Masterpieces of Hebew Literature: Selections from 2000 Years of Jewish Creativity

PSEUDEPIGRAPHIA: Introduction

Pseudepigrapha The Pseudepigrapha refers to that branch of the Apocryphal literature which was anonymously written but attributed to a famous personality of the past in order to gain greater acceptance . This process is not new in Jewish literature—even the Bible contains some examples of attributed authorship. For instance, Ecclesiastes is traditionally ascribed to King Solomon, but a close study of its language, diction and style indicates that it was written long after King Solomon's death. The Testament of the Twelve Sons, written between 137 and 107 B.C.E., is a representative example of pseudepigraphic literature . It-asserts the traditional values of Torah ethics and ideals of Israel as found in most ancient Hebrew literature; contains material that later influenced Christianity; and provides (especially in the Testament of Joseph) prime source material for the Joseph story which has intrigued writers and readers for millenia. The author, with keen psychological insight, probes the souls of the tribal fathers and assumes that the sale of Joseph is the traumatic experience in their lives; hence many of them deal with this incident in their testaments. The Testament also reflects the tradition of ethical wills which are seen in the Torah (the blessings of Jacob and Moses), and adumbrate a literary genre that flourished in the Middle Ages (see "Ethical Wills"). Moreover, the midrashic quality of Biblical exposition and expansion is also found here—and so in this book many early Hebrew genres blend. 41 42 MASTERPIECES OF HEBREW LITERATURE An easily noticeable structure is common to all the testaments. The tribal patriarch narrates his life story, confesses his sins and the moral failures unique to him, then suggests to his sons that they learn from his misdeeds and lead a moral life. He then prophesies about the end of days and divine judgment. Although Christian scribes later interpolated some material into the Testament—especially in reference to the salvation of the world by Jesus—the book is written within the framework of Jewish law and tradition by a Jew who believed in the Torah, in sacrifices, and in the ultimate salvation of Israel. Although the complete manuscripts that have survived are in Greek, Armenian and Slavonic, the work was undoubtedly composed originally in Hebrew (even in the Greek the Hebrew idioms and phrases are recognizable). Some Hebrew and Aramaic fragments of the Testament were discovered early in the twentieth century. The testaments are skillfully variegated in content. Zebulun regrets the Joseph incident, but places the blame on Simeon, Dan and Gad. Gad, on the other hand, readily admits his chief failing—hatred—and warns his children to excise this passion from their midst. In combining for the first time two ancient Torah commandments: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God" (Deut. 6:5) and "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself" (Lev. 19:18), Gad's Testament influenced New Testament thought (see Math. 23:37-40, and Mark 12:28-31) which makes much use of this double commandment. The few Biblical verses devoted to the Joseph-Potiphar's-wife incident become, in the Testament of Joseph, the subject of short story material: narrative, psychological detail and dialogue add flesh to a skeletal outline. The erotic elements of the game between mistress and servant are developed here, as are the passionate woman's guiles and wiles. A comparison of chapter 37 of Genesis with the Joseph section clearly reveals the literary skills, inventiveness and insights of the author of the Testament. Further development of this story may be found in the Book of Y ashar (see page 369). THE TESTAMENT OF THE TWELVE SONS THE TESTAMENT OF ZEBULUN The copy of the words of Zebulun, which he enjoined on his sons before he died in the hundred and fourteenth year of his life, two years after the death of Joseph. And he said to them: Hearken to me, ye sons of Zebulun, attend to the words of your father. I, Zebulun, was born a good gift to my parents. For when I was born my father was increased very exceedingly, both in flocks and herds, when with the straked rods he had his portion. I am not conscious that I have sinned all my days, save in thought. Nor yet do I remember that I have done any iniquity, except the sin of ignorance which I committed against Joseph; for I covenanted with my brethren not to tell my...