Scribal Wit: Aramaic Mnemonics in the Leningrad Codex 9781463235499

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Scribal Wit

Texts and Studies

10 Series Editor H. A. G. Houghton

Editorial Board Jeff W. Childers Christina M. Kreinecker Alison G. Salvesen Peter J. Williams

Text and Studies is a series of monographs devoted to the study of Biblical and Patristic texts. Maintaining the highest scholarly standards, the series includes critical editions, studies of primary sources, and analyses of textual traditions.

Scribal Wit

Aramaic Mnemonics in the Leningrad Codex

David Marcus

9

34 2013

Gorgias Press LLC, 954 River Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA www.gorgiaspress.com Copyright © 2013 by Gorgias Press LLC

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise without the prior written permission of Gorgias Press LLC. 2013

‫ܒܐ‬

9

ISBN 978-1-61143-904-5

ISSN 1935-6927

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Marcus, David, 1941Scribal Wit : Aramaic mnemonics in the Leningrad Codex / by David Marcus. pages cm. -- (Texts and studies, ISSN 1935-6927 ; 10) Includes index. ISBN 978-1-61143-904-5 1. Bible. Old Testament. Hebrew. Leningrad Codex--Mnemonics devices. 2. Bible. Old Testament. Hebrew--Versions--Leningrad Codex--Memorizing. 3. Mnemonics. I. Title. BS715.5.L46M37 2013 221.4’46--dc23 2013047109 Printed in the United States of America

TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents ..................................................................................... v Abbreviations .......................................................................................... vii Preface ....................................................................................................... ix Chapter 1: The nature of the Aramaic mnemonics............................. 1 Chapter 2: Hebrew grammar as reflected in the mnemonics .......... 13 Chapter 3: Identification of the mnemonics ...................................... 19 Chapter 4: The corpus of the Aramaic mnemonics in ML............... 23 Epilogue: Practical use of the mnemonics .......................................157 Appendix A: The list of the Aramaic mnemonics ..........................159 Appendix B: The lemmas of the Aramaic mnemonics ..................167 Works Cited...........................................................................................173 Index of Biblical Verses.......................................................................181

v

ABBREVIATIONS cj cstr fem fol Fragment impf infin lit masc MA MC ML MLm MM1 MS5 Mf Mm Mp ms(s) n pl prep sfx sg vol

conjunction construct feminine folio Fragment Targum imperfect infinitive literally masculine Aleppo Codex. Cairo Codex. Leningrad Codex Codex Leningrad M. Madrid Codex M1 Sassoon 507 Masorah finalis Masorah magna Masorah parva manuscript(s) note plural preposition suffix singular volume vii

PREFACE Aramaic mnemonics, or memory aids, are short witty sentences written in Aramaic on the margins of ancient Hebrew biblical manuscripts. These mnemonics are part of a vast collection of notes written by scribes over the course of the early centuries of the Common Era (500–1000 CE). The scribes who wrote these notes and transmitted the text of the Hebrew Bible were called Masoretes. However, most modern printed texts of the Hebrew Bible do not contain these Masoretic notes, and so do not contain these Aramaic mnemonics. This book analyzes seventy-four Aramaic mnemonics that the author has assembled from the Leningrad Codex (ML), the oldest extant Hebrew manuscript of the entire Bible which is dated to 1008 CE.1 Some of these mnemonics have not hitherto been identified and are published here for the first time. Each mnemonic is set alongside the Hebrew verses it represents, and every Aramaic part of the mnemonic is placed on a matching line with its Hebrew equivalent, and both are highlighted in a special font. Since every ancient manuscript has its own individual collection of Masoretic notes this book deals only with the collection of Aramaic mnemonics that are found in the Leningrad Codex. However, for comparison purposes five other early Hebrew manuscripts are also regularly consulted: (1) Cairo Codex (MC), whose date has been placed from the mid-9th

The manuscript is housed in the Russian National Library in St. Petersburg, previously known as the Saltykov-Shchedrin State Public Library of Leningrad. The most recent fascimile edition is by Freedman et al., The Leningrad Codex. 1

ix

x

SCRIBAL WIT

century to the 11th century.2 This manuscript contains the entire Former and Latter Prophets, from Joshua to Malachi. (2) Aleppo Codex (MA), dating from 930 BCE, which contains the latter parts of Deuteronomy and most of the Prophets and some of the Writings; (3) Sassoon 507 ( MS5), also known as The Damascus Pentateuch,3 dated between the 9th and 10th centuries; (4) Codex Leningrad M (MLm) is dated around the same time as the Leningrad Codex. Only the Masorah of its Pentateuch has been published;4 (5) Madrid Codex M1 (MM1) of the Universidad Complutense de Madrid dated to the 13th century and containing the entire Bible. 5 In addition, the following standard Masoretic tools are used for comparison purposes: (6) the printed edition of Miqra’ot Gedolot;6 (7) the three editions of the Masoretic treatise Ochlah weOchlah:7 and (8) the fourvolume work on the Masorah by Christian D. Ginsburg.8 The first chapter explains how the mnemonics work and how the individual parts of the Aramaic mnemonic correspond with their Hebrew counterparts. It surveys the content of the mnemonics and their length, and illustrates how problems within certain mnemonics may on occasion be solved by parallel mnemonics in other mss. The second chapter shows, on the basis of the Masoretic notes underlying the mnemonics, that the Masoretes were incipient Hebrew grammarians before the scientific study of Hebrew grammar. Chapter three traces the history of the identification of the Aramaic mnemonics in ML, and chapter four, which is the main body of the book, analyzes in detail the seventySee the description of the manuscript in Beit-Arié, et al., CHLE I:25–39. 3 And now known as Heb. 24o 5702 of the National and University Library in Jerusalem. 4 Breuer, Masora Magna. 5 The Masorah is being published by the Instituto de Filología of the Spanish National Research Council, and to date six volumes from Genesis to Joshua have appeared. 6 Cited in the edition of Pardes (New York, 1951). 7 Frensdorff, Ochlah; Díaz Esteban, Sefer ’Oklah; Ognibeni, ’Oklah. 8 Ginsburg, The Massorah. 2

PREFACE

xi

four Aramaic mnemonics that have been identified as the corpus. It is preceded by a sample page that illustrates the layout of the individual mnemonic entries. In the Epilogue we suggest some possible modern practical usages for the mnemonics. The two appendices consist of lists: one (Appendix A) of all the mnemonics discussed in the book together with their translations, and the other (Appendix B) a list of the lemmas or Masoretic notes on which the mnemonics are based.

CHAPTER 1: THE NATURE OF THE ARAMAIC MNEMONICS 1. HOW THE MNEMONICS WORK Most Masorah magna (Mm) notes that occur in mss. are in Hebrew. They provide elaborations to basic Masoretic enumerative notes of how often a word or phrase occurs in the Hebrew Bible. Thus one Mm note indicates that the form ‫ בִּ ְברית‬occurs three times and also provides clues as to where this form occurs. It does this by means of simanim “identifying quotes” or “references.” At Ezek 16:8 there is a Mm note on the form ‫ בִּ ְברית‬that reads ִ‫בבריתִג‬ ‫ועשית ִחסד ִעל ִעבדך‬.ִ ‫ואבוא ִבברית ִאתך‬.ִ ‫לעברך ִבברית ִיהוה ִאלהיך‬, that is, “there are three occurrences of ‫בִּ ְברית‬: Deut 29:11; Ezek 16:8; and 1 Sam 20:8.” Each of the Hebrew phrases is a clue to the verses where the form ‫ בִּ ְברית‬occurs. The first phrase ִ‫ְל ָע ְב ְרָךִבִּ ְברית‬ ‫ֹלהיָך‬ ֶ ‫ יְהוָ הִ ֱא‬comes from Deut 29:11; the second phrase ִ‫וָ ָאבוֹאִב ְברית‬ ‫ א ָֹתְך‬comes from Ezek 16:8; and the third phraseִ ‫ית ִ ֶח ֶסד‬ ִָ ‫שׂ‬ ִ ִָ‫וְ ע‬ ‫ל־ע ְִב ִֶדָּך‬ ַ ‫ ַע‬comes from 1 Sam 20:8. The aim of the Aramaic mnemonics in ML is similar to the Hebrew simanim, that is, to facilitate the location of the words or phrases discussed in the Mm notes. But the method is different as can be seen by looking at how the same lemma ‫ בִּ ְברית‬is handled in an Aramaic mnemonic. The purpose of this mnemonic, §21 in our corpus, is to indicate where the three occurrences of the form ‫בּ ְברית‬ ִ appear in the Hebrew Bible, but it is done by means of a short witty sentence that reads ‫“ עבר ִעבדא ִואשתבע‬the servant passed by and he swore.” This is how the mnemonic works: Each Aramaic word corresponds in some fashion with a Hebrew word in the verses containing the form ‫בִּ ְברית‬. The correspondences can be seen in the following chart.

1

2

SCRIBAL WIT

Deut 29:11

ִ‫ֹלהיָך‬ ֶ ‫הִא‬ ֱ ָ‫ְל ָע ְב ְרָך בּ ְבריתִיְהו‬ ִ‫ֹלהיָךִכּ ֵֹרת‬ ֶ ‫הִא‬ ֱ ָ‫תוִֹא ֶשׁרִיְהו‬ ֲ ‫וּב ָא ָל‬ ְ :‫ָךִהיּוֹם‬ ַ ‫ע ְמּ‬

‫עבר‬ passed by

1 Sam 20:8

‫ִע ְב ֶדָּךִכּי‬ ַ ‫דִעל־‬ ַ ‫ִח ֶס‬ ֶ ‫ית‬ ָ ‫וְ ָעשׂ‬ ִ‫ת־ע ְב ְדָּך‬ ַ ‫ִא‬ ֶ ‫את‬ ָ ‫הִה ֵב‬ ֵ ָ‫בּ ְבריתִיְהו‬ ִ‫יתני‬ ֵ ‫וֹןִהמ‬ ֲ ‫יִע‬ ָ ‫ע ָמְּךִוְ אם־יֶ שׁ־בּ‬ ִ‫יָךִל ָמּה־זֶּ ה‬ ָ ‫ד־אב‬ ָ ‫אַתּהִוְ ַע‬ ָ :‫יאני‬ ֵ ‫ְתב‬

‫עבדא‬ the servant

Ezek 16:8

ִ‫ֹרִע ַליְךִוָ ֶא ְר ֵאְךִוְ הנֵּ הִע ֵתְּך‬ ָ ‫וָ ֶא ֱעב‬ ִ‫יִע ַליְך‬ ָ ‫ֹשִׂכּנָ פ‬ ְ ‫ֵעתִדּ ֹדיםִוָ ֶא ְפר‬ ִ‫עִלְך‬ ָ ‫הִע ְרוָ ֵתְךִוָ ֶא ָשּׁ ַב‬ ֶ ‫וָ ֲא ַכ ֶסּ‬ ִ‫םִאד ֹנָ י‬ ֲ ‫וָ ָאבוֹאִב ְברית א ָֹתְךִנְ ֻא‬ :‫יְהוהִוַ תּ ְהייִלי‬

‫ואשתבע‬ and he swore

The first Aramaic word ‫“ עבר‬he passed by” corresponds with the Hebrew form ‫( ְל ָע ְב ְרָך‬Deut 29:11). The correspondence is not literal. The Hebrew is an infin. cstr. with a 2nd sg. sfx. preceded by a ‫ל‬, and literally translates “to make you transgress (pass).” The Aramaic ‫ עבר‬of the mnemonic is a 3rd masc. sg. form meaning “he passed by.” The commonality of the two forms is simply that of “passing.” The second Aramaic word ‫“ עבדא‬the servant” corresponds with the Hebrew form ‫( ַע ְִב ִֶדָּך‬1 Sam 20:8). Again the correspondence is not literal since the Hebrew form has a 2nd masc. sg. sfx., whereas the Aramaic word does not. The third Aramaic form ‫“ ואשתבע‬and he swore” corresponds with the Hebrew form ‫שּׁ ַבע‬ ִָ ‫א‬ ִֶ ָ‫“ ו‬and I swore” (Ezek 16:8), except that the Hebrew has a 1st sg. form “I swore” but the Aramaic has a 3rd sg. form “he swore.” What is characteristic of the mnemonic is that it does not simply give an Aramaic translation of words or phrases in the verse, rather it selects just one Hebrew word from each verse where the form ‫ בִּ ְברית‬occurs, and translates that word into Aramaic. Then the three Aramaic words are rearranged into a memorable sentence to aid in remembering the three occurrences of the form ‫בּ ְברית‬ ִ , hence the mnemonic ‫“ עבר ִעבדא ִואשתבע‬the servant passed by and he swore.”

THE NATURE OF THE ARAMAIC MNEMONICS

3

2. THE CONTENT OF THE MNEMONICS Most of the Aramaic mnemonics consist of clever or amusing sentences. Some of them make eminent sense (“the wadis are dry” [§10 and §44]; “O mighty mortal man, listen to me!” [§57]), while some are quite enigmatic (“the spirit is the power of the word” [§1]; “trust of a bad reward” [§58]). In many respects the mnemonics can be classified as wisdom literature and, as befits this type of literature, a number of mnemonics involve wisdom itself (“and the chosen lad ran and found wisdom” [§70]); animals (“the dogs were asking wisdom for horses” [§33]; “the ox swore and fell, the lion remembered and laughed” [§34]), and pithy proverbial sayings (“the joy of man is with his wife” [§47]; “the prince drives out wrath” [§48]). A number of mnemonics, presumably to facilitate memory, involve fantastic scenarios (“the angel said to his wife that the ark is fit to cover the incense of Jerusalem” [§15]; “a woman angrily (rushed) from her house, the king saw her and pierced her head” [§49]; “the sun shouted at the black tent” [§60]; “the wolf and all the congregation were purified, the good men rose with trumpets” [§67]). Biblical figures abound in the mnemonics. There are patriarchs (Jacob and Joseph), leaders (Moses and Joshua), judges (Jephthah) kings (David and Gedaliah), and prophets (Samuel and Jeremiah), and many others. Here are some examples: “the mandrakes of Joseph are clothed in his pleasure” (§27); “the good man pursued righteousness and preserved life for Esther” (§69). There are biblical place names (“she loved to tell it on the Carmel” [§28]), and biblical cities (“the ladder of Shechem is raised” [§32]). There are mnemonics involving Israel (“the faithful servants of Israel are killed” [§5]; “the ruddy one went out and the craftsman Barzillai, and Israel drinks, curses, and hides” [§25], and her neighbors (“the wall of Damascus is falling” [§41]; “Samuel the physician destroyed the rivers of the Moabites and flashed lightnings at Babylon” [§37]).

4

SCRIBAL WIT

3. LENGTH OF THE MNEMONICS The most frequent length of an Aramaic mnemonic is three or four words,1 for example, mnemonic §1: ‫“ חילהִדמילתאִרוחא‬the spirit is the power of the word” or mnemonic §2: ‫“ אתילד ִואתבאש ִומית‬he was born, and he became ill, and he died,” and mnemonic §5: ‫“ עבדייא ִדישראל ִהימנין ִקטילין‬the faithful servants of Israel are killed.” The shortest Aramaic mnemonic consists of two words as in mnemonics §10 and §14, ‫“ נחלייה ִיבשין‬the wadis are dry,” but the rest are a mixture from five to thirteen words in length. There are two long mnemonics, one of twenty-one catchwords (§8) and one of twenty-two (§16). The use of large phrases such as these as mnemonics is a reminder to us that memory devices in antiquity were markedly different than our own.2

4. REPEATED MNEMONICS Of the seventy-four Aramaic mnemonics in ML, eleven are repeated with minor variations.3 Here are some examples. Mnemonic §60 reads: ‫“ אזעקִשמשאִמשכנאִשחורא‬the sun shouted at the black tent,” whereas its duplicate §64 reads: ִ ‫אעיק ִשמשא‬ ‫“ משכנא ִשחורא‬the sun distressed the black tent.” The difference between the two versions lies in the different catchword used at the beginning of the mnemonic, ‫ אזעק‬in §60 and ‫ אעיק‬in §64. Similarly, mnemonic §18 reads: ‫אתתהִקמתִמןִביתהִמלכהִחזיהִודקרהִבראשה‬ “a woman rose from her house, the king saw her and pierced her head,” whereas its duplicate §49 reads: ִ‫אנתתהִרגזתִמןִביתהִמלכה‬ ‫“חזיה ִודקרה ִבראשה‬a woman angrily (rushed) from her house, the Forty-two of the seventy-four mnemonics consist of either three or four words. 2 As the historian Mary Carruthers has noted: “Medieval culture was fundamentally memorial, to the same profound degree that modern culture in the West is documentary” (Book of Memory, 8). 3 The variations consist either of the use of different catchwords or by the number of catchwords used in the mnemonic. The eleven repeated mnemonics are [1] §4 = §9; [2] §5 = §73; [3] §10 =§44; [4] §11= §45; [5], §17 = §42; [6] §18 = §49; [7] §31 = §63; [8] §40 = §48; [9] §50 = §57; [10] §52= §58; [11] §60 = §64. 1

THE NATURE OF THE ARAMAIC MNEMONICS

5

king saw her and pierced her head.” Here the difference between the two versions lies in the different second catchword used in the mnemonic, ‫ קמת‬in §18, but ‫ רגזת‬in §49. With some duplicate mnemonics the variation has to do, not with a different catchword, but with a different number of catchwords in a mnemonic. For example, mnemonic §11 has only two catchwords: ‫“ מדברה ִדגיהנם‬the wilderness of Gehinnom,” whereas its duplicate §45 has three: ‫“ מדברה ִדגיהנם ִוחבירו‬the wilderness of Gehinnom and its companion.”4 Another example of this type is with mnemonics §4 and §9. Both have only nine catchwords for the required ten cases necessary for the note, but the nine catchwords are different in the two mnemonics. Full details of these discrepancies may be found in the corpus notes. An interesting variant between two parallel mnemonics is between mnemonics §17 and §42. Mnemonic §17 reads: ִ ‫קמון‬ ‫“ ישראלִוכתבוןִבשיבתה‬Israel rose up and wrote on the Sabbath,” whereas the parallel mnemonic §42 reads: ‫קמוןִישראלִוכתבון ִשבתא‬ “Israel rose up and wrote the Sabbath.” The first mnemonic reads ‫“ בשיבתה‬on the Sabbath,” whereas the parallel mnemonic reads ‫“ שבתא‬the Sabbath” without the preposition ‫ב‬.

5. DIFFICULTIES IN THE MNEMONICS At times there are not sufficient Aramaic catchwords in the mnemonic to account for all the verses that contain the lemma. This occurs in some of the longer mnemonics. For example, in mnemonic §8, which has twenty-one elements, there is no Aramaic catchword to correspond with the twenty-first element; similarly in the long mnemonic §16, which has twenty-two elements, there is no Aramaic catchword to correspond with the eighteenth element. However, in some of these cases, because of the occurrence of the lemma in parallel or doublet verses, a catchword may be serving double duty for the parallel verses. These cases are discussed in the corpus at mnemonics §4 and §8. A further problem with the analysis of the mnemonics is to identify the catchwords with 4

For the discussion of this disparity, see the corpus at §11 and §45.

6

SCRIBAL WIT

Hebrew words in the associated verses. Sometimes there appears to be no apparent correspondence in the verse with its designated Aramaic catchword. An example of this problem may be seen in mnemonic §19 where the catchword ‫ ומתקן‬does not seem to have an equivalent in any of the associated verses.5 Furthermore, it appears that one of the mnemonics in the corpus (mnemonic §6) has been attached to the wrong lemma since, apart from one catchword, there are absolutely no correspondences between the five Aramaic catchwords and the Hebrew verses in which the lemma occurs.

