Language:
Hebrew
Year of publication:
2022
Titel der Quelle:
אוקימתא; מחקרים בספרות התלמודית והרבנית
Angaben zur Quelle:
ט (תשפא) 67-100
Keywords:
Judah In rabbinical literature
;
Midrash Tanhuma Criticism, interpretation, etc.
;
Bible. Criticism, interpretation, etc.
;
Speeches, addresses, etc.
Abstract:
The article compares the exegeses of Judah’s speech and points out thatthe Tanhuma printed edition in Warsaw is exceptional when comparedwith the bible and Tanhuma parallels in other Midrashic literature.Whereas the biblical logic portrays Judah as a submissive figure beggingto be forgiven, who uses the powers of persuasion to the fullest, theTanhuma portrays him as an argumentative, destructive figure whothreatens to flood Egypt with the blood of its slaughtered people.Attempting to explain the meaning of this deviation, the currentarticle presents additional, distinctive exegeses of the printed Tanhumathat view Joseph as having a key role in the Final Redemption. Versesfrom messianic and redemption prophecies were interpreted to teachabout Joseph’s role in leading the redemption and as proving His purityas the reason for preferring him over his brothers.The unique Tanhumaic portrayal of Messiah ben Joseph’s persona isin disagreement with early and parallel messianic perceptions thatdeveloped in the Christian world and in Jewish thought and which werenot in keeping with the sages’ dominant line of thinking. The Tanhumaicpersona sets Messiah ben Joseph apart from the foreign characteristicsattributed to him in the Jewish apocrypha and from his being portrayed as the Christological Messiah. Instead, the Tanhuma portrays him assecondary messianic figure who leads a process that fits the perception ofthe redemption as a process requiring human involvement.We indicate that the persona of Messiah ben Joseph in Tanhuma isthe basis for the exegesis of Judah’s speech in the Tanhuma. The dualdescription of the confrontation between Judah and Joseph in the homilyof the speech outlines two possible models of the nation’s redemption. Alengthy model involving a bloody civil war, and a speedy model madepossible by Judah leading a process of repenting. Messiah ben Joseph’sinvolvement is described in both models: In the first model, heparticipates in the struggle, but in his wisdom, he ends the battle beforeits outcome is determined and diverts his opponent to a possiblealternative model. In the second model, Messiah ben Joseph confrontsJudah and his brothers with the memory of previous shortcomings anddirects them towards a psychological process of purification.
Note:
With an English abstract.
URL:
אתר את הפרסום בקטלוג המאוחד של ספריות ישראל
