Mishnaic Hebrew: An introductory survey

MISHNAIC HEBREW AND RABBINIC LITERATURE Mishnaic Hebrew (MH) is the language of the Tannaim and Amoraim in Palestine and Babylonia. The Hebrew name for the language of these writings is Lešon hakhamim, meaning “the language of the Sages.” Literature in MH covers a period of about 450 years, roughly between 70 ce and 500 ce. The literature of the Tannaim – which includes the Mishnah, the Tosefta, the halachic midrashim, and Seder ‘olam Rabba – was redacted between 70 ce and 250 ce approximately. The literature of the Amoraim was formed over a period from the end of the third century down to about 500 ce. In Palestine, the work of the Amoraim includes the Jerusalem Talmud and the ancient aggadic Midrashim, such as the Genesis Rabbah, Leviticus Rabbah, and Pesikta de-Rav Kahana; in Babylonia, the work of the Amoraim is represented by the Babylonian Talmud. Most tannaitic texts were redacted in roughly the period 200–50 ce, when Rabbi Judah the Patriarch completed his compilation of the Mishnah. However, research has shown that the Mishnah contains a great deal of material contemporary with the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 ce. Most of this material consists of texts describing ceremonies performed while the Temple still stood. Thus the offering of first fruits (M. Bik 3) is described almost wholly in the present tense, by one who had been present at this ceremony.