Leningrad Codex

The Codex Leningradensis (library signature MS Heb B 19A) from the year 1008 in the Russian National Library in St. Petersburg (formerly Leningrad) is the oldest known complete manuscript of the Hebrew Bible in the original language. Although there are large parts of older date known ( see also Qumran ), as well as of the Greek translation ( Septuagint ) are getting a lot older complete specimens, but there is no older manuscript which the complete Hebrew Bible (also known as "Old Testament " ) on contains Hebrew. The Leningrad Codex can also be considered as one of the best examples Masoretic texts.

Since the return designation of Leningrad in St. Petersburg in 1991, it is called sometimes by the Codex Petropolitanus. However, this is misleading since this term for the published since 1876, the St. Petersburg Codex Prophet (library signature MS Heb B 3) is used. This is about 100 years older (916 AD), but contains only the ( " rear " ) prophets. He is not to be confused with the Codex Petropolitanus which contains parts of the Greek New Testament.

Formation

The manuscript is dated 1008 AD to the year. The writer Samuel ben Jacob shows himself to have depreciated corrected by Aaron ben Moshe ben Asher books. Probably the manuscript was written in Cairo, and later sold to a living person in Damascus.

Formerly there was the handwriting in the Abraham Firkowitsch collection. Since the mid 19th century, it is located in Saint Petersburg in the Russian National Library.

Content

The Codex Leningradensis includes all the books of the Hebrew Bible in a sequence that generally corresponds to the printed editions Jewish Bible ( Tanakh ). However, standing in the Codex Leningradensis (as well as in the Codex of Aleppo, the pattern of conduct of Aaron ben Moshe ben Asher ) the chronicle not the end, but the beginning of the "Fonts". In addition, there are detailed notes by scholars as well as 16 decorated pages. The text is divided into three columns, in some poetic books ( Psalms, Job, Proverbia ) in two columns.

Importance

Along with several incomplete manuscripts of the Hebrew Bible is the Codex Leningradensis until today as the basis for most printed editions of the Hebrew Bible. The reason for this lies not least in the fact that this is being the oldest complete manuscript, which is based on the Masoretic system of the Ben Asher family, the. Onto a Masorites the Tiberian schools of 9-10 Century back, has been developed. She is the best testimony of Ben Asher text and forms the basis of today's popular in science and Translation Hebrew Bible editions, such as the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia and the nascent Biblia Hebraica Quinta in the show, dar.