This landmark volume presents the first-ever English translation of the ancient Israelite Samaritan version of the Pentateuch, or Torah. A text of growing interest and importance in the field of bibli
This landmark volume presents the first-ever English translation of the ancient Israelite Samaritan version of the Pentateuch, or Torah. A text of growing interest and importance in the field of biblical studies, the Samaritan Pentateuch preserves a version of the Hebrew text distinct from the traditional Masoretic Text that underlies modern Bible translations.
Benyamim Tsedaka's expert English translation of the Samaritan Pentateuch is here laid out parallel to the more familiar Masoretic Text, highlighting the more than 6,000 differences between the two versions. In addition to extensive explanatory notes in the margins throughout, the book's detailed appendices show affinities between the Samaritan and Septuagint versions and between the Samaritan and Dead Sea Scroll texts. Concluding the volume is a categorical name index containing a wealth of comparative information.
Journal of the American Oriental Society
"An easily accessible primary source for scholars in the fields of Religious Studies and Israelite traditions and folklore. . . . Readers interested in how the Torah shapes Samaritan religious life today will appreciate this firsthand information."
Martin Abegg
"More than simply a translation, this is a document infused with the unique culture of the Israelite-Samaritans as no other English translation could be. . . Truly an historic piece of literature."
Haseeb Shehadeh
— University of Helsinki
"The Samaritan Pentateuch is a vital source not solely for Samaritanology but also for biblical studies. . . . Benyamim Tsedaka here offers a significant scholarly resource for Hebrew speakers and English-speaking audiences alike."
Terry Giles
— Gannon University
"Tsedaka and Sullivan have made a significant contribution, giving a larger audience than ever before access to the Samaritan Pentateuch. This English translation gives a faithful rendition of the Samaritan text and, by comparing it to the Masoretic version, shows the pluriform nature of the early biblical textual tradition. A welcome addition to the biblical studies library!"
Étienne Nodet
— École biblique de Jérusalem
"Both forms of the Torah have been available since the seventeenth century in the great Polyglots, with Latin translation, but modern versions were lacking. This synoptic translation definitely fulfills adesideratum, all the more in that it includes scholarly introductions and extensive footnotes."
Review of Biblical Literature
"Allows people without the requisite linguistic skills to examine the untranslated texts yet who are interested in either the textual criticism of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament or the transmission of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament, as well as people generally interested in traditions of interpretation and biblical studies, to access the traditional readings of the SP."
Religious Studies Review
"An extremely valuable addition to English language libraries on Bible and Biblical Studies."
Bible Review Journal
"This landmark volume presents the first-ever English translation of the ancient Israelite Samaritan version of the Pentateuch, or Torah. . . . This book, providing in parallel columns the Israelite Samaritan Text (ST) and the Jewish Masoretic Text (MT), will be of particular interest to Bible collectors and laypersons in addition to Bible scholars. . . . This history-making volume is heartily recommended."
Journal of Ancient Judaism
"Timely. . . . An English translation of the Samaritan Pentateuch will help to make this important textual witness to the Torah more accessible to students and a broader scholarly public alike."
Association of Jewish Libraries Reviews
"Affordably priced and a reasonable size. A good choice for both synagogue and college Judaica and Bible collections."
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