Judaism and Scripture

The Evidence of Leviticus Rabbah

Jacob Neusner

Wipf and Stock Publishers

199 West 8th Avenue, Suite 3

Eugene, Oregon 97401

Judaism and Scripture

The Evidence of Leviticus Rabbah

Copyright© 1986 by Neusner, Jacob

ISBN: 1-59244-335-4

Publication date 9/8/2003

Previously published by The University of Chicago Press, 1986

In tribute to

G. DENNIS O’BRIEN

Scholar, intellectual, educator

President of the

University of Rochester

He proves that scholars and

educators also make great

presidents of universities.

So, everywhere, why not

the best!

Contents

Preface

Acknowledgments

Part One

The Evidence of Leviticus Rabbah

1. The Logic of the Composition

The Issue of the Mishnah’s Relationship to Scripture

The Problem of Leviticus Rabbah

Defining the Syllogism of Rabbinic Discourse

Midrash in Context

The Logic of Differentiation within the Clerks’ Canon

Leviticus Rabbah and the Mishnah: Salvation and Sanctification

Mediating Documents

The Composition of Logic and Topic

2. The Plan of Leviticus Rabbah: (1) The Formal Program

A Single Intelligible Statement: The Logic of Form

The Building Blocks of Discourse

Types of Paragraphs of Thought: Differentiation and Comparison

The Arrangement of Types of Paragraphs of Thought: Pattern and Variation

Unclassified Paragraphs of Thought

Parables in Leviticus Rabbah

Paragraphs of Thought Shared with Earlier Compositions or Compilations of the Rabbinic Canon

The Formation of Leviticus Rabbah: Indeterminate and Determinate Stages

The Voice of Leviticus Rabbah

3. The Plan of Leviticus Rabbah: (2) The Topical Program

Outline of the Contents of Leviticus Rabbah

The Mode of Thought of Leviticus Rabbah

The Role of Scripture in Leviticus Rabbah: Renewal and Reconstruction

The Substance of Comparison and Contrast

The System of Leviticus Rabbah: Topical Classification

Salvation and Sanctification

4. Syllogism in Context: Address to the Age

The Literary Context

The Political Setting of Leviticus Rabbah

Message and Matrix: The Larger System

Salvation in the Larger System

The Logic of the Composition in Context

Judaism and Scripture

Appendix 1: The Stoic Logic of Propositions, by Robert Berchman

Appendix 2: Bibliographical Essay, Joseph Heinemann on Leviticus Rabbah

Part Two

A Translation of the Text of Leviticus Rabbah, edited by Mordecai Margulies Midrash Wayyikra Rabbah: A Critical Edition Based on Manuscripts and Genizah Fragments with Variants and Notes

Introduction to the Translation

Parashah One

Parashah Two

Parashah Three

Parashah Four

Parashah Five

Parashah Six

Parashah Seven

Parashah Eight

Parashah Nine

Parashah Ten

Parashah Eleven

Parashah Twelve

Parashah Thirteen

Parashah Fourteen

Parashah Fifteen

Parashah Sixteen

Parashah Seventeen

Parashah Eighteen

Parashah Nineteen

Parashah Twenty

Parashah Twenty-One

Parashah Twenty-Two

Parashah Twenty-Three

Parashah Twenty-Four

Parashah Twenty-Five

Parashah Twenty-Six

Parashah Twenty-Seven

Parashah Twenty-Eight

Parashah Twenty-Nine

Parashah Thirty

Parashah Thirty-One...