6. DIFFERENT COLLECTIONS OF MNEMONICS Different collections of Aramaic mnemonics are found in various Hebrew mss. Some of the mnemonics in these collections also occur in ML, and some do not. For example, of the forty-four extant Aramaic mnemonics in MA eighteen occur at various places in ML, but twenty-six do not occur at all in ML.6 In some mss. the Aramaic mnemonics occur in exactly the same places as in ML. For example, mnemonic §1 ‫“ חילה ִדמילתא ִרוחא‬the spirit is the power of the word” occurs in ML at Gen 4:12 and also occurs at the same place in MM1; mnemonic §29 ‫“ עלי ִסלק ִלערסה ִמסכי ִרחמיך‬Eli goes up onto his bed (and) waits for your mercies” occurs in ML at Isa 8:7, and also occurs at the same place in MC. However, some mnemonics occur in other mss. in different places than in ML.7 For example, mnemonic §2 ‫אתילדִואתבאשִומית‬ “he was born, and he became ill, and he died” appears in M L at Gen 22:20, but in MS5 it occurs at Gen 48:1; and in MC it occurs at Josh 24:29. Mnemonic §15 ִ ‫אמר ִמלאכה ִלאתתה ִדארונה ִאריך‬ ‫“ למכסויה ִקוטרתה ִדירושלם‬the angel said to his wife that the ark is fit to cover the incense of Jerusalem” appears in ML and in MC at See the commentary ad loc for discussion. Other examples of problematic catchwords are in mnemonics §13 (‫)אל‬, §25 (‫ )וישראל‬and §36 (‫)חזנה‬. 6 The Aramaic mnemonics in MA are listed by Ofer in “Memory Aids,” 193–97. 7 The occurrences of all the mnemonics in the various mss. are indicated in detail in the corpus under the individual mnemonics. 5

THE NATURE OF THE ARAMAIC MNEMONICS

7

Judg 2:1, but it also occurs in a variety of places in other mss. It occurs again in MC at 1 Sam 28:11 and 2 Sam 24:24; in MA at Ps 66:15; and in both MS5 and MM1 it is found at Exod 3:17. Sometimes in another ms. the Aramaic mnemonic will appear in a place where ML has Hebrew simanim. For example, at Judg 7:3 on the lemma ‫שׁ ֹב‬ ִ ִָ‫ י‬MA has an Aramaic mnemonic ִ ‫אכל ִמסכינא‬ ‫“ צפרתא ִדירושלם ִואתנחם‬the poor man ate the bird of Jerusalem and was upset.” This mnemonic is not found anywhere in ML, but ML does have a Mm note on this lemma with Hebrew simanim both at Judg 7:3 and at Isa 12:1.8 Similarly, MA has a mnemonic on the lemma ‫ וְ זַ ֲעקוּ‬at Judg 10:14 ‫“ אזלו ִרעייא ִקדשו‬the shepherds went and sanctified” that is not found in ML, but is represented in ML by Hebrew simanim at the same reference. 9 The reverse is also found: there are mnemonics in ML that only appear with Hebrew simanim in other mss. For example, mnemonic §54 that occurs in ML at Ps 78:50 is found only with Hebrew simanim in MC at 1 Sam 25:39; 2 Sam 18:16 and Ezek 30:18; mnemonic §55 that occurs in ML at Ps 105:29 appears only with Hebrew simanim in MC at 1 Sam 22:18; and Jer 41:2. Then there are Aramaic mnemonics in other mss. that are not represented even with Hebrew simanim in ML. For example, MA has a mnemonic at Isa 43:4 on the lemmaִ‫תּן‬ ִֵ ‫א‬ ִֶ ְ‫ ו‬that reads ִ‫חמדתהִדאדם‬ ‫“ רחמין‬the desire of man is mercy,” but this mnemonic is not represented in ML by any Mm note. Similarly, MA has a mnemonic at Ps 88:7 on the lemmaִ ‫ בִּ ְמצֹלוֹת‬that reads ‫נחתו ִרדופייא ִלחשוכא‬ “the pursuers went down to darkness,” but this mnemonic also is not represented in ML by any Mm note.

7. MNEMONICS CLARIFIED BY OTHER VERSIONS There are a number of times when, in addition to helping restore missing catchwords, other versions of the mnemonic help clarify the Aramaic mnemonics in ML. 1. In §12 the mnemonic reads: ‫סימן ִשמעת ִקרית ִוכעסת‬. Because the words are unvocalized in ML the verbs could be read 8 9

At fol. 140v and fol. 225r, see Weil §1433. Fol. 143r, see Weil §1464.

8

SCRIBAL WIT

as 1st sg. forms “I heard a sign, I called, and I was angry” or as 2nd sg. forms “You heard a sign, you called, and you were angry.” However, at Deut 13:3 MS5 vocalizes these forms as 1st sg. forms ‫ש ְמ ֶעת‬, ‫ ְק ֶרית‬andִ ‫ וְ ַכ ְע ֶסת‬so we can be reasonably confident translating the mnemonic as “I heard a sign, I called, and I was angry.” 2. In §38 the mnemonic reads:ִ ‫ יהודה ִמאסת ִדרכים‬Judah rejected ways. The problem with this mnemonic in ML is that the third word in the mnemonic ‫ דרכים‬is not only a Hebraism, but has no equivalent in the verse of Jer 49:39 with which it must correspond, see the chart below. Joel 4:1

Jer 33:26

Jer 49:39

ִ‫יאִא ֶשׁר‬ ֲ ‫תִהה‬ ַ ‫הִוּב ֵע‬ ָ ‫יםִה ֵה ָמּ‬ ָ ‫הִבּיָּמ‬ ַ ֵ‫כּיִהנּ‬ ִ‫בוּתִיְהוּדה‬ ָ ‫ִ־שׁ‬ ְ ‫אשׁיבִאת‬/‫וב‬ ֶ ‫ָאשׁ‬ :‫ירוּשׁ ָלם‬ ָ ‫ו‬ ִ‫דִע ְבדּי‬ ַ ‫גַּ ם־זֶ ַרעִיַ ֲעקוֹבִוְ ָדו‬ ִ‫יםִאל־זֶ ַרע‬ ֶ ‫ֶא ְמאַסִמ ַקּ ַחתִמזַּ ְרעוִֹמ ְֹשׁל‬ ִ‫אשׁיב‬/‫יַעקֹבִכּי־ ָאשׁוב‬ ֲ ְ‫אַב ָר ָהםִי ְשׂ ָחקִו‬ ְ :‫בוּתםִוְ ר ַח ְמתּים‬ ָ ‫ת־שׁ‬ ְ ‫ֶא‬ ִ‫אשׁיב‬/‫יתִהיָּמִיםִ ָאשׁוב‬ ַ ‫אַחר‬ ֲ ‫וְ ָהיָהִ| ְבּ‬ :‫בוּתִע ָילםִנְ ֻאם־יְהוָ ה‬ ֵ ‫ת־שׁ‬ ְ ‫ֶא‬

‫יהודה‬ Judah

‫מאסת‬ rejected

‫דרכים‬ ways

But the version of the mnemonic that is found in MC and in MA does provide a connection with Jer 49:39 since those versions read: ‫“ יהודה ִמאסת ִבעילם‬Judah rejected Elam.” The variant reading ‫“ בעילם‬Elam” of the other mss. thus directly corresponds with the ‫“ ֵע ָילם‬Elam” in the Jeremiah verse. 3. In §47 the mnemonic in ML reads: ‫ש באתתה‬ ִ ‫“ חדותהִברִנ‬the joy of man is with his wife.” The problem with this mnemonic is that again the third Aramaic word (‫“ באתתה‬with his wife”) of the mnemonic has no equivalent in the Hebrew verse with which it must be associated (Mic 3:7), see the chart below.

THE NATURE OF THE ARAMAIC MNEMONICS

9

Prov 15:23

ִ‫ישִׁבּ ַמ ֲענֵ ה־פיו‬ ְ ‫הִלא‬ ָ ‫שׂ ְמ ָח‬ :‫תּוִֹמה־טּוֹב‬ ַ ‫רִבּע‬ ְ ‫וְ ָד ָב‬

‫חדותה‬ joy

Prov 16:1

ִ‫י־לבִוּמִֵיְהוָ ה‬ ֵ ‫םִמ ַע ְר ֵכ‬ ַ ‫ְל ָא ָד‬ :‫ַמ ֲענֵ הִ ָלשׁוֹן‬

‫ברנש‬ ִ man

Mic 3:7

‫רוִּהקּ ְֹסמים‬ ַ ‫ֹשׁוִּהחֹזיםִוְ ָח ְפ‬ ַ ‫וּב‬ ִ‫יִאין‬ ֵ ‫םִכּ ָלּםִכּ‬ ֻ ‫ל־שׂ ָפ‬ ָ ‫טוִּע‬ ַ ‫וְ ָע‬ :‫ַמ ֲענֵ הִ ֱאֹלהים‬

‫באתתה‬ with his wife

However, the version of the mnemonic that appears in MC does provide a connection with Mic 3:7. That version reads: ִ ‫חדותה‬ ‫“ דברנשהִבהתתה‬the joy of man is shame.” Here the word ‫בהתתה‬ “shame” connects with the word ‫“ ִוּבֹשׁוּ‬and they will be shamed” in this verse. The reading ‫ באתתה‬in ML may then represent a pun on the original word ‫“ בהתתה‬shame,” since the two words differ only in one letter and would have sounded almost the same when spoken.10

8. THE DIALECT OF THE MNEMONICS As befits the milieu of its authors, who wrote over the course of the early centuries of the Common Era (c. 500–1000 CE), the Aramaic mnemonics are correspondingly written in Late Aramaic (200–1200 CE)11 in a western Palestinian dialect known Jewish Palestinian Aramaic.12 This is the language of the Palestinian Talmud, the Midrashim, and the Palestinian Targums of Neofiti and of the

A further example of where different formulations of a mnemonic can help clarify a mnemonic in ML is in mnemonic §45, and a parallel mnemonic in MS5 may help explain a difficulty in the complicated mnemonic §7. 11 For a brief outline of Late Aramaic, see Kaufman, “Aramaic,” 174–75. 12 Also known as Galilean Aramaic, see DJPA, 3. For a brief survey of this dialect, see Kutscher, “Aramaic,” 270–74. 10

10

SCRIBAL WIT

Cairo Geniza.13 It is different from earlier Middle Aramaic (200 BCE–250 CE), particularly that of Standard Literary Aramaic, which is the language of the official Babylonian Targums, that of Targums Onkelos and Jonathan. 14 This can clearly be seen in cases where there are multiple Targum translations of a verse. The form in the mnemonics usually agrees with the Late Aramaic form in the Palestinian Targumim, and not with the Middle Aramaic form of the official Babylonian Targums. For example, in mnemonic §2: ‫“ אתילד ִואתבאש ִומית‬he was born, and he became ill, and he died” the catchword ‫ ואתבאש‬corresponds with the Hebrew word ‫“ ח ֶֹלה‬is sick” in Gen 48:1. Of the various Targum translations of ‫ח ֶֹלה‬, Targum Neofiti and the Genizah Targums translate with forms from the same root ‫ביִשׁ‬/‫“ באיִשׁ‬to be sick” whereas Targum Onkelos translates with a different root ‫מרע‬. The catchword in the mnemonic thus goes with the Palestinian Targums (Neofiti and Geniza), written in Late Aramaic (Jewish Palestinian Aramaic) rather than with the form in Targum Onkelos, which is written in Middle Aramaic (Standard Literary Aramaic). Another example is in mnemonic §13, which reads:ִ ‫מלה‬ ‫ משכנת ִחזר ִאל‬he did not return the pledged thing. The catchword ‫“ חזר‬he returned” corresponds with the Hebrew words ‫שׁיב‬ ִ‫תּ‬ ִָ ִ ‫שׁב‬ ִֵ ‫ה‬ ִָ “you shall surely return” in Deut 24:13. The Aramaic verb ‫“ חזר‬he returned” is a Late Aramaic (Jewish Palestinian Aramaic) form,15 and is also the one found in the Targum Neofiti and the Geniza Targum on this verse, whereas Targum Onkelos, written in Middle Aramaic (Standard Literary Aramaic), translates using the root ‫תוב‬ (‫)תתיב אתבא‬. A further example is in mnemonic §34, which reads: ִ ‫תורה‬ ‫“ אשתבע ִונפל ִאריה ִאדכר ִוגחך‬the ox swore and fell, the lion remembered and laughed.” The catchword ‫“ גחך‬he laughed” corresponds with the Hebrew wordִ‫שׂ ַחק‬ ְִ ִ‫“ י‬he laughs” in Job 39:22. The Aramaic verb ‫“ גחך‬he laughed” is a regular Late Aramaic Targum PsJonathan is a mixed dialect and sometimes goes with Onkelos (with Standard Literary Aramaic) and sometimes with Neofiti or the Geniza Targumim (with Jewish Palestinian Aramaic). 14 See Kaufman, “Aramaic,” 174. 15 DJPA 195; DJBA 448. 13

THE NATURE OF THE ARAMAIC MNEMONICS

11

(Jewish Palestinian Aramaic) term,16 whereas the form found in the Targum of Qumran Job is ‫יחאך‬,17 from the root ‫חוך‬, a term found in Middle Aramaic.18 Or again, in mnemonic §46, part of which reads: ִ ‫צדקיהו ִחמא‬ ‫“ וערק‬Zedekiah saw and fled,” the catchword ‫“ חמא‬he saw” corresponds with the Hebrew word ‫“ ָראיתי‬I saw” of Amos 9:1. This verb ‫“ חמא‬he saw” is one of the characteristic features of Jewish Palestinian Aramaic,19 as distinct from the use of ִ ‫ חזי‬in other dialects,20 so it is no surprise that the Targum to Amos, written in the earlier Standard Literary Aramaic) renders ‫ ָראיתי‬as ‫ ֲחזֵ יתי‬using the root ‫חזי‬, not ‫חמא‬. A final example is seen in mnemonic §70, which reads:ִ ‫וטליה‬ ‫“ בחירא ִפרא ִואשכח ִחכמה‬and the chosen lad ran and found wisdom.” The catchword ‫“ פרא‬he ran” corresponds with the Hebrew word ‫“ ָרץ‬he ran” in Gen 18:7. The Aramaic verb ‫“ פרא‬he ran” is a regular Late Aramaic (Jewish Palestinian Aramaic) term,21 whereas the form found in the Targums (Onkelos, Neofiti, and PsJonathan) represents the earlier Standard Literary Aramaic form ‫רהט‬.22

DJPA, 126. Sokoloff, Targum to Job, 92. The regular Targum to Job renders ‫ י ְשׂ ַחק‬as ‫יחדי‬. 18 DJBA, 438; and DJPA, 190. 19 DJPA, 205; DJBA, 467. 20 DJPA, 194. 21 DJPA, 446. 22 DJBA 1060–61; DJPA 517. 16 17

CHAPTER 2: HEBREW GRAMMAR AS REFLECTED IN THE MNEMONICS It is now widely accepted that the Masoretes were incipient Hebrew grammarians.1 The Masoretes did not formulate descriptive rules of grammar rather made lists of forms from which the rules could be inferred. Modern grammarians derive principles of grammar from surveying the entirety of the evidence: the Masoretes attempt to reach the same goal by expressing only the minority or unusual forms.2 Let us take an example from one of the lemmas in our corpus, that of ‫ ַמ ֲא ַכל‬in mnemonic §62, where the Masorah notes the four occurrences of the construct forms ‫מ ֲא ַכל‬, ַ with and without ‫ ו‬cj. that have a pathaḥ under the ‫כ‬. Modern grammarians will illustrate the absolute and construct form of a masculine noun such as ‫א ַכל‬ ֲִ ‫ ַמ‬by observing either of all its forms or forms like it, and deduce that the absolute ‫ ַמ ֲא ָכל‬has a qameṣ whereas the construct ‫ ַמ ֲא ַכל‬has a pathaḥ.3 The Masoretes simply state how many ‫ ַמ ֲא ַכל‬forms there are with a pathaḥ with the implication, never directly stated, that there are other, more See Yeivin, The Biblical Masorah, 126–27 (in Hebrew), and the bibliography cited there, and now Contreras/Seijas de los Ríos-Zarzosa, Masora, 201–11. The first Hebrew grammarian is thought to be Saadya Gaon (882–942), see Tene, “Linguistic Literature, Hebrew,” 1356. 2 Dotan, “From Masorah to Grammar,” 158; idem, “De la Massora,” 17–18; idem, The Awakening of Word Lore, 9–10. 3 This form ‫ ַמ ֲא ָכל‬is actually cited in GKC as an example of a maqtāl form (§85g) that follows the model of ‫עוֹלם‬ ָ by shortening the qameṣ to a pathaḥ in the construct (§93oo). Curiously enough, GKC cites the Masorah as its source for the exceptional forms that retain the qameṣ in the construct (§92g)! 1

13

14

SCRIBAL WIT

numerous, contrasting forms with a qameṣ. The usage of the form ‫ ַמ ֲא ַכל‬with a pathaḥ as a construct is not explicitly expressed, but since all the simanim are also given alongside the lemma, the reader of the Masoretic note can easily comprehend its usage as a construct in any given verse. Similarly with verbal forms, as one can see from another example from our corpus (mnemonic §40). Here the Masoretes provide a list of the number of occurrences of ‫ וְ יֵ ֵצא‬with a shewa under the ‫ ו‬with the implication that it be contrasted with the more frequent form of ‫( וִַיִֵּ ֵצא‬with a pathaḥ under the ‫)ו‬. Modern grammarians, on the basis of a survey of all the evidence, term the first form ‫ וְ יֵ ֵצא‬the “jussive” or the “subjunctive,” and the second form ‫ וִַיִֵּ ֵצא‬the “‫ו‬-consecutive.”4 What the grammarians make explicit the Masoretes only imply, but both the Masoretes and the grammarians understand the meaning of ‫ וְ יֵ ֵצא‬to be a wish to occur in the future, and that the meaning of ‫ וִַיִֵּ ֵצא‬is to describe an act in the past. Furthermore, since the Masoretes provide the simanim for all occurrences of the form ‫ וְ יֵ ֵצא‬the reader can then intuitively comprehend its usage as a jussive or subjunctive in the verses cited. Thus practically every Masoretic note has some grammatical significance which can be easily grasped once the contrast between the lemma and another form is determined. The same is true for vast majority of Masoretic notes on which the Aramaic mnemonics are based. These notes are in all areas of grammar: phonology, morphology, and syntax. Here are some more examples from our corpus. In the area of phonology several mnemonics deal with: (a) ketiv and qere forms, as in mnemonic §35, where the Masorah notes the two occurrences of the form ‫ה ְִכּליּא‬ ִַ that are written with a ‫ י‬but read with a ‫ה ְִכּלוּא( ו‬ ִַ ); or in mnemonic §38 where the

For the pointing of the ‫ ו‬with a ‫ו‬-consecutive see GKC, §49c and §104d, and for the pointing of the ‫ ו‬with a jussive, see §109f and §166a. 4

HEBREW GRAMMAR AS REFLECTED IN THE MNEMONICS

15

Masorah notes the three occurrences of the 1st impf. hiphil forms ‫שׁיב‬ ִ‫א‬ ִָ that are written as qal (‫אשִׁוּב‬ ִָ ).5 (b) forms with and without ‫ ו‬cj., as in mnemonic §29, where the Masorah notes the five occurrences of the adverb ‫ ָל ֵכן‬with the ‫ ו‬cj. (‫ )וְ ָל ֵכן‬to distinguish these forms from the almost two hundred occurrences of the adverb without the ‫ ו‬cj.; or in mnemonic §34 where the Masorah notes the six occurrences of the phrase ִ ‫וְ לֹא‬ ‫ יִָשִׁוּב‬with the ‫ ו‬cj. as opposed to the sixteen cases of the phrase without the ‫ ו‬cj. (c) the effect on vowels with certain accents, as in mnemonics §10 and §44, where the Masorah notes the two occasions when the word ‫ ַמים‬is pointed with a qameṣ when the word has a zaqeph (‫מים‬ ִָ ), whereas in §11 and §45 the Masorah notes the two occurrences of ‫מים‬ ִ ַ pointed with a pathaḥ with an athnaḥ (‫מים‬ ִ ַ ), instead of an expected qameṣ.6 (d) words with specific accents, as in mnemonics §17 and §42, where the four occurrences of the form ‫אַתּם‬ ִ ֶ ְִ‫ ו‬that have the accent gershayim are noted.7 In the area of morphology several mnemonics deal with: (a) the spelling of various forms, as in mnemonic §5, where four occurrences of the form ‫תּן‬ ִָ ִ‫ נ‬with a qameṣ are noticed as opposed to the more numerous occurrences of this form with a pathaḥ (‫תּן‬ ִַ ִ‫ ;)נ‬or in mnemonic §12 where the Masorah notes the four cases of ‫תּם‬ ִָ ְִ‫ַיְדע‬

Another example of this type is in mnemonics §52 and §58 where the Masorah notes the three occurrences of the 3rd masc. impf. hiphil forms (‫ )יָ שׁיב‬which are written as qal (‫)יָ שׁוּב‬. 6 Another example of this type is §66 where the Masorah notes the three occurrences of the form ‫ ְק ָרב‬with a qameṣ vowel under the ‫ר‬, apart from cases with athnaḥ and sof pasuq, to distinguish these forms from those that have a pathaḥ vowel under the ‫ר‬. 7 Another example of this type is mnemonics §50 and §57 where the Masorah notes the four occurrences of ‫ אַ ְ ְֽ֥שׁ ֵרי‬with the accents mercha and ga’ya at the beginning of a verse. 5

