From Tradition to Commentary: Torah and Its Interpretation in the Midrash Sifre to Deuteronomy

365 Pages·1991·25.697 MB·English

by  Steven D. Fraade

From
Tradition
To
Commentary
SUNY Series in ludaica: Hermeneutics, Mysticism, and Religion
Michael Fishbane, Robert Goldenberg, and Arthur Green, editors
From
Tradition
To
Commentary
Torah and Its Interpretation in the Midrash
Sifre to Deuteronomy
Steven D. Fraade
State University of New York Press
Published by
State University of New York Press, Albany
© 1991 State University of New York
All rights reserved
Printed in the United States of America
No part of this book may be used or reproduced
in any manner whatsoever without written permission
except in the case of brief quotations embodied in
critical articles and reviews.
For information, address State University of New York Press,
State University Plaza, Albany, N.Y. 12246
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Fraade, Steven D.
From tradition to commentary: Torah and its interpretation in the
Midrash Sifre to Deuteronomy / Steven D. Fraade.
p. cm. ~ (SUNY series in ludaica)
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 0-7914-0495-\. ~ ISBN 0-7914-0496-X (pbk.)
\. Sifrei. Deuteronomy~Commentaries. 2. Bible. O.T.
Deuteronomy~Commentaries. l. Title. II. Series.
BM517.S75F73 1991
296. 1'4~dc20 90-9580
CIP
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2
For Ellen

'''With the kidney fat of wheat' (Deut. 32: 14): This refers to the laws,
which are the body of Torah. 'And the blood of grapes' (ibid.): This
refers to the narratives, which draw the heart of a person like wine."
Sifre Deut. §317
'" A fiery law unto them' (Deut. 33:2): Had law not been given with [the
fire of Torah], a person would not be able to labor with it."
Sifre Deut. §343

Contents
Preface
Xl
Transliterations
XV
Note on the Textual Basis of the Translations
XVll
Chapter One. Introduction: The Turn to Commentary
Chapter Two. Re-Presenting Revelation 25
Introduction 25
Sifre Texts and Commentary 28
The Lord Came from Sinai (§343) 28
Lover, Indeed, of the People(s) (§344) 49
The Heritage of the Congregation of Jacob (§345) 56
He Encompassed Him and Instructed Him (§313) 60
Conclusions 62
Chapter Three. The Early Rabbinic Sage and His Torah in the
Text of the Sifre 69
Introduction 69
Sifre Texts and Commentary 75
Ask Your Elders and They Will Tell You (§31O) 75
That I Command You Today (§41) 79
Or the Magistrate in Charge at the Time (§§152-153) 83
They Shall Teach Your Statutes to Jacob (§351) 87
Serving Him with All Your Heart (§41) 89
Holding Fast to Him (§49) 92
You Shall Hold a Day of Assembly (§135) 94
May My Discourse Come Down as Rain (§306) 96
When the Heads of the People Are Gathered (§346) 99
I Will Appoint Them as Your Heads (§13) 100
If, Then, You Carefully Keep (§48) 105
Take to Heart All the Words (§335) 119
Conclusions 120
ix