Jacob or israel had twelve sons, whose descendants became twelve tribes. Text was compiled by manually and electronically comparing several kosher torah scrolls that are currently in use in the synagogues. Analysis of biblical manuscripts and versions focused. Review the israelite samaritan version of the torah. First english translation compared with the masoretic version, benyamim tsedaka, sharon sullivan, the first english translation of the israelite samaritan. The samaritans share an origin with jews, but the two peoples diverged thousands of years ago, already in biblical times. 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.
Even though these traditions are subject to the various vernaculars and sometimes differ markedly from each other, their common basis is evident. The samaritan communitys culture and religion is unique in the world. The samaritan version of the torah differs in several ways from the jewish masoretic version, and those differences are the purpose of this book. Alongside, we see the traditional jewish masoretic version, also in english. The great similarity between the samaritan pentateuch and the mt, despite the long period of independent development, argues for the general accuracy of the torah. The origin and history of the samaritans gordon college. The israelite samaritan version of the torah download. Version prepared for the jews of england, the marginal notes of the revised version, and the changes of the american committee of revisers. Edited and translated by benyamim tsedaka and coedited by sharon sullivan. My gut feeling is that you meant to ask what is the difference between the sadducees and karaites, but i wont make any assumptions here. As a result, and for the first time, readers can see both versions laid out side by side for ease of comparison. Vestiges of qaraite translations in the arabic translations of the samaritan. First english translation compared with the masoretic version.
A samaritan priest raises the torah, during passover 2007, mount gerizim in the west bank. For the first time, prominent scholars have produced an english translation of the samaritan torah 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. In their simplest form, the twentyfour books of the jewish bible the tanach present a history of the first 3500 years from creation until the building of the second temple in jerusalem. Free online bible library the samaritan pentateuch. The shared tradition of the septuagint and the samaritan pentateuch. The nature of the septuagint version of the book of leviticus. We have seen questions arise from nonnormative and non jewish sources like the samaritan torah and the septuagint.
Samaritans and jews by the rst hebrew word of each book, are second. The old polemic between jews and samaritans eventually subsided for hundreds of years, due to the separation between the two communities. In fact, a major indication for a growing samaritan selfawareness in antiquity was the insertion of typically samaritan additions into this version of the pentateuch, such as a decalogue commandment to build an altar on mount gerizim, which samaritans viewed as the sole place of blessing see also deut 11. The samaritans consider only the pentateuch to be a holy book. We know this for a fact due to an accident of history. Hebrew the book reads from right to left, so the blank cover shown above is actually the back cover. Reinhard pummer university of ottawa the israelite samaritan version of the torah first english. Interestingly, some of these variations correspond. During the long time when the kingdoms of israel and judah were separate there would have been abundant opportunity for small textual changes in popular mss that were not copied with. Theisraelitesamaritanversionofthetorah download theisraelitesamaritanversionofthetorah ebook pdf or read online books in pdf, epub, and mobi format. The torah explicitly says, and we read it last week in leviticus 19, do not stand by while the blood of your neighbor is being spilt. During the time of the divided kingdoms, parts of the ten northern tribes of israel were taken captive.
An english translation of the samaritan pentateuch will help to make this important textual witness to the torah more accessible to students and a broader scholarly public alike. Full text of variants in the samaritan pentateuch of the. Bible manuscripts the samaritan pentateuch we know that the earliest edition of the bible consists of only the torah or the pentateuch. Variants in the samaritan pentateuch of the hebrew bible. The hebrew bible, which is also called the tanakh t. The israelite samaritan version of the torah benyamim. The samaritan pentateuch sp, along with its qumran forebears, has deservedly been regarded as a key source of information for understanding the scribal culture of early judaism. Apr 26, 20 this landmark volume presents the firstever english translation of the ancient israelite samaritan version of the pentateuch, or torah. The samaritan pentateuch sp first came to the attention of western scholars in 1616 by pietro della valle.
