RABBINIC NARRATIVE: A DOCUMENTARY PERSPECTIVE VOLUME I THE BRILL REFERENCE LIBRARY OF JUDAISM Editors J. NEUSNER (Bard College) — H. BASSER (Queens University) A.J. AVERY-PECK (College of the Holy Cross) — Wm.S. GREEN (University of Rochester) — G. STEMBERGER (University of Vienna) — I. GRUENWALD (Tel Aviv University) — M. GRUBER (Ben-Gurion University of the Negev) G.G. PORTON (University of Illinois) — J. FAUR (Bar Ilan University) VOLUME 14 RABBINIC NARRATIVE: A DOCUMENTARY PERSPECTIVE Volume One: Forms, Types and Distribution of Narratives in the Mishnah, Tractate Abot and the Tosefta BY JACOB NEUSNER BRILL LEIDEN (cid:127)BOSTON 2003 This book is printed on acid-free paper. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Neusner, Jacob, 1932- Rabbinic narrative : a documentary perspective / by Jacob Neusner. v. cm. — (The Brill reference library of Judaism, ISSN 1566-1237 ; v. 14) Includes bibliographical references and index. Contents: v. 1. Forms, types, and distribution of narratives in the Mishnah, Tractate Abot, and the Tosefta — v. 2. Forms, types and distribution of narratives in Sifra, Sifré to Numbers, and Sifré to Deuteronomy. ISBN 90-04-13023-3 (v. 1 : alk. paper) — ISBN 90-04-13034-9 (v. 2 : alk. paper) 1. Narration in rabbinical literature. 2. Rabbinical literature—History and criticism. 3. Mishnah—Criticism, Narrative. 4. Midrash—History and criticism. 5. Parables in rabbinical literature. I. Title. II. Series. BM496.9.N37N48 2003 296.1’2066–dc 21 2003050220 ISSN 1566-1237 ISBN 90 04 13023 3 © Copyright 2003 by Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, translated, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission from the publisher. Authorization to photocopy items for internal or personal use is granted by Brill provided that the appropriate fees are paid directly to The Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Suite 910, Danvers, MA 01923, USA. Fees are subject to change. printed in the netherlands preface v CONTENTS Preface........................................................................................... ix Introduction .................................................................................. 1 1. Pseudo-Narrative ................................................................... 25 i. Portrayals of Conversations................................................... 26 ii. Portrayals of Halakhic Rules as Described Actions.............. 32 iii. The Precedent/Case/Ruling ................................................ 43 iv. Conclusion............................................................................. 46 part one narratives in the mishnah forms, types and distribution 2. Mishnah Seder Zeraim............................................................ 51 i. Tractate Berakhot.................................................................. 51 ii. Tractate Pe"ah........................................................................ 55 iii. Tractate Dema#i".................................................................... 55 iv. Tractate Kilayim.................................................................... 55 v. Tractate Shebi#it..................................................................... 56 vi. Tractate Terumot................................................................... 57 vii. Tractate Ma#asero.................................................................. 57 viii. Tractate Ma#aser Sheni.......................................................... 57 ix. Tractate Hallah...................................................................... 57 x. Tractate #Orlah ...................................................................... 58 xi. Tractate Bikkurim.................................................................. 58 xii. Summary................................................................................ 58 3. Mishnah Seder Moed.............................................................. 63 i. Tractate Shabbat ................................................................... 63 ii. Tractate Erubin...................................................................... 65 iii. Tractate Pesahim ................................................................... 67 iv. Tractate Sheqalim.................................................................. 67 v. Tractate Yoma............................................................................ 69 vi contents vi. Tractate Sukkah......................................................................... 70 vii. Tractate Besah ........................................................................... 72 viii. Tractate Rosh Hashanah........................................................... 73 ix. Tractate Ta#anit ......................................................................... 76 x. Tractate Megillah ...................................................................... 78 xi. Tractate Mo#ed Qatan............................................................... 78 xii. Tractate Hagigah....................................................................... 78 xiii. Summary.................................................................................... 78 4. Mishnah Seder Nashim................................................................ 83 i. Tractate Yebamot ...................................................................... 83 ii. Tractate Ketubot........................................................................ 85 iii. Tractate Nedarim ...................................................................... 85 iv. Tractate Nazir............................................................................ 89 v. Tractate Sotah............................................................................ 90 vi. Tractate Gittin ........................................................................... 90 vii. Tractate Qiddushin.................................................................... 91 viii. Summary.................................................................................... 91 5. Mishnah Seder Neziqin............................................................... 95 i. Tractate Baba Qamma.............................................................. 95 ii. Tractate Baba Mesia.................................................................. 96 iii. Tractate Baba Batra................................................................... 98 iv. Tractate Sanhedrin.................................................................... 98 v. Tractate Makkot ........................................................................ 99 vi. Tractate Shebuot ....................................................................... 99 vii. Tractate #Eduyyot....................................................................... 99 viii. Tractate #Abodah Zarah.......................................................... 102 ix. Tractate Horayot ..................................................................... 104 x. Summary.................................................................................. 104 6. Mishnah Seder Qodoshim......................................................... 107 i. Tractate Zebahim.................................................................... 107 ii. Tractate Menahot.................................................................... 107 iii. Tractate Hullin ........................................................................ 107 iv. Tractate Bekhorot.................................................................... 107 v. Tractate #Arakhin..................................................................... 109 vi. Tractate Temurah.................................................................... 110 vii. Tractate Keritot ....................................................................... 110 viii. Tractate Me#ilah....................................................................... 111 contents vii ix. Tractate Tamid........................................................................ 111 x. Tractate Middot....................................................................... 111 xi. Tractate Qinnim...................................................................... 111 xii. Summary.................................................................................. 111 7. Mishnah Seder Tohorot.......................................................... 113 i. Tractate Kelim......................................................................... 113 ii. Tractate Ohalot ....................................................................... 113 iii. Tractate Nega"im..................................................................... 114 iv. Tractate Parah ......................................................................... 114 v. Tractate Tohorot...................................................................... 114 vi. Tractate Miqva"ot .................................................................... 114 vii. Tractate Niddah....................................................................... 114 viii. Tractate Makhshirin................................................................ 115 ix. Tractate Zabim........................................................................ 116 x. Tractate Tebul Yom................................................................. 116 xi. Tractate Yadayim..................................................................... 116 xii. Tractate #Uqsin ........................................................................ 117 xiii. Summary.................................................................................. 117 part two Narratives in Tractate Abot 8. Tractate Abot .......................................................................... 121 part three narratives in the Tosefta: forms, types and distribution 9. Tosefta Seder Zeraim............................................................... 125 i. Tractate Berakhot.................................................................... 126 ii. Tractate Pe"ah.......................................................................... 131 iii. Tractate Dema#i....................................................................... 134 iv. Tractate Kilayim...................................................................... 135 v. Tractate Shebi#it....................................................................... 135 vi. Tractate Terumot..................................................................... 136 vii. Tractate Ma#aserot................................................................... 138 viii. Tractate Ma#aser Sheni............................................................ 138 ix. Tractate Hallah........................................................................ 139 x. Tractate #Orlah ........................................................................ 139 xi. Tractate Bikkurim.................................................................... 139 viii contents xii. Summary.................................................................................. 