Vestiges of Qaraite Translations in the Arabic Translation(s) of the Samaritan Pentateuch

https://biblia-arabica.com/bibl/6VKB5WN8

Preferred Citation

Schwarb, Gregor. “Vestiges of Qaraite Translations in the Arabic Translation(s) of the Samaritan Pentateuch.” Intellectual History of the Islamicate World 1, no. 1–2 (2013): 115–57.

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Abstract

A seminal study exploring the influence of the Qaraite Arabic translation tradition on Samaritan Arabic translations of the Pentateuch. Having perused different Qaraite sources, the author arrives at the conclusion that apart from many general phenomenological affinities, the most relevant parallels to the Samaritan versions are to be found in the translations of Yefet b. ʿEli and Yeshuʿah b. Yehuda. Those parallels mostly consist of smaller textual units and specific interpretative elements which are present to varying degrees in manuscripts of the earlier type of Samaritan translations and in the revised text of Abū Saʿīd. To demonstrate this findings, the author presents the two main Samaritan translation types (according to Shehadeh’s edition https://biblia-arabica.com/bibl/IZFNRHBX) alongside the translations of Yefet (according to Zawanowska’s edition https://biblia-arabica.com/bibl/RSWDR8MW), Yeshuʿah (drawing on unpublished manuscripts), and Saadiah. The largest text sample, Gen 24:1-34, is appended in a synoptic table (pp. 145-151) which includes a variant apparatus and different kinds of underlines that highlight the agreements and peculiarities of the different versions; other verses compared within the article proper are Gen 2:17, 11:2, and 26:1-3. The author also draws attention to the importance of glossography and lexicography for the emergence of the Samaritan and Qaraite translation traditions and occasionally makes reference to David b. Abraham al-Fāsī’s lexicon (see the edition of Skoss https://biblia-arabica.com/bibl/5TQHYL9Q) and the Samaritan glossary ha-Meliṣ. Schwarb tentatively suggests that the textual agreements with Yefet b. ʿEli and Yeshuʿah b. Yehudah may be interpreted as vestiges of Qaraite influence on the Samaritan translations during a protracted period of time from the 11th century onwards. However, he also remarks that in some cases, especially with regard to Yeshuʿah, the opposite direction of influence should not be ruled out. As an appendix to the article (pp. 143-144), the author lists the manuscript fragments in section IIa of the Samaritan Firkovich Collection as compiled by Jamgotchian https://biblia-arabica.com/bibl/YRQT8RMC.

Full Citation Information

Article

Title: Vestiges of Qaraite Translations in the Arabic Translation(s) of the Samaritan Pentateuch

Author: Gregor Schwarb

URI: https://biblia-arabica.com/bibl/6VKB5WN8  Link to Biblia Arabica bibliography Bibliographic Record.

DOI: 10.1163/2212943X-20130106 

Publication

Title: Intellectual History of the Islamicate World

TextLang:

Date of Publication: 2013

Pages: 115-157

Volume: 1

 Zotero

Subject Headings

Deuteronomy  Exodus  Genesis  Leviticus  Numbers  Old Testament  Coptic  Jewish  Qaraite  Samaritan  Pentateuch  Hebrew  David al-Fāsī  David b. Boaz  Saadiah Gaon  Sahl b. al-Faḍl al-Tustarī  Sahl ben Maṣliaḥ  Yefet ben ʿEli  Yeshuʿah ben Yehudah 

