You will
very frequently find authors referring to rabbinic sources and other ancient
works. Do not rely upon second hand quotation; verify as many quotations as you
can. Rabbinic literature is cited by a complicated set of
abbreviations:
The earliest
compilation of rabbinic law is found in the Mishnah (edited ca. 220 CE), and
divided into 6 divisions and 63 tractates. The Mishnah is cited by tractate,
chapter, and paragraph. E.g.,
Ber. 5:8 (or m. Ber. 5:8)
This is a Mishnah quotation and is identified either by the “m” which precedes the abbreviation of the tractate (Berakoth, or “Blessings”), or by the fact that there are two Arabic numerals separated by a colon (sometimes a period). The standard editions of Mishnah is:
Danby, Herbert. The Mishnah. London: Oxford University Press, 1933.
Blackman, Philip, ed. and trans. Mishnayot. 2d. ed. 6 vols. New York: Judaikah Press, 1963-64.
For a sample Mishnah page, click here.
The TOSEPHTA is a work parallel to the Mishnah, using the same tractate names:
t. Ber. 5:8 (or TosBer 5:8 in some German literature)
This is a Tosephta reference. “t” identifies this as Tosephta rather than Mishnah. A convenient translation of Tosephta is:
The Tosefta. Ed. Jacob Neusner. 6 vols. New York: Ktav, 1977-1986.
There are two later ‘commentaries’ on the Mishnah, the BABYLONIAN TALMUD and the JERUSALEM (OR PALESTINIAN) TALMUD. These use the same tractate structure as the Mishnah. [See the very helpful website of Eliezer Segal, explaining the various parts of a page of the Babylonian Talmud]
Ber. 58b (or b.Ber. 58b. or b.B.B. 174a)
This is a reference to the Babylonian Talmud, which is a commentary on Mishnah. The tractates have the same names as those of Mishnah (Berakoth, Baba Bathra), but the references always have an Arabic numeral plus “a” or “b” (referring to the two sides of a Talmud page). In more recent books, “b.” before the tractate name identifies it as Babylonian Talmud. The standard translation is:
The Babylonian Talmud. Ed. I. Epstein. 34 vols. + index. London: Soncino Press, 1935-48.
j.Sanh. 6.23c or y.Sanh.6.23c
This is a reference to the Jerusalem Talmud (or Palestinian Talmud). Like the Babylonian Talmud (or Babli), Yerusalmi is a commentary on Mishnah and thus has the same tractate names. It is distinguished by the “j” or “y” (for Jerusalem, or Yerusalmi). An English translation is available:
The Talmud of the Land of Israel. Ed. Jacob Neusner. 35 vols. Chicago and London: University of Chicago Press, 1982-
The ARAMAIC PARAPHRASE OF THE BIBLE: The TARGUMS
Another important source of knowledge about early Jewish beliefs comes from Aramaic paraphrases of the Bible, known as targums. There are several targums extant:
Alexander, Philip
S. The Targum of Canticles. The Aramaic Bible, vol. 17A. Collegeville,
Minn.: Liturgical Press, 2003.
Beattie, Derek
Robert George, and J. Stanley McIvor. The Targum of Ruth. The Targum of
Chronicles. The Aramaic Bible, vol. 19. Collegeville, Minn.: Liturgical
Press, 1993.
Cathcart, Kevin
J., and Rober P. Gordon. The Targum of the Minor Prophets. The Aramaic
Bible, vol. 14. Wilmington, Del.: Michael Glazier,
1994.
Chilton, Bruce.
The Isaiah Targum. The Aramaic Bible, vol. 11. Wilmington, Del.: Michael
Glazier, 1987.
Clarke, Ernest G.
Targum Pseudo-Jonathan: Deuteronomy. Aramaic Bible, vol. 5B.
Collegeville, Minn.: Liturgical Press, 1998.
Grossfeld,
Bernard. Targum Onkelos to Exodus. The Aramaic Bible, vol. 7. Wilmington,
Del.: Michael Glazier, 1988.
------. The
Targum Onqelos to Genesis. The Aramaic Bible, vol. 6. Wilmington, Del.:
Michael Glazier, 1988.
------. The
Targum Onqelos to Leviticus and The Targum Onqelos to Numbers. The Aramaic
Bible, vol. 8. Wilmington, Del.: Michael Glazier,
1988.
------. The
Two Targums of Esther. The Aramaic Bible, vol. 18. Wilmington, Del.: Michael
Glazier, 1988.
Grossfield,
Bernard. The Targum Onqelos to Deuteronomy. The Aramaic Bible, vol. 5B.
Wilmington, Del.: Michael Glazier, 1988.
