Codex Cairensis

The Codex Cairensis (also Codex Prophetarum Cairensis, Cairo prophets Code) is the oldest Hebrew manuscript, which contains the complete text of the Old Testament prophets.

History

It was written according to its colophon "at the end of the year 827 the destruction of the Second Temple " ( = 895 AD). Moshe ben Asher in Tiberias and provided with punctuation. He was allegedly given to the Karäergemeinde in Jerusalem and there seized in 1099 by the Crusaders. He later came into the possession of Karäergemeinde of Cairo, which kept him today. The origin of Moshe ben Asher and the dating, however, were questioned in recent times due to radiocarbon dating and other scientific techniques.

Content

The Codex includes the Nevi'im (Hebrew: נְבִיאִים, prophets ). These are the books of Joshua, Judges, Samuel and Kings, to the " front prophets " are, according to Jewish terminology. Also included are the " rear prophets ", ie Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and the Twelve Prophets Books book. The book of Daniel is in Judaism, not to the Prophet but to the Ketuvim (Hebrew: , fonts כְּתוּבִים ) counted and is therefore not included in this Codex. See also Old Testament, content and organization of the First ( "Old " ) Testament.

Scientific review

According to observations by Lazar Lipschutz and other is the Codex, although he by a member of the Ben Asher family originates, according to the colophon, within the Masoretic tradition Ben Naftali closer than Ben Asher. While this is an argument against its authenticity for some, it is explained by Moshe Goshen - Gottstein with the fact that Ben Naftali have loyal held on the system of Moshe Ben Asher as his own son Aaron ben Moshe ben Asher, the corrector and Punktator the Codex of Aleppo.