16

SCRIBAL WIT

with aqameṣ, that is a 2nd sg. perfect plus 3rd pl. sfx. as opposed to eleven cases of the 2nd pl. form ‫תּם‬ ִֶ ְִ‫ י ְַדע‬with a seghol. (b) differences between phrases, as in mnemonic §2, where the Masorah notes the three occurrences of the phrase ִ ‫וַ יְהי ִאַ ֲח ֵרי‬ )‫אלִֶּה‬ ִֵ ‫ה ְִדּ ָברים ִ( ָה‬ ִַ as opposed to the phrase )‫ה ְִדּ ָברים ִ( ָהאִֵלִֶּה‬ ִַ ִ ‫וַ יְהי ִאַ ַחר‬ that occurs five times; or in mnemonic §20 where the Masorah notes the four occurrences of the phrase ‫ ִַבּלִַּי ְָלה ִהוּא‬without the expected definite article on the pronoun ‫ הוּא‬as opposed to the regular phrase ‫ ִַבּלִַּי ְָלהִ ַההוּא‬that occurs sixteen times; (c) avoiding confusion between two different verbs, as in mnemonic §53, where the Masorah notes the five occurrences of the 3rd pl. jussive form ‫ וְ י ְיראוּ‬with ‫ ו‬cj. of the verb ‫“ ירא‬to fear” that are written plene, that is, with an extra ‫ י‬to distinguish these forms from the three cases in ML when this extra ‫ י‬is not written (‫)וְ י ְראוּ‬, and where confusion with the verb ‫“ ראה‬to see” might be possible. With regard to the form of the noun several mnemonics deal with differences between: (a) absolute and construct forms, as in mnemonic §56, where the Masorah notes the various forms of the construct of ‫גִּו ַרל‬, all of which have a pathaḥ under theִ ‫ר‬, to distinguish them from forms in the absolute that have a qameṣ under the ‫ ;ר‬or in mnemonic §67 where the Masorah notes the seven occurrences of the form ‫כְִּ ֶא ָחד‬ with a qameṣ under the ‫ ח‬as opposed to the twelve occurrences of the construct of this form with a pathaḥ (‫)כְִּאַ ַחד‬.8 (b) definite and indefinite forms, as in mnemonic §21, where the Masorah notes the three raphe occurrences of the form ‫( בִּ ְברית‬that is, with a ḥireq under the first ‫ ב‬and no dagesh in the second ‫)ב‬, to distinguish these forms from the five occurrences of the form ‫בּרית‬ ְִ ‫בּ‬ ִַ with a pathaḥ under the ‫ ב‬and a dagesh in the second ִ‫ ;ב‬or in mnemonic §74 where the opposite observation occurs, as the Masorah notes the four occurrences of the definite form of ‫קּ ָהל‬ ִָ ‫ִַבּ‬ with a pathaḥ under the ‫ ב‬and a dagesh in the ‫ ק‬to distinguish them Other examples of this type are in mnemonics §3 (‫מר‬ ִַ ‫§ ;) ְבּמ ְשׁ‬47 (‫ ;) ַמ ֲענֵ ה‬and §62 (‫) ַמ ֲא ַכל‬. 8

HEBREW GRAMMAR AS REFLECTED IN THE MNEMONICS

17

from forms of the indefinite that have a shewa under the ‫ ב‬and no dagesh in the ‫ק‬. (c) masculine and feminine forms, as in mnemonic §30, where the five occurrences of the masc. adjective ‫שׁה‬ ִֶ ‫ק‬ ִָ , with and without the definite article, are noted to distinguish these forms from the seventeen occurrences of the fem. form ‫שׁה‬ ִָ ‫ק‬ ִָ with and without the definite article. (d) singular and plural, as in mnemonic §39, where the Masorah notes that in the parallel passages of 2 Kgs 25:12 and Jer 52:16 the expression “and of the poor” occurs in the sg. (‫מ ִַדּ ִַלּת‬ ִ ‫ )ִוּ‬in Kings, but in the pl. (‫מ ִַדּלּוֹת‬ ִ ‫ )ִוּ‬in Jeremiah; or in mnemonic §41 where the Masorah notes the three exceptions in the book of Jeremiah when the sg. cstr. form ‫ חִוֹ ַמת‬is used instead of the pl. cstr. form ‫חִוֹמוֹת‬. With regard to the form of the verb several mnemonics deal with differences between: (a) different parts of the verb, as in mnemonic §33, where the Masorah notes the five occurrences of the hiphil infinitive form ‫הבין‬,ָ which has a qameṣ under the ‫ ה‬to distinguish these forms from the three cases of the hiphil 3rd masc. form ‫הבין‬,ֵ which has a ṣere under the ‫ה‬. (b) ‫ ו‬cj. forms and ‫ ו‬consecutive forms, as in mnemonics §40 and §48, where the Masorah notes the three cases where the form ‫וְ יֵ ֵצא‬ is written raphe, that is without a dagesh in the ‫י‬, signifying that the preceding ‫ ו‬is a ‫ ו‬cj. to distinguish these forms from the more than one hundred cases of ‫וִַיִֵּ ֵצא‬, the waw consecutive form that has a dagesh in the ‫י‬. (c) qal and hiphil forms, as in mnemonic §15, where the Masorah notes eight cases of the form ‫ אַ ֲע ֶלה‬a 1st sg. hiphil impf. (with pathaḥs under the first two letters) to distinguish these forms from the eighteen cases of the qal of the 1st sg. impf. ‫( ֶא ֱע ֶלה‬with seghols under the first two letters); or in mnemonic §55, where the Masorah notes the five occurrences of the hiphil 3rd masc. sg. ‫ו‬ consecutive form ‫ ִוִִַָיּ ֶמת‬with a seghol under the ‫ מ‬to distinguish them from the numerous forms of the qal that have a qameṣ or ḥolem with the ‫( מ‬e.g., ‫ וִִַָיּ ָמת‬or ‫)וִִַָיּמֹת‬.

18

SCRIBAL WIT

(d) qal and niphal forms, as in mnemonics §4 and §9, where the Masorah notes the ten occurrences of the qal form ‫אַ ְספוּ‬ ִ ִַ‫ וִַיּ‬as opposed to the niphal form ‫ וִַיִֵּ ָא ְספוּ‬that occurs thirteen times. (e) niphal and piel forms, as in mnemonic §46, where the Masorah notes the thirteen occurrences of the niphal impf. form ‫מּ ֵלט‬ ִָ ‫ ִי‬to distinguish them from the eight forms of the piel impf. form ‫יְמ ִֵלּט‬ ִַ . In the area of syntax there is one mnemonic (§59) that distinguishes between perfect and participle forms. In this mnemonic the Masorah notes the three occurrences of the form ‫הבִָּ ָאה‬ ִַ “who came” with the accent on the ‫ב‬, that is with a mil‘el accent, to distinguish them from forms of ‫הבִָּ ָאה‬ ִַ “who are coming” with the accent on the ‫א‬, that is, with a milra‘ accent. Finally there is a clear grammatical implication in the one sebhirin-type note in mnemonic §26, where the Masorah notes the five times when it is supposed (incorrectly) that ‫מּנּוּ‬ ִֶ ‫מ‬ ִ should be read ‫מּנִָּה‬ ִֶ ‫מ‬ ִ.

CHAPTER 3: IDENTIFICATION OF THE MNEMONICS The pioneer in the identification of Aramaic mnemonics in the Leningrad Codex (ML) was Gérard E. Weil who, in his 1971 ground-breaking book Massorah Gedolah, identified thirty-eight Aramaic mnemonics which he introduced by the phrase ִ ‫בלשׁון‬ ‫“ תרגום‬in the Targum [i.e., Aramaic] language.” Several years ago, in an article entitled “Aramaic Mnemonics in Codex Leningradensis,” I utilized Weil’s findings to describe the nature and use of these Aramaic mnemonics. At that time I thought that Weil’s material represented the complete assemblage of cases of Aramaic mnemonics in the Codex. However, subsequent to the publication of that article, additional mnemonics came to light. Some of these additional mnemonics were the result of omission: they were listed in Weil, but I had inadvertently neglected them; 1 some were the result of reexamining Masorah magna (Mm) notes in ML that I had originally taken as Hebrew; one emerged in the volume on Lamentations by Rolf Schäfer in the Megilloth fascicle of BHQ,2 and yet another came to light in the PhD dissertation work of my student Judy Weiss on the Masorah of JTS 232.3 But the majority of the new cases were discovered after I conducted a systematic examination of all of Weil’s Mm cases that were not published in his Massorah Gedolah. Mnemonics §7 and §36 Schäfer identified mnemonic §64 at Lam 4:8 in his “Notes on the Masorah Magna,” 45*. 3 Judy came across Aramaic mnemonic §19 at Hos 13:12 (see Weiss, “The Masorah,” 294). This note occurs four times in ML but the first time it occurs in Weil at Num 13:8 (§906) it is with Hebrew simanim. On further examination of the repetitions of this masoretic note in M L I found the Aramaic mnemonic at Judg 17:1. 1 2

19

20

SCRIBAL WIT

The reason they were not published in that volume was Weil’s decision not to include repetitions of Mm notes, but only to print a note the first time it occurs.4 In ML there are almost 6000 Mm entries, but in Weil’s volume there are only 4271. Weil omitted the repeated entries because, as he says in his Introduction, they were unnecessary since they were of no immediate benefit to the reader. 5 Nevertheless, he did include a chart at the beginning of his book detailing all the repetitions and indicating where in the Codex they may be found. He also planned to discuss them in vol. 2 of his projected four volume series of the Massorah which, unfortunately owing to his untimely death, never came to fruition. At the time of working on my first article I did not appreciate the importance of these repetitions. But when extra mnemonics started coming to light I realized that these repetitions must contain additional Aramaic mnemonics. Only a systematic examination of all these repetitions would indicate whether or not more mnemonics existed. Thus I undertook to examine each of the almost 2000 repeated Mm entries that were listed in the fifty pages of charts at the beginning of Weil’s book. As a result of examining these duplicated notes I was able to garner twenty-six more Aramaic mnemonics. Eleven of these additional mnemonics turned out to be duplicates of those already identified by Weil,6 but fifteen of them were entirely new. However, the first time that these notes appeared in the Codex they were in the form of Hebrew simanim.7 For example, one of the newly discovered Aramaic mnemonics This approach is radically different from the one Weil took with the Masorah parva notes in BHS, where he not only included every repetition but also added notes where he believed they theoretically belonged even though manuscript did not have a note at that place, belonged a revised and integrated apparatus, see his explanation in “Prolegomena,” xv. 5 Weil, xiv–xvi (Hebrew), xv–xvii (French). 6 Mnemonics §4 [§9], §5 [§73], §10 [§44], §11 [§45], §17 [§42], §18 [§49], §31 [§63], §40 [§48], §50 [§57], §52 [§58], §60 [§64]. 7 The Aramaic mnemonics that occur later in duplicated Masorah notes are: §15, §19, §20, §24, §27, §32, §51, §53, §54, §55, §59, §60, §61, §64, §71. 4

THE CORPUS OF THE ARAMAIC MNEMONICS IN ML

21

(§20) is on the lemma ‫ ִַבּלִַּיְ ָלה ִהוּא‬. In his Massorah Gedolah (§217) Weil does list this lemma the first time it occurs in the Codex at Gen 30:16 (on fol. 18r). But the Masoretic note on ‫ ִַבּלִַּי ְָלה ִהוּא‬at Gen 30:16 only consists of Hebrew simanim. It is not till its next occurrence in the Codex at 1 Sam 19:10 (on fol.161r) that the Aramaic mnemonic appears. Another example, is mnemonic §55 on the lemma ‫וִִַָיּ ֶמת‬. The first time the note occurs at Gen 38:10 (on fol. 23v) is only with Hebrew simanim, and this is the form of the note that is included in Weil’s volume (Weil, §283). This note is repeated three more times in the Codex, twice again with Hebrew simanim at 1 Sam 22:18 (on fol. 163r), and at 2 Sam 14:6 (on fol. 176r). But at its third repetition (that is the fourth time it occurs) at Ps 105:29 (on fol. 388r) the note appears as an Aramaic mnemonic. In addition to these fifteen mnemonics occurring in later repetitions I have been able to utilize the new facsimile of the Codex8 with its improved readings, to identify eight new Aramaic mnemonics in the Mm notes which Weil did not recognize.9 When all these new findings (the omitted Weil entries, the mnemonics found in the repeated Masoretic notes, and the new readings) are taken into consideration, the total number of Aramaic mnemonics discovered to date is seventy-four. These seventy-four mnemonics are the subject of this book, and each will be will be analyzed in detail in the corpus commencing in the next chapter.

Freedman et al. The Leningrad Codex. Mnemonics §3 (Weil, §292), §13 (Weil §1213), §14 (Weil §1341), §35 (Weil §2195), §38 (Weil §2736), §41 (Weil §2893), §43 (Weil, §2995), §66 (§3851). 8 9

CHAPTER 4: THE CORPUS OF THE ARAMAIC MNEMONICS IN ML In this chapter the seventy-four mnemonics that occur in ML will be will be analyzed in detail. The analysis will present each mnemonic in linear form alongside its corresponding Hebrew verses. The focus of the note, the lemma, will be highlighted in a bold, larger font. Every correspondence of an Aramaic form with its Hebrew equivalent will be placed on the appropriate matching line and highlighted in shaded grey. Here is a sample page that illustrates the layout of the individual mnemonic entries.

23

24

SCRIBAL WIT

SAMPLE ILLUSTRATING THE FEATURES OF THE LAYOUT

Aramaic Mnemonic §11 Gen 4:122

3

ִ‫תּ ֵֹסףִג‬4

ִ‫ִחילהִדמילתא‬ 5 ‫רוחא‬ “the spirit is the power of the word”

Gen 4:126

ִ7 ‫ת־ה ֲא ָד ָמהִלֹא־ת ֵֹסף‬ ָ ‫כּיִ ַת ֲעבֹדִ ֶא‬ :‫יֶהִב ָא ֶרץ‬ ָ ‫ִלְךִנָ עִוָ נָ דִתּ ְה‬ ָ 8 ‫ֵתּת־כּ ָֹחהּ‬

9

‫חילה‬

power Each mnemonic in the corpus is numbered. This is mnemonic number §1. 2 This verse reference indicates exactly where in the Leningrad Codex the mnemonic occurs. It is always footnoted by the folio reference (in this case fol. 3r), and where this lemma is to be found in the standard work on Masoretic notes, that of Weil’s Massorah Gedolah, indicated in this case as Weil, §30. This note also specifies in which other manuscripts (such as The Cairo Codex [MC], The Aleppo Codex [MA] etc.) or printed editions (such as Miqra’ot Gedolot, Ochlah weOchlah, or Ginsberg’s Massorah) this mnemonic occurs. 3 This note indicates the purpose of the Masoretic note. In this case the Masorah notes the three occurrences of the form ‫ תּ ֵֹסף‬that have a ṣere vowel under the ‫ס‬. 4 This is the lemma, the word or phrase that is the basis of the Masoretic note. It is highlighted in bold font. 5 This is the Aramaic mnemonic listed as it appears in the manuscript together with a translation. It is highlighted in bold shaded grey. 6 This column indicates the biblical verses where the lemma occurs. In the case of this lemma (‫ )תּ ֵֹסף‬there are three occurrences (Gen 4:12; Deut 13:1; Ps 104:29). If a lemma also has Hebrew simanim they are mentioned at the appropriate verse. The locations of the simanim are indicated, and the Masoretic note containing the simanim are given and translated. 1

THE CORPUS OF THE ARAMAIC MNEMONICS IN ML

25

Each verse is given in the second column in its entirety completely vocalized with the lemma highlighted in bold font. 8 This is the connecting Hebrew word to the catchword of the mnemonic. It is highlighted in bold shaded grey. 9 All the catchwords of the mnemonic are highlighted in bold shaded grey and are translated. They are placed on the same line as the connecting Hebrew word in the biblical verse. In this case the catchword ‫“ חילה‬power” has been placed on the same line as its Hebrew equivalent ‫“ כּ ָֹחהּ‬its power.” Variants to catchwords in other sources are noted in this section as, on occasion, are different translations in the Targums. 7

26

SCRIBAL WIT

Aramaic Mnemonic §1 Gen 4:121

2

ִ‫תּ ֵֹסףִג‬

ִ‫ִחילהִדמילתא‬ ‫רוחא‬ “the spirit is the power of the word”

Gen 4:12

ִ‫ת־ה ֲא ָד ָמהִלֹא־ת ֵֹסף‬ ָ ‫יִת ֲעבֹדִ ֶא‬ ַ ‫כּ‬ :‫יֶהִב ָא ֶרץ‬ ָ ‫הִּלְךִנָ עִוָ נָ דִתּ ְה‬ ָ ‫ֵתּת־כּ ָֹח‬

‫חילה‬ power

Deut 13:13

Ps 104:29

ִ‫יִמ ַצוֶּ ה‬ ְ ‫רִאנֹכ‬ ָ ‫רִא ֶשׁ‬ ֲ ‫ל־ה ָדּ ָב‬ ַ ‫תִכּ‬ ָ ‫ֵא‬ ִ‫רוִּל ֲעשׂוֹתִלֹא־ת ֵֹסף‬ ַ ‫ֶא ְת ֶכםִאֹתוִֹת ְשׁ ְמ‬ :‫ָע ָליוִוְ לֹאִתגְ ַרעִמ ֶמּנּוּ‬ ִ‫ִרוּחםִיגְ וָ עוּן‬ ָ ‫ירִפּנֶ יָךִי ָבּ ֵהלוּןִתּ ֵֹסף‬ ָ ‫ַתּ ְסתּ‬ :‫ל־ע ָפ ָרםִיְ שׁוּבוּן‬ ֲ ‫וְ ֶא‬

4

‫דמילתא‬

of the word

‫רוחא‬ spirit

Fol. 3r, Weil, §30. This mnemonic also occurs in M M1 at Gen 4:12; and is listed in Frensdorff, Ochlah, 173, §4; and in Ginsburg, 1, ‫י‬, §432. 2 The Masorah notes the three occurrences of the form ‫ תּ ֵֹסף‬that have a ṣere vowel under the ‫ס‬. Two of the occurrences (Gen 4:12; Deut 13:1) are 2nd masc. sg. hiphil shortened forms from the root ‫יסף‬, whereas the third (Ps 104:29) is a 3rd fem. sg. qal form from the root ‫( אסף‬for ‫תאסף‬ ֵ ). The three forms of ‫ תּ ֵֹסף‬are distinguished from the two other forms of ‫ תֹּסף‬with different vowels under the ‫( ס‬e.g. ‫ תּ ֶֹסף‬and ‫)תֹּסף‬, and from the six various forms of ‫ תֹּסף‬written plene with a ‫)תּוֹסף( ו‬. 3 The Hebrew simanim are given on fol. 107v at Deut 13:1. The Mm note there reads: ‫ לא תסף‬. ‫תסף ג כי תעבד את האדמה לא תסף תת כחח לך‬ ‫ תסף רוחם יגועון‬. ‫“ עליו ולא תגרע ממנו‬there are three occurrences of ‫תּ ֵֹסף‬: Gen 4:12; Deut 13:1; Ps 104:29.” 4 Targums Onqelos, Neofiti, and PsJonathan translate with ‫פתגמא‬. 1

THE CORPUS OF THE ARAMAIC MNEMONICS IN ML

27

Aramaic Mnemonic §2 Gen 22:201

2

ִ‫יִאַח ֵריִ ַה ְדּ ָבריםִג‬ ֲ ‫וַ ְיה‬

ִ‫אתילד‬ ‫ואתבאשִומית‬ “he was born, and he became ill, and he died.”

