The Levite Scribes the Sopherim

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For criticism see Criticism of The_Levite_Scribes_the_Sopherim

According to the Talmud, the Levite scribes known as soferim, or rabbis whose primary occupation was to interpret the Torah to the people of Israel, their organization beginning with Ezra. Their work is traditionally respected as a viable contribution to the Tanakh. The produced works of the Levy soferim were called Massorah Magna or Massorah Parva. The soferim were the authorized revisers of the Tanakh text, and the Masorites were the accepted custodians of the completed text.

Contents

Tikkune Soferim

Early rabbinic sources, from around 200 CE, mention several passages of Scripture in which the conclusion is inevitable that the ancient reading must have differed from that of the present text. The explanation of this phenomenon is given in the expression ("Scripture has used euphemistic language," i.e. to avoid anthropomorphism and anthropopathy).

Rabbi Simon ben Pazzi (third century) calls these readings "emendations of the Scribes" (tikkune Soferim; Midrash Genesis Rabbah xlix. 7), assuming that the Scribes actually made the changes. This view was adopted by the later Midrash and by the majority of Masoretes. In Masoretic works these changes are ascribed to Ezra; to Ezra and Nehemiah; to Ezra and the Soferim; or to Ezra, Nehemiah, Zechariah, Haggai, and Baruch. All these ascriptions mean one and the same thing: that the changes were assumed to have been made by the Men of the Great Synagogue.

The term tikkun Soferim has been understood by different scholars in various ways. Some regard it as a correction of Biblical language authorized by the Soferim for homiletical purposes. Others take it to mean a mental change made by the original writers or redactors of Scripture; i.e. the latter shrank from putting in writing a thought which some of the readers might expect them to express.

The assumed emendations are of four general types:

  • Removal of unseemly expressions used in reference to God; e.g., the substitution of ("to bless") for ("to curse") in certain passages.
  • Safeguarding of the Tetragrammaton; e.g. substitution of "Elohim" for "YHVH" in some passages.
  • Removal of application of the names of false gods to YHVH; e.g. the change of the name "Ishbaal" to "Ishbosheth."
  • Safeguarding the unity of divine worship at Jerusalem.

Murders committed by the Levites

According to the New Testament, Jesus was in many disputes with the Levite scribes referring more than once to their rise to power through the murder of the prophets (instigated by Ezra's great-grandfather, Ezra 7:1, the Levite Hilikiah, and enforced by King Josiah II Chr. 34:21). "Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because...you say, 'If we were in the days of our forefathers, we would not be sharers with them in the blood of the prophets. Wherefore you are bearing witness against yourselves that you are the sons of those who murdered the prophets." Matt. 23: 29-31, see also Hebrews 7:11-14 and Acts 7:52.

According to the Tanakh the murders of the Judean prophets (along with the murder of many idolatrous priests) were committed by the Levites in their rise to power and takeover of the priesthood; this was ostensibly because the Judean prophets burned incense to the host of heaven and because they refused to attend an animal sacrifice observing Passover, held by the Levites. “Nevertheless these priests of the high places came not up to the altar of the Lord in Jerusalem, but they did eat of the unleavened bread among their brethren.” II Kings 23:5-9 This verse indicates that the Judean priests were observing a Passover ceremony of their own, making them [1] a sect which followed Mosaic law. "And he (King Josiah at the instigation of Hilikiah and the Levite Priesthood, which had been newly authorized by him) slew all the priests of the high places that were there upon the altars, and burned the men's bones upon them...And the king commanded all the people, saying, 'Keep the Passover unto the Lord your God, as it is written in the book of this covenant' (including the interpretation of animal sacrifice as a required practice, and of which the Israelites had to be commanded by the Levites, to partake, under penalty of death. See Neh. 8:2-11&17; Ezra 7:26)...that he might perform the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the Lord. Surely there was not one holden such a Passover from the days of the Judges." II Kings 23:20-22

That the murdered prophets burned incense to the host of heaven may have proved a motive for obliterating instances in the Tanakh that appeared to refer to the Elohim [2] as a council of gods or hosts of heaven serving under YHWH [3]. For example, along with all the changes of the compound term YHWH aleim to Adonai (Lord) God, they replaced the words "to your gods" (alelik*) with "to your tents." 1 Kings 12:16, II Chr. 10:16 and II Sam. 20:1. [4] Since it is known that the Levite sofrim changed the compound name YHWH Elohim (plural) to Adonai God (singular) it is not impossible that they may have changed most of the accompanying verbs. [5]

Jeremiah wrote concerning the scribes in his own time "Trust not in words of falsehood (because) they say; the temple of YHWH, the temple of YHWH, the temple of YHWH...How can you say; We are wise for we have the law of YHWH, when actually the lying pen of the scribes has handled it falsely?" (Jer. 7:4 & 8:8) This verse was altered to read "vain pen" instead of "pen of falsehood" as it still stands in Hebrew. [6]