Cited Manuscripts

Berlin, Staatsbibliothek, Or. Fol. 534  Berlin, Staatsbibliothek, Or. Qu. 1082  Berlin, Staatsbibliothek, Or. Qu. 828  Cambridge, Cambridge University Library, Add. 714  Cambridge, Cambridge University Library, T-S 16.317  Cambridge, Cambridge University Library, T-S Ar. 1a.136  Cambridge, Cambridge University Library, T-S Ar. 41.122  Cambridge, Westminster College, R. 15.1  Florence, Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, Or. 112 (formerly 21)  Leiden, University of Leiden Library, Or. 377  London, British Library, Add. 17553  London, British Library, Add. 19011  London, British Library, Harl. 5475  London, British Library, Or. 10754  London, British Library, Or. 1450  London, British Library, Or. 2493  London, British Library, Or. 2544  London, British Library, Or. 2688  London, British Library, Or. 5036  London, British Library, Or. 5560c  London, British Library, Or. 7562  Manchester, John Rylands Library, Sam. 2  Manchester, John Rylands Library, Sam. 73 (= Gaster 2106/3)  Nablus, Samaritan Synagogue, 18  Nablus, Samaritan Synagogue, 4  Nablus, Samaritan Synagogue, 6  Nablus, Samaritan Synagogue, 8  Oxford, Bodleian Libraries, Or. 139  Oxford, Bodleian Libraries, Or. 345  Oxford, Bodleian Libraries, Poc. 395-396  Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Ar. 1  Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Ar. 5  Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Ar. 6  Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Ar. 8 (= Ancien fonds 12)  Private Collection John Wilson (formerly), [Saadiah's Tafsir], MS: Private Collection John Wilson (formerly), [Saadiah's Tafsir]  St. Petersburg, National Library of Russia, Evr. II C 1  St. Petersburg, National Library of Russia, Evr.-Arab. I 129  St. Petersburg, National Library of Russia, Evr.-Arab. I 1458  St. Petersburg, National Library of Russia, Evr.-Arab. I 3181  St. Petersburg, National Library of Russia, Evr.-Arab. I 3204  St. Petersburg, National Library of Russia, Evr.-Arab. I 4633  St. Petersburg, National Library of Russia, Evr.-Arab. I 4634  St. Petersburg, National Library of Russia, Evr.-Arab. I 4635  St. Petersburg, National Library of Russia, Evr.-Arab. I 4760  St. Petersburg, National Library of Russia, Sam. IIa 177  St. Petersburg, National Library of Russia, Sam. IIa 178  St. Petersburg, National Library of Russia, Sam. IIa 178.2-3  St. Petersburg, National Library of Russia, Sam. IIa 178.4  St. Petersburg, National Library of Russia, Sam. IIa 179  St. Petersburg, National Library of Russia, Sam. IIa 185  St. Petersburg, National Library of Russia, Sam. IIa 186  St. Petersburg, National Library of Russia, Sam. IIa 187  St. Petersburg, National Library of Russia, Sam. IIa 188  St. Petersburg, National Library of Russia, Sam. IIa 189  St. Petersburg, National Library of Russia, Sam. IIa 190  St. Petersburg, National Library of Russia, Sam. IIa 191  St. Petersburg, National Library of Russia, Sam. IIa 191.1  St. Petersburg, National Library of Russia, Sam. IIa 191.2-3  St. Petersburg, National Library of Russia, Sam. IIa 192  St. Petersburg, National Library of Russia, Sam. IIa 193  St. Petersburg, National Library of Russia, Sam. IIa 194  St. Petersburg, National Library of Russia, Sam. IIa 195  St. Petersburg, National Library of Russia, Sam. IIa 196  St. Petersburg, National Library of Russia, Sam. IIa 197  St. Petersburg, National Library of Russia, Sam. IIa 198  St. Petersburg, National Library of Russia, Sam. IIa 199  St. Petersburg, National Library of Russia, Sam. IIa 200  St. Petersburg, National Library of Russia, Sam. IIa 201  Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Barberini Or. 1  Vatican, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Borg. Ar. 129 
 

About this Online Entry

Editorial Responsibility:

  • Ronny Vollandt, general editor, Biblia Arabica
  • Ronny Vollandt and Nathan P. Gibson, editors, Biblia Arabica
  • Nathan P. Gibson, entry contributor, “Vestiges of Qaraite Translations in the Arabic Translation(s) of the Samaritan Pentateuch”
  • leonhard.becker, entry contributor, “Vestiges of Qaraite Translations in the Arabic Translation(s) of the Samaritan Pentateuch”
  • Leonhard Becker, entry contributor, “Vestiges of Qaraite Translations in the Arabic Translation(s) of the Samaritan Pentateuch”
  • Michael Wechsler, entry contributor, “Vestiges of Qaraite Translations in the Arabic Translation(s) of the Samaritan Pentateuch”
  • Ronny Vollandt, entry contributor, “Vestiges of Qaraite Translations in the Arabic Translation(s) of the Samaritan Pentateuch”

Additional Credit:

  • Record added to Zotero by Nathan P. Gibson
  • Record edited in Zotero by leonhard.becker
  • Primary editing by Leonhard Becker
  • Primary editing by Michael Wechsler
  • Primary editing by Ronny Vollandt

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