Scribal Wit: Aramaic Mnemonics in the Leningrad Codex (Texts and Studies)

by David Marcus

This book presents for the first time a detailed analysis of the Aramaic mnemonics, those short witty sentences written in Aramaic as memory aids, on the margins of one of the oldest extant biblical Hebrew manuscripts, that of the Leningrad Codex (1008 CE). The material is presented in clear user-friendly charts. Each mnemonic is set alongside the Hebrew verses it represents, and every Aramaic part of the mnemonic is placed on a matching line with its Hebrew equivalent, and both are highlighted in different fonts. This book demonstrates the ingenuity of the Masoretes in their grand endeavor to preserve the text of the Hebrew Bible precisely in the form that it had reached them. It explains the reason for every Masoretic note represented in the mnemonics, and presents evidence supporting the view that the Masoretes were incipient grammarians.

198 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 2013

About the author

David Marcus was born in Ireland to Lithuanian Jewish parents. His dual heritage was reflected in his work, including three novels and several collections of short stories and poetry. As well as his own writing, he fostered the talent of other writers as literary editor for The Irish Press (where he ran the "New Irish Writing" page from 1968 to 1986) and as editor of 30 anthologies of Irish short stories and poetry. He was married to the author Ita Daly.

Reviews

[Rob Vanhoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful introduction and tour of the Leningrad Codex's preservation of dozens of Aramaic mnemonics composed by brilliant Jewish scribes of the late 1st millennium.