Gen 22:20

Gen 48:14

Josh 24:29

ִ‫יִה ְדּ ָבריםִ ָה ֵא ֶלּהִוַ יֻּ גַּ ד‬ ַ ‫יִאַח ֵר‬ ֲ ‫וַ ְיה‬ ִ‫םִלאמֹרִהנֵּ הִיָ ְל ָדהִמ ְל ָכּה‬ ֵ ‫אַב ָר ָה‬ ְ ‫ְל‬ :‫חוֹרִאחיָך‬ ָ ָ‫יםִלנ‬ ְ ‫ואִבּנ‬ ָ ‫גַ ם־ה‬ ִ‫אמר‬ ֶ ֹ ‫יִה ְדּ ָבריםִ ָה ֵאלִֶּהִוַ יּ‬ ַ ‫יִאַח ֵר‬ ֲ ‫וַ ְיה‬ ִ‫ת־שׁנֵ י‬ ְ ‫חִא‬ ֶ ‫הִאביָךִח ֶֹלהִוַ יּ ַקּ‬ ָ ֵ‫יוֹסףִהנּ‬ ֵ ‫ְל‬ :‫ת־א ְפ ָרים‬ ֶ ‫ת־מנַ ֶשּׁהִוְ ֶא‬ ְ ‫מּוִֹא‬ ֶ ‫ָבנָ יוִע‬ ִ‫יָּמת‬ ָ ַ‫ִה ֵא ֶלּהִו‬ ָ ‫יִה ְדּ ָברים‬ ַ ‫יִאַח ֵר‬ ֲ ‫וַ ְיה‬ ִ‫ן־מ ָאה‬ ֵ ‫הִבּ‬ ֶ ָ‫ן־נוּןִע ֶבדִיְהו‬ ֶ ‫יְהוֹשׁ ַעִבּ‬ ֻ :‫רִשׁנים‬ ָ ‫וָ ֶע ֶשׂ‬

3

‫אתילד‬

he was born 5‫ִואתבאש‬

and he became ill

‫ומית‬ and he died

Fol. 12r, Weil, §154. This mnemonic occurs in MC at Josh 24:29; in at Gen 48:1; and is listed in Ognibeni, ’Oklah, §18L and Ginsburg 1, ‫ה‬, §176. 2 The Masorah notes the three occurrences of the phrase ‫אַח ֵרי‬ ֲ ‫וַ יְ הי‬ )‫ ַה ְדּ ָברים ( ָה ֵאלֶּ ה‬as opposed to the phrase )‫אַחר ַה ְדּ ָברים ( ָה ֵא ֶלּה‬ ַ ‫ וִַיְ הי‬that occurs five times. 3 In the version found in Ognibeni the form ‫ ילדה‬occurs. This form appears to be a Hebraism repeating the form found in the Genesis verse. 4 The Hebrew simanim are given on fol. 30r at Gen 48:1. The Mm note there reads: ‫ וימת‬. ‫ ויאמר ליוסף‬. ‫ויהי אחרי הדברים ג ויגד לאברהם‬ ‫“ יהושע בן נון‬there are three occurrences of ‫אַח ֵרי ַה ְדּ ָברים‬ ֲ ‫וַ יְ הי‬: Gen 22:20; 48:1; Josh 24:29.” 5 Targums Neofiti and Genizah (mss. D & Z) translate with forms from the same root ‫בישׁ‬/‫ באישׁ‬whereas Targums Onqelos and Ps-Jonathan translate with ‫מרע‬, the same root that is found in the variant of the mnemonic in Ginsburg (‫)ואתמרע‬. 1

MS5

28

SCRIBAL WIT

Aramaic Mnemonic §3 Gen 40:31

2

‫פת‬ ִ ִ‫ְבּמ ְשׁ ַמרִג‬

‫פרעהִשאלִויהב‬ “Pharaoh asked and gave”

Gen 41:10

Gen 40:7

Gen 40:3

ִ‫ל־ע ָב ָדיוִוַ יּ ֵתּןִאֹתי‬ ֲ ‫ףִע‬ ַ ‫ֹהִק ַצ‬ ָ ‫ַפּ ְרע‬ ‫רִה ַטּ ָבּחיםִאֹתי‬ ַ ‫יתִשׂ‬ ַ ‫ְבּמ ְשׁ ַמרִ ֵבּ‬ :‫רִהאֹפים‬ ָ ‫תִשׂ‬ ַ ‫ִוְ ֵא‬

‫פרעה‬ Pharaoh

ִ‫ֹהִאשִֶׁרִאתּוֹ‬ ֲ ‫יִפ ְרע‬ ַ ‫יס‬ ֵ ‫ת־סר‬ ְ ‫אַלִא‬ ֶ ‫וַ יּ ְשׁ‬ ‫יוִלאמֹר‬ ֵ ָ‫יתִאד ֹנ‬ ֲ ‫ְבמ ְשׁ ַמרִ ֵבּ‬ :‫יםִהיּוֹם‬ ַ ‫םִרע‬ ָ ‫יכ‬ ֶ ֵ‫ִפּנ‬ ְ ‫דּוּע‬ ַ ‫ִ ַמ‬

‫שאל‬ asked

‫יתִשׂר‬ ַ ‫ִבּ‬ ֵ ‫וַ יּ ֵתּןִא ָֹתםִ ְבּמ ְשׁ ַמר‬ ‫רִמקוֹם‬ ְ ‫יתִהסּ ַֹה‬ ַ ‫ל־בּ‬ ֵ ‫יםִא‬ ֶ ‫ַה ַט ָבּח‬ :‫סוּרִשׁם‬ ָ ‫ףִא‬ ָ ‫רִיוֹס‬ ֵ ‫ִ ֲא ֶשׁ‬

and gave

‫ויהב‬

Fol. 24v, Weil, §292. The Masorah notes the three occurrences of the form ‫ ְבּמ ְשׁ ָמר‬with a pathaḥ under the ‫ מ‬to distinguish these forms from the sole occurrence of this form with a qameṣ (‫) ְבּמ ְשׁ ָמר‬. 1 2

THE CORPUS OF THE ARAMAIC MNEMONICS IN ML

29

Aramaic Mnemonic §4 Exod 4:291

2

ִ‫אַספוִּי‬ ְ ‫וַ ַיּ‬

ִ‫ִִסבייאִשלוי‬ ִ‫שלחוִִפלשתייא‬ ִ‫גרמויִדמלכא‬ ִ‫ולאחיהוןִחמרא‬ ‫וכספא‬ “the elders sent quail, the Philistines (sent) the bones of the king, and wine and silver to their brothers”

Exod 4:29

ִ‫אַספוּ‬ ְ ‫אַהר ֹןִוַ ַיּ‬ ֲ ְ‫וַ יֵּ ֶלְךִמ ֶֹשׁהִו‬ :‫יִבּנֵ יִי ְשׂ ָר ֵאל‬ ְ ֵ‫ת־כּל־ִז ְקנ‬ ָ ‫ֶא‬

‫סבייא‬ the elders

Num 11:32

ִ‫יּוֹםִההוּא‬ ַ ‫ל־ה‬ ַ ‫םִכּ‬ ָ ‫םִה ָע‬ ָ ‫וַ יָּ ָק‬ ִ‫יוֹםִה ָמּ ֳח ָרת‬ ַ |ִ‫ל־ה ַלּיְ ָלהִוְ כֹל‬ ַ ‫וְ ָכ‬ ִ‫יטִא ַסף‬ ָ ‫וִה ַמּ ְמע‬ ַ ‫ת־ה ְשּׂ ָל‬ ַ ‫ִא‬ ֶ ‫אַספוּ‬ ְ ‫וַ ַיּ‬ ִ‫טוֹח‬ ַ ‫םִשׁ‬ ָ ‫חוִּל ֶה‬ ָ ‫הִח ָמריםִוַ יּ ְשׁ ְט‬ ֳ ‫ֲע ָשׂ ָר‬ :‫יבוֹתִה ַמּ ֲחנֶ ה‬ ַ ‫ְסב‬

‫שלוי‬ quail

Fol. 33v, Weil, §399. This mnemonic recurs on fol. 82r at Num 11:32, see mnemonic §9; it occurs in MC at Jer 40:12; in MA at 1 Sam 17:1; in MS5 at Num 11:25; in MM1 at Num 11:32; in Miqra’ot Gedolot in the Mf sub ‫אס‬, and in the Mm at Num 11:32; 1 Sam 5:11; and 17:1; it is listed in Ognibeni,’Oklah, §232, and in Ginsburg 1, ‫א‬, §1001. 2 The Masorah notes the ten occurrences of the qal form ‫אַספוּ‬ ְ ַ‫ וַ יּ‬as opposed to the niphal form ‫ וַ יֵּ ָא ְספוּ‬that occurs thirteen times. 1

‫‪SCRIBAL WIT‬‬

‫ִשלחו‪3‬‬

‫‪they sent‬‬

‫פלשתייא‬ ‫‪Philistines‬‬

‫ל־ס ְרנֵ יִ‬ ‫ת־כּ ַ‬ ‫אַספוִּ ֶא ָ‬ ‫וַ יּ ְשׁ ְלחוִּוַ ַיּ ְ‬ ‫אמרוִּ‬ ‫יהםִוַ יּ ֹ ְ‬ ‫יםִאלִֵ ֶ‬ ‫ְפל ְשׁתּ ֲ‬ ‫ֹלהיִי ְשׂ ָר ֵאלִ‬ ‫רוֹןִא ֵ‬ ‫ֱ‬ ‫הִל ֲא‬ ‫ַמה־נַּ ֲע ֶשׂ ַ‬ ‫ֹלהיִי ְשׂ ָר ֵאלִ‬ ‫רוֹןִא ֵ‬ ‫ֱ‬ ‫ֹבִא‬ ‫אמרוִּגַּ תִיסּ ֲ‬ ‫וַ יּ ֹ ְ‬ ‫ֹלהיִי ְשׂ ָר ֵאל‪:‬‬ ‫רוֹןִא ֵ‬ ‫ֱ‬ ‫ת־א‬ ‫בּוִּא ֲ‬ ‫יַּסּ ֶ‬ ‫וַ ֵ‬

‫‪30‬‬

‫‪1 Sam 5:8‬‬

‫ל־ס ְרנֵ יִ‬ ‫ת־כּ ַ‬ ‫אַספוִּ ֶא ָ‬ ‫וַ יּ ְשׁ ְלחוִּוַ ַיּ ְ‬ ‫ת־ארוֹןִ‬ ‫חוִּא ֲ‬ ‫רוִּשׁ ְלּ ֶ‬ ‫אמ ַ‬ ‫ְפל ְשׁתּיםִוַ יּ ֹ ְ‬ ‫ֹלהיִיִ ְשׂ ָר ֵאלִוְ יָ שׁ ֹבִל ְמקֹמוִֹ‬ ‫ֱא ֵ‬ ‫יְתהִ‬ ‫י־ה ָ‬ ‫ת־עמּיִכּ ָ‬ ‫וְ לֹא־יָמיתִאֹתיִוְ ֶא ַ‬ ‫ירִכּ ְב ָדהִ‬ ‫ל־הע ָ‬ ‫תִבּ ָכ ָ‬ ‫ת־מוֶ ְ‬ ‫הוּמ ָ‬ ‫ְמ ַ‬ ‫יםִשׁם‪:‬‬ ‫דִה ֱאֹלה ָ‬ ‫ְמאֹדִיַ ָ‬

‫‪1 Sam 5:11‬‬

‫יהםִ‬ ‫ת־מ ֲחנֵ ֶ‬ ‫יםִא ַ‬ ‫אַספוִּ ְפל ְשׁתּ ֶ‬ ‫וַ ַיּ ְ‬ ‫ֹהִא ֶשׁרִ‬ ‫יֵּא ְספוִּשֹׂכ ֲ‬ ‫ַלמּלְ ָח ָמהִוַ ָ‬ ‫קה‬ ‫ין־עזֵ ִָ‬ ‫ֹהִוּב ֲ‬ ‫נוִּבּין־שׂוֹכ ֵ‬ ‫יהוּדהִוַ יַּ ֲח ֵ‬ ‫ל ָ‬ ‫סִדּמּים‪:‬‬ ‫ִ ְבּ ֶא ֶפ ַ‬

‫‪1 Sam 17:1‬‬

‫מוֹתִשׁאוּלִוְ ֶאת־ִ ‪2 Sam 21:13‬‬ ‫ָ‬ ‫תִע ְצ‬ ‫םִא ַ‬ ‫וַ יַּ ַעלִמ ָשּׁ ֶ‬

‫אַספוּ‬ ‫ןִבּנוִֹוַ ַיּ ְ‬ ‫ַע ְצמוֹתִיְהוֹנָ ָת ְ‬ ‫גרמוי‬

‫מּוּקעים‪:‬‬ ‫מוֹתִה ָ‬ ‫ַ‬ ‫ִע ְצ‬ ‫ִאת־ ַ‬ ‫ֶ‬

‫‪his bones‬‬ ‫‪of the king‬‬

‫אַספוִּ ֵאלָ יו‬ ‫חִה ֶמּ ֶלְךִוַ ַיּ ְ‬ ‫וַ יּ ְשׁ ַל ַ‬ ‫ירוּשׁ ָלם‪:‬‬ ‫יִיְהוּדהִו ָ‬ ‫ָ‬ ‫ִ ָכּל־ז ְקנֵ‬

‫‪and to their‬‬ ‫‪brothers‬‬

‫יהםִוַ יּ ְת ַק ְדּשׁוִּ‬ ‫ת־א ֵח ֶ‬ ‫אַספוִּ ֶא ֲ‬ ‫וַ ַיּ ְ‬ ‫ְךִבּד ְב ֵריִיְהוָ ה‬ ‫ת־ה ֶמּ ֶל ְ‬ ‫ֹאוִּכמ ְצוַ ַ‬ ‫וַ יָּ ב ְ‬ ‫רִבּיתִיְהוָ ה‪:‬‬ ‫ִ ְל ַט ֵה ֵ‬

‫דמלכא‬ ‫ולאחיהון‬

‫‪2 Kgs 23:1‬‬ ‫‪2 Chr 29:15‬‬

‫‪This catchword is doing double duty for the 1 Sam 5:8 and 5:11‬‬ ‫שלחו ‪. The second‬וַ יּ ְשׁ ְלחוּ ‪references, both of which have the catchword‬‬ ‫‪appears in the form of the mnemonic that occurs in ML in Num 11:32‬‬ ‫‪(mnemonic §9), and in all its other attestations that are listed in n. 1 of the‬‬ ‫‪previous page.‬‬ ‫‪3‬‬

THE CORPUS OF THE ARAMAIC MNEMONICS IN ML

Jer 40:12

2 Chr 24:11

ִ‫ל־ה ְמּקֹמוֹת‬ ַ ‫ל־היְּהוּדיםִמ ָכּ‬ ַ ‫בוִּכ‬ ָ ‫וַ יָּ ֻשׁ‬ ִ‫ץ־ִיְהוּדה‬ ָ ‫ֹאוִּא ֶר‬ ֶ ‫חוּ־שׁםִוַ יָּ ב‬ ָ ‫ֲא ֶשׁרִנ ְדּ‬ ‫אַספוִּיַין‬ ְ ‫יָהוִּהמּ ְצ ָפּ ָתהִוַ ַיּ‬ ַ ‫ֶאל־גְּ ַד ְל‬ :‫הִמאֹד‬ ְ ‫ץִה ְר ֵבּ‬ ַ ‫ִוָ ַקי‬ ִ‫רוֹןִאל‬ ֶ ‫ת־ה ָא‬ ָ ‫יאִא‬ ֶ ‫יִבּ ֵעתִיָב‬ ְ ‫וַ יְה‬ ִ‫אוֹתם‬ ָ ‫דִה ְלויּםִוְ כ ְר‬ ַ ַ‫ְךִבּי‬ ְ ‫תִה ֶמּ ֶל‬ ַ ‫ְפּ ֻק ַדּ‬ ִ‫רִה ֶמּ ֶלְך‬ ַ ‫אִסוֹפ‬ ֵ ‫ףִוּב‬ ָ ‫בִה ֶכּ ֶס‬ ַ ‫י־ר‬ ַ ‫כּ‬ ִ‫יערוּ‬ ָ ‫ןִהרֹאשִׁו‬ ָ ‫וּפקידִכּ ֵֹה‬ ְ ִ‫יבהוּ‬ ֻ ‫אהוִּוישׁ‬ ִֻ ‫ת־ה ָארוֹןִוְ י ָשּׂ‬ ָ ‫ֶא‬ ִ‫שׂוִּליוֹםִ| ְבּיוֹם‬ ְ ‫ֹהִע‬ ָ ‫ל־מקֹמוִֹכּ‬ ְ ‫ֶא‬ :‫ףִלר ֹב‬ ָ ‫־כ ֶס‬ ֶ ‫אַספוּ‬ ְ ‫וַ ַיּ‬

4

31

‫חמרא‬ wine

5

‫ִוכספא‬

and silver

The variant in Ognibeni reads ‫“ ודהבא‬and gold,” probably due to assimilation to the common biblical pair of ‫“ זָ ָהב וָ ֶכ ֶסף‬gold and silver.” But there is no connecting word for ‫ דהבא‬in the verse. 5 In the versions of the mnemonic in Miqra’ot Gedolot in the Mf and at 1 Sam 17:1, in Ognibeni, and in Ginsburg the pair is reversed (‫כספא‬ ‫)וחמרא‬. 4

‫‪32‬‬

‫‪SCRIBAL WIT‬‬

‫‪Aramaic Mnemonic §5‬‬ ‫עבדייאִ‬ ‫דישראלִ‬ ‫הימניןִקטילין‬

‫נ ָתּןִדִ קמצִ‬

‫‪2‬‬

‫‪Exod 5:161‬‬

‫‪“the faithful‬‬ ‫‪servants of‬‬ ‫‪Israel are‬‬ ‫”‪killed‬‬

‫עבדייא‬ ‫‪the servants‬‬

‫דישראל‬ ‫‪of Israel‬‬

‫הימנין‬

‫ןִאיןִנ ָתּןִ ַל ֲע ָבדִֶיָךִוּלְ ֵבניםִא ְֹמריםִ‬ ‫ֶתּ ֶב ֵ‬ ‫יָךִמכּיםִוְ ָח ָטאתִ‬ ‫הִע ָב ֶד ֻ‬ ‫נוִּעשׂוִּוְ הנֵּ ֲ‬ ‫ָל ֲ‬ ‫ַע ֶמָּך‪:‬‬ ‫ְךִא ָרםִ‬ ‫דִמ ֶל ֲ‬ ‫יוִבּיַ ֶ‬ ‫ֹלה ְ‬ ‫הִא ָ‬ ‫וַ יּ ְתּנֵ הוִּיְהוָ ֱ‬ ‫דוֹלהִ‬ ‫וַ יַּכּוּ־בוִֹוַ יּ ְשׁבּוִּמ ֶמּנּוִּשׁ ְביָהִגְ ָ‬ ‫ד־מ ֶלְךִי ְשׂ ָר ֵאלִ‬ ‫םִבּיַ ֶ‬ ‫יאוִּדּ ְר ָמ ֶשׂקִוְ גַ ְ‬ ‫ַ‬ ‫וַ יָּב‬ ‫דוֹלה‪:‬‬ ‫ְך־בּוִֹמ ָכּהִגְ ָ‬ ‫ַ‬ ‫נ ָתּןִוַ יִַּ‬ ‫דוֹתִס ָלעיםִ‬ ‫ְ‬ ‫ֹןִמ ָצ‬ ‫הוּאִמרוֹמיםִי ְשׁכּ ְ‬ ‫ְ‬ ‫ימיוִנֶ ֱא ָמנים‪:‬‬ ‫בּוִֹל ְחמוִֹנ ָתּןִ ֵמ ָ‬ ‫מ ְשׂגַּ ַ‬

‫‪Exod 5:16‬‬

‫‪2 Chr 28:5‬‬

‫‪Isa 33:16‬‬

‫‪faithful‬‬

‫קטילין‬

‫בִלהִּ‬ ‫תוְֹךִח ָלליםִנָ ְתנוִּמ ְשׁ ָכּ ָ‬ ‫ֲ‬ ‫ְבּ‬ ‫ִכּ ָלּםִ‬ ‫יבוֹתיוִק ְבר ֶֹת ָה ֻ‬ ‫הִּסב ָ‬ ‫ל־המוֹנָ ְ‬ ‫ְבּ ָכ ֲ‬ ‫יתםִ‬ ‫־ח ֶרבִכּי־נ ַתּןִחתּ ָ‬ ‫יםִחלְ ֵלי ֶ‬ ‫ֲע ֵרל ַ‬ ‫ת־יוֹר ֵדיִ‬ ‫םִא ְ‬ ‫ץִחיּיםִוַ יּ ְשׂאוִּכְ ל ָמּ ָת ֶ‬ ‫ְבּ ֶא ֶר ַ‬ ‫תוְֹךִח ָלליםִנ ָתּן‪:‬‬ ‫ֲ‬ ‫בוֹרִבּ‬ ‫ְ‬

‫‪Ezek 32:25‬‬

‫‪are killed‬‬

‫‪Fol. 34r, Weil, §403. This mnemonic recurs on fol. 359r at 2 Chr‬‬ ‫‪28:5, see mnemonic §73; it occurs in MC at Isa 33:16 and Ezek 32:25; and‬‬ ‫‪, §506.‬נ ‪it is listed in Ginsburg 2,‬‬ ‫‪2 The Masorah notes the four occurrences of this form with a qameṣ‬‬ ‫‪).‬נ ַתּן( ‪as opposed to the more numerous occurrences with a pathaḥ‬‬ ‫‪1‬‬

THE CORPUS OF THE ARAMAIC MNEMONICS IN ML

33

Aramaic Mnemonic §6 Lev 3:91

2

ִ‫ת־ה ֵחלֶ בִה‬ ַ ‫וְ ֶא‬

ִ‫קרבִגוברא‬ ִ‫לישראלִבכורה‬ ִ‫דתירא‬ “the man brought near the first born of the ox to Israel”

Lev 3:9

Exod 29:22

Lev 7:3

ִ‫חִה ְשּׁ ָלמיםִא ֶשּׁה‬ ַ ‫וְ ה ְקריבִמזֶּ ַב‬ ִ‫הִל ֻע ַמּת‬ ְ ‫ימ‬ ָ ‫יָהִתמ‬ ְ ‫אַל‬ ְ ‫בּוִֹה‬ ָ ‫הִח ְל‬ ֶ ָ‫ַליהו‬ ִ‫ת־ה ֵחלֶ בִ ַה ְמ ַכ ֶסּה‬ ַ ‫ֶה ָע ֶצהִיְ ס ֶירנָּ הִוְ ֶא‬ ִ‫בִא ֶשׁר‬ ֲ ‫ל־ה ֵח ֶל‬ ַ ‫תִכּ‬ ָ ‫ת־ִה ֶקּ ֶרבִוְ ֵא‬ ַ ‫ֶא‬ :‫ל־ה ֶקּ ֶרב‬ ַ ‫ַע‬ ִ‫לִה ֵח ֶלבִוְ ָהאַלְִיָה‬ ַ ‫ן־האַי‬ ָ ‫וְ ָל ַק ְח ָתִּמ‬ ִ‫ת־ה ֶקּ ֶרב‬ ַ ‫הִא‬ ֶ ‫ת־ה ֵחלֶ בִ| ַה ְמ ַכ ֶסּ‬ ַ ‫וְ ֶא‬ ִ‫תִה ָכּ ֵבדִוְ ֵאתִ| ְשׁ ֵתּי‬ ַ ‫וְ ֵאתִי ֶֹת ֶר‬ ִ‫רִע ֵל ֶהןִוְ ֵאת‬ ֲ ‫בִא ֶשׁ‬ ֲ ‫ת־ה ֵח ֶל‬ ַ ‫ַה ְכּ ָלי ֹתִוְ ֶא‬ :‫יִאילִמ ֻלּאיםִהוּא‬ ֵ ‫שׁוֹקִהיָּמיןִכּ‬ ַ ִ‫נּוִּאת‬ ֵ ‫ל־ח ְלבּוִֹיַ ְקריבִמ ֶמּ‬ ֶ ‫תִכּ‬ ָ ‫וְ ֵא‬ ִ‫ת־ה ֵחלֶ בִ ַה ְמכַ ֶסּה‬ ַ ‫אַליָהִוְ ֶא‬ ְ ‫ָה‬ :‫ֶאת־ ַה ֶקּ ֶרב‬

