Home Religion, Bible and Theology Discovering, Deciphering and Dissenting
book: Discovering, Deciphering and Dissenting
Book
Licensed
Unlicensed Requires Authentication

Discovering, Deciphering and Dissenting

Ben Sira Manuscripts after 120 years
  • Edited by: James K. Aitken , Renate Egger-Wenzel and Stefan C. Reif
Language: English
Published/Copyright: 2019
Become an author with De Gruyter Brill

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


Publicly Available Download PDF
I

Publicly Available Download PDF
V

Publicly Available Download PDF
IX

James K. Aitken, Renate Egger-Wenzel and Stefan C. Reif
Requires Authentication Unlicensed

Licensed
1
I. Discovery and Disputes

The Diaries of Charles Taylor
Mark Nicholls
Requires Authentication Unlicensed

Licensed
9

Andrew A. Macintosh
Requires Authentication Unlicensed

Licensed
19

Pancratius C. Beentjes
Requires Authentication Unlicensed

Licensed
25
II. The Hebrew Manuscripts and Rabbinic Circles

Approaches and Reproaches
Stefan C. Reif
Requires Authentication Unlicensed

Licensed
39

Codicological and Paleographical Remarks on the Cairo Genizah Fragments
Judith Olszowy-Schlanger
Requires Authentication Unlicensed

Licensed
67

Codicological Reconstruction and Material Typology of Marginal Readings
Jean-Sébastien Rey and Marieke Dhont
Requires Authentication Unlicensed

Licensed
97

Benjamin G. Wright
Requires Authentication Unlicensed

Licensed
125

James K. Aitken
Requires Authentication Unlicensed

Licensed
147

Renate Egger-Wenzel
Requires Authentication Unlicensed

Licensed
169

The Figure and Text of Ben Sira in Rabbinic Judaism
Matthew Goff
Requires Authentication Unlicensed

Licensed
183

Vered Noam
Requires Authentication Unlicensed

Licensed
201
III. The Poetry of the Book

Eric D. Reymond
Requires Authentication Unlicensed

Licensed
221

Jeremy Corley
Requires Authentication Unlicensed

Licensed
243

A Case Study of Sir 21:1–10
Núria Calduch-Benages
Requires Authentication Unlicensed

Licensed
267

The Basics
Friedrich Vinzenz Reiterer
Requires Authentication Unlicensed

Licensed
285
IV. The Language of the Book

Jan Joosten
Requires Authentication Unlicensed

Licensed
319

The Case of Sir 41:1–2
Noam Mizrahi
Requires Authentication Unlicensed

Licensed
331

Haim Dihi
Requires Authentication Unlicensed

Licensed
359

Requires Authentication Unlicensed

Licensed
373

Requires Authentication Unlicensed

Licensed
375

Requires Authentication Unlicensed

Licensed
392

Requires Authentication Unlicensed

Licensed
398

Publishing information
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
eBook published on:
January 29, 2019
eBook ISBN:
9783110614473
Hardcover published on:
January 29, 2019
Hardcover ISBN:
9783110601091
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
Front matter:
12
Main content:
401
Downloaded on 19.11.2025 from https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/9783110614473/html
Scroll to top button