Joseph ben Isaac Bekhor Shor
Encyclopedia
Joseph ben Isaac Bekhor Shor of Orleans (12th century) (Hebrew: יוֹסֵף בֶּן־יִצחָק בְּכוֹר־שׁוֹר) was a French
tosafist, exegete, and poet who flourished in the 2nd half of the 12th century.
, and Samuel ben Meïr (Rashbam). The identity of Joseph Bekor Shor and the tosafist Joseph ben Isaac of Orleans has been sufficiently demonstrated by Gross, who showed that the same explanations given in the Tosafot
(Ḥul. 112-b; Yeb. 25-b, 36-b) in the name of "Joseph ben Isaac", are quoted in the Semak (No. 205) and in Meir of Rothenburg
's Responsa (ed. Prague, No. 863) as those of "Joseph Bekor Shor."
, he wrote a Biblical commentary marked by considerable acumen. Even more than Rashi
, to whose exegetical school he belonged, he confined himself to literal interpretations (peshat
). Anticipating later Biblical criticism
, he assumed the presence of duplicate narratives in the Bible, and he strove to give rational explanations to the miraculous stories. Thus he interprets "tree of life
" (Genesis ii. 9) as "tree of healing", explaining that the fruit of the tree possessed the virtue of healing the sick, without, however, bestowing eternal life. In regard to the transformation of Lot's wife
into a pillar of salt (Gen. xix. 26) he explains that, disbelieving in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah
, she lingered on the road, and was overtaken by the rain of brimstone and fire, which are usually mixed with salt.
Well acquainted with the Vulgate
and Christian
Biblical exegesis, Joseph, in commenting on Psalm ii., cites Jerome
, whose explanation of the word he criticizes. His commentary on the Pentateuch is still extant in manuscript in the libraries of Leyden and Munich
. Part of it, on Genesis and Exodus, was published by Jellinek
(Leipsic
, 1855). Extracts from the remaining books were published by Berliner
in Peleṭat Soferim (1872).
im). Besides the short hymns in the style of Ibn Ezra
with which he concludes each section of the commentary, he wrote the following selihot:
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
tosafist, exegete, and poet who flourished in the 2nd half of the 12th century.
Biography
Joseph was a pupil of Jacob Tam, Joseph KaraJoseph Kara
Joseph ben Simeon Kara was a French Bible exegete who was born and lived in Troyes. His uncle and teacher was Menahem ben Ḥelbo, whom Ḳara often cites in his commentaries, these quotations being almost the only source of knowledge concerning Menahem's exegesis.Ḳara frequented Rashi's house; it...
, and Samuel ben Meïr (Rashbam). The identity of Joseph Bekor Shor and the tosafist Joseph ben Isaac of Orleans has been sufficiently demonstrated by Gross, who showed that the same explanations given in the Tosafot
Tosafot
The Tosafot or Tosafos are medieval commentaries on the Talmud. They take the form of critical and explanatory glosses, printed, in almost all Talmud editions, on the outer margin and opposite Rashi's notes...
(Ḥul. 112-b; Yeb. 25-b, 36-b) in the name of "Joseph ben Isaac", are quoted in the Semak (No. 205) and in Meir of Rothenburg
Meir of Rothenburg
Meir of Rothenburg was a German Rabbi and poet, a major author of the tosafot on Rashi's commentary on the Talmud...
's Responsa (ed. Prague, No. 863) as those of "Joseph Bekor Shor."
Biblical Commentaries
Joseph was on very friendly terms with his teacher Jacob Tam, with whom he carried on a learned correspondence (Sefer ha-Yashar, p. 71a). Besides tosafot on the greater part of the TalmudTalmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
, he wrote a Biblical commentary marked by considerable acumen. Even more than Rashi
Rashi
Shlomo Yitzhaki , or in Latin Salomon Isaacides, and today generally known by the acronym Rashi , was a medieval French rabbi famed as the author of a comprehensive commentary on the Talmud, as well as a comprehensive commentary on the Tanakh...
, to whose exegetical school he belonged, he confined himself to literal interpretations (peshat
Peshat
Peshat is one of four classical methods of Jewish biblical exegesis used by Rabbis and Jewish bible scholars in reading the Hebrew Bible, also known as the Tanakh. Peshat is part of a group of exegetical methods known together as Pardes...
). Anticipating later Biblical criticism
Biblical criticism
Biblical criticism is the scholarly "study and investigation of Biblical writings that seeks to make discerning judgments about these writings." It asks when and where a particular text originated; how, why, by whom, for whom, and in what circumstances it was produced; what influences were at work...
, he assumed the presence of duplicate narratives in the Bible, and he strove to give rational explanations to the miraculous stories. Thus he interprets "tree of life
Tree of life
The concept of a tree of life, a many-branched tree illustrating the idea that all life on earth is related, has been used in science , religion, philosophy, mythology, and other areas...
