The Codex Cairensis (also: Codex Prophetarum Cairensis, Cairo Codex of the Prophets) is a Hebrewmanuscript containing the complete text of the Hebrew Bible's Nevi'im (Prophets). It has traditionally been described as "the oldest dated Hebrew Codex of the Bible which has come down to us",[1] but modern research seems to indicate an 11th-century date rather than the 895 CE date written into its colophon.[2] It contains the books of the Former Prophets (Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings) and Latter Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and the book of the Twelve Minor Prophets). It comprises 575 pages including 13 carpet pages.[3]
click on the picture to see all pages of Codex Cairensis (a PDF file)
According to its colophon, it was written complete with punctuation by Moses ben Asher in Tiberias "at the end of the year 827 after the destruction of the second temple"[4] (this corresponds to the year 895 CE, during the reign of Al-Mu'tadid). It was given as a present to the Karaite community in Jerusalem, and taken as booty by the Crusaders in 1099. Later[when?] it was redeemed and came into the possession of the Karaite community in Cairo. When the Karaite Jews left Egypt, they deposited the codex in 1983 at Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where it is kept in a secure room on the floor below the Hebrew Manuscript collection.[5] The Codex was brought back to Jerusalem by a committee of six persons.
Scientific evaluationedit
Although according to its colophon the codex was written by a member of the Ben Asher family, Lazar Lipschütz and others observed that, within the masoretic tradition, Codex Cairensis seems to be closer to ben Naphtali than to Aaron ben Moses ben Asher.
While some scholars consider this to be an argument against its authenticity, Moshe Goshen-Gottstein assumed that ben Naphtali stuck more faithfully to the system of Moses ben Asher than the latter's own son, Aaron ben Moses ben Asher, who corrected the Aleppo Codex and added its punctuation.
More recently, further doubts on its authenticity have been cast by radiocarbon dating and other scientific techniques.[2] It was stated, after scientific investigation, that the scribe must have been a different person from the vocaliser, and the manuscript must be dated to the 11th century, not the 9th.[2]
Umberto Cassuto relied heavily on this codex when producing his edition of the Masoretic Text, which means that in the Prophets his edition is closer to the ben Naphtali tradition than in the Torah or Writings.
Between 1979 and 1992 an editio princeps of the codex (text and masorahs) was published by a team of Spanish scholars. See F. Pérez Castro et alia, El Códice de Profetas de El Cairo, Textos y Estudios "Cardenal Cisneros", CSIC, 8 vols., Madrid 1979-92.
^ abcThe Hebrew University Bible Project: Ezekiel, p.xli, note 116: "It was recently proven that the scribe and the naqdan (vocaliser) of the Cairo Prophets codex cannot be identified as Moshe Ben-Asher, and cannot be dated to 895 but rather to the 11th century CE. Cf. M. Beit-Arié et al., Codices Hebraicis litteris exarati quo tempore scripti fuerint exhibentes (Monumenta palaeographica medii aevi. Series Hebraica; Paris/Jerusalem: Brepols, 1997) 25-29; D. Lyons, The Cumulative Masora: Text, Form and Transmission (Beer-Sheva: Ben-Gurion University Press, 1999 [4]-7 (Hebrew).
