Midrash and Multiplicity: Pirke de-Rabbi Eliezer and the Renewal of Rabbinic Interpretive Culture PDF
Preview Midrash and Multiplicity: Pirke de-Rabbi Eliezer and the Renewal of Rabbinic Interpretive Culture
STEVEN DANIEL SACKS MIDRASH AND MULTIPLICITY ≥ STUDIA JUDAICA FORSCHUNGEN ZUR WISSENSCHAFT DES JUDENTUMS BEGRÜNDET VON E. L. EHRLICH HERAUSGEGEBEN VON G. STEMBERGER BAND XLVIII WALTER DE GRUYTER · BERLIN · NEW YORK MIDRASH AND MULTIPLICITY PIRKE DE-RABBI ELIEZER AND THE RENEWAL OF RABBINIC INTERPRETIVE CULTURE BY STEVEN DANIEL SACKS WALTER DE GRUYTER · BERLIN · NEW YORK (cid:2)(cid:2) Printedonacid-freepaperwhichfallswithintheguidelinesoftheANSI toensurepermanenceanddurability. ISBN 978-3-11-020922-8 ISSN 0585-5306 BibliographicinformationpublishedbytheDeutscheNationalbibliothek The Deutsche Nationalbibliothek lists this publication in the Deutsche Nationalbibliografie; detailedbibliographicdataareavailableintheInternetathttp://dnb.d-nb.de. LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData ACIPcataloguerecordforthisbookisavailablefromtheLibraryofCongress. (cid:2) Copyright2009byWalterdeGruyterGmbH&Co.KG,D-10785Berlin Allrightsreserved,includingthoseoftranslationintoforeignlanguages.Nopartofthisbook may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, includingphotocopy,recordingoranyinformationstorageandretrievalsystem,withoutpermis- sioninwritingfromthepublisher. PrintedinGermany CoverDesign:ChristopherSchneider,Laufen יבאל Barry Aubrey Sacks עשר ןיאו הפוס רובעכ םלוע דוסי קידצו (הכ:י ילשמ) Acknowledgements The author of this work is greatly indebted to many who have moved this project from conception to the present form, but only has the pleasure to list few here. The inspiration for this work originated under the tutelage of Professor Michael Fishbane, who illuminated the beauty and complexity of midrash for me, and remains my paradigm as a scholar. I am also eternally grateful for the guidance of Professor Jonathan Z. Smith, and cannot duly express my gratitude to him for his kindness and attention to detail throughout my efforts. Professor Lewis Barth was instrumental with his early support for this project, and his extraordinary hospitality. Similarly, I owe my deepest thanks to Professors Rivka Ulmer and Carol Bakhos for their criticism and support for this project. My colleagues, Professors Joseph Molleur and Ahmed Souaiaia are a paradigm of kindness and support, and for all things I owe them my deepest gratitude. I would also like to acknowledge the diligent efforts of my assistant, Alyssa McMullin, who prepared the indices in this work with great patience. Finally, and not least, I would like to acknowledge the support of my family, who have made all things possible. (cid:3) Table of Contents Acknowledgements .............................................. vii PRE and the History of Rabbinic Literature ......................... 1 Literary Arrangement in PRE ..................................... 17 Narrative and the Phenomenon of Lists ...................... 22 The Context of Thematic Discourse ......................... 32 Analogy and Bound Themes in PRE ....................... 36 PRE and Pseudepigraphy ......................................... 42 R. Eliezer as Author, Pseudonym or Archetype ............... 53 Transmission and Tradents in PRE .......................... 59 Appendix: Geonic Hebrew and Pseudepigraphy ............... 82 PRE and the Language of Scripture ................................ 88 Exegetical Terminology in PRE ............................. 90 PREs Exegetical Expansions ............................... 100 Appendix: Legal Authority and Scriptural Innovation in PRE ... 109 PRE and the Rabbinic Tradition ................................... 120 Technical Vocabulary in PRE ............................... 122 Quotation and Resonance .................................. 135 Mythic Clusters ........................................... 145 Appendix: PRE, Ishmael and Islam .......................... 157 Conclusion ..................................................... 168 Select Bibliography .............................................. 171 Index ........................................................... 175
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