Zeitschrift für hebraeische Bibliographie · 1901-05-01 · 3 (Mai-Juni 1901) · p. Seite 88

88 lines of every stanza rhyme, and, in addition, the last syllable of the second line of every stanza rhymes with the last syllables of the first and third lines of the following stanza. The mannscript is divided into two parts. The first part is called מעשה כראשית numbering eight folios, and the second part is entitled מעשה אבות nümbering thirty-one folios. The letters with which the first four stanzas begin form the proper name שלמה; and in similar fashion the first six stanzas of the second part of the manuscript give us the word בן יצחק. The Contents of the manuscript are essentially a reproduction of the stories of the book of Genesis put into the form of poetry. In the first part the Biblical stories up to Abraham are narrated; and the second part concludes with the death of Joseph. But in addition to the mere facts stated in the Bible, our author also reproduces later Midrashic legends and explanations connected with them. But this little volume, besides giving ns the stories of the Book of Genesis put in the attractive ,form of poetry, also contains interwoven in these narrations, thoughts that have their.origin in Jewish philosophy; exegetical notes of interest; explanations of the meaning of some laws. mentioned in the Bible; and yery often takes occassion to point a moral lesson. We shall illustrate the. last point in the following, Our author after telling us of the first sin in the garden of Eden, and of the punishment that followed, continues thus י לכן אנשי לבב קחו מוסר ושכל ישר אשר יש בכם ביום החומר אל יהי נמסר השמרו פן יפתה לבבכם אחרי הדמיון כי לא כץ בדיו שמעו זאת אחי ותהי נפשכם It is to be noted that all the extraneous matter contained in our manuscript and intended to elucidate the Biblical narrative, is to be found in the commentary of Rashi to the corresponding parts of the Bible. Thus with reference to the evil reports that Joseph brought concerning his brothers, Rashi makes the following cbmment:2) היה מניד לאביו שהיו אוכליןאברמן החי ומזלזלין בבני השפחות לקרותן עבדם וחשודין על העריות וכד - 2} See Rashi on Genesis XXXVII, V. 2.