Jewish Concepts of Scripture: A Comparative Introduction

Title Page, Copyright Page

Jewish Concepts of Scripture This page intentionally left blank Jewish Concepts of Scripture A Comparative Introduction E d i t e d b y Benjamin D. Sommer a New York University Press N e w Y o r k a n d L o n d o n N E W Y O R K U N I V E R S I T Y P R E S S New York and London www.nyupress.org© 2012 by New York University All rights reserved References to Internet websites (URLs) were accurate at the time of writing. Neither the author nor New York University Press is responsible for URLs that may have expired or changed since the manuscript was prepared. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Jewish concepts of Scripture : a comparative introduction / edited by Benjamin D. Sommer. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-8147-4062-0 (cl : alk. paper) ISBN 978-0-8147-6002-4 (pb : alk. paper) ISBN 978-0-8147-2479-8 (ebook) ISBN 978-0-8147-2460-6 (ebook) 1. Bible. O.T.—Criticism, interpretation, etc., Jewish. I. Sommer, Benjamin D., 1964– BS1186.J474 2012 221.1—dc23 2012015882 New York University Press books are printed on acid-free paper, and their binding materials are chosen for strength and durability. We strive to use environmentally responsible suppliers and materials to the greatest extent possible in publishing our books. Manufactured in the United States of America c 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 p 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 ,‫ית‬ ִ ‫בּ‬ ַ ‫ל‬ ַ ‫בר‬ ֶ ‫ע‬ ֵ ‫מ‬ ֵ ,‫שׁם‬ ָ ,‫פק‬ ֶ ‫א‬ ֹ ‫בּ‬ ָ ‫מים‬ ִ ‫לּ‬ ְ ‫א‬ ִ ‫ה‬ ָ ‫הם‬ ֶ ‫יּי‬ ֵ ‫ח‬ ַ ‫את‬ ֶ ‫יּים‬ ִ ‫ח‬ ַ ‫טים‬ ִ ‫העוֹ‬ ָ ,‫פּים‬ ִ ‫שׁ‬ ְ ‫נּ‬ ִ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫רים‬ ִ ‫ה‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ֶ ,‫פר‬ ֹ ‫אָ‬ ‫עיף‬ ִ ‫צ‬ ָ ‫בּ‬ ְ ‫דם‬ ָ ‫סוֹ‬ ‫את‬ ֶ ‫ית‬ ִ ‫בּ‬ ַ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫פּת‬ ַ ‫צ‬ ְ ‫ר‬ ִ ‫ל‬ ְ ‫חת‬ ַ ‫תּ‬ ַ ‫מ‬ ִ ‫וּ‬ ,‫רים‬ ִ ‫מי‬ ִ ‫טּ‬ ְ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫יּיו‬ ָ ‫ח‬ ַ ‫את‬ ֶ ‫חי‬ ַ ,‫דים‬ ִ ‫ח‬ ָ ‫י‬ ֻ ‫מ‬ ְ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫יּיו‬ ָ ‫ח‬ ַ ‫את‬ ֶ ,‫פר‬ ָ ‫ע‬ ָ ‫ה‬ ֶ ‫בּתוֹכוֹ‬ ְ ‫טּמוּן‬ ָ ‫שׁ‬ ֶ ‫מה‬ ַ ‫כל‬ ָ ‫ו‬ ְ . . . ‫ינוֹת‬ ָ ‫ע‬ ְ ‫מ‬ ַ ,‫שׁים‬ ִ ‫ר‬ ָ ‫שׁ‬ ָ ,‫עים‬ ִ ‫ר‬ ָ ‫ז‬ ְ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ‫כה‬ ָ ‫שׁפוּ‬ ְ ‫מיוּת‬ ִ ‫ת‬ ָ ‫ס‬ ְ ‫שׁל‬ ֶ ‫שׁת‬ ֶ ‫ר‬ ֶ ‫א‬ ֲ —‫כּהוֹת‬ ֵ ‫ה‬ ַ ‫ניו‬ ָ ‫ב‬ ָ ‫א‬ ֲ ‫ני‬ ֵ ‫פּ‬ ְ ‫על‬ ַ .‫טּחוֹן‬ ָ ‫בּ‬ ִ ‫עט‬ ַ ‫מ‬ ְ ‫כּ‬ ִ ‫זה‬ ֶ ‫רי‬ ֵ ‫ה‬ ֲ ‫ו‬ ְ “‫ן‬‫היש‬ ‫”הבית‬ ,‫זלדה‬— There, beyond the house, on the horizon, the lofty mountains, wearing their secret as a gray veil, live their mute lives, and beneath the floor of the house the dust lives its hidden life, its unique and solitary life, along with all that is hidden in it— seeds, roots, springs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . An expression—uncertainty, just so—is poured over the surface of its dark stones— and after all, that is almost faith. —Zeldah, “The Old House,” in Shirei Zeldah (Tel Aviv: Haqqibbutz Hame’uchad, 1985), 9 Translation by Benjamin D. Sommer This page intentionally left blank ...