A Second Torah

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And it is written: “That he shall write for himself a second (mishneh) Torah” (Deuteronomy 17:18) — a script that is apt to be changed (lehishtannot)

Some of the most ancient surviving Hebrew texts are written in what looks, to the untrained eye, like chicken scratch. This is the original Hebrew script that scholars call Paleo-Hebrew. The Hebrew script that we are familiar with doesn’t appear in the Jewish historical record until after the Jews returned from the Babylonian exile in 538 BCE, during the time of Ezra the scribe. This newer script was adapted from the Aramaic alphabet, the standard alphabet of the Babylonian Empire. While most of the biblical manuscripts found among the Dead Sea Scrolls (dating from the third century BCE to the first century CE) are written in this new alphabet, many continue to spell out the Tetragrammaton, the four-letter name of God, in Paleo-Hebrew. Presumably, the authors of these scrolls associated this older script with God and increased holiness. 

Eventually, the practice of writing even God’s name in Paleo-Hebrew fell out of favor, and all Hebrew texts were written in the newer script — the one familiar to us — based on Aramaic. Though this may be the first time you’re hearing about Paleo-Hebrew, the rabbis of the Talmud were well aware of it.

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Read from the Talmud

Categories
    • Destruction of a potter's vessel the type of Judah's destruction
    • God's power typed by the potter Judgements on Judah A prayer
    • Sin and the captivity of Judah Trust in God is blessed God's salvation Renewal of the covenant
    • Ruin of the Jews foreshadowed by types Their return Double payment for idolatry
    • Complete rejection of Judah and resulting judgements Jeremiah receives a promise and a threat A complaint and a prayer
    • Jeremiah's prayer during famine Complaint against lying prophets
    • The Ruined Waistband Figure of the bottles of wine Exhortation to repentance
    • Jeremiah complaint of the prosperity of the wicked God lament the desolation of his inheritance Promises to the repentant
    • The prophet proclaims God's covenant Disobedient Jews reprimanded A prophecy of evil
    • Unequal comparison of God and idols Jeremiah warns the people Lament for the tabernacle Jeremiah's prayer
    • Jeremiah laments the sins of the people Disobedience brings calamities A Warning The Jews and the nations threatened
    • Calamities of Judah Judgements on impenitence A desperate state
    • Jeremiah calls Judah to repentance God's judgements threatened Sacrifices are rejected Exhortation to mourn
    • Judah's enemies encourage themselves The prophet's lament The people are called to mourn
    • Judgement of God on the Jews for their sins Contempt of God Wickedness of the people and their leaders
    • God's call to Israel Judah exhorted to repentance Lamentation for Judah
    • Rebellious Judah and Israel Promises to the repentant Israel's Confession
    • Complaint with Israel Israel causes its own calamities Judah's sins
    • The Time and calling of Jeremiah Jeremiah's vision signifying speedy judgments God's promise of assistance
    • From the book Celebration The Book Of Jewish Festivals Buy the book here Purim’s festivity connects intimately with the month of Adarאֲדָר Ădār; from Akkadian adaru is the sixth month of the civil year and the twelfth month of the religious year on the Hebrew calendar, roughly corresponding to the month of March in the […]
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