Early Rabbinic Writings

This book introduces the student to the full range of the early rabbinic writings with a thorough introduction and notes.

Hyam MacCoby (Author)

9780521285537, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 12 May 1988

272 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.9 cm, 0.57 kg

Rabbinic texts are often cited in New Testament and Old Testament studies, but hitherto there has been no easy way for a student to grasp the scope and variety of the relevant rabbinic writings. This book introduces the student to the full range of the early rabbinic writings, with a thorough introduction and notes, so that both a bird's eye view of the literature as well as close aquaintance with typical and important texts can be obtained. This will enable the reader to embark on further study with a clearer orientation. The book also aims to correct many mistaken views about rabbinic Judaism arising from outdated conceptions of the relation between Christianity and Judaism.

Part I. The Rabbinic Literature: 1. Introduction The Oral Torah Canonicity
2. The style of the rabbinic writings
3. Pharisees and Sadducees 4. Pharisees and rabbis
5. The historical background
6. Halakah and Haggadah
7. Haggadah and Midrash
8. Mishnah and Midrash
9. The Targums
10. The Mishnah
11. The Tosephta
12. The liturgy
13. The Midrashim Miscellaneous works
14. The main rabbinic figures
15. The main ideas of the early rabbinic literature
Part II. Selected Passages: 16. The Mishnah
17. The Tosephta
18. The Tannaitic Midrashim
19. Tannaitic passages in the Talmud (baraitas)
20. The Targums
21. Liturgy
22. History
22. Haggadic Midrashim
23. Mystical literature.

Subject Areas: Criticism & exegesis of sacred texts [HRLC1], Judaism [HRJ]