Jewish Teachings and the Bible

Jewish teachings and Bible share a common platform and share a special relation. One of the most important concerns of classic Jewish thought is the importance of biblical texts, and their elucidation. Another major concern of classical Judaism is the execution and application of the Jewish law, known as "halakhah", derived from biblical and rabbinic sources.

In ancient time:

The practice of reading, interpreting, and explaining biblical texts is an old Jewish pre-occupation. The book of Nehemiah presents some insight into ancient biblical analysis, reflective of early Judaism during the Persian period. Of the time, when it mentions that Ezra opened the book (the Torah) and that the Levites "read from the book of the Law of God, with interpretation. They gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading."(Nehemiah 8:1-8)

In this context, it appears that the Levites served as the expositors of the biblical text. This also appears to reveal the pattern of literacy of the priests in non-Jewish circles, as well as during this period of time. Levites and Priests often served as the scribes.

With the passage of time:

As time passed by, the scribal classes evolved. By the late Second Temple period, the analysis of biblical texts did not remain in the hands of priestly circles. The demolition of the Temple in Jerusalem in 70 CE led to the end of the priestly authority over religious leadership. Thereafter, the explanation of texts became the purview of the rabbis.

The rising awareness to sacred texts in the Greco-Roman era inevitably formed the foundation for the materialization of sectarian conflict, among groups such as the Pharisees and Sadducees. The interpretation and reinterpretation of biblical texts resulted in a more powerful self-understanding, of distinctiveness among the various groups that arose during the Second Temple period.

The community at Qumran that produced the Dead Sea scrolls also developed an exclusive form of elucidation. The understanding of the Bible served as the chief factor in determining varying renditions of archetypes envisioned in sacred texts.

Rabbinic period:

The early rabbinic period saw the materialization of various Aramaic translations of the Torah. These are referred to as Targumim. Some of these translations were reasonably "literal" in their approach. The others were rather loose in their translation with the aim of elucidating obscure passages. There are many conventional Jewish Bibles that are known as Chumashim (meaning the five books) and comprise the Targum Onkelos.

Medieval period:

By the medieval period, the practice of the biblical interpretation reached its peak in the Jewish community. A number of well-known rabbis started writing wide-ranging commentaries on the Bible, using a range of hermeneutical methods.

Till today, Jewish teachings,and the Bible share an unbreakable bond. The analysis and comprehensive interpretation of one is incomplete without the other.