Jewish Studies
Lieve M. Teugels
The Meshalim in the Mekhiltot
An Annotated Edition and Translation of the Parables in Mekhilta de Rabbi Yishmael and Mekhilta de Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai
With the assistance of Esther van Eenennaam
[Die Meschalim in den Mechiltot. Eine kommentierte Ausgabe und Übersetzung der Parabeln in der Mechilta von Rabbi Jischmael und der Mechilta von Rabbi Schimon ben Jochai.]
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Published in English.
This edition of rabbinic parables (meshalim) in the two Mekhiltot, the tannaitic Midrashim to the book of Exodus (3rd century CE), has a double scholarly purpose. It offers a critical synoptic presentation and study of the textual witnesses of the parables, and a commentary on their meaning and function in their literary and historical context. Moreover, a new English translation of every parable will make the edition a useful tool for interested readers with less knowledge of Hebrew, or those merely looking for a quick reference. This edition, which intends to be the first in a series of editions of parables in all the tannaitic works, is an indispensable tool not only for scholars of Jewish texts, but also for students of the New Testament and early Christian literature, historians of religion in late Antiquity, and those interested in similar literary genres, such as fables.