‫קרב‬ he brought near

‫גוברא‬ the man

‫לישראל‬ to Israel

Fol. 57v, Weil, §669. Apart from one catchword (‫“ קרב‬he brought near”) that corresponds with Hebrew ‫( והקריב‬Lev 3:9), there are no correspondences for the other Aramaic catchwords with these verses. Thus it is most likely that the mnemonic has been misplaced, and that it should apply to a different lemma that also occurs five times. However, the identity of that lemma is unknown. 2 The Masorah notes the five occurrences of the phrase ‫ת־ה ֵחלֶ ב‬ ַ ‫וְ ֶא‬, apart from cases when it is preceded by ‫תִשׁ ֵתּי ַה ְכּ ָליֹת‬ ְ ‫( וְ ֵא‬Exod 29:13; 29:22 [second occurrence]; Lev 3:4; 3:10; 3:15; 4:9; 7:4), to distinguish these occurrences from the eight cases of the phrase without ‫ ו‬cj. (‫ת־ה ֵח ֶלב‬ ַ ‫) ֶא‬. 1

‫‪SCRIBAL WIT‬‬

‫בכורה‬ ‫‪its first born‬‬

‫דתירא‬ ‫‪of the ox‬‬

‫םִה ְשּׁ ָלמים‬ ‫ת־דּ ַ‬ ‫יבִא ַ‬ ‫ַה ַמּ ְקר ֶ‬ ‫נֵיִאַהר ֹןִלוֹ‬ ‫ֲ‬ ‫ת־ה ֵחלֶ בִמ ְבּ‬ ‫וְ ֶא ַ‬ ‫יןִל ָמנָ ה‪:‬‬ ‫יֶהִשׁוֹקִהיָּמ ְ‬ ‫ַ‬ ‫ִת ְה‬ ‫ת־ה ְכּ ָלי ֹתִ‬ ‫ת־ה ֵחלֶ בִוְ ֶא ַ‬ ‫וְ ֶא ַ‬ ‫ן־ה ַח ָטּאתִ‬ ‫ן־ה ָכּ ֵבדִמ ַ‬ ‫ת־היּ ֶֹת ֶרתִמ ַ‬ ‫וְ ֶא ַ‬ ‫א ֶשׁרִצוָּ הִיְהוָ הִ‬ ‫הִכּ ֲִ‬ ‫ירִהמּזְ ֵבּ ָח ַ‬ ‫ה ְקט ַ‬ ‫ֶאת־מ ֶֹשׁה‪:‬‬

‫‪34‬‬

‫‪Lev 7:33‬‬

‫‪Lev 9:10‬‬

THE CORPUS OF THE ARAMAIC MNEMONICS IN ML

35

Aramaic Mnemonic §7 Lev 23:121

ִ‫א זוגיןִמטעִ בטעִ חדִזקף‬ ִ‫י‬ 2 ‫לרומהִוחדִנחתִלתהומא‬

ִ‫שמואלִעבד‬ ִ‫אורייתאִדויד‬ ִ‫מנהוןִבמייא‬ ִ‫קטליןִלרגזא‬ ִ‫משהִמלל‬ ‫בגלותא‬ “Samuel performed the law of David; some of them kill in water; Moses angrily spoke in exile”

Fol. 70r. Weil, §794. This mnemonic occurs here in M S5, in MM1, in Miqra’ot Gedolot in the Mf sub ‫טע‬, and in the Mm at Exod 6:9; Zech 10:4; and 1 Chr 18:1. Hebrew simanim accompany the mnemonic in MM1 at Lev 23:12, and in Miqra’ot Gedolot at Exod 6:9 and 1 Chr 18:1. Unfortunately, there is no correlation between the number of Hebrew simanim and the number of elements (eleven) in the mnemonic. Different numbers and different simanim are given in the various lists. In MM1 at Lev 23:12 only seven Hebrew pairs of simanim accompany the Aramaic mnemonic whereas in Miqra’ot Gedolot in the Mf sub ‫ טע‬there are thirteen; in the Mm at 1 Chr 18:1 there are fourteen, and in the Mm at Exod 6:8 there are sixteen. Frensdorff is no doubt correct in seeing the number (eleven) given in the Aramaic mnemonic as being original, the others being later expansions (Masorah Magnah, 357). 2 The Masorah notes the eleven cases of pairs (of words in parallel or similar contexts) where errors could be made because one of the pairs has an upper accent (lit. erect above) and the other a lower accent (lit. descending below). In MS5 (in the Mp and Mm at Lev 23:12, and in the Mp at Gen 41:9 and at Lev 23:19) the accents are specified as zaqeph (the accent above) and tebhir (the accent below). All the accents associated with 1

‫‪SCRIBAL WIT‬‬

‫מוּאלִה ֵֹלְךִוְ גָ ֵדלִוָ טוֹבִגַּ םִ‬ ‫ִרִשׁ ֵ‬ ‫וְ ַהנַּ ַע ְ‬ ‫ם־אנָ שׁים‪:‬‬ ‫עם־יְהוָ הִוְ גַ םִע ֲ‬

‫‪36‬‬

‫‪1 Sam 2:26‬‬

‫שמואל‬ ‫‪Samuel‬‬

‫תִאת־יְהוָ הִ‬ ‫לִמ ָשׁ ֵר ֶ‬ ‫מוּא ְ‬ ‫רִשׁ ֵ ֵ֛‬ ‫וְ ַה ַנּ ַַ֧ע ְ‬ ‫הִהיָהִיָ ָקרִ‬ ‫יִוּד ַבר־יְהוָ ָ‬ ‫יִעל ְ‬ ‫ל ְפנֵ ֵ‬ ‫יןִחזוֹןִנ ְפ ָרץ‪:‬‬ ‫םִא ָ‬ ‫יםִה ֵה ֵ‬ ‫ַבּיָּמ ָ‬

‫‪1 Sam 3:1‬‬

‫ת־הע ֶֹמרִ‬ ‫םִא ָ‬ ‫יפ ֶכ ֶ‬ ‫יוֹםִהנ ְ‬ ‫ֲ‬ ‫םִבּ‬ ‫ית ְ‬ ‫וַ ֲעשׂ ֶֶ֕‬ ‫הִליהוָ ה‪:‬‬ ‫תוִֹלע ָֹל ַ‬ ‫ן־שׁנָ ְ‬ ‫יםִבּ ְ‬ ‫שִׂתּמ ֶ‬ ‫ֶכּ ֶב ָ‬

‫‪Lev 23:12‬‬

‫דִל ַח ָטּאתִ‬ ‫יםִא ָח ְ‬ ‫םִשׂעיר־עזּ ֶ‬ ‫ית ְ‬ ‫וַ ֲעשׂ ֶ ֵ֛‬ ‫הִלזֶ ַבחִ‬ ‫נֵיִשׁנָ ְ‬ ‫יםִבּ ָ‬ ‫יִכ ָבשׂ ְ‬ ‫וּשׁנֵ ְ‬ ‫ְ‬ ‫ְשׁ ָלמים‪:‬‬

‫‪Lev 23:19‬‬

‫ידִרגֶ לִי ְשׂ ָר ֵאלִ‬ ‫יףִל ָהנ ֶ‬ ‫אס ְ‬ ‫וְ לֹאִ ֹ‬ ‫םִרקִ‬ ‫בוֹת ַ‬ ‫יִל ֲא ָ‬ ‫הִא ֶשׁרִנָ ַתתּ ַ‬ ‫ן־ה ֲא ָד ָמ ֲ‬ ‫מ ָ‬ ‫ֹלִא ֶשׁרִ‬ ‫שׂוֹתִכּכ ֲ‬ ‫ְ‬ ‫רוִּל ֲע‬ ‫| אם־י ְשׁ ְמ ַ‬ ‫הִא ֶשׁר־צוָּ הִ‬ ‫תּוֹר ֲ‬ ‫ל־ה ָ ֵ֛‬ ‫יםִוּל ָכ ַַ֨‬ ‫ְ‬ ‫צוּית‬ ‫םִע ְבדּיִמ ֶֹשׁה‪:‬‬ ‫א ָֹת ַ‬

‫‪2 Kgs 21:8‬‬

‫ת־רגֶ לִי ְשׂ ָר ֵאלִ‬ ‫ירִא ֶ‬ ‫יףִל ָהס ֶ‬ ‫וְ לֹאִאוֹס ְ‬ ‫רִה ֱע ַמ ְדתּיִ‬ ‫הִא ֶשׁ ֶ‬ ‫לִה ֲא ָד ָמ ֲ‬ ‫ֵמ ַע ָ‬ ‫רוִּל ֲעשׂוֹתִ‬ ‫םִרקִ| אם־י ְשׁ ְמ ַ‬ ‫ַל ֲאב ֵֹתיכִֶ ַ‬ ‫תּוֹרהִ‬ ‫ל־ה ָ ֵ֛‬ ‫יםִל ָכ ַ‬ ‫ל־א ֶשׁרִצוּית ְ‬ ‫תִכּ ֲ‬ ‫ֵא ָ‬ ‫יםִבּיַ ד־מ ֶֹשׁה‪:‬‬ ‫וְ ַה ֻחקּיםִוְ ַהמּ ְשׁ ָפּט ְ‬

‫‪2 Chr 33:8‬‬

‫עבד‬ ‫‪performed‬‬

‫אורייתא‬ ‫‪the law‬‬

‫‪this mnemonic, apart from one (at Judg 1:1/Josh 1:1), conform to this‬‬ ‫‪specification.‬‬

THE CORPUS OF THE ARAMAIC MNEMONICS IN ML

2 Sam 8:3

ִ‫ֹבִמ ֶלְך‬ ֶ ‫ן־רח‬ ְ ‫רִבּ‬ ֶ ֶ‫ת־ה ַד ְד ֶעז‬ ֲ ‫דִא‬ ֶ ‫ְַ֛ךִדּו‬ ָ ֵ֛ ַ‫וַ יּ‬ ִ‫תּוִֹל ָהשׁיבִיָדוִֹבּנְ ַהר‬ ְ ‫הִבּ ֶל ְכ‬ ְ ‫צוֹב‬ ָ :‫ ְפּ ָרת‬/ְְְִָ

1 Chr 18:3

ִ‫ְך־צוֹבה‬ ָ ‫רִמ ֶל‬ ֶ ֶ‫ת־ה ַד ְד ֶעז‬ ֲ ‫ֵ֛ידִא‬ ֶ ‫ְַ֛ךִדּו‬ ָ ֵ֛ ַ‫וַ יּ‬ ִ‫תּוִֹל ַהצּיבִיָ דוֹ‬ ְ ‫הִבּ ֶל ְכ‬ ְ ‫ֲח ָמ ָת‬ :‫ר־פּ ָרת‬ ְ ‫בּנְ ַה‬

Hab 1:7

ִ‫נוֹראִהוּאִמ ֶֶ֕מּנּוִּמ ְשׁ ָפּטוֹ‬ ָ ְ‫ָאי ֹםִו‬ :‫וּשׂ ֵאתוִֹיֵ ֵצא‬ ְ

37

‫דויד‬ David

3

Zech 10:4

ִ‫נּוִּק ֶשׁת‬ ֶ ‫נּוִּיָתדִמ ֶמּ‬ ֵ ‫מ ֶ ֶ֤מּנּוִּפנָּ הִמ ֶמּ‬ ‫מ ְל ָח ָמה‬ :‫אִכל־נוֹגֵ שִׂיַ ְח ָדּו‬ ָ ‫מ ֶ ֵ֛מּנּוִּיֵ ֵצ‬

Ezek 4:16

ִ‫ן־א ָדםִהנְ ניִשׁ ֵֹבר‬ ָ ‫יִבּ‬ ֶ ‫רִא ַל‬ ֵ ‫אמ‬ ֶ ֹ ‫וַ יּ‬ ִ‫לוּ־ל ֶחם‬ ֶ ‫ירוּשׁ ַלםִוְ ָא ְכ‬ ָ ‫ה־ל ֶחםִבּ‬ ֶ ‫ַמ ֵטּ‬ ִ‫שׂוּרה‬ ָ ‫הִוּמיםִבּ ְמ‬ ֶַ֕ ָ‫ְבּמ ְשׁ ָקלִוּב ְד ָאג‬ :‫וּבשׁ ָמּמוֹןִי ְשׁתּוּ‬ ְ

Ezek 4:11

ִ‫יתִההין‬ ַ ‫שׂוּרהִת ְשׁ ֶתּהִשׁשּׁ‬ ָ ‫וּמיםִבּ ְמ‬ ֵ֛ ַ :‫ד־עתִתּ ְשׁ ֶתּה‬ ֵ ‫תִע‬ ַ ‫ֵמ ֵע‬

‫מנהון‬

some of them

‫במייא‬ in water

Since these verses are not contextual parallels a possible reason why these two verses are constituted as a pair is that these are the only two verses in the book of the Twelve that have the prepositional form ‫ מ ֶמּנּוּ‬together with the verbal form ‫ ֵיֵצא‬. The only other example of this combination of ‫ מ ֶמּנּוּ‬and ‫ ֵיֵצא‬is in Jer 30:21. 3

38

SCRIBAL WIT

1 Chr 13:10

ִ‫הוִּעל‬ ַ ‫יַּכּ‬ ֵֶ֕ ַ‫הִבּ ֻעזָּ אִו‬ ְ ָ‫וַ יּ ַחר־אַףִיְהו‬ ‫ל־ה ָארוֹן‬ ָ ‫דוִֹע‬ ַ ָ‫ר־שׁ ַלחִי‬ ָ ‫ֲא ֶשׁ‬ :‫יִאֹלהים‬ ֱ ֵ‫תִשׁםִל ְפנ‬ ָ ‫יָּמ‬ ָ ַ‫ִו‬

2 Sam 6:7

ִ‫הוִּשׁם‬ ֵ֛ ָ ‫יַּכּ‬ ֥ ַ‫הִבּ ֻעזָּ הִו‬ ְ ָ‫וַ יּ ַחר־אַףִיְהו‬ ‫תִשׁם‬ ָ ‫יָּמ‬ ָ ַ‫ל־ה ַשּׁלִו‬ ַ ‫יםִע‬ ַ ‫ָה ֱאֹלה‬ :‫רוֹןִה ֱאֹלהים‬ ָ ‫םִא‬ ֲ ‫ִע‬

Lev 26:40

ִ‫וֹןִאב ָֹתם‬ ֲ ‫ת־ע‬ ֲ ‫ת־עוֹנָ םִוְ ֶא‬ ֲ ‫דּוִּא‬ ֶ ַ‫וְ ה ְתו‬ ‫רִמ ֲעלוּ־ביִוְ אֶַ֕ף‬ ָ ‫םִא ֶשׁ‬ ֲ ‫ְבּ ַמ ֲע ָל‬ :‫יִבּ ֶקרי‬ ְ ‫ר־ה ְלכוִּעמּ‬ ָ ‫ִ ֲא ֶשׁ‬

‫קטלין‬ kill

4‫ִלרגזא‬

Lev 26:39

ִ‫קּוִּבּ ֲעוֹנָ ם‬ ַ ‫יםִבּ ֶכםִי ַמּ‬ ָ ‫וְ ַהנּ ְשׁ ָאר‬ ִ‫ֹתִאב ָֹתם‬ ֲ ‫ֵ֛ףִבּ ֲעוֹנ‬ ַ ‫יכםִוְ אַ‬ ֶ ‫ֹיְב‬ ֵ ‫אַרצֹתִא‬ ְ ‫ְבּ‬ :‫א ָתּםִי ָמּקּוּ‬

Judg 1:1

ִ‫לוִּבּנֵ י‬ ְ ‫וֹתִיְהוֹשׁ ַעִוַ יּ ְשׁ ֲא‬ ֻ ‫יִאַח ֵ ַ֨ריִמ‬ ֲ ‫וַ יְה‬ ִ‫ה־לּנוּ‬ ָ ‫הִלאמֹרִמיִיַ ֲע ֶל‬ ֵ ָ‫לִבּיהו‬ ַ ‫י ְשׂ ָר ֵא‬ :‫הִלהלָּ ֶחםִבּוֹ‬ ְ ‫יִבּ ְתּח ָלּ‬ ַ ‫ל־ה ְכּנַ ֲענ‬ ַ ‫ֶא‬

angrily

5‫ִמשה‬

Josh 1:1

ִ‫הִע ֶבדִיְהוָ ה‬ ֶ ‫יִמוֹתִמ ֶ ֶֹ֖שׁ‬ ֥ ‫יִאַח ֵ ֵ֛ר‬ ֲ ‫וַ יְה‬ ִ‫ל־יְהוֹשׁ ַעִבּן־נוּן‬ ֻ ‫הִא‬ ֶ ָ‫אמרִיְהו‬ ֶ ֹ ‫וַ יּ‬ :‫הִלאמֹר‬ ֵ ‫ְמ ָשׁ ֵרתִמ ֶֹשׁ‬

Moses

The Aramaic mnemonic of ‫“ לרגזא‬angrily” represents a play on the Hebrew word ‫אַף‬, which in the context of both Leviticus verses represents the adverb “also” “even”, but is also a homonym for the word “anger.” Ofer (“Memory Aids,” 184–85) points out parallels for this wordplay of Hebrew ‫ אַף‬with Aramaic ‫ ְרגַ ז‬in the Targums as, for example, the translation in Targum Onqelos (and similar translations in Targums Neofiti and PsJonathan) of Gen 18:23 ‫ם־ר ָשׁע‬ ָ ‫“ ַהאַף ִתּ ְס ֶפּה ַצ ִדּיק ִע‬will you also sweep away the innocent together with the guilty” as ‫ֲה ִב ְרגַ ז ְת ֵשׁ ֵיצי זַ ָכ ָאה‬ ‫יָיבא‬ ָ ‫“ ִעם ַח‬will in anger you will destroy the innocent together with the guilty?” 5 The inclusion of this pair (Josh 1:1 and Judg 1:1) in this list constitutes a problem for two reasons. First of all, the only word common 4

THE CORPUS OF THE ARAMAIC MNEMONICS IN ML

39

to both verses that has an upper and lower accent is the preposition ‫אַח ֵרי‬ ֲ , and the accent on this word is a pašta, not a zaqeph as on all the other pairs for the upper accent. Second, there appears to be no catchword in the mnemonic that can connect with ‫אַח ֵרי‬ ֲ . Frendsdorff, (Ochlah, 47 [on the notes to the lists]) allocated the catchword ‫ משה‬to this pair but this word appears in only one of the verses, namely Josh 1:1 and not in Judg 1:1 (though there are modern suggestions that the latter text be changed to read ‫אַח ֵרי מוֹת מ ֶשׁה‬ ֲ ‫( וַ יְ ִהי‬see BHS, ad loc). It may well be that another pair of verses ought to belong here, nevertheless there is a strong tradition that this verse be included in this list since it is included in Hebrew simanim of this lemma in MM1 (at Lev 23:12) and in Miqra’ot Gedolot (in the Mm at Exod 6:9 and at 1 Chr 18:1), and all three of these lists are accompanied by this Aramaic mnemonic. However, the selection of ‫ משה‬as a catchword for this pair may be explained by the parallel note in S5 at Gen 41:9 that reads: ‫ד זוג מטעין בעינ‬ ‫“ חד תביר וחד זקף‬there are four cases of pairs (of words in parallel or similar contexts) where errors could be made because one of the pairs has a tebhir and the other a zaqeph.” A vocalized Aramaic mnemonic is appended to this note: ‫“ ַשׁ ָמ ָשׁא ְמ ַס ַפּר ִעזַ יָּיא ְדּ ֵשׁ ַשׁי‬The attendant tells about the goats of Sheshai.” Three of these Aramaic catchwords connect only with words in the tebhir phrase and not with the zaqeph phrase. One example should suffice to illustrate. One of the pairs of similar words containing both a zaqeph accent and a tebhir accent is ‫וַ יַּ כּוּ‬, which appears in Judg 1:5 with a zaqeph, but in Judg 1:10 with a tebhir. The catchword that is given for this pair is ‫ ֵשׁ ַשׁי‬, which can only be matched the ‫ וַ יַּכּוּ‬of Judg 1:10, the form that has the tebhir, since the name ‫ ֵשׁ ַשׁי‬only occurs in Judg 1:10 not in Judg 1:5. The same situation applies to two of the other catchwords ‫ מספר‬and ‫עזייא‬: they only correspond with the words that have a tebhir accent. Similarly, in our mnemonic, the catchword ‫ משה‬corresponds with the verse that has the tebhir accent, namely Josh 1:1, that has the form ‫אַח ֵרי‬ ֲ . As is customary with simanim in general, the catchword (here ‫)משה‬ usually indicates a word in the verse other than the lemma (the lemma in this case being ‫אַח ֵרי‬ ֲ ). This is not, of course, the case in this mnemonic since the catchwords for nine of the cases (all except this case and the next one) are the same as the lemma.

