Soncino Books of the Bible
Encyclopedia
The Soncino Books of the Bible is a set of Hebrew Bible
commentaries, covering the whole Tanakh
(Old Testament
) in fourteen volumes, published by the Soncino Press
. The first volume to appear was Psalms
in 1945, and the last was Chronicles
in 1952. The series was edited by Rev. Dr. Abraham Cohen
.
Each volume contains the Hebrew
and English texts of the Hebrew Bible in parallel columns, with a running commentary below them. The Hebrew text in Psalms is that of C. D. Ginsburg's earlier (1894) edition. This led to protests, since Ginsburg had converted to Christianity, so subsequent volumes used a (completely reset) copy of Meir Letteris' second (1866) edition of the Hebrew text. Both Hebrew texts are scrupulous versions of the Masoretic Text
, so the differences between them are small. The English translation is the Jewish Publication Society of America Version
of 1917.
The only exception was the Soncino Chumash
, covering the Torah
and Haftaras, first published in 1947 and frequently reprinted. It was felt that to have a modern commentary in that book would unnecessarily duplicate the book The Pentateuch and Haftarahs edited by Chief Rabbi
Joseph H. Hertz
, also published by the Soncino Press. Thus instead there was a summary of the views of the most important medieval Jewish commentators, such as Abraham ibn Ezra
, Rashi
, Ramban, Radak, Sforno
and Ralbag (Gersonides).
) who had previously done a Bible commentary for Judaica Press
and a Mishnah
commentary for Artscroll
). In this edition, all work from historical scholars and Christian bible commentators has been removed; it has been replaced by additional references to the Midrash
literature and medieval Jewish commentators. This has led to complaints that it is now difficult to find a modern but Orthodox Jewish Bible commentary, and to accusations that Haredi
Jews, who reject the application of modern scholarship to Bible commentary, are exerting too much influence over Jewish life.
, Midrash
, and Zohar
, respectively. The first two have brief commentaries in footnotes. Some reprints of the Talmud also include the original Hebrew and Aramaic text. Another publication is the Soncino Haggadah, a translation and commentary on the Haggadah by Cecil Roth
.
Hebrew Bible
The Hebrew Bible is a term used by biblical scholars outside of Judaism to refer to the Tanakh , a canonical collection of Jewish texts, and the common textual antecedent of the several canonical editions of the Christian Old Testament...
commentaries, covering the whole Tanakh
Tanakh
The Tanakh is a name used in Judaism for the canon of the Hebrew Bible. The Tanakh is also known as the Masoretic Text or the Miqra. The name is an acronym formed from the initial Hebrew letters of the Masoretic Text's three traditional subdivisions: The Torah , Nevi'im and Ketuvim —hence...
(Old Testament
Old Testament
The Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...
) in fourteen volumes, published by the Soncino Press
Soncino Press
Soncino Press is a Jewish publishing company based in the United Kingdom that has published a variety of books of Jewish interest, most notably English translations and commentaries to the Talmud and Hebrew Bible...
. The first volume to appear was Psalms
Psalms
The Book of Psalms , commonly referred to simply as Psalms, is a book of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Bible...
in 1945, and the last was Chronicles
Books of Chronicles
The Books of Chronicles are part of the Hebrew Bible. In the Masoretic Text, it appears as the first or last book of the Ketuvim . Chronicles largely parallels the Davidic narratives in the Books of Samuel and the Books of Kings...
in 1952. The series was edited by Rev. Dr. Abraham Cohen
Abraham Cohen (editor)
Abraham Cohen was a Jewish-British scholar. He was the editor of the Soncino Books of the Bible and also participated in the Soncino translation of the Talmud and Midrash. He attended the University of London and Cambridge and was a minister of Birmingham Hebrew Congregation from 1933...
.
Each volume contains the 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 English texts of the Hebrew Bible in parallel columns, with a running commentary below them. The Hebrew text in Psalms is that of C. D. Ginsburg's earlier (1894) edition. This led to protests, since Ginsburg had converted to Christianity, so subsequent volumes used a (completely reset) copy of Meir Letteris' second (1866) edition of the Hebrew text. Both Hebrew texts are scrupulous versions of the Masoretic Text
Masoretic Text
The Masoretic Text is the authoritative Hebrew text of the Jewish Bible and is regarded as Judaism's official version of the Tanakh. While the Masoretic Text defines the books of the Jewish canon, it also defines the precise letter-text of these biblical books, with their vocalization and...
, so the differences between them are small. The English translation is the Jewish Publication Society of America Version
Jewish Publication Society of America Version
The Jewish Publication Society of America Version of the Tanakh was the first Bible translation published by the Jewish Publication Society of America and the first translation of the Tanakh into English by a committee of Jews...
of 1917.