Torah study pdfs beth david messianic congregation. In some ways, it dated all the way back to the days of the patriarchs. The first english translation of the samaritan pentateuch. The sp is known outside the samaritan community already in early patristic and jewish writings. Our lord was in contempt called a samaritan john 8. The ten commandments may be the most wellknown part of the torah. Masoretic text parallel to the samaritan pentateuch with morphology, transliteration, strongs concordance numbers and idiomatic translation.
Jews, palestinian fowk the samaritans samaritan ebreu. In comparison with the samaritan translations throughout the generations the. They observe the tenets of the hebrew bible, the torah, but not the other parts of the jewish scriptures. Click download or read online button to get the israelite samaritan version of the torah book now. Torah study pdfs these numbered pdf files contain weekly study guides. Sameriyyun are an ethnoreleegious group o the levant, descendit frae auncient semitic indwallers o the region. Due weight was given to the ancient versions as establishing a tradition of interpretation, notably the septuagint and the versions of aquila, symmachus, and theodotion. Hatred between jews and samaritans was fierce and longstanding.
This article discusses the main differences between the samaritan and the jewish versions of the pentateuch. The fact that there was such dislike and hostility between jews and samaritans is what gives the use of the samaritan in the parable of the good samaritan luke 10. Joseph, his favorite, was despised by the other brothers gen. 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 samaritan historical sources state there was an earlier debate as well. The jewish temple stood on the temple mount in jerusalem. The foundational books of the torah genesis, exodus, leviticus, numbers and deutoronomyform the basis of judaism, christianity, and islam. It constitutes their entire biblical canon some six thousand differences exist between the samaritan and the masoretic text. Samaritans jewish hostility dated from the israels split, which led to a religious schism. The torah, neviim prophets, and ketuvim writings are separate compilations of works 24 in number that are often published together i. Each handout is two pages, containing the title of the parashah portion, scripture references and summaries, questions that can be used to guide your study during the week and our time of discussion. Variants in the samaritan pentateuch of the hebrew bible as. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. One interesting document supporting the truth of the divine origin of pentateuch is the samaritan pentateuch.
Jewish and samaritan versions compared hebrew edition mark shoulson on. The samaritan is the one who is able to rise above the bigotry and prejudices of centuries and show mercy and compassion for the injured jew after the jews own. 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. The samaritan torah is therefore longer, in terms of letter or word count, than the masoretic version. The rift between jews and samaritans franciscan media. The ten commandments according to jewish tradition also differ from the ten commandments of various christian denominations. This work will have to be consulted and read by all who want to gain deeper insight into the bible in its various facets and versions. In addition, membership in the samaritan group is transmitted along the male line, as opposed to the postbiblical rule of. Samaritan hebrew of the torah does not exist except in the liturgical reading. 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.
Jewish masoretic text cause of the well of water, which abime lechs servants had violently taken away. Most files are in pdf format large selection of articles and ebooks. But perhaps even more exciting for the english reader, eisenbrauns has just released an english parallel edition. The samaritan pentateuch an introduction to its origin, history. The samaritan the legal corpus of jewish laws and observances as prescribed in the torah and interpreted by rabbinic authorities, beginning with those of the mishnah and talmud. What is the difference between samaritans and karaites.
The ten commandments according to the torah dummies. The samaritan temple stood on mount gerizim near shechem nablus. The samaritans are a community of people who are today quite small however in ancient times they were far more numerous. Jewish and samaritan versions compared hebrew edition at. Samerim guardianskeeperswatchers of the law torah, jewish ebreu. The samaritan and jewish versions of the pentateuch. I think youll see why i had this thought if you continue reading.
