Reading the Rabbis

Christian Hebraism in the Works of Herbert of Bosham
Erscheinungsjahr 2014
ISBN: 978-90-04-25468-8
Verlag: Brill

Buch, Englisch, Band 5, 222 Seiten, Format (B × H): 158 mm x 244 mm, Gewicht: 499 g

Reihe: Commentaria

In Reading the Rabbis Eva De Visscher examines the Hebrew scholarship of Englishman Herbert of Bosham (c.1120-c.1194). Chiefly known as the loyal secretary and hagiographer of Archbishop Thomas Becket and enemy of Henry II, he appears here as an outstanding Hebraist whose linguistic proficiency and engagement with Rabbinic sources, including contemporary teachers, were unique for a northern-European Christian of his time.
Two commentaries on the Psalms by Herbert form the focus of scrutiny. In demonstrating influence from Jewish and Christian texts such as Rashi, Hebrew-French glossaries, Hebrew-Latin Psalters, and Victorine scholarship, De Visscher situates Herbert within the context of an increased interest in the revision of Jerome's Latin Bible and literal exegesis, and a heightened Christian awareness of Jewish 'other-ness'.

Autoren/Hrsg.

De Visscher, Eva

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Jüdische Studien Geschichte des Judentums Geschichte des Judentums: Mittelalter
• Geisteswissenschaften Christentum, Christliche Theologie Systematische Theologie Geschichte der Theologie, Einzelne Theologen
• Geisteswissenschaften Jüdische Studien Jüdische Studien Jüdische Studien: Theologie
• Geisteswissenschaften Jüdische Studien Jüdische Studien Judentum und Weltreligionen, Weltethos

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Acknowledgments.ix
List of Abbreviations.xi
Notes on Translations and Transliterations.xiii
List of Illustrations.xv

Introduction.1
1.Herbert of Bosham’s Life and Works.1
2.Christian Hebraisms.6
3.The Hebraist Commentaries: The Magna Glosatura and the Psalterium Cum Commento.19

I.How Much Hebrew did Herbert Know?.23
1.Transliteration of Hebrew Words.23
2.Knowledge of Hebrew Grammar.30
3.Lexical Changes: The Problems of Literal Translation.45

II.Hebrew Learning Tools.55
1.Jerome.55
2.Hebrew-Latin Psalters and the Eadwine Psalter.62
3.Hebraico-French Glosses—Le‘azim.67
4.Hebrew-Hebraico-French Glossaries and Proto-dictionaries 74

III.The Use of Rabbinic Sources.79
1.Magister and Litterator.80
2.Rashi.81
2.Midrash Tehillim.106
4.The Talmud/Gamaliel.113
5.The Targums.120
6.Menahem ben Saruq and Dunash ibn Labrat.126
7.Oral Sources.130

IV.Negotiating Christian and Jewish Authorities.137
1.Paul’s Neutralising Influence.138
2.Paul as Christianising Force.144
3.Paul versus the Litteratores.151
4.Herbert on the Fence?.154

V.The Practice of Literal Exegesis.161
1.Hebraist, Exegete and Polemicist.161
2.Littera and Peshat.177
3.Caro and Spiritus.185

Epilogue.193

Appendix 1.Lists of Hebrew and French Words.199
Appendix 2.Plates of London, St Paul s Cathedral Library, MS 2.203

Bibliography.207
Index.219

Über Autor(innen)

Eva De Visscher, Ph.D. Leeds (2004), teaches at Aberystwyth University and the University of Oxford. She has published several articles on medieval Jewish-Christian encounters and Hebrew-Latin-vernacular manuscrips, including one in Multilingualism in Medieval Britain, ed. Jefferson and Putter (Brepols, 2013).