" (Genesis ii. 9) as "tree of healing", explaining that the fruit of the tree possessed the virtue of healing the sick, without, however, bestowing eternal life. In regard to the transformation of Lot's wife
Lot's wife
Lot's wife is a person mentioned in the Book of Genesis who was turned into a pillar of salt for failing to heed the orders of the angels of deliverance from the city of Sodom."Lot's wife" may further refer to:-Geography:...
into a pillar of salt (Gen. xix. 26) he explains that, disbelieving in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah
Sodom and Gomorrah
Sodom and Gomorrah were cities mentioned in the Book of Genesis and later expounded upon throughout the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament and Deuterocanonical sources....
, she lingered on the road, and was overtaken by the rain of brimstone and fire, which are usually mixed with salt.
Well acquainted with the Vulgate
Vulgate
The Vulgate is a late 4th-century Latin translation of the Bible. It was largely the work of St. Jerome, who was commissioned by Pope Damasus I in 382 to make a revision of the old Latin translations...
and Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
Biblical exegesis, Joseph, in commenting on Psalm ii., cites Jerome
Jerome
Saint Jerome was a Roman Christian priest, confessor, theologian and historian, and who became a Doctor of the Church. He was the son of Eusebius, of the city of Stridon, which was on the border of Dalmatia and Pannonia...
, whose explanation of the word he criticizes. His commentary on the Pentateuch is still extant in manuscript in the libraries of Leyden and Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
. Part of it, on Genesis and Exodus, was published by Jellinek
Jellinek
Jellinek is a surname and may refer to:* Adolf Jellinek , an Austrian rabbi and scholar.** Max Hermann Jellinek , son of Adolf Jellinek* E...
(Leipsic
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
, 1855). Extracts from the remaining books were published by Berliner
Berliner
Berliner is most often used to designate a citizen of Berlin, Germany, but may also refer to:* Berliner , a doughnut* Berliner , a paper size in newspapers* Berliner , the CityNightLine line on the Zürich-Berlin Ostbahnhof route...
in Peleṭat Soferim (1872).
Selichot
Joseph was the author also of a number of liturgical poems (piyyutPiyyut
A piyyut or piyut is a Jewish liturgical poem, usually designated to be sung, chanted, or recited during religious services. Piyyutim have been written since Temple times...
im). Besides the short hymns in the style of Ibn Ezra
Moses ibn Ezra
Rabbi Moses ben Jacob ibn Ezra, known as ha-Sallah was a Jewish, Spanish philosopher, linguist, and poet. He was born at Granada about 1055 – 1060, and died after 1138. Ezra is Jewish by religion but is also considered a great influence in the Arabic world in regards to his works...
with which he concludes each section of the commentary, he wrote the following selihot:
- ד' אליך עיני ישברו, believed by Zunz to have been written on the martyrs of BloisBloisBlois is the capital of Loir-et-Cher department in central France, situated on the banks of the lower river Loire between Orléans and Tours.-History:...
and BrayBrayBray is a town in north County Wicklow, Ireland. It is a busy urban centre and seaside resort, with a population of 31,901 making it the fourth largest in Ireland as of the 2006 census... - מועד אדון כתקח, fourteen strophes
- אדון רב העלילה, with two refrains – והשב and ושוב
- אין לבנון די בער, fifteen strophes, ending with לה' אלהינו הרחמים והסליחות
- אל אלהי האלהים ואדוני, fourteen strophes
- ממכון שבתך אלהים, twenty-six strophes
Jewish Encyclopedia bibliography
- Eliakim CarmolyEliakim CarmolyEliakim Carmoly was a French-Jewish scholar. He was born at Soultz-Haut-Rhin, then in the French department of Haut-Rhin. His real name was Goschel David Behr ; the name Carmoly, borne by his family in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, was adopted by him when quite young...
, in Univers Israélite, 1852, p. 365; - Geiger, Parschandatha, pp. 37 et seq.;
- ZunzZunzZunz, Zuntz is a Yiddish surname: , Belgian pharmacologist* Leopold Zunz , German Reform rabbi* Gerhard Jack Zunz , British civil engineer- Zuntz :* Nathan Zuntz , German physiologist...
, Literaturgesch. pp. 282, 285; - idem, Z. G. p. 74;
- Moritz SteinschneiderMoritz SteinschneiderMoritz Steinschneider was a Bohemian bibliographer and Orientalist. He received his early instruction in Hebrew from his father, Jacob Steinschneider , who was not only an expert Talmudist, but was also well versed in secular science...
, Cat. Bodl. col. 1446; - Zadoc Kahn, in R. E. J. iii. 6;
- Gross, in Berliner's Magazin, i. 93;
- idem, Gallia Judaica, p. 34.