English translations of the masoretic and samaritan versions. Apr 14, 20 that edition also has an appendix with the babel story in samaritan script and with transliterated versions of the masoretic and samaritan hebrew. A sidebyside comparison of the masoretic text of the five books of moses with a samaritan version of the same text, with differences highlighted. The book the israelite samaritan version of the torah. Furthermore, he specified that his version was intended as a starting point to help immerse people into samaritan studies especially to further study of the samaritan version of the torah. A good choice for both synagogue and college judaica and bible. The samaritan account the samaritans claim to be the true children of israel, who have remained faithful to the law of moses. Samaritanism is an ancient religion closely related to judaism, but which has maintained its own version of the pentateuch, complete with its own script and unique chant. The books also relate the history of the jewish nation from its earliest stage, through the giving of the law at mount sinai, and until the end of the first commonwealth.
Samaritan writing, which resembles ancient hebrew, is used in their holy scriptures. For example, the samaritan version combines the ninth and tenth command and adds the obligation to build an altar on mount gerizim. What are the worship differences between jews and samaritans. The samaritan sect broke away from orthodox judaism around 400bc. These texts are almost exclusively in biblical hebrew, with a few passages in biblical aramaic instead in the books of daniel and ezra, the verse jeremiah 10. Many of the samaritans early embraced the gospel john 4. May 20, 2016 but the third element, jewish law, most certainly does.
The israelite samaritanversion of the torah download the israelite samaritanversion of the torah ebook pdf or read online books in pdf, epub, and mobi format. Bryan myers minister of the body of christ jew is a term that came into use in reference to the kingdom of judah. The samaritan pentateuch has about six thousand differences from the masoretic pentateuch, some of them minor, but others quite significant. The problem with the story of the good samaritan jewish. Torah, pentateuch, samaritan israel fontoura text is based on vetus testamentum hebraicum cum variis lectionibus, parallel samaritan pentateuch hebrew samaritan, by benjaminus kennicott, 1780 main page here. Today, samaritan is most often associated with good, but to ancient jews, samaritans were anything but. Conveniently, the translations appear in parallel columns, and in addition, notes in the text highlight the 3000 significant differences between the two versions. Masoretic text parallel to the samaritan pentateuch.
Dec 01, 20 the israelite samaritan version of the torah. 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. Up to about 400 bce these books are the only contents of the jewish bible. The samaritan pentateuch, also known as the samaritan torah is a text of the first five books of the hebrew bible, written in the samaritan alphabet and used as. Click download or read online button to theisraelitesamaritanversionofthetorah book pdf for free now. This landmark volume presents the firstever english translation of the ancient israelite samaritan version of the pentateuch, or torah. 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.
Click download or read online button to the israelite samaritanversion of the torah book pdf for free now. First english translation compared with the masoretic version by benyamim tsedaka editor. The samaritan pentateuch, also known as the samaritan torah hebrew. The hebrew language comes down to us in several versions, each ethnic community having its own unique tradition of pronunciation. There are more than 6,000 differences between the masoretic text used by jews and the samaritan version of the torah. Whenever a story is retold, whenever something is referred to in the past e. The bitter enmity between the jews and samaritans continued in the time of our lord. The samaritan pentateuch is closer in text to the septuagint lxx than the masoretic text. Torah, israelite samaritan and masoretic versions in english. The samaritan bible consists of the torahthat is, the five books of moses also. Interestingly, two versions of the ten commandments exist in the torah. We have traced the history of the torah from its writing by moshe, through its recreation based on manuscripts by ezra, until its present form. Dec 06, 2010 this landmark volume presents the firstever english translation of the ancient israelite samaritan version of the pentateuch, or torah.
I believe this edition perfectly captures marks intention as well as presents most impressively the primary differences between the samaritan and the. Samaritans retain the literal prohibition and spend the sabbath in darkness. A grammar of samaritan hebrew zeev benhayyim hebrew. What is the difference between a jew and a samaritan.
In more than 500 pages the book presents the samaritan torah in english translation. On the basis of these first samaritan documents, a new branch of studies has. The samaritans acquired their copy from josiah after he found the book of the law torah in 723 ad. According the hebrew bible, 2 kings 17, they are not authentically jews at all, but rather are judaized gentiles who were settled in. Samaritansjewish hostility dated from the israels split, which led to a religious schism. Download pdf theisraelitesamaritanversionofthetorah.