to be built on an appreciation of the individual manuscripts. The contributors examine the manuscripts in this light, examining their discovery, the codicology and reception of the manuscripts within rabbinic and medieval Judaism, and the light they throw on the Hebrew language and poetic techniques.
The book is essential reading for those working on Ben Sira, the reception of the deuterocanon, and Medieval Hebrew manuscripts.

Author / Editor information

James Aitken, University of Cambridge

Renate Egger-Wenzel, University of Salzburg

Stefan Reif, St. John's College, Cambridge

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	I
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	V
Abbreviations Publicly Available Download PDF	IX
Introduction James K. Aitken, Renate Egger-Wenzel and Stefan C. Reif Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
I. Discovery and Disputes
Notes on Jumbo’s Desk The Diaries of Charles Taylor Mark Nicholls Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	9
Charles Taylor as a Man of St John’s Andrew A. Macintosh Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	19
How Ben Sira Crossed my Path Pancratius C. Beentjes Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	25
II. The Hebrew Manuscripts and Rabbinic Circles
Some First Editions of Genizah Manuscripts of Ben Sira Approaches and Reproaches Stefan C. Reif Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	39
The “Booklet” of Ben Sira Codicological and Paleographical Remarks on the Cairo Genizah Fragments Judith Olszowy-Schlanger Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	67
Scribal Practices in Ben Sira Manuscript B Codicological Reconstruction and Material Typology of Marginal Readings Jean-Sébastien Rey and Marieke Dhont Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	97
The Persian Glosses and the Text of Manuscript B Revisited Benjamin G. Wright Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	125
The Synoptic Problem and the Reception of the Ben Sira Manuscripts James K. Aitken Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	147
Various Attempts at Producing a Ben Sira Polyglo Renate Egger-Wenzel Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	169
Ben Sira—Biblical Sage, Rabbi, and Payyeṭan The Figure and Text of Ben Sira in Rabbinic Judaism Matthew Goff Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	183
Ben Sira: A Rabbinic Perspective Vered Noam Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	201
III. The Poetry of the Book
The Poetry of Ben Sira Manuscript C Eric D. Reymond Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	221
Ben Sira’s Hebrew Poetry in Comparison with the Psalter Jeremy Corley Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	243
Poetic Imagery in the Book of Ben Sira A Case Study of Sir 21:1–10 Núria Calduch-Benages Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	267
The Theological and Philosophical Concepts of Ben Sira The Basics Friedrich Vinzenz Reiterer Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	285
IV. The Language of the Book
The Hebrew of the Ben Sira Manuscripts from the Genizah Jan Joosten Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	319
Transmission and Transformation of Ben Sira’s Poetic Language The Case of Sir 41:1–2 Noam Mizrahi Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	331
The Contribution of the Language of The Book of Ben Sira to Biblical Hebrew Philology Haim Dihi Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	359
Biographies of Authors Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	373
Index of References Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	375
Index of Authors Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	392
Index of Subjects Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	398

(Deutsch)

Language: English
Publisher: De Gruyter
Audience: Scholars of Jewish and Hebrew Studies, Biblical Literature, and Biblical Theology
Pages
- Front matter: 12
- Main content: 401
Keywords: Ben Sira; Book of Sirach; Cairo Genizah; Hebrew Manuscripts

eBook

Published: January 29, 2019
ISBN: 9783110614473

Hardcover

Published: January 29, 2019
ISBN: 9783110601091