Kahle, Paul E. (1959). The Cairo Geniza (2nd ed.). Oxford: Basil Blackwell. ASIN: B0024YG33S
External linksedit
Facsimile edition, Jerusalem 1971
November 04, 2023
codex, cairensis, also, codex, prophetarum, cairensis, cairo, codex, prophets, hebrew, manuscript, containing, complete, text, hebrew, bible, nevi, prophets, traditionally, been, described, oldest, dated, hebrew, codex, bible, which, come, down, modern, resear. The Codex Cairensis also Codex Prophetarum Cairensis Cairo Codex of the Prophets is a Hebrew manuscript containing the complete text of the Hebrew Bible s Nevi im Prophets It has traditionally been described as the oldest dated Hebrew Codex of the Bible which has come down to us 1 but modern research seems to indicate an 11th century date rather than the 895 CE date written into its colophon 2 It contains the books of the Former Prophets Joshua Judges Samuel and Kings and Latter Prophets Isaiah Jeremiah Ezekiel and the book of the Twelve Minor Prophets It comprises 575 pages including 13 carpet pages 3 click on the picture to see all pages of Codex Cairensis a PDF file Contents 1 History 2 Scientific evaluation 3 See also 4 Notes 5 Sources 6 External linksHistory editAccording to its colophon it was written complete with punctuation by Moses ben Asher in Tiberias at the end of the year 827 after the destruction of the second temple 4 this corresponds to the year 895 CE during the reign of Al Mu tadid It was given as a present to the Karaite community in Jerusalem and taken as booty by the Crusaders in 1099 Later when it was redeemed and came into the possession of the Karaite community in Cairo When the Karaite Jews left Egypt they deposited the codex in 1983 at Hebrew University of Jerusalem where it is kept in a secure room on the floor below the Hebrew Manuscript collection 5 The Codex was brought back to Jerusalem by a committee of six persons Scientific evaluation editAlthough according to its colophon the codex was written by a member of the Ben Asher family Lazar Lipschutz and others observed that within the masoretic tradition Codex Cairensis seems to be closer to ben Naphtali than to Aaron ben Moses ben Asher While some scholars consider this to be an argument against its authenticity Moshe Goshen Gottstein assumed that ben Naphtali stuck more faithfully to the system of Moses ben Asher than the latter s own son Aaron ben Moses ben Asher who corrected the Aleppo Codex and added its punctuation More recently further doubts on its authenticity have been cast by radiocarbon dating and other scientific techniques 2 It was stated after scientific investigation that the scribe must have been a different person from the vocaliser and the manuscript must be dated to the 11th century not the 9th 2 Umberto Cassuto relied heavily on this codex when producing his edition of the Masoretic Text which means that in the Prophets his edition is closer to the ben Naphtali tradition than in the Torah or Writings Between 1979 and 1992 an editio princeps of the codex text and masorahs was published by a team of Spanish scholars See F Perez Castro et alia El Codice de Profetas de El Cairo Textos y Estudios Cardenal Cisneros CSIC 8 vols Madrid 1979 92 See also editList of Hebrew Bible manuscripts Damascus Pentateuch Leningrad Codex Dead Sea ScrollsNotes edit Kahle 1959 p 91 a b c The Hebrew University Bible Project Ezekiel p xli note 116 It was recently proven that the scribe and the naqdan vocaliser of the Cairo Prophets codex cannot be identified as Moshe Ben Asher and cannot be dated to 895 but rather to the 11th century CE Cf M Beit Arie et al Codices Hebraicis litteris exarati quo tempore scripti fuerint exhibentes Monumenta palaeographica medii aevi Series Hebraica Paris Jerusalem Brepols 1997 25 29 D Lyons The Cumulative Masora Text Form and Transmission Beer Sheva Ben Gurion University Press 1999 4 7 Hebrew The City and the Book I Kahle 1959 p 96 column by Jerusalem Post columnist and editor J Zel Lurie 1 Sources editErnst Wurthwein Der Text des Alten Testaments Stuttgart 1974 4th edition ISBN 3 438 06006 X The Hebrew University Bible Project Ezekiel ed Shemaryahu Talmon pub The Hebrew University Magnes Press Jerusalem 2004 ISBN 965 493 186 9 Israel Yeivin trans E J Revell Introduction to the Tiberian Masorah 1980 ISBN 0 89130 373 1 Kahle Paul E 1959 The Cairo Geniza 2nd ed Oxford Basil Blackwell ASIN B0024YG33SExternal links editFacsimile edition Jerusalem 1971 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Codex Cairensis amp oldid 1023168202, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