Although the Levites themselves interpreted many Bible verses to assert their claim to the priesthood and many still ascribe to that interpretation, Moses, during his lifetime, had refused the priesthood to the Levites "And has He brought you near Him, and all your brothers the Levi with you And You Seek The Priesthood Also?" Num. 16:1-32 See also "NOT he shall be for priests, the Levites, all of tribes of Levi portion and allotment with Israel, fire offerings of YHWH and allotment of him they shall eat." [7] Deu. 18:1. For a Hebrew interlinear rendering of this verse see; <scripture4all.org> The Levite claim to the priesthood was based on their descent from the line of Aaron, priest over the Levite servers [8]. The Levites asserted their right to the Holy priesthood, and many still recognize it, and honor their contributions to the Bible, in spite of their transgression of the commandment "Thou shalt not kill." Ex. 20:13; Deu. 5:17

The New Testament asserts that the law as interpreted by the Levite scribes should be changed. (II Chr. 34:15-24)."If therefore perfection were through the Levite priesthood (for under it the people received the law) what further need was there that another priest (Jesus) should rise up according to the likeness of Melchisedek, and NOT according to the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, there is also the necessity of changing the law*...For it is evident that out of Judah the master (Jesus) has risen...Who is said to be of a different tribe, not one of whom has heeded to the sacrifice place...Who is not (teaching) according to the law of the precepts of the carnal (flesh) ones but according to the ability of life indissoluble...For the law makes high priests (of the Levites) who have infirmities." Hebrews 7:11-28.

  • The Levite interpretation of the law that “they have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law...” (Heb. 7:5) The authority of the Levite scribes was also historically disputed by the Nazarenes* with whom, {according to Epiphanius, in his Panarion} the Essenes were linked.
  • "Nasareans (Jesus was known as a Nazarene) meaning rebels, who forbid all flesh-eating, and do not eat living things at all...they hold that the scriptures of the Pentateuch were not written by Moses, and maintain that they have others...They claim that these books are fictions, and that none of these customs were instituted by the fathers." Epiphanius Panarion 1:18

"James* (Jesus brother) Peter, and the disciples were members of the Essaei (Essene**) community, which Paul most assuredly was not...We see then, that Paul was the father of Pagan Christianity (Roman Catholicism) a movement based on a concept completely foreign to Jesus, James, Peter and the Essaei community..." Savoy, Gene. The Essaei Document

  • “James the Lord’s brother…drank no wine or other intoxicating liquor, nor did he eat flesh…” Hegesippus (Roberts-Donaldson translation)[9]
    • “the (Dead Sea) scrolls use 'house of Judah' to designate the Qumran community...there is no question that 'house of Judah' and 'those who observe the law' belong together, as both refer to the Essenes” Flusser, David. Judaism of the Second Temple Period. p. 256-257

Flavius Josephus in The Jewish War, wrote; "Among the Jews there are three schools of thought, whose adherents are called Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes respectively.

Jesus is often quoted in the New Testament rebuking the Scribes, Pharisees and Sadducees, he never rebuked the Essenes. Jesus, is also quoted arguing in the New Testament against the efficacy of sacrifice. "They that are whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go you and learn what that means, I will have kindness not sacrifice." Matt. 9:13 AND "For if you had known what this meant, “I will have kindness and not sacrifice” you would not have condemned the blameless." (for picking grain to eat on the Sabbath) Matt12:7 "I desire kindness (mercy in KJV), not sacrifice. And the knowledge of Elohim [10] instead of burnt offerings.” Hos. 6:6 This verse is twice quoted by Jesus, disputing the stance of the Levite scribes in their promotion of animal sacrifice to receive healing and forgiveness of sin. Matt. 9:13&12:7.

The New Testament further argues as follows against there ever having been any commandment to sacrifice animals. "No slayed ones and sacrifices were offered to Me (God) for forty years in the wilderness.” (Acts 7:42) and "For the law...can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers once purged should have no more conscience of sins...For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sin." Heb. 10:1-4

Further the New Testament supports offering service to the 'host of heaven'; "They made a calf in those days and led sacrifice to the idol…Turns yet the God (Theos) and besides (instead) gives them to be offering divine service to the host of heaven (Greek-stratia ho ouranos*, Hebrew-tzba eshmim); as it is written in the scroll of the prophets." Acts 7:42 *Burning incense to the 'host of heaven, along with eating unleavened bread instead of attending the Levites animal sacrifice, were the reasons the Levites used their authority under King Josiah to murder the Judean priests.

According to the New Testament, the (Levite) scribes and priests stoned the apostle Stephen for mentioning these murders (Acts 7:52); and the Levite scribes and priests were also foremost among those who insisted that Pilate put Jesus to death (Luke 23:10-21).

Citations and notes

  1. ^ although murdered along with priests of Baal
  2. ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elohim
  3. ^ see wiki article on YHWH aleim
  4. ^ this word contains the same root as aleim-gods or Elohim, and is one of many verses that attest to the Levite efforts to remove references to YHWH's council of gods, the Elohim
  5. ^ See Plural verbs with Elohim as God and link below on the emendations of the sofrim.
  6. ^ To check all Hebrew references see <scripture4all.org> link below for an online interlinear Hebrew Bible
  7. ^ for they were the authorized butchers, for feeding sacrificed animals to the mixed multitude, serving under the priest Aaron, Moses brother
  8. ^ The Levite butchers were not, however, allowed to approach the altar of the children of Israel, Num. 18:1-5
  9. ^ <http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/hegesippus.html>
  10. ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elohim

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