The Targumic Toseftot to Ezekiel (Studies in the Aramaic Interpretation of Scripture)

This book focuses on the additional liturgical and alternative readings of Targum Ezekiel, the so-called Targumic Toseftot. The critical text, translation, and commentary are presented with special reference to the long segments of unique mystical lore that are preserved in the Targumic Toseftot to Ezekiel 1, the chapter which describes the prophet’s vision of the celestial chariot. This unique manuscript material sheds light on a relatively dark chapter in the reception history of early Jewish mystical lore, being closely related to the Hekhalot literature, and to the Shi‛ur Qomah tradition in particular. The volume concludes with a systematic treatment of the Targumic Toseftot to Ezekiel in relation to their Aramaic dialect, date and provenance, as well as their historical and social setting. The Targumic Toseftot to Ezekiel......Page 4 Contents......Page 10 Author’s Preface......Page 14 Abbreviations......Page 18 1 Introduction......Page 26 2.1 Introduction......Page 32 2.2.1 The Targumic Tosefta to Ezekiel 1:1 in Codex Manchester, Gaster 1478......Page 33 2.2.1.1 The Text and Translation of the Targumic Tosefta to Ezekiel 1:1 (Ms Gaster 1478)......Page 35 The Year 430 after the Destruction of the Temple (line 2)......Page 44 The Recovery of the Law-Book after the Setting of the Moon (line 3)......Page 45 The Targumic Versions of the Recovery of the Law-Book (lines 4–8)......Page 46 The Quotation of Deuteronomy 28:36 (lines 6–7)......Page 48 Nebuchadnezzar and the House of Dagon (line 9)......Page 49 The Rendering of ‘Idols’ in Nebuchadnezzar’s Direct Speech (line 12; cf. 78)......Page 50 Nebuchadnezzar’s plan to invade heaven (lines 12–13)......Page 51 The Quotation of Isaiah 14:14 (line 14)......Page 53 The Sequence of the Seven Heavens (lines 18–23)......Page 54 The Description of the Bodily Dimensions of the Ḥayyot (lines 23–57)......Page 57 The Mentioning of the Ḥayyot (from line 24 onward)......Page 74 The Knees of the Ḥayyot (from line 29 onward)......Page 76 The Eight Hundred Heavens (lines 58, 62)......Page 77 The Throne of the King of the Kings of Kings (line 58)......Page 80 The Heavenly Curtain (lines 42–44)......Page 81 The Holy Spirit quotes Nebuchadnezzar (lines 66–67; cf. 12–13, 16–18)......Page 83 The Punishment of Nebuchadnezzar in the Infernal Worlds (lines 67–74)......Page 84 The Annihilation of Sennacherib’s Army (lines 80–83)......Page 86 The Parables of the Jews (lines 84–86)......Page 87 The Quotation of TgJon Ezekiel 1:1 (lines 87–89)......Page 89 Concluding Observations......Page 91 2.2.2 The Targumic Tosefta to Ezekiel 1:1 in Ms. T-S NS 245.98......Page 92 2.2.2.1 The Text and Translation of the Targumic Tosefta to Ezekiel 1:1 (Ms. T-S NS 245.98)......Page 93 2.2.3 The Targumic Tosefta to Ezekiel 1:1 in Ms. T-S NS 171.7......Page 94 2.2.3.1 The Text and Translation of the Targumic Tosefta to Ezekiel 1:1 (Ms. T-S NS 171.7)......Page 95 2.2.4 The Targumic Tosefta to Ezekiel 1:1 in Other Manuscripts......Page 96 Ms. JTSA L260A......Page 97 Ms. Feldman 143......Page 98 Ms. Halper 64......Page 99 2.2.4.1 The Text and Translation of the Targumic Tosefta to Ezekiel 1:1 in Other Manuscripts......Page 100 2.2.5 The Relationship between the Manuscripts......Page 132 2.3 The Targumic Tosefta to Ezekiel 1:3 in the Arukh ha-Shalem......Page 135 2.3.2 Comments on the Targumic Tosefta to Ezekiel 1:3 (Arukh ha-Shalem)......Page 136 2.4 The Targumic Tosefta to Ezekiel 1:8 in Codex Reuchlinianus......Page 138 2.4.1 