Pseudo-Philo
Encyclopedia
Pseudo-Philo is the name commonly used for a Jewish pseudepigraphical
work in Latin
, so called because it was transmitted along with Latin translations of the works of Philo
of Alexandria but is very obviously not written by Philo. Its more proper Latin title is Liber Antiquitatum Biblicarum, a title generally rendered in English as the Book of Biblical Antiquities.
It chronicles biblical history from Adam
to the death of Saul
with omissions, modifications, and additions to the biblical texts. Many of its additions have parallels in other Jewish traditions. The temple is said to be still standing which indicates a date of composition before 70 CE. That the narrative breaks off at the death of Saul is usually considered quite strange, and some scholars have reasoned that this implies that there were further parts of the work which are now missing.
It is believed to have been written in Hebrew
and then translated into Greek
and the Greek translated again into Latin
, with the unfortunate result that a large number of proper names not found in Biblical
texts are garbled beyond restoration.
It is probably the earliest reference for many later legendary accretions to the Biblical texts, such as the casting of Abraham
into the fire, Dinah
's marriage to Job
, and Moses
born circumcised. It also contains several other embellishments which deviate quite substantially from the norm, such as Abraham leading a rebellion against the builders of the Tower of Babel
(the reason for him being cast into the fire).
Amongst the several speeches it proclaims were made by the protagonists is a strange Psalm it attributes to David
. This particular psalm constitutes an exorcism
, which not a few scholars have argued is based on an actual ritual of exorcism that was carried out in the days of the author. There is also a lament about the human sacrifice
of Jephthah's daughter, with the daughter being the singer. Commentators have noted that the characterisation of the daughter is (like other female characterisations in Pseudo-Philo) much stronger and more positive than that of her biblical counterpart. She has a name (Seila), and her role is as wise and willing, rather than passive and reluctant, participant. One commentator has observed that 'the author has done his utmost to put this woman on the same level as the patriarchs, in this case especially Isaac'.
Parts of this work were brought back into Hebrew for the medieval Chronicles of Jerahmeel
.
Pseudepigraphy
Pseudepigrapha are falsely attributed works, texts whose claimed authorship is unfounded; a work, simply, "whose real author attributed it to a figure of the past." The word "pseudepigrapha" is the plural of "pseudepigraphon" ; the Anglicized forms...
work in Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
, so called because it was transmitted along with Latin translations of the works of Philo
Philo
Philo , known also as Philo of Alexandria , Philo Judaeus, Philo Judaeus of Alexandria, Yedidia, "Philon", and Philo the Jew, was a Hellenistic Jewish Biblical philosopher born in Alexandria....
of Alexandria but is very obviously not written by Philo. Its more proper Latin title is Liber Antiquitatum Biblicarum, a title generally rendered in English as the Book of Biblical Antiquities.
It chronicles biblical history from Adam
Adam and Eve
Adam and Eve were, according to the Genesis creation narratives, the first human couple to inhabit Earth, created by YHWH, the God of the ancient Hebrews...
to the death of Saul
Saul the King
According to the Bible, Saul was the first king of the united Kingdom of Israel. He was anointed by the prophet Samuel and reigned from Gibeah. He commited suicide to avoid arrest in the battle against the Philistines at Mount Gilboa, during which three of his sons were also killed...
with omissions, modifications, and additions to the biblical texts. Many of its additions have parallels in other Jewish traditions. The temple is said to be still standing which indicates a date of composition before 70 CE. That the narrative breaks off at the death of Saul is usually considered quite strange, and some scholars have reasoned that this implies that there were further parts of the work which are now missing.
It is believed to have been written in Hebrew
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
and then translated into Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
and the Greek translated again into Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
, with the unfortunate result that a large number of proper names not found in Biblical
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
texts are garbled beyond restoration.
It is probably the earliest reference for many later legendary accretions to the Biblical texts, such as the casting of Abraham
Abraham
Abraham , whose birth name was Abram, is the eponym of the Abrahamic religions, among which are Judaism, Christianity and Islam...
into the fire, Dinah
Dinah
According to the Hebrew Bible, Dinah was the daughter of Jacob, one of the patriarchs of the Israelites and Leah, his first wife. The episode of her abduction and violation by a Canaanite prince, and the subsequent vengeance of her brothers Simeon and Levi, commonly referred to as "The Rape of...