First edition
The commentary in the first edition of the series drew mainly upon classical Jewish sources (see below), but also drew upon the best of early-to-mid 20th century Bible scholarship, including the work of Christian expositors.The only exception was the Soncino Chumash
Humash
The Hebrew term Chumash is one of the Hebrew names for the Five Books of Moses, also known by the Latinised Greek term Pentateuch or as one of the uses of the Hebrew term Torah, "Law." The word comes from the Hebrew word for five, ḥamesh...
, covering the Torah
Torah
Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
and Haftaras, first published in 1947 and frequently reprinted. It was felt that to have a modern commentary in that book would unnecessarily duplicate the book The Pentateuch and Haftarahs edited by Chief Rabbi
Chief Rabbi
Chief Rabbi is a title given in several countries to the recognized religious leader of that country's Jewish community, or to a rabbinic leader appointed by the local secular authorities...
Joseph H. Hertz
Joseph H. Hertz
----Rabbi Joseph Herman Hertz, CH was a Jewish Hungarian-born Rabbi and Bible scholar. He is most notable for holding the position of Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom from 1913 until his death in 1946, in a period encompassing both world wars and The Holocaust.- Early life :Hertz was born in the...
, also published by the Soncino Press. Thus instead there was a summary of the views of the most important medieval Jewish commentators, such as Abraham ibn Ezra
Abraham ibn Ezra
Rabbi Abraham ben Meir Ibn Ezra was born at Tudela, Navarre in 1089, and died c. 1167, apparently in Calahorra....
, Rashi
Rashi
Shlomo Yitzhaki , or in Latin Salomon Isaacides, and today generally known by the acronym Rashi , was a medieval French rabbi famed as the author of a comprehensive commentary on the Talmud, as well as a comprehensive commentary on the Tanakh...
, Ramban, Radak, Sforno
Sforno
Sforno is the name of a prominent Jewish Italian family, many members of which distinguished themselves as rabbis and scholars. The most prominent of these were the following:- Hananeel ben Jacob Sforno :Scholar of Talmud...
and Ralbag (Gersonides).
Second edition
A second edition of all books other than the Soncino Chumash appeared in the 1990s, edited by Rabbi Abraham J. Rosenberg, (a disciple of Rabbi Moshe FeinsteinMoshe Feinstein
Moshe Feinstein was a Lithuanian Orthodox rabbi, scholar and posek , who was world-renowned for his expertise in Halakha and was regarded by many as the de facto supreme halakhic authority for Orthodox Jewry of North America during his lifetime...
) who had previously done a Bible commentary for Judaica Press
Judaica Press
Judaica Press is an Orthodox Jewish publishing house founded in New York City in 1963 by S. Goldman, and then taken over by his son Jack Goldman in response to the growing demand for books of scholarship in the English-speaking Jewish world...
and a Mishnah
Mishnah
The Mishnah or Mishna is the first major written redaction of the Jewish oral traditions called the "Oral Torah". It is also the first major work of Rabbinic Judaism. It was redacted c...
commentary for Artscroll
ArtScroll
ArtScroll is an imprint of translations, books and commentaries from an Orthodox Jewish perspective published by Mesorah Publications, Ltd., a publishing company based in Brooklyn, New York...
). In this edition, all work from historical scholars and Christian bible commentators has been removed; it has been replaced by additional references to the Midrash
Midrash
The Hebrew term Midrash is a homiletic method of biblical exegesis. The term also refers to the whole compilation of homiletic teachings on the Bible....
literature and medieval Jewish commentators. This has led to complaints that it is now difficult to find a modern but Orthodox Jewish Bible commentary, and to accusations that Haredi
Haredi Judaism
Haredi or Charedi/Chareidi Judaism is the most conservative form of Orthodox Judaism, often referred to as ultra-Orthodox. A follower of Haredi Judaism is called a Haredi ....
Jews, who reject the application of modern scholarship to Bible commentary, are exerting too much influence over Jewish life.
Translations of classical works
The Soncino Press also published the Soncino Talmud (1935-1952), the Soncino Midrash and the Soncino Zohar (1934) all of which were translations of the TalmudTalmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
, Midrash
Midrash
The Hebrew term Midrash is a homiletic method of biblical exegesis. The term also refers to the whole compilation of homiletic teachings on the Bible....
, and Zohar
Zohar
The Zohar is the foundational work in the literature of Jewish mystical thought known as Kabbalah. It is a group of books including commentary on the mystical aspects of the Torah and scriptural interpretations as well as material on Mysticism, mythical cosmogony, and mystical psychology...
, respectively. The first two have brief commentaries in footnotes. Some reprints of the Talmud also include the original Hebrew and Aramaic text. Another publication is the Soncino Haggadah, a translation and commentary on the Haggadah by Cecil Roth
Cecil Roth
Cecil Roth , was a British Jewish historian.He was educated at Merton College, Oxford and returned to Oxford as reader in Jewish Studies from 1939 to 1964...
.