40

SCRIBAL WIT

Exod 6:12

ִ‫ֹרִהן‬ ֵ ‫הִלאמ‬ ֵ ָ‫וַ ַיְד ֵבּרִמ ֶֹשׁהִל ְפנֵ יִיְהו‬ ִ‫עוִּא ַליִוְ ֵאיְך‬ ֵ ‫א־שׁ ְמ‬ ָ ֹ ‫ְבּנֵ י־י ְשׂ ָר ֵאלִל‬ :‫לִשׂ ָפ ָתים‬ ְ ‫יִע ַר‬ ֲ ‫יִפ ְרעֹהִוַ ֲאנ‬ ַ ‫י ְשׁ ָמ ֵענ‬

Exod 6:9

ִ‫ל־בּנֵ יִי ְשׂ ָר ֵאלִוְ לֹא‬ ְ ‫ןִא‬ ֶ ‫הִכּ‬ ֵ ‫וַ ַיְד ֵ ֥בּרִמ ֶ ֵֹ֛שׁ‬ ִ‫רִרוּח‬ ַ ‫עוִּאל־מ ֶֹשׁהִמקּ ֶֹצ‬ ֶ ‫ָשׁ ְמ‬ :‫הִק ָשׁה‬ ָ ‫וּמ ֲעב ָֹד‬ ֵ

Neh 7:6

ִ‫הִהעֹליםִמ ְשּׁבי‬ ָ ָ‫יִה ְמּדינ‬ ַ ֵ‫ֵא ֶלּהִ| ְבּנ‬ ִ‫רִמ ֶלְך‬ ֶ ‫בוּכ ְדנֶ ַצּ‬ ַ ְ‫רִהגְ ָלהִנ‬ ֶ ‫הִא ֶשׁ‬ ֲ ‫גּוֹל‬ ָ ‫ַה‬ ִ‫יהוּדהִאישׁ‬ ָ ‫ירוּשׁ ַלםִוְ ל‬ ָ ‫ָבּ ֶבלִוַ יָּ שׁוּבוִּל‬ :‫ְלעירוֹ‬

‫מלל‬ spoke6

‫בגלותא‬ Ezra 2:1

6

ִ‫הִהעֹליםִמ ְשּׁבי‬ ָ ָ‫יִה ְמּדינ‬ ַ ֵ‫וְ ֵא ֶלּהִ| ְבּנ‬ ִ‫רִהגְ ָלֵ֛ה‬ ֶ ‫הִא ֶ ֥שׁ‬ ֲ ‫גּוֹל‬ ָ ‫ַה‬ ‫ְך־בּ ֶבל‬ ָ ‫נבוכדנצרִ ֶמ ֶל‬/‫בוּכ ְדנֶ ַצּור‬ ַ ְ‫נ‬ ‫ירוּשׁ ַלם‬ ָ ‫ִ ְל ָב ֶבלִוַ יָּ שׁוּבוִּל‬ :‫יהוּדהִאישִׁלְ עירוֹ‬ ָ ‫ִו‬

in exile

A case could be made that the catchwords for this pair could be

‫מלל משה‬, and not just ‫מלל‬. Because in the Mp of ML at Exod 6:12 there is a note stating that ‫ וַ יְ ַד ֵבּר מ ֶשׁה‬is one of eleven cases (‫א] זוגין‬ ִ ‫ב [י‬ ִ ‫( )י‬of pairs of

words in parallel or similar contexts where errors could be made bccause one of the pairs has an upper accent and the other a lower accent). This note indicates that both words are to be taken as one of the cases covered by the mnemonic, and would thus then be associated with the two words ‫ מלל משה‬of the mnemonic. But if this equation is adopted then the previous pair of Josh 1/Judg 1 will lack a catchword.

THE CORPUS OF THE ARAMAIC MNEMONICS IN ML

41

Aramaic Mnemonic §8 Num 7:621

‫ִ פסוק בקר דלית בהון לא‬2‫ִִכא‬ 3 ‫וו ולאִיוד‬

ִ‫ִלאִתקטל‬ ִ‫לעבדאִדשם‬ ִ‫ברִנחִיהבִלהון‬ ִ‫עשרהִמןִתרי‬ ִ‫עשרִותלתה‬ ִ‫מלכיןִבארעהון‬ ‫דכנענייא‬ “do not kill the servant of Shem, the son of Noah; he gave them ten from twelve, and three kings in the land of the Canaanites”

Exod 20:134

ִ‫לֹאִתּ ְר ָצחִלֹאִתּנְ ָאףִלֹאִתּגְ נֹב‬ :‫דִשׁ ֶקר‬ ָ ‫ָךִע‬ ֵ ‫הִב ֵר ֲע‬ ְ ֶ‫א־ת ֲענ‬ ַ ֹ‫ל‬

5‫ִלאִתקטל‬

do not kill

Fol. 79v, Weil, §878. This mnemonic also occurs here in MM1; in at Num 7:74; and in Miqra’ot Gedolot in the Mf sub ‫ י‬and in the Mm at Num 7:14 and Ps 105:11. 2 ML reads ִ‫“ כא‬twenty-one” instead of the correct number ִ‫כב‬ “twenty two.” 3 The Masorah notes the twenty-two verses in the Bible that do not have the letter ‫ ו‬nor the letter ‫י‬. 4 This citation must refer to the form of the decalogue in Exod 20:13 with the lower cantillation accents where the entire verse does not have a ‫ ו‬nor a ‫י‬. In the version with the upper cantillation accents, the four commandments (‫א־ת ֲענֶ ה ְב ֵר ֲעָך ֵעד‬ ַ ‫ ס ל‬:‫ ס לא ִתּגְ נב‬:‫ ס לא ִתּנְ ָאף‬:‫לא ִתּ ְר ָצח‬ ‫ ס‬:‫ ) ָשׁ ֶקר‬are separate verses, all of which would fit the requirements of the lemma (not having a ‫ ו‬nor a ‫ )י‬but, if included, would add three more verses to the number containing the lemma. Similarly, the note cannot 1

MS5

42

SCRIBAL WIT

Ps 19:12 1 Chr 1:24

ִ‫םִע ֶקב‬ ֵ ‫מִבּ ָשׁ ְמ ָר‬ ְ ‫ִָה‬ ֶ ‫ִע ְב ְדָּךִנזְ ָהרִבּ‬ ַ ‫גַּ ם־‬ :‫ָרב‬

‫לעבדא‬ the servant

:‫דִשׁלַ ח‬ ָ ‫אַר ַפּ ְכ ַשׁ‬ ְ |ִ‫ֵשׁם‬

6‫ִדשםִברִנח‬

of Shem, son of Noah Lam 3:65

:‫ָךִל ֶהם‬ ָ ‫בִתּ ֲא ָל ְת‬ ַ ‫ת־ל‬ ֵ ַ‫םִמגנּ‬ ְ ‫ןִל ֶה‬ ָ ‫תּ ֵתּ‬

7‫ִיהבִלהון‬

he gave them Num 7:14, 20, 26, 32, 38, 44, 50, 56, 62, 68, 74, 80

ִ‫בִמ ֵל ָאה‬ ְ ‫תִע ָשׂרִָהִזָ ָה‬ ֲ ‫ףִאַח‬ ַ ‫ַכּ‬ :‫ְקט ֶֹרת‬

Josh 12:139, 14, 15

:‫רִא ָחד‬ ֶ ‫דִמ ֶלְךִגֶּ ֶד‬ ֶ ‫רִא ָח‬ ֶ ‫ְךִדּב‬ ְ ‫ֶמ ֶל‬ :‫דִא ָחד‬ ֶ ‫ְךִע ָר‬ ֲ ‫דִמ ֶל‬ ֶ ‫הִא ָח‬ ֶ ‫ְךִח ְר ָמ‬ ָ ‫ֶמ ֶל‬ :‫םִא ָחד‬ ֶ ‫ְךִע ֻד ָלּ‬ ֲ ‫דִמ ֶל‬ ֶ ‫הִא ָח‬ ֶ ָ‫ֶמ ֶלְךִל ְבנ‬

ִ‫עשרהִמןִתרי‬ 8 ‫עשר‬ ten of twelve

10‫ִותלתהִמלכין‬

and three kings

refer to the parallel verse in Deut 5:17 since that version contains four waws (‫ ס‬:‫א־ת ֲענֶ ה ְב ֵר ֲעָך ֵעד ָשׁוְ א‬ ַ ‫) לא ִתּ ְר ָצח וְ לא ִתּנְ ָאף וְ לא ִתּגְ נב וְ ל‬. 5 The variant in MM1 at Num 7:62 reads ‫לא יתקטיל‬. 6 The mnemonic expands the name of Shem to include his patrimony “son of Noah.” 7 ML reads ‫זהב‬, an obvious scribal error for ‫יהב‬, which is found in all the other versions of the mnemonic and corresponds to the form ‫תּ ֵתּן‬ “you will give” in the verse. 8 The “ten” of the mnemonic connects with the word ‫שׂ ָרה‬ ָ ‫“ ֲע‬ten (shekels)” in this verse, and the “twelve” indicates that this verse occurs twelve times in this chapter in this identical form. Miqra’ot Gedolot reads ‫“ חמיסר‬fifteen” which connects with the ‫ ֲח ִמ ָשּׁה ָע ָשׂר‬in 1 Chr 24:14. 9 The Hebrew simanim are given on fol. 128v at Josh 12:13, where the Mm reads: ‫ כף אחת שנים‬. ‫יב פסוק לית בהון וי לא תרצח דואלה שמות‬ ‫ לאמר לך אתן את ארץ‬. ‫ שם ארפכשד‬. ‫ מלך לבנה‬. ‫ מלך חרמה‬. ‫ מלך דבר‬. ‫עשר בו‬ ‫ לבלגה‬. ‫ תתן להם מגנת לב‬. ‫ גם עבדך נזהר בהם‬. ‫ לאמר לך אתן‬. ‫“ כנען‬there are twelve [twenty-two!] verses that do not have a ‫( ו‬nor a) ‫י‬: in ‫ לא תרצח‬of

Exodus (Exod 20:12, the additional “of Exodus” is to distinguish this occurrence from its parallel [with the lower accents] in Deut 5:17, which

THE CORPUS OF THE ARAMAIC MNEMONICS IN ML

Ps 105:11

ִ‫ןִח ֶבל‬ ֶ ‫ץ־כּנָ ַע‬ ְ ‫ת־א ֶר‬ ֶ ‫ןִא‬ ֶ ‫ְִָךִא ֵתּ‬ ֶ ‫ֵלאמֹרִל‬ :‫נַ ֲח ַל ְת ֶכם‬

43

ִ‫בארעהון‬ ִ11 ‫דכנענייא‬ in the land of the Canaanites

1 Chr 16:18

ִ‫ןִח ֶבל‬ ֶ ‫ץ־כּנָ ַע‬ ְ ‫ןִא ֶר‬ ֶ ‫ָךִא ֵתּ‬ ֶ ‫ֹרִל‬ ְ ‫ֵלאמ‬ :‫נַ ֲח ַל ְת ֶכם‬

1 Chr 24:14

ִ‫רִלא ֵמּרִשׁ ָשּׁה‬ ְ ‫הִע ָשׂ‬ ָ ‫הִחמ ָשּׁ‬ ֲ ָ‫ְלב ְלגּ‬ :‫ָע ָשׂר‬

12

verse does contain four waws); in the twelve (verses that have) ‫כף אחת‬ (Num 7:14; 7:20; 7:26; 7:32; 7:38; 7:44; 7:50; 7:56; 7:62; 7:68; 7:74; 7:80); Josh 12:13; 12:14; 12:15; 1 Chr 1:24; Ps 105:11; 1 Chr 16:18; Ps 19:12; Lam 3:65; 1 Chr 24:14.” 10 The three kings refer to the kings at the beginning of their respective verses, as is indicated in the Hebrew version of the simanim given at Josh 12:13 (see the previous note). The variant siman in MS5 adds to “the three kings” ‫“ קטלהון יהושע‬Joshua killed them.” 11 This part of the mnemonic is doing double duty for the two references Ps 105:11 and 1 Chr 16:18 both of which have the phrase ‫ץ־כּנָ ַען‬ ְ ‫ ֶא ֶר‬. However, MS5 adds ‫“ וחבריה‬and its companion”, thus providing the catchword for the second reference. 12 In ML there is no siman in the mnemonic for this verse. MS5 reads ‫ בלגה‬connecting with the the phrase ‫“ ְלב ְלגָּ ה‬to Bilgah,” whereas Miqra’ot Gedolot (at Mf sub ‫י‬, and at Num 7:14 and at Ps 105:11) reads ‫חמיסר‬ “fifteen” which connects with the same numeral ‫ ֲח ִמ ָשּׁה ָע ָשׂר‬in the verse.

44

SCRIBAL WIT

Aramaic Mnemonic §9 Num 11:321

2‫י‬

‫אַספוּ‬ ְ ‫וַ ַיּ‬

ִ‫סבייאִשלוי‬ ִ‫שלחוִשלחו‬ ִ‫פלשתייאִגרמוי‬ ִ‫דמלכא‬ ‫ולאחיהוןִוכספא‬ “the elders sent quail, the Philistines sent the bones of the king, and (wine) and silver to their brothers”

Exod 4:29

ִ‫אַספוּ‬ ְ ‫אַהר ֹןִוַ ַיּ‬ ֲ ְ‫וַ יֵּ ֶלְךִמ ֶֹשׁהִו‬ :‫יִבּנֵ יִי ְשׂ ָראִֵל‬ ְ ֵ‫ת־כּל־ִז ְקנ‬ ָ ‫ֶא‬

‫סבייא‬ the elders

Num 11:32

ִ‫יּוֹםִההוּא‬ ַ ‫ל־ה‬ ַ ‫םִכּ‬ ָ ‫םִה ָע‬ ָ ‫וַ יָּ ָק‬ ִ‫יוֹםִה ָמּ ֳח ָרת‬ ַ |ִ‫ל־ה ַלּיְ ָלהִוְ כֹל‬ ַ ‫וְ ָכ‬ ִ‫יטִא ַסף‬ ָ ‫וִה ַמּ ְמע‬ ַ ‫ת־ה ְשּׂ ָל‬ ַ ‫אַספוִּ ֶא‬ ְ ‫וַ ַיּ‬ ִ‫חוִּל ֶהם‬ ָ ‫הִח ָמריםִוַ יּ ְשׁ ְט‬ ֳ ‫ֲע ָשׂ ָר‬ :‫יבוֹתִה ַמּ ֲחנֶ ה‬ ַ ‫ִסב‬ ְ ‫טוֹח‬ ַ ‫ָשׁ‬

‫שלוי‬ quail

Fol. 82r, Weil, §399. This mnemonic recurs on fol. 33v at Exod 4:29, see mnemonic §4; it occurs in MC at Jer 40:12; in MA at 1 Sam 17:1; in MS5 at Num 11:25; in MM1 at Num 11:32; in Miqra’ot Gedolot in the Mf sub ‫אס‬, and in the Mm at Num 11:32; 1 Sam 5:11; and 17:1; it is also listed in Ognibeni,’Oklah, §232, and in Ginsburg 1, ‫א‬, §1001. 2 The Masorah notes the ten occurrences of the qal form ‫אַספוּ‬ ְ ַ‫ וַ יּ‬to distinguish these forms from the thirteen cases of the niphal ‫וַ יֵּ ָא ְספוּ‬. 1

‫‪45‬‬

‫‪THE CORPUS OF THE ARAMAIC MNEMONICS IN ML‬‬

‫שלחו‬ ‫‪they sent‬‬

‫שלחו‬ ‫‪they sent‬‬

‫פלשתייא‬ ‫‪Philistines‬‬

‫גרמוי‬ ‫‪his bones‬‬

‫דמלכא‬ ‫‪of the king‬‬

‫ל־ס ְרנֵ יִ‬ ‫ת־כּ ַ‬ ‫אַספוִּ ֶא ָ‬ ‫וַ יּ ְשׁ ְלחוִּוַ ַיּ ְ‬ ‫אמרוִּ‬ ‫יהםִוַ יּ ֹ ְ‬ ‫יםִאלֵ ֶ‬ ‫ְפל ְשׁתּ ֲ‬ ‫ֹלהיִי ְשׂ ָר ֵאלִ‬ ‫רוֹןִא ֵ‬ ‫ֱ‬ ‫הִל ֲא‬ ‫ַמה־נַּ ֲע ֶשׂ ַ‬ ‫ֹלהיִ‬ ‫רוֹןִא ֵ‬ ‫ֱ‬ ‫ֹבִא‬ ‫אמרוִּגַּ תִיסּ ֲ‬ ‫וַ יּ ֹ ְ‬ ‫ֹלהיִ‬ ‫רוֹןִא ֵ‬ ‫ֱ‬ ‫ת־א‬ ‫בּוִּא ֲ‬ ‫י ְשׂ ָר ֵאלִוַ יּ ֵַסּ ֶ‬ ‫י ְשׂ ָר ֵאל‪:‬‬ ‫ל־ס ְרנֵ יִ‬ ‫ת־כּ ַ‬ ‫אַספוִּ ֶא ָ‬ ‫וַ יּ ְשׁ ְלחוִּוַ ַיּ ְ‬ ‫ת־ארוֹןִ‬ ‫חוִּא ֲ‬ ‫רוִּשׁ ְלּ ִֶ‬ ‫אמ ַ‬ ‫ְפל ְשׁתּיםִוַ יּ ֹ ְ‬ ‫ֹלהיִי ְשׂ ָר ֵאלִוְ יָ שׁ ֹבִל ְמקֹמוִֹ‬ ‫ֱא ֵ‬ ‫יְתהִ‬ ‫י־ה ָ‬ ‫ת־עמּיִכּ ָ‬ ‫וְ לֹא־יָמיתִאֹתיִוְ ֶא ַ‬ ‫ירִכּ ְב ָדהִ‬ ‫ל־הע ָ‬ ‫תִבּ ָכ ָ‬ ‫ת־מוֶ ְ‬ ‫הוּמ ָ‬ ‫ְמ ַ‬ ‫יםִשׁם‪:‬‬ ‫דִה ֱאֹלה ָ‬ ‫ְמאֹדִיַ ָ‬ ‫יהםִ‬ ‫ת־מ ֲחנֵ ֶ‬ ‫יםִא ַ‬ ‫אַספוִּ ְפל ְשׁתּ ֶ‬ ‫וַ ַיּ ְ‬ ‫ֹהִא ֶשׁרִ‬ ‫יֵּא ְספוִּשֹׂכ ֲ‬ ‫ַלמּלְ ָח ָמהִוַ ָ‬ ‫נוִּבּין־שׂוֹכֹהִ‬ ‫יהוּדהִוִַיַּ ֲח ֵ‬ ‫ל ָ‬ ‫סִדּמּים‪:‬‬ ‫הִבּ ֶא ֶפ ַ‬ ‫ין־עזֵ ָק ְ‬ ‫וּב ֲ‬ ‫ֵ‬ ‫מוֹתִשׁאוּלִ‬ ‫ָ‬ ‫ִע ְצ‬ ‫םִאת־ ַ‬ ‫וַ יַּ ַעלִמ ָשּׁ ֶ‬ ‫אַספוִּ‬ ‫ןִבּנוִֹוַ ַיּ ְ‬ ‫ת־ִע ְצמוֹתִיְהוֹנָ ָת ְ‬ ‫וְ ֶא ַ‬ ‫מּוּקעים‪:‬‬ ‫מוֹתִה ָ‬ ‫ַ‬ ‫ת־ע ְצ‬ ‫ֶא ַ‬ ‫אַספוִּ ֵאלָ יוִ‬ ‫חִה ֶמּ ֶלְךִוַ ַיּ ְ‬ ‫וַ יּ ְשׁ ַל ַ‬ ‫ירוּשׁ ָלם‪:‬‬ ‫הוּדהִו ָ‬ ‫ָכּל־ז ְקנֵ יִיְִ ָ‬

‫‪1 Sam 5:8‬‬

‫‪1 Sam 5:11‬‬

‫‪1 Sam 17:1‬‬

‫‪2 Sam 21:13‬‬

‫‪2 Kgs 23:1‬‬

‫‪SCRIBAL WIT‬‬

‫ולאחיהון‬ ‫‪and to their‬‬ ‫‪brothers‬‬

‫‪3‬‬

‫וכספא‬

‫יהםִוַ יּ ְת ַק ְדּשׁוִּ‬ ‫ת־א ֵח ֶ‬ ‫אַספוִּ ֶא ֲ‬ ‫וַ ַיּ ְ‬ ‫ְךִבּד ְב ֵריִיְהוָ הִ‬ ‫ת־ה ֶמּ ֶל ְ‬ ‫ֹאוִּכמ ְצוַ ַ‬ ‫וַ יָּ ב ְ‬ ‫רִבּיתִיְהוָ ה‪:‬‬ ‫ְל ַט ֵה ֵ‬ ‫ל־ה ְמּקֹמוֹתִ‬ ‫ל־היְּהוּדיםִמ ָכּ ַ‬ ‫בוִּכ ַ‬ ‫וַ יָּ ֻשׁ ָ‬ ‫ֹאוִּא ֶרץ־ִ‬ ‫חוּ־שׁםִוַ ִָיּב ֶ‬ ‫ָ‬ ‫ֲא ֶשׁרִנ ְדּ‬ ‫יָהוִּהמּ ְצ ָפּ ָתהִ‬ ‫ַ‬ ‫הִאל־גְּ ַדלְ‬ ‫יְהוּד ֶ‬ ‫ָ‬ ‫הִמאֹד‪:‬‬ ‫ץִה ְר ֵבּ ְ‬ ‫אַספוִּיַיןִוָ ַקי ַ‬ ‫וַ ַיּ ְ‬ ‫רוֹןִאלִ‬ ‫ֶ‬ ‫ת־ה ָא‬ ‫יאִא ָ‬ ‫יִבּ ֵעתִיָב ֶ‬ ‫וַ יְה ְ‬ ‫אוֹתםִ‬ ‫דִה ְלויּםִוְ כ ְר ָ‬ ‫ְךִבּיַ ַ‬ ‫תִה ֶמּ ֶל ְ‬ ‫ְפּ ֻק ַדּ ַ‬ ‫רִה ֶמּ ֶלְךִ‬ ‫אִסוֹפ ַ‬ ‫ֵ‬ ‫ףִוּב‬ ‫בִה ֶכּ ֶס ָ‬ ‫י־ר ַ‬ ‫כּ ַ‬ ‫יערוִּ‬ ‫ןִהרֹאשִׁו ָ‬ ‫וּפקידִכּ ֵֹה ָ‬ ‫ְ‬ ‫יבהוִּ‬ ‫ֶאת־ ָה ָארוֹןִוְ י ָשּׂ ֻאהוִּוישׁ ֻ‬ ‫שׂוִּליוֹםִ| ְבּיוֹםִ‬ ‫ֹהִע ְ‬ ‫ל־מקֹמוִֹכּ ָ‬ ‫ֶא ְ‬ ‫ףִלר ֹב‪:‬‬ ‫־כ ֶס ָ‬ ‫אַספוּ ֶ‬ ‫וַ ַיּ ְ‬

‫‪46‬‬

‫‪2 Chr 29:15‬‬

‫‪Jer 40:12‬‬

‫‪2 Chr 24:11‬‬

‫‪and silver‬‬

‫‪ is lacking in ML, however, it is‬חמרא ‪The expected catchword‬‬ ‫‪present in the version that occurs at Exod 4:29 (see mnemonic §4), and in‬‬ ‫‪all its attestations elsewhere.‬‬ ‫‪3‬‬

THE CORPUS OF THE ARAMAIC MNEMONICS IN ML

47

Aramaic Mnemonic §10 Deut 8:71

Deut 8:7

Joel 1:20

2

‫זקףִקמ‬ ִ ִ‫ִ ָמיִםִב‬

ִ‫ל־א ֶרץ‬ ֶ ‫ָךִא‬ ֶ ‫יא‬ ֲ ‫יָךִמב‬ ְ ‫ֹלה‬ ֶ ‫הִא‬ ֱ ָ‫כּיִיְהו‬ ִ‫הִארִֶץִנַ ֲח ֵליִ ָָ֔מיִםִ ֲעיָ נֹת‬ ֶ ‫טוֹב‬ ָ :‫הִוּב ָהר‬ ָ ‫יםִבּבּ ְק ָע‬ ַ ‫וּתהֹמֹתִי ְֹצא‬ ְ ִ‫רוֹגִא ֶליָךִכּי‬ ֵ ‫הִתּ ֲע‬ ַ ‫מוֹתִשׂ ֶד‬ ָ ‫ם־בּ ֲה‬ ַ ַ‫גּ‬ ִ‫שִׁא ְכ ָלהִנְ אוֹת‬ ָ ‫שׁוִּאפ ֵיקיִ ָָ֔מיִםִוְ ֵא‬ ֲ ‫יָב‬ ְ :‫ַהמּ ְד ָבּר‬

‫נחלייהִיבשין‬ “the wadis are dry” 3

‫ִנחלייה‬ wadis

‫יבשין‬ are dry

Fol. 104r, Weil, §1097. This mnemonic recurs on fol. 307v at Joel 1:20, see mnemonic §44; it also occurs in MA at Joel 1:20; in MLm at Deut 8:7; in Miqra’ot Gedolot in the Mf sub ‫ מי‬and at Deut 8:7; Ps 66:12 and Prov 30:16; it is listed in Frensdorff, Ochlah, 174, §13; and in Ginsburg 2, ‫מ‬, §343. 2 The Masorah notes two occasions when the word ‫ ַמים‬is pointed with a qameṣ when the word has a zaqeph. The note continues: ‫וכל אתנח‬ ]‫“ וסופ פס דכותהון בר מן ב מדברה דגיהים [דגיהנם‬and similarly every time with an athnaḥ or sof pasuq (it is pointed with a qameṣ) except for two times ‘the wilderness of Gehinnom’ (Ps 107: 35; Prov 30:16).” The latter part of this note contains another Aramaic mnemonic, see mnemonics §11 and §45. 3 The variant in the parallel mnemonic §44 reads ‫נחלי‬. 1

48

SCRIBAL WIT

Aramaic Mnemonic §11 Deut 8:71

2

ִ‫ִ ַ ַ֑מיִםִב‬

‫מדברהִדגיהנם‬ “the wilderness of Gehinnom”

Ps 107:35

Prov 30:163

ִ‫רִל ֲאגַ ם־ ַ ַ֑מיִםִוְ ֶא ֶרץִציָּה‬ ַ ‫יָ ֵשׂםִמ ְד ָבּ‬ :‫יִמים‬ ָ ‫ְלמ ָֹצ ֵא‬ ִ‫א־שׂ ְב ָעה‬ ָ ֹ ‫םִא ֶרץִל‬ ֶ ‫רִר ַח‬ ָ ‫ְשׁאוֹלִוְ ע ֶֹצ‬ :‫א־א ְמ ָרהִהוֹן‬ ָ ֹ ‫ַ ַ֑מּיִםִוְ ֵאשִׁל‬

‫מדברה‬ the wilderness

‫דגיהנם‬ of Gehinnom

Fol. 104r, Weil, §1097. This mnemonic recurs with a third element on fol. 307v at Joel 1:20 (see mnemonic §45); in M A at Joel 1:20; in Miqra’ot Gedolot at Deut 8:7; Ps 66:12; and Prov 30:16; it is listed (with three elements) in Frensdorff, Ochlah, 174, §13; and in Ginsburg 2, ‫מ‬, §343. 2 The Masorah notes the two occurrences of ‫ ַמים‬pointed with a pathaḥ, instead of an expected qameṣ, with an athnaḥ. The full note reads: ]‫מים ב זק קמ נחלייה יבשין וכל אתנח וסופ פס דכותהון בר מן ב מדברה דגיהים [דגיהנם‬ “there are two occurrences of ‫( מים‬pointed) with a qameṣ with zaqeph: ‘the wadies are dry’ (Deut 8:7; Joel 1:20), and similarly every time with an athnaḥ or sof pasuq (it is pointed with a qameṣ) except for two times: ‘the wilderness of Gehinnom’ (Ps 107: 35; Prov 30:16).” 3 The Hebrew simanim are given on fol. 420r at Prov 30:16. The Mm note there reads: ‫ ארץ לא שבעה‬. ‫ מים“ מים ב פת באתנ וסימנ לאגם מים‬occurs twice with pathaḥ with athnaḥ, and their references are: Ps 107:35; Prov 30:16.” 1

THE CORPUS OF THE ARAMAIC MNEMONICS IN ML

49

Aramaic Mnemonic §12 Deut 13:31

ִ‫י ְַד ְע ָתּםִדִ קמצ‬2

ִ‫סימןִשמעת‬ ‫קריתִוכעסת‬ “I heard a sign, I called, and I was angry”

Deut 13:3

Isa 48:64

Jer 33:3

ִ‫תִא ֶשׁר־דּ ֶבּר‬ ֲ ‫מּוֹפ‬ ֵ ‫אִהאוֹתִוְ ַה‬ ָ ‫וּב‬ ָ ִ‫יִאֹלהים‬ ֱ ‫הִאַח ֵר‬ ֲ ‫יָךִלאמֹרִנֵ ְל ָכ‬ ֵ ‫ֵא ֶל‬ :‫יםִא ֶשׁרִלֹא־ יְ ַד ְע ָתּםִוְ נָ ָע ְב ֵדם‬ ֲ ‫ֲא ֵחר‬

3‫ִסימן‬

ִ‫םִהלוֹא‬ ֲ ‫אַתּ‬ ֶ ְ‫ִִָחזֵ הִכּ ִָֻלּהִּו‬ ֲ ‫ָשׁ ַמ ְעתּ‬ ִ‫שׁוֹתִמ ַע ָתּה‬ ֵ ‫יָךִח ָד‬ ֲ ‫ַתגּידוִּה ְשׁ ַמ ְעתּ‬ :‫וּנְ ֻצרוֹתִוְ לֹאִ יְ ַד ְע ָתּם‬

5‫ִשמעת‬

ִ‫הִלָּך‬ ְ ‫אִא ַליִוְ ֶא ֱענִֶךִִָּוְ אַגּ ָיד‬ ֵ ‫ְק ָר‬ :‫ֹלוֹתִוּב ֻצרוֹתִלֹאִי ְַד ְע ָתּם‬ ְ ‫גְּ ד‬

6‫ִקרית‬

a sign

I heard

I called

Fol. 107v, Weil, §1133. This mnemonic also occurs here in MS5; in at Jer 33:3 and Ezek 32:9; in Miqra’ot Gedolot in the Mf sub ‫יד‬, and in the Mm at Jer 33:3; it is also listed in Ginsburg, 1, ‫י‬, §115. 2 The Masorah notes the four cases of this form with a qameṣ, that is a 2nd sg. perfect plus 3rd pl. sfx. as opposed to eleven cases of the 2nd pl. form ‫ יְ ַד ְע ֶתּם‬with a seghol. 3 The variant (vocalized) in MS5 and (unvocalized) in Miqra’ot Gedolot (in the Mf sub ‫יד‬, and at Jer 33:3) reads ‫“ ֲא ֶתית‬I came” which can be connected with ‫“ ָוּבא‬will come.” The same reading is also found in Ginsburg 1, ‫י‬, §115. The word ‫ ובא‬is also highlighted as one of the four siman words when the lemma is cited in its Hebrew form in Ognibeni, Ochla, §7E. 4 The Hebrew simanim are given on fol. 239r at Isa 48:6. The Mm note reads: . ‫ קרא אלי ואענך‬. ‫ שמעת חזה‬. ‫ידעתם ד קמצים וסיממנהון ובא האות‬ ‫“ והכעסתי לב‬there are four occurrences of ‫ ידעתם‬with qameṣ, and their references are: Deut 13:3; Isa 48:6; Jer 33:3; Ezek 32:9.” 5 Vocalized in MS5 as ‫וְ ש ְמ ֶעת‬. 6 Vocalized in MS5 as ‫ ְק ֶרית‬. 1

MC

‫‪SCRIBAL WIT‬‬

‫ִוכעסת‬

‫‪7‬‬

‫‪and I was angry‬‬

‫יםִבּ ֲהביאיִ‬ ‫יםִרבּ ַ‬ ‫בִעמּ ַ‬ ‫יִל ַ‬ ‫וְ ה ְכ ַע ְסתּ ֵ‬ ‫צוֹתִא ֶשׁרִ‬ ‫ֲ‬ ‫ל־א ָר‬ ‫םִע ֲ‬ ‫שׁ ְב ְרָךִ ַבּגּוֹי ַ‬ ‫לֹא־ יְ ַד ְע ָתּם‪:‬‬

‫‪50‬‬

‫‪Ezek 32:9‬‬

‫‪.‬וְ ַכ ְע ֶסת ‪Vocalized in MS5 as‬‬

‫‪7‬‬

THE CORPUS OF THE ARAMAIC MNEMONICS IN ML

51

Aramaic Mnemonic §13 Deut 29:41

2

ִ‫ַשׂלְ ָמהִדִ בתור‬

ִ‫מלהִמשכנת‬ ‫חזרִאל‬ “he did not return the pledged thing”

Exod 22:8

Exod 22:25 Deut 24:13

ִ‫עִעל־שׁוֹר‬ ַ ‫ר־פּ ַשׁ‬ ֶ ‫ל־דּ ַב‬ ְ ‫ל־כּ‬ ָ ‫ַע‬ ִ‫הִעל־ ַשׂלְ ָמה‬ ַ ‫ל־שׂ‬ ֶ ‫מוֹרִע‬ ַ ‫ל־ח‬ ֲ ‫ַע‬ ִ‫אמרִכּי־הוּא‬ ַ ֹ ‫הִא ֶשׁרִי‬ ֲ ‫־א ֵב ָד‬ ֲ ‫ל־כּל‬ ָ ‫ַע‬ ִ‫יהם‬ ֶ ֵ‫ר־שׁנ‬ ְ ‫אִדּ ַב‬ ְ ֹ ‫דִה ֱאֹלהיםִיָב‬ ָ ‫הִע‬ ַ ֶ‫ז‬ ִ‫םִשׁנַ ים‬ ְ ‫ןִאֹלהיםִיְ ַשׁ ֵלּ‬ ֱ ‫יע‬ ֻ ‫ֲא ֶשׁרִיַ ְרשׁ‬ :‫ְל ֵר ֵעהוּ‬ ִ‫ֹלִתּ ְחבֹּלִ ַשׂלְ ַמתִ ֵר ֶעָך‬ ַ ‫ם־חב‬ ָ ‫א‬ :‫יבנּוִּלוֹ‬ ֶ ‫שִׁתּשׁ‬ ְ ‫אִה ֶשּׁ ֶמ‬ ַ ֹ ‫ַעד־בּ‬ ִ‫בוֹטִכּבֹא‬ ְ ‫ת־ה ֲע‬ ַ ‫יבִלוִֹא‬ ֶ ‫בִתּשׁ‬ ָ ‫ָה ֵשׁ‬ ִִָ‫וּב ְַר ִֶכךּ‬ ֵ ִ‫ַה ֶשּׁ ֶמשִׁוְ ָשׁ ַכבִ ְבּ ַשׂלְ ָמתוֹ‬ ִ‫יֶהִצ ָד ָקהִל ְפנֵ יִיְהוָ ה‬ ְ ‫וּלָךִתּ ְה‬ ְ :‫ֹלהיָך‬ ֶ ‫ֱא‬

‫מלה‬ a thing

‫משכנת‬ pledged 3‫ִחזר‬

he returned

Fol. 116v, Weil, §1213. The Masorah notes the four cases of forms of ‫“ ַשׂלְ ָמה‬garment” in the Torah to distinguish these forms from the more numerous cases of the form ‫שׂ ְמ ָלה‬. The note continues . ‫ לוטה‬. ‫ נתון‬.‫וכל קרייה דכות ב מ ו יהושע‬ ‫ ורחצת‬. ‫ מי עלה‬. ‫“ ויסך‬and similarly (the form is ‫ )שׂלמה‬in the rest of the Bible apart from six cases (where it is ‫)שׂמלה‬: Josh 7:6; Judg 8:25; 1 Sam 21:10; 2 Sam 12:20; Prov 30:4; Ruth 3:3; (and four cases in Isaiah: 3:6; 3:7; 4:1; 9:4).” 3 This exclusive Jewish Palestinian Aramaic root is the one also used by Targum Neofiti and Fragment Targum (ms.V) (‫)מחזרה תחזר‬, whereas Targum Onqelos uses the Standard Literary Aramaic root ‫ָא ָת ָבא( תוב‬ ‫) ָת ִתיב‬. 1 2

52

SCRIBAL WIT

Deut 29:4

ִ‫יםִשׁנָ ה‬ ָ ‫םִאַר ָבּע‬ ְ ‫ְךִא ְת ֶכ‬ ֶ ‫אוֹל‬ ֵ ָ‫ו‬ ִ‫יכם‬ ֶ ‫ִ־בלוִּ ַשׂלְ מ ֵת‬ ָ ‫ַבּמּ ְד ָבּרִלֹא‬ ִ‫הִמ ַעל‬ ֵ ‫א־ב ְל ָת‬ ָ ֹ ‫יכםִוְ נַ ַע ְלָךִל‬ ֶ ‫ֵמ ֲע ֵל‬ :‫ַרגְ ֶלָך‬

4‫ִאל‬

not

This catchword does not seem to have an equivalent in the associated verse. One possibility adopted in our translation is that of a transcription error that there has been metathesis of the ‫ א‬and ‫ ל‬from an original ‫“ לא‬not,” which is also the reading of Targums Onqelos, Neofiti, and PsJonathan. The problem with this suggestion is that a negative would then be following a verb instead of, as is the norm, preceding it. 4

THE CORPUS OF THE ARAMAIC MNEMONICS IN ML

53

Aramaic Mnemonic §14 Josh 18:121

2

‫מ ְד ַבּ ָרה ִבִ פתחין‬

‫דמשקִשקרתה‬ “Damascus is falsehood”

1 Kgs 19:15

Josh 18:12

ִ‫ְךִשׁוּבִל ַד ְר ְכָּך‬ ְ ‫יוִל‬ ֵ ‫הִא ָל‬ ֵ ָ‫אמרִיְהו‬ ֶ ֹ ‫וַ יּ‬ ִ‫ִוּמ ַשׁ ְח ָתּ‬ ָ ‫את‬ ָ ‫קִוּב‬ ָ ‫ִמ ְד ַבּ ָרהִ ַד ָמּ ֶשׂ‬ :‫ל־א ָרם‬ ֲ ‫ְךִע‬ ַ ‫לִל ֶמ ֶל‬ ְ ‫ת־חזָ ֵא‬ ֲ ‫ֶא‬

Damascus

ִ‫אַתִצפוֹנָ ה‬ ָ ‫םִהגְּ בוּלִל ְפ‬ ַ ‫יִל ֶה‬ ָ ‫יְה‬ ִ ַ‫ו‬ ִ‫ל־כּ ֶתף‬ ֶ ‫בוּלִא‬ ֶ ְ‫הִהגּ‬ ַ ‫ן־היַּ ְר ֵדּןִוְ ָע ָל‬ ַ ‫מ‬ ִ‫הִב ָהר‬ ָ ‫יְ ריחוִֹמ ָצּפוֹןִוְ ָע ָל‬ ‫והיו‬/‫יָמּה וְ ָהיֻ ה‬ ָ :‫יתִאוֶ ן‬ ָ ‫ִמ ְד ַבּ ָרהִ ֵבּ‬

‫שקרתה‬

‫דמשק‬

falsehood

Fol. 131v, Weil §1341. This mnemonic occurs in the Mp of M C and of Miqra’ot Gedolot at 1 Kgs 19:15. 2 The Masorah notes the two occurrences of this form with a pathaḥ under the ‫ב‬, instead of a qameṣ as in Isa 16:1; 1 Chr 5:9; and 12:9. 1

54

SCRIBAL WIT

Aramaic Mnemonic §15 Judg 2:11

2

‫ח‬ ִ ִ‫אַעלֶ ה‬ ֲ

ִ‫אמרִמלאכהִלאתתה‬ ִ‫דארונהִאריך‬ ִ‫למכסויהִקוטרתה‬ ‫דירושלם‬ “the angel said to his wife that the ark is fit to cover the incense of Jerusalem”

Exod 3:173

ִ‫םִמ ֳעני‬ ֵ ‫אַעלֶ הִ ֶא ְת ֶכ‬ ֲ ִ‫וָ א ַֹמר‬ ִ‫ץִה ְכּנַ ֲעניִוְ ַהחתּי‬ ַ ‫ל־א ֶר‬ ֶ ‫םִא‬ ֶ ‫מ ְצ ַרי‬ ִ‫וְ ָה ֱאמֹריִוְ ַה ְפּרזּיִוְ ַהחוּיִוְ ַהיְבוּסי‬ :‫בִוּד ָבשׁ‬ ְ ‫תִח ָל‬ ָ ‫ל־א ֶרץִזָ ַב‬ ֶ ‫ֶא‬

‫אמר‬ he said

Fol. 137r, Weil, §389. This mnemonic occurs in M C here; at 1 Sam 28:1,1 and at 2 Sam 24:24; in MA at Ps 66:15; in MS5 at Exod 3:17; in MM1 at Exod 3:17; in Miqra’ot Gedolot in the Mf sub ‫על‬, and in the Mm at Exod 3:17 and at Ps 137:6; it is listed in Ognibeni, ’Oklah, §8B; and in Ginsburg, 2, ‫ע‬, §586. 2 The Masorah notes eight cases of the 1st sg. hiphil impf. form (with pathaḥ under the first two letters [‫אַעלֶ ה‬ ֲ ]) to distinguish these forms from the eighteen cases of the 1st sg. qal impf. (with seghol under the first two letters [‫)] ֶא ֱעלֶ ה‬. 3 The Hebrew simanim are given on fol. 32v at Exod 3:17. There the Mm reads: . ‫ ארונה‬. ‫ ותאמר האשה‬. ‫ ויעל מלאך יי‬. ‫אעלה ח פת ואמר אעלה אתכם‬ ‫ אם לא אעלה‬. ‫ עלות מחים‬. ‫ אעלה אכסה ארץ‬. ‫“ כי אעלה ארכה לך‬there are eight occurrences of ‫אַעלֶ ה‬ ֲ with pathaḥ: Exod 3:17; Judg 2:1; 1 Sam 28:11; 2 Sam 24:24; Jer 30:17; 46:8; Pss 66:15; 137:6. 1

THE CORPUS OF THE ARAMAIC MNEMONICS IN ML

Judg 2:1

1 Sam 28:11

2 Sam 24:24

Jer 30:17

4

ִ‫ן־הגּ ְלגָּ ל‬ ַ ‫לִמ ְלאְַך־יְהוָ הִמ‬ ַ ‫וַ יַּ ַע‬ ִ‫אַעלֶ ה‬ ֲ ִ‫אמר‬ ֶ ֹ ‫ל־הבֹּכיםִוַ יּ‬ ַ ‫ֶא‬ ִ‫יאִא ְת ֶכם‬ ֶ ‫ֶא ְת ֶכםִממּ ְצ ַריםִוָ ָאב‬ ִ‫ץִא ֶשׁרִנ ְשׁ ַבּ ְעתּי‬ ֲ ‫ל־ה ָא ֶר‬ ָ ‫ֶא‬ ִ‫א־א ֵפר‬ ָ ֹ ‫יכםִוָ א ַֹמרִל‬ ֶ ‫ַל ֲאב ֵֹת‬ :‫עוֹלם‬ ָ ‫םִל‬ ְ ‫ְבּריתיִא ְתּ ֶכ‬ ִ‫הִאת־מִי‬ ֶ ‫רִהא ָשּׁ‬ ָ ‫אמ‬ ֶ ֹ ‫וַ תּ‬ ִ‫מוּאל‬ ֵ ‫ת־שׁ‬ ְ ‫רִא‬ ֶ ‫אמ‬ ֶ ֹ ‫־לְּךִוַ יּ‬ ָ ‫אַעלֶ ה‬ ֲ :‫ַה ֲעלי־לי‬ ִ‫ל־א ַרוְ נָ הִלֹא‬ ֲ ‫ְךִא‬ ֶ ‫רִה ֶמּ ֶל‬ ַ ‫אמ‬ ֶ ֹ ‫וַ יּ‬ ִ‫אוֹתָךִבּ ְמחיר‬ ְ ‫הִמ‬ ֵ ֶ‫נוִֹא ְקנ‬ ֶ ‫י־ק‬ ָ ‫כּ‬ ִ‫ֹלהיִעֹלוֹת‬ ַ ‫הִא‬ ֱ ָ‫אַעלֶ הִלַ יהו‬ ֲ ִ‫וְ לֹא‬ ִ‫ת־הגּ ֶֹרן‬ ַ ‫דִא‬ ֶ ‫ןִדּו‬ ָ ‫חנָּ םִוַ יּ ֶק‬ ִ‫ףִשׁ ָקלים‬ ְ ‫רִבּ ֶכ ֶס‬ ְ ‫ת־ה ָבּ ָק‬ ַ ‫וְ ֶא‬ :‫ֲחמשּׁים‬ ִ‫כּוֹתיְך‬ ַ ‫הִלְךִוּמ ַמּ‬ ָ ‫אַעלֶ הִ ֲא ֻר ָכ‬ ֲ ִ‫כּי‬ ִ‫ֶא ְר ָפּ ֵאְךִנְ ֻאם־יְהוָ הִכּיִנ ָדּ ָחה‬ ִ‫שִׁאין‬ ֵ ‫אוִּלְךִציּוֹןִהיאִדּ ֵֹר‬ ָ ‫ָק ְר‬ :‫ָלהּ‬

55

‫מלאכה‬ the angel

‫לאתתה‬ to his wife 4‫ִדארונה‬

that the ark

‫ִאריך‬ is fitting5

The Aramaic correspondence represents a word play on the name

‫“ ֲא ַרוְ נָ ה‬Arauna” with the Aramaic word for ark ‫ארונה‬. Ognibeni (Oklah,

§8B), however, takes Arauna in the mnemonic as the name mentioned in the 2 Sam 24 verse: “e l’angelo disse alla moglie di Arauna” “the angel said to the wife of Arauna.” There are two difficulties with this interpretation.The first is that the name “Arauna” is always translated in the Targum to Samuel as ‫אַרוָ ן‬ ְ (without the emphatic ‫)ה‬, see 2 Sam 24: 18– 24. Secondly, taking the relative pronoun ‫ ד‬of ‫ ארונה‬as a genitive indicator with the previous ‫“ לאתתה‬to his wife” would mean that the speech of the angel would not have the requisite introductory pronoun to introduce what he said. 5 The Aramaic ‫“ אריך‬is long” or “is fitting” represents another word play in this mnemonic, in this case with its Hebrew correspondence ‫ֲא ֻר ָכה‬

56

SCRIBAL WIT

Jer 46:8

Ps 66:15

Ps 137:6

ִ‫םִכּיְ אֹרִיַ ֲע ֶלהִוְ ַכנְּ ָהרוֹת‬ ַ ‫מ ְצ ַרי‬ ִ‫אַעלֶ ה‬ ֲ ִ‫אמר‬ ֶ ֹ ‫שׁוִּמיםִוַ יּ‬ ָ ‫י ְתגּ ֲֹע‬ ִ‫ִ־א ֶרץִאֹב ָידהִעירִוְ י ְֹשׁ ֵבי‬ ֶ ‫ֲא ַכ ֶסּה‬ :‫ָבהּ‬ ִ‫־לְּך‬ ָ ‫אַעלֶ ה‬ ֲ ִ‫ֹלוֹתִמחים‬ ֵ ‫ע‬ ִ‫הִב ָקר‬ ָ ‫יםִא ֱע ֶשׂ‬ ֶ ‫תִאיל‬ ֵ ‫ם־קט ֶֹר‬ ְ ‫ע‬ :‫יםִס ָלה‬ ֶ ‫ם־עתּוּד‬ ַ ‫ע‬ ִ‫ק־לשׁוֹניִ| ְלחכּיִאם־לֹא‬ ְ ‫תּ ְד ַבּ‬ ִ‫אַעלֶ ה‬ ֲ ִ‫ֶאזְ ְכּ ֵרכיִאם־לֹא‬ :‫םִעלִרֹאשִׁשׂ ְמ ָחתי‬ ַ ‫רוּשׁ ַל‬ ָ ְ‫ֶאת־ִי‬

‫למכסויה‬ to cover it

‫קוטרתה‬ the incense

ִ 6‫ִדירושלם‬

of Jerusalem

“healing.” This word play is not found in the standard Targum to Jeremiah, which translates the Hebrew word literally with ‫“ ָאסוּ‬healing.” 6 MM1 (at Exod 3:17) and Miqra’ot Gedolot (at the Mf sub ‫על‬, and in the Mm at Ps 137:6) have a variant reading of ‫“ בירושלם‬in Jerusalem.”

THE CORPUS OF THE ARAMAIC MNEMONICS IN ML

57

Aramaic Mnemonic §16 Judg 8:191

2

ִ‫לוִּכִב‬

‫ִישמעאלִמיתא‬ ִ‫לבןִסטימאִבלעם‬ ִ‫חכימאִיהושע‬ ִ‫קטלהִאחווִבזונה‬ ִ‫יסופוןִמןִארעאִומן‬ ִ‫מדברהִבזכותה‬ ִ‫דאבשלוםִלא‬ ‫שלטתִבהִחיותא‬ ‫בישתא‬ ִאתקיל‬ ִ‫גובראִדשמעִולא‬ ִ‫מתכעסהִנפשה‬ “Ishmael the dead one, Laban the begrudger, Balaam the wise. Joshua killed his brothers with his belt. They will perish from the land and from the wilderness. By the merit of Absalom the evil beast had no power over him. the man who heard, and did not himself get angry”

Fol. 141v, Weil, §1444. This mnemonic occurs in M C at Ezek 14:15; in MM1 at Gen 17:18; Num 14:2 and Deut 32:29; in Miqra’ot Gedolot 1

‫‪SCRIBAL WIT‬‬

‫ישמעאל‬

‫ל־ה ֱאֹלהיםִ‬ ‫םִא ָ‬ ‫רִאַב ָר ָה ֶ‬ ‫ְ‬ ‫אמ‬ ‫וַ יּ ֹ ֶ‬ ‫יֶהִל ָפנֶ יָך‪:‬‬ ‫לוִּי ְשׁ ָמ ֵעאלִי ְח ְ‬

‫‪58‬‬

‫‪Gen 17:18‬‬

‫‪Ishmael‬‬

‫מיתא‬

‫רוֹןִבּ ָאזְ נֵ יִ‬ ‫ְ‬ ‫ל־ע ְפ‬ ‫רִא ֶ‬ ‫וַ ַיְד ֵבּ ֶ‬ ‫ץִלאמֹרִאְַךִ‬ ‫ם־ה ָא ֶר ֵ‬ ‫ַע ָ‬ ‫ם־אַתּהִלוִּ ְשׁ ָמ ֵעניִנָ ַתתּיִ‬ ‫ָ‬ ‫א‬ ‫הִקחִמ ֶמּנּיִ‬ ‫ףִה ָשּׂ ֶד ַ‬ ‫ֶכּ ֶס ַ‬ ‫יִשׁ ָמּה‪:‬‬ ‫ת־מת ָ‬ ‫הִא ֵ‬ ‫וְ ֶא ְק ְבּ ָר ֶ‬

‫‪Gen 23:13‬‬

‫‪the dead one‬‬ ‫‪Laban‬‬

‫סטימא‬ ‫‪the begrudger‬‬

‫בלעם‬ ‫‪Balaam‬‬

‫חכימא‬ ‫‪the wise‬‬

‫ןִהןִלוִּיְהיִ‬ ‫רִל ָב ֵ‬ ‫אמ ָ‬ ‫ָל ָבןִוַ יּ ֹ ֶ‬ ‫כ ְד ָב ֶרָך‪:‬‬

‫‪Gen 30:34‬‬

‫י־מת‬ ‫י־יוֹסף כ ֵ‬ ‫וַ י ְראוּ ֲא ֵח ֵ‬ ‫אמרוּ לוּ י ְשׂ ְט ֵמנוּ‬ ‫יהם וַ יּ ֹ ְ‬ ‫ֲאב ֶ‬ ‫יוֹסף וְ ָה ֵשׁב יָ שׁיב ָלנוּ ֵאת‬ ‫ֵ‬ ‫הִא ֶשׁרִגָּ ַמ ְלנוִּאֹתוֹ‪:‬‬ ‫ל־הר ָע ֲ‬ ‫ָכּ ָ‬

‫‪Gen 50:15‬‬

‫אמר בּ ְל ָעם ָל ָאתוֹן כּי‬ ‫וַ יּ ֹ ֶ‬ ‫שׁ־ח ֶרב‬ ‫תּ בּי לוּ יֶ ֶ‬ ‫ה ְת ַע ַלּ ְל ְִ‬ ‫עתּה ֲה ַרגְ תּיְך‪ִ :‬‬ ‫ְבּיָ די כּי ָ‬ ‫לוּ ָח ְכמוּ יַ ְשׂכּילוּ זֹאת יָבינוּ‬ ‫יתם‪ִ :‬‬ ‫ְל ַא ֲחר ָ‬

‫‪Num 22:29‬‬

‫‪Deut 32:29‬‬

‫‪, and in the Mm at Gen 17:18 and Num 14:2; it is also‬ל ‪in the Mf sub‬‬ ‫‪, §304.‬ל ‪listed in Ognibeni, ’Oklah, §19D, and in Ginsburg, 2,‬‬ ‫‪ with a‬לוּ ‪2 The Masorah notes the twenty-two cases of forms of‬‬ ‫‪ with a‬לוֹ ‪shureq to distinguish these forms from the hundreds of cases of‬‬ ‫‪ḥolem.‬‬

THE CORPUS OF THE ARAMAIC MNEMONICS IN ML

Josh 7:7

Judg 13:23

‫ע ֲא ָההּ | ֲאד ֹנָ י‬ ִַ ‫יְהוֹשׁ‬ ֻ ‫אמר‬ ֶ ֹ ‫וַ יּ‬ ‫תּ ַה ֲעביר‬ ִָ ‫יְהוה ָל ָמה ֵה ֲע ַב ְר‬ ‫ת־היַּ ְר ִֵדּן‬ ַ ‫ת־ה ָעם ַהזֶּ ה ֶא‬ ָ ‫ֵא‬ ‫ָל ֵתת א ָֹתנוּ ְבּיַד ָה ֱאמֹרי‬ ‫הוֹא ְלנוּ וַ נֵּ ֶשׁב‬ ַ ‫ְל ַה ֲאב ֵידנוּ וְ לוּ‬ ִ ‫ְבּ ֵע ֶבר ַהיַּ ְר ֵדּן׃‬ ‫אמר לוֹ א ְשׁתּוֹ לוּ ָח ֵפץ‬ ֶ ֹ ‫וַ תּ‬ ‫א־ל ַקח‬ ָ ֹ ‫יתנוּ ל‬ ֵ ‫יְהוָ ה ַל ֲהמ‬ ‫מיָּ ֵדנוּ ע ָֹלה וּמנְ ָחה וְ לֹא‬ ‫ל־א ֶלּה וְ ָכ ֵעת‬ ֵ ‫ת־כּ‬ ָ ‫ֶה ְ ִר ָאנוּ ֶא‬ ִ ‫יענוּ ָכּזֹאת׃‬ ָ ‫לֹא ה ְשׁמ‬

59

‫יהושע‬ Joshua

‫קטלה‬ killed

3

Judg 8:19

‫אמר ַא ַחי ְבּנֵ י־אמּי ֵהם‬ ַ ֹ ‫וַ יּ‬ ‫אוֹתם‬ ָ ‫ַחי־יְהוָ ה לוּ ַה ֲחי ֶתם‬ ִ ‫לֹא ָה ַרגְ תּי ֶא ְת ֶכם׃‬

‫אחוו‬ his brothers

1 Sam 14:30

‫ַאף כּי לוּא ָאכֹל ָא ַכל ַהיּוֹם‬ ‫אשׁר‬ ֶ ‫ֹיְביו‬ ָ ‫ָה ָעם מ ְשּׁ ַלל א‬ ‫א־ר ְב ָתה‬ ָ ֹ ‫ָמ ָצא כּי ַע ָתּה ל‬ ִ ‫ַמ ָכּה ַבּ ְפּל ְשׁתּים׃‬

‫בזונה‬ with his belt4

Num 20:3

‫אמרוּ‬ ְ ֹ ‫וַ יָ ֶרב ָה ָעם עם־מ ֶֹשׁה וַ י‬ ‫ֵלאמֹר וְ לוּ גָ וַ ְענוּ בּגוַ ע ַא ֵחינוּ‬ ִ ‫ל ְפנֵי יְהוָ ה׃‬

‫יסופון‬ they will perish

The variant in MC at Ezek 14:15 reads ‫“ אחזי‬he showed” connecting with ‫“ ִֶה ְר ָאנוּ‬he showed us” in Judg 13:23, and it connects the siman ‫“ קטלה‬he killed him” with ‫“ ָה ַרגְ תּי‬I killed” of Judg 8:19. The variant in MM1 at Gen 17:18; in Miqra’ot Gedolot in the Mf sub ‫ ;לו‬and in Ognibeni, ’Oklah, §19D reads ‫“ אתתיה‬his wife” connecting with ‫“ א ְשׁתּוֹ‬his wife” of the Judg 13:23 verse. 4 The correspondence of the catchword ‫“ בזונה‬with his belt” appears to be a pun on the Hebrew root ‫“ אכל‬to eat, to feed” since there is also an Aramaic root ‫“ זון‬to support, to nourish” (DJPA, 174). 3

‫‪SCRIBAL WIT‬‬

‫מןִארעא‬ ‫‪from the land‬‬

‫ומןִמדברה‬ ‫‪and from the‬‬ ‫‪wilderness‬‬

‫בזכותה‬ ‫‪by his merit‬‬

‫דאבשלום‬ ‫‪of Absalom‬‬

‫לאִשלטתִבה‬ ‫‪had no power over‬‬ ‫‪him‬‬

‫חיותאִבישתא‬ ‫‪evil beast‬‬

‫ל־א ֲהר ֹן כֹּל‬ ‫וַ יֹּלּנוּ ַעל־מ ֶֹשׁה וְ ַע ַ‬ ‫אמרוּ ֲא ֵל ֶהם‬ ‫ְבּנֵי י ְשׂ ָר ֵאל וַ י ֹ ְ‬ ‫תנוּ ְבּ ֶא ֶרץ‬ ‫־מ ְִ‬ ‫ל־ה ֵע ָדה לוּ ַ‬ ‫ָכּ ָ‬ ‫מ ְצ ַרים אוֹ בִַּמּ ְד ָבּר ַהזֶּ ה‬ ‫לוּ־מ ְתנוּ׃ ִ‬ ‫ָ‬ ‫ל־א ֲהר ֹן כֹּל‬ ‫וַ יֹּלּנוּ ַעל־מ ֶֹשׁה וְ ַע ַ‬ ‫אמרוּ ֲא ֵל ֶהם‬ ‫ְבּנֵי י ְשׂ ָר ֵאל וַ י ֹ ְ‬ ‫לוּ־מ ְתנוּ ְבּ ֶא ֶרץ‬ ‫ַ‬ ‫ל־ה ֵע ָדה‬ ‫ָכּ ָ‬ ‫מ ְצ ַרים אוֹ ַבּמּ ְד ָבּר ַהזֶּ ה‬ ‫־מ ְתנוּ׃‬ ‫לוּ ָ‬ ‫וֹתיִוַ יְהיִ‬ ‫ִלמ ְצ ָ‬ ‫לוּאִה ְק ַשׁ ְב ָתּ ְ‬ ‫ָךִכּגַ ֵלּיִ‬ ‫לוֹמָךִוְ צ ְד ָק ְת ְ‬ ‫רִשׁ ֶ‬ ‫ַכנָּ ָה ְ‬ ‫ַהיָּם‪:‬‬ ‫הִאת־ִשׂ ֹנְ ֶאיָךִוְ ל ְשׂנֹאִ‬ ‫אַה ָב ֶ‬ ‫ְל ֲ‬ ‫ִהיּוֹםִ‬ ‫ֶאת־א ֲֹה ֶביָךִכּיִ| הגַּ ְד ָתּ ַ‬ ‫ָךִשׂריםִוַ ֲע ָבדיםִכּיִ|‬ ‫יןִל ָ‬ ‫יִא ְ‬ ‫כּ ֵ‬ ‫יִהיּוֹםִכּיִלֻ א‪/‬לוִ‬ ‫ַיָד ְעתּ ַ‬ ‫נוִּהיּוֹםִ‬ ‫לוֹםִחיִוְ ֻכ ָלּ ַ‬ ‫ַ‬ ‫אַב ָשׁ‬ ‫ְ‬ ‫רִבּ ֵעינֶ יָך‪:‬‬ ‫י־אזִיָ ָשׁ ְ‬ ‫ֵמתיםִכּ ָ‬ ‫ִבּםִ‬ ‫א־מ ַשׁ ְל ָתּ ָ‬ ‫עוֹלםִל ֹ ָ‬ ‫ינוִּמ ָ‬ ‫ָהי ֵ‬ ‫יהםִ‬ ‫ָךִע ֵל ֶ‬ ‫לֹא־נ ְק ָראִשׁ ְמ ֲ‬ ‫ִשׁ ַמיםִיָ ַר ְד ָתִּ‬ ‫־ק ַר ְע ָתּ ָ‬ ‫לוּא ָ‬ ‫יָךִהריםִנָ זֹלּוּ‪:‬‬ ‫מ ָפּנֶ ָ‬ ‫ירִבּ ָא ֶרץִ‬ ‫הִאַעב ָ‬ ‫ֲ‬ ‫ִַיָּהִר ָע‬ ‫לוּ־ח ָ‬ ‫הִשׁ ָמ ָמהִ‬ ‫וְ שׁ ְכּ ָל ָתּהִוְ ָהיְ ָת ְ‬ ‫יִה ַחיָּה‪:‬‬ ‫יִעוֹברִמ ְפּנֵ ַ‬ ‫ֵ‬ ‫מ ְבּל‬

‫‪60‬‬

‫‪Num 14:2a‬‬

‫‪Num 14:2b‬‬

‫‪Isa 48:18‬‬

‫‪2 Sam 19:7‬‬

‫‪Isa 63:19‬‬

‫‪Ezek 14:15‬‬

‫‪61‬‬

‫‪THE CORPUS OF THE ARAMAIC MNEMONICS IN ML‬‬

‫>אתקיל‪‫תאִבישתא ִ