's marriage to Job
Book of Job
The Book of Job , commonly referred to simply as Job, is one of the books of the Hebrew Bible. It relates the story of Job, his trials at the hands of Satan, his discussions with friends on the origins and nature of his suffering, his challenge to God, and finally a response from God. The book is a...
, and Moses
Moses
Moses was, according to the Hebrew Bible and Qur'an, a religious leader, lawgiver and prophet, to whom the authorship of the Torah is traditionally attributed...
born circumcised. It also contains several other embellishments which deviate quite substantially from the norm, such as Abraham leading a rebellion against the builders of the Tower of Babel
Tower of Babel
The Tower of Babel , according to the Book of Genesis, was an enormous tower built in the plain of Shinar .According to the biblical account, a united humanity of the generations following the Great Flood, speaking a single language and migrating from the east, came to the land of Shinar, where...
(the reason for him being cast into the fire).
Amongst the several speeches it proclaims were made by the protagonists is a strange Psalm it attributes to David
David
David was the second king of the united Kingdom of Israel according to the Hebrew Bible and, according to the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, an ancestor of Jesus Christ through both Saint Joseph and Mary...
. This particular psalm constitutes an exorcism
Exorcism
Exorcism is the religious practice of evicting demons or other spiritual entities from a person or place which they are believed to have possessed...
, which not a few scholars have argued is based on an actual ritual of exorcism that was carried out in the days of the author. There is also a lament about the human sacrifice
Human sacrifice
Human sacrifice is the act of killing one or more human beings as part of a religious ritual . Its typology closely parallels the various practices of ritual slaughter of animals and of religious sacrifice in general. Human sacrifice has been practised in various cultures throughout history...
of Jephthah's daughter, with the daughter being the singer. Commentators have noted that the characterisation of the daughter is (like other female characterisations in Pseudo-Philo) much stronger and more positive than that of her biblical counterpart. She has a name (Seila), and her role is as wise and willing, rather than passive and reluctant, participant. One commentator has observed that 'the author has done his utmost to put this woman on the same level as the patriarchs, in this case especially Isaac'.
Parts of this work were brought back into Hebrew for the medieval Chronicles of Jerahmeel
Chronicles of Jerahmeel
The Chronicles of Jerahmeel is a voluminous work that draws largely on Pseudo-Philo's earlier history of Biblical events and is of special interest because it includes Hebrew and Aramaic versions of certain deuterocanonical books in the Septuagint....
.
See also
- Cairo GenizaCairo GenizaThe Cairo Geniza is a collection of almost 280,000 Jewish manuscript fragments found in the Genizah or storeroom of the Ben Ezra Synagogue in Fustat, presently Old Cairo, Egypt. Some additional fragments were found in the Basatin cemetery east of Old Cairo, and the collection includes a number of...
- Elephantine papyriElephantine papyriThe Elephantine Papyri are a collection of ancient Jewish manuscripts dating from the 5th century BC. They come from a Jewish community at Elephantine, then called Yeb, the island in the Nile at the border of Nubia, which was probably founded as a military installation in about 650 BC during...
- Jewish temple at Elephantine
- Land of OniasLand of OniasThe Land of Onias is the name given in Hellenistic Egyptian, Jewish, and Roman sources to an area in Ancient Egypt's Nile delta where a large number of Jews settled. The Land of Onias, which included the city of Leontopolis, was located in the nome of Heliopolis...
- PhiloPhiloPhilo , known also as Philo of Alexandria , Philo Judaeus, Philo Judaeus of Alexandria, Yedidia, "Philon", and Philo the Jew, was a Hellenistic Jewish Biblical philosopher born in Alexandria....
- PhilosophyPhilosophyPhilosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
- Philo's view of GodPhilo's view of GodPhilo was a leader of the Hellenistic Jewish community in Alexandria, Egypt. Philo wrote expansively on the intersection of philosophy, politics, and religion during the late Second Temple Period. He specifically explores the connections between Platonic Greek philosophy and historical Judaism...
- Philo's WorksPhilo's WorksThe Church Fathers have preserved most of Philo's works that are now extant. Many of these are allegorical commentaries on the Pentateuch, but there are several significant other works of history and philosophy.- His allegorical commentary :...
- Moses in rabbinic literatureMoses in rabbinic literatureAllusions in rabbinic literature to the Biblical character Moses, who led the people of Israel out of Egypt and through their wanderings in the wilderness, contain various expansions, elaborations and inferences beyond what is presented in the text of the Bible itself.- Overview :Of all Biblical...