Biblical Hebrew Forum

[JoeWallack AT aol.com]

Jimmy  Doyle wrote:
> I'm trying to find information on the number of MSS (and  their relative
> dates) for the Hebrew Scriptures.  I have found  great information regarding
> New Testament texts, even down to the  details of individual books and their
> dating; but when it comes to the  Hebrew Scriptures, I can't seem to find
> this info.  The only  thing I have found is a general number of about 2000
> MSS.  I'm  really looking for something more specific than this, but even
> this  will do if I can find it in reputable source.
>
> Any  ideas?




JW:
Hebrew Manuscripts were generally Copied to about 1100 and therefore in  
addition to Age are also the best evidence due to Process (Copying as opposed 
to  
Selection). Important Extant manuscripts to that time are:

1) Aleppo  - 1st half tenth century 

2) Cairo Codex Prophets - 895

3) Leningrad Codex -  1008

4) Codex Reuchlinianus - start 12th century

The Ben Asher  Tradition started in the second half of the eigth century.

After 1100  Manuscripts were usually Eclectic introducing opportunity for new 
textual  variation and greatly reducing value as Exemplars

Yeivin gives a brief  summary of the Hebrew Manuscript tradition in 
"Introduction to the Tiberian  Masorah" and estimates that there are at least 
3,000 
known Manuscripts. 
 
The only significant collation I'm aware of is BHS. Most people don't  
realize that Kittel, the Creator of BHS, was Christian. The first two BHS  
editions 
were from his fellow Christian, Ben-Chayyim's, eclectic 16th century  
creation. Starting with the third edition BHS has the Leningrad Codex as a 
base. 



Joseph



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