Biblical Hebrew Forum

[James Christian <jc.bhebrew AT googlemail.com>]

Thanks for that Yohanan. So how do Karaites who use the name vocalise it?

James Christian

2009/12/24 Yohanan bin-Dawidh <yohanan.bin.dawidh AT gmail.com>

> Shalom Yigal;
>
> Not speaking of modern Karaite sages, since currently there are mixed
> opinions with regards to both Talmudh Bavli and Talmudh Yerushalmi, most
> ancient Karaite sages recommended that we as Karaites study both Talmudh
> Bavli and Talmudh Yerushalmi. The difference was that we were suppose to
> weigh everything in them against the written Torah, and those things which
> were found not in agreement with the written Torah, we were suppose to
> ignore.
> As to the official opinion of Karaites concerning the patriarchs using the
> name, Ibn Ezra was wrong, for such was not our opinion, at least not
> officially, since there is not official opinion among Karaites with regards
> to such. In ancient times there was no official body of Karaites who
> determined what Karaites were to believe, or not to believe, and each
> community had its own customs, and beliefs, this is why some sages from
> community would speak against sages from another community. Some Karaite
> sages form times past thought it was wrong to use the name, YHWH, whereas
> others thought it must be used, if one was to properly follow the words of
> the Torah. As long as a person could come to their conclusion, and argue
> such properly, from the p'shat (plain-meaning) of the text, and using
> haqesh
> (comparitive analogy), then their view could be accepted as their view.
> The patriarchs did use the name, according to all ancient writings that I
> have read from Karaite sages, and the name was even known among pagans
> during the time of the patriarchs, but these people did not know the true
> meaning of the name until Mosheh explained it to them.
>
> I know this is not supposed to be a theological discussion, so if my words
> above seem as such, forgive me. I just wanted to clarify certain things.
>
> Regards,
>
> Yo*h*anan bin-Dawidh
>
> Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas
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