The Text and Translation of the Targumic Tosefta to Ezekiel 1:8 (Codex Reuchlinianus)......Page 139 2.4.2 Comments on the Targumic Tosefta to Ezekiel 1:8 (Codex Reuchlinianus)......Page 140 2.5 The Targumic Tosefta to Ezekiel 1:12 in the Maḥzor Vitry (Ms. London 655)......Page 142 2.5.2 Comments on the Targumic Tosefta to Ezekiel 1:12 (Maḥzor Vitry)......Page 144 2.6 The Targumic Tosefta to Ezekiel 1:26 in Ms. 7 of the Montefiore Library......Page 149 2.6.1 The Text and Translation of the Targumic Tosefta to Ezekiel 1:26 (Ms. 7 Montefiore Library)......Page 150 2.6.2 Comments on the Targumic Tosefta to Ezekiel 1:26 (Ms. 7 Montefiore Library)......Page 151 3.1 Introduction......Page 154 3.2 The Targumic Tosefta to Ezekiel 28:13 in Codex Reuchlinianus......Page 156 3.2.1 The Text and Translation of the Targumic Tosefta to Ezekiel 28:13 (Codex Reuchlinianus)......Page 157 3.2.2 Comments on the Targumic Tosefta to Ezekiel 28:13 (Codex Reuchlinianus)......Page 158 The King of Tyre in Eden, the Garden of the Lord (line 2)......Page 159 The Parade of the Works of Creation and the Angels at the Wedding (lines 4–5)......Page 162 The Hubris and Downfall of the King of Tyre (lines 5–7)......Page 164 4.1 Introduction......Page 168 4.2 The Targumic Tosefta to Ezekiel 37:1–14 in the Pentateuch Salonika......Page 169 4.2.1 The Text and Translation of the Targumic Tosefta to Ezekiel 37:1–14 (Pentateuch Salonika)......Page 170 The Resurrection of the Jews in the Diaspora? (lines 2–4)......Page 173 The Valley of Dura (line 4)......Page 176 The Aggadah on the Premature Ephraimite Exodus (lines 5–6)......Page 177 The Bones of the Ephraimites are turned into Drinking Vessels (lines 13–17)......Page 183 No Resurrection for the Sinful Moneylender (lines 22–23)......Page 185 The Resurrection of the Deceased Jews and their Return to their Homeland (lines 27–31)......Page 187 4.3 The Targumic Tosefta to Ezekiel 37:1 in the Maḥzor Vitry (Ms. London 655)......Page 188 4.3.1 The Text and Translation of the Targumic Tosefta to Ezekiel 37:1 (Ms London 655)......Page 189 An Alternative Route to the Promised Land for Israel (lines 7–8)......Page 190 5.1 Language......Page 192 Orthography......Page 194 Vocabulary......Page 195 Morphology......Page 197 Syntactical observations......Page 200 5.2 Date and Provenance......Page 205 5.3 Sitz im Leben......Page 207 Appendices......Page 210 Appendix A The Targumic Versions of the Recovery of the Book of the Torah......Page 212 Appendix B The Targumic Versions of Deuteronomy 28:36......Page 216 Appendix C The Order of the Heavens in Rabbinic Literature......Page 218 Appendix D The Stature of the Godhead in Sefer Haqqomah compared with the Stature of the Ḥayyot in b.Ḥagiga 13a and in TosTgs. Ezekiel 1:1......Page 220 1. The Cosmic Body of God in the Jewish tradition......Page 222 2. The Cosmic Body of God in Ancient Mesopotamia......Page 224 3. The Cosmic Body of God in Ancient Egypt......Page 225 4. The Cosmic Body of God in the Greaco-Roman World......Page 228 5. Conclusion......Page 233 Appendix F The Order of the Underworlds in Rabbinic Literature......Page 236 Appendix G Aggadah on the Premature Exodus of Tribe of Ephraim in Rabbinic Literature......Page 238 Bibliography......Page 240 Index of Sources......Page 250 This volume offers an in-depth treatment of the Targumic Toseftot to Ezekiel by presenting the critical text, translation, and comprehensive commentary. The study further provides new insights into their Aramaic dialect, date and provenance, as well as their historical and social setting.