Collection ID: 0021 | Metadata type: TEI | TEI XML | Data

Title

Ketuvim

Other related names

• Gaster, Moses 1856-1939, former owner (http://viaf.org/viaf/12428346)

Call number

Gaster Hebrew MS 86
(Manchester, United Kingdom, University of Manchester, University of Manchester Library, Hebrew Manuscripts)

Alternate identifiers

• Former: Gaster 86

Publisher

University of Manchester Library

Language

Hebrew; Judeo-Persian

Origin

Place

Iran

Summary

This manuscript contains the third part of the Hebrew Bible known as Writings (Ketuvim) with numerous marginal glosses in Hebrew and Judeo-Persian. It was copied by Jacob ben Obadiah ben Joseph ben Ezra in the school of Rabbi Mordechai in Kashan in Iran by the order of Rav Samuel ha-Levi. He completed his copy on Tuesday 2 July 1495. The order in which the Bible books appear is as follows: Psalms (folios 1b-72b), Proverbs (73a-101b), Ruth (102b-105b), Song of Songs (105b-109b), Ecclesiastes (109b-117a), Lamentations (117b-121b), Esther (122b-131a), Daniel (131b-150a), Ezra (150b-161b), Nehemiah (161b-179a), Job (179a-209b), 1 and 2 Chronicles (209b-290b). The biblical text is vocalised and accompanied by massorah. According to Moses Gaster, this is a unique manuscript showing the vocalisation and accentuation tradition of Ben Naphtali. The scribe is named as Jacob ben Obadiah ben Joseph ben Ezra. Additions in later hands: folio 1a: additions which include (1) the order of the prophets and writings according to Maimonides, which curiously is then not followed in the manuscript and (2) a list of biblical accents introduced by the Persian heading ("these are the names of the accents"); folios 65b-66a: pen test; folio 70a: erased addition; folios 124a-126b: small additions in the margins. Folios 290b-293a: several texts in different hands and languages. According to Gaster they contain abstracts from Rashi's commentary to certain Psalms and fol. 293a some aggadic matter referring to the kings of Judah. Folio 293b: list of zodiacal signs and of planets in Hebrew and Judeo-Persian.

Notes

• Tiberian vocalisation and massorah
   
• The Judeo-Persian glosses are in the same hand as the main text, in Persian cursive script
   

Extent

Ii+293+ii; 256 x 182 mm

Foliation

Modern pencil foliation in Arabic numerals at the top outer corner of side a of each folio

Support

Paper

Binding

Modern three-quarter brown leather binding with gold tooling on the spine reading 'HAGIOGRAPHA / SAEC. XV. / WITH / PERSIAN GLOSSAR. / COD. HEBR. / GASTER 86'

Layout

Long line of between 15 and 19 written lines; there is ruling, but it is unclear whether this was created with a mistara or by hand; unruled marginal glosses; ritten dimensions: 170-180 x 116-120 mm; uled dimensions: 170 x 115 mm

Decoration

On folio 89a and others: black ink decoration that indicates the middle of the book of Proverbs (Proverbs 18:12), and so forth; ink geometric design on folio 41b

Script

Persian semi-cursive script

Colophon

נשלם זה ספר א"י כתובים בעזרת שדי שוכן / בין כרובים בתלתה בשבא דהוא יום חד / לירח תמוז בשנת אתת"ו לשטרות במאתא / דכאשאן שבח לאל אחרון וראשון בבית מדרשו / של הרב הגדול המעוז המגדול הדיין הדרשן זרע / אברהם בין יצחק נכד יעקב מרדכי הזמן ישראל / בימיו לא אלמן אור מזרח שם אוהביו יפרח ושם / איביו ימח אור מערב שמש זרעו אל יערב הההה"ה / הרב ר׳ הש"ם הלוי זלה"ה במשרת של החכם / הנבון מלא מצוה כרמון עמו בימיו לא / אלמן בזכותו יבנה בית ארמון מנה בר / מנה נזריז בתורה המהיר בהלכה הרב / המתיר כל קשה סופר מהיר בתורת משה / הרב ר׳ שמואל הלוי ישל על יד הצעיר / העני עפר רגלי כל זרע ישורון [...] / מתלמידיו יעקב בן החסיד עובדיה / בן הצדיק המרוחם מר' העניו יוסף / בן עזרה נעג"א הרחמן ישים / אחריתי טוב מראשיתי לקיים / והיה ראשיתך מצער ואחריתך / ישגה מאד אוי"ר / מאנכ"ח

Provenance

• Acquired by The John Rylands Library from the heirs of Moses Gaster in 1954
   

Subjects topical

• Bible. Old Testament--Versions, Jewish

Keywords

• Bible
• 15th century
• Jewish
• Persian
• Colophon
• Gloss
• Paper
• Iran

Licenses

• Text

  Images are ©2018 The University of Manchester Library Special Collections and licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License version 4.0 (CC-BY-4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode. For a description of the terms of use see the Creative Commons Deed https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

  URL

  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode

• Text

  Metadata is ©2018 The University of Manchester Library Special Collections and licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License version 4.0 (CC-BY-4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode. For a description of the terms of use see the Creative Commons Deed https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

  URL

  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode

Table of contents

• 1a — Ketuvim, or Writings (Hebrew Bible)
• 1b — Psalms [folios 1b-72b]
• 73a — Proverbs [folios 73a-101b]
• 102b — Ruth [folios 102b-105b]
• 105b — Song of Songs [folios 105b-109b]
• 109b — Ecclesiastes [folios 109b-117a]
• 117b — Lamentations [folios 117b-121b]
• 122b — Esther [folios 122b-131a]
• 131b — Daniel [folios 131b-150a]
• 150b — Ezra [folios 150b-161b]
• 161b — Nehemiah [folios 161b-179a]
• 179a — Job [folios 179a-209b]
• 209b — 1 and 2 Chronicles [folios 209b-290b]
• 291a — Colophon

Decorations

• 41b — Red ink geometric design.
• 87a — Black ink decoration that indicates the middle of the book of Proverbs (Proverbs 18:12).