Harrington,
Daniel J., and Anthony J. Saldarini. Targum Jonathan of the Former
Prophets. The Aramaic Bible, vol. 10. Wilmington, Del.: Michael Glazier,
1987.
Maher, Michael.
Targum Pseudo-Jonathan, Genesis. The Aramaic Bible, vol. 1B.
Collegeville, Minn.: Liturgical Press, 1992.
Mangan, Céline,
John F. Healey, and Peter S. Knobel. The Targum of Job. The Targum of
Proverbs. The Targum of Qohelet. The Aramaic Bible, vol. 5. Collegeville,
Minn.: Liturgical Press, 1991.
McNamara, Martin.
Targum Neofiti: Deuteronomy. The Aramaic Bible, vol. 5A. Collegeville,
Minn.: Liturgical Press, 1997.
McNamara, Martin,
and Michael Maher. Targum Neofiti 1, Exodus. Targum Pseudo-Jonathan,
Exodus. The Aramaic Bible, vol. 2. Collegeville, Minn.: Liturgical Press,
1994.
------. Targum
Neofiti 1, Leviticus. Targum Pseudo-Jonathan, Leviticus. The Aramaic Bible,
vol. 3. Collegeville, Minn.: Liturgical Press,
1994.
McNamara, Martin,
and Ernest G. Clarke. Targum Neofiti 1, Numbers. Targum Pseudo-Jonathan,
Numbers. The Aramaic Bible, vol. 4. Collegeville, Minn.: Liturgical Press,
1994.
RABBINIC COMMENTARY ON
THE BIBLE
Gen. Rab. on 12:2 or Gen. Rab. 54.6 (or Num. Rab. on 1:2; Lev. Rab. on 12:14 etc.)
This is a reference to Genesis Rabbah, part of the Midrash Rabbah, a commentary on the books of the Pentateuch plus Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, and Esther. It is cited either by the OT text which is commented upon (Genesis 12:2), or by its own book and chapter division (54.6). The standard translation is:
Midrash Rabbah. Trans. H. Friedman and M. Simon. 10 vols. London: Soncino, 1939.
Mek. Exodus Pisha 1.103-105 or Mek. Exod. to 12:6.
The Mekhilta de Rabbi Ishmael is the earliest extant commentary to Exodus. It is cited either by its own internal division (tractate name, chapter and line) or by the Exodus text upon which it is commenting. The standard bilingual edition is:
Mekhilta de-Rabbi Ishmael. Ed. J. Z. Lauterbach. 3 vols. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society of America, 1961.
Sifra Neg 3:1
(Sifra, Negaim 3:1)
Sifra is a commentary on Leviticus. Translation: Jacob Neusner, Sifra: The Rabbinic Commentary on Leviticus. Brown Judaic Studies, 102. Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1985.
Sifre Num
Sifre is a commentary on Numbers. Translation: Jacob Neusner, Sifre to Numbers. Brown Judaic Studies, 118-119. Atlanta: Scholars Press 1986.
Sifre Deut
Sifre is a also commentary on Deuteronomy. Translation:
Neusner, Jacob. Sifre to Deuteronomy. Brown Judaic Studies, 98, 101. Atlanta: Scholars Press 1987, or
Hammer,
Rueven. Sifre: A Tannaitic Commentary on the Book of Deuteronomy. Yale
Judaica Series, vol. 24. New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press,
1986.
OTHER RABBINIC LITERATURE
ARN or
Abot de Rabbi Nathan
Goldin,
Judah, trans. The Fathers According to Rabbi Nathan. Yale Judaica Series,
vol. 10. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1955.
Saldarini, Anthony J. The Fathers According to Rabbi Nathan (Abot de
Rabbi Nathan) Version B: A Translation and Commentary. SJLA, vol. 11.
Leiden: E.J. Brill, 1975.
Pesikta
Rabbati (PesRab)
Braude,
William Gordon, trans. Pesikta Rabbati: Discourses for Feats, Fasts, and
Special Sabbaths. Yale Judaica Series, vol. 18. New Haven, CT: Yale
University Press, 1968.
Midrash
Psalms
Braude,
William Gordon, trans. The Midrash on Psalms. Yale Judaica Series, vol.
13. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1959.
PRK,
PesRabKahana
Braude,
William Gordon (Gershon Zev), and Israel J. Kapstein. Pesikta de-Rab Kahana:
R. Kahana’s Compilation of Discourses for Sabbaths and Festal Days. London:
Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1975.
Minor
Tractates of the Talmud (not included in Epstein, Babylonian
Talmud)
Cohen,
A., ed. The Minor Tractates of the Talmud: Massektoth Ketannot. London:
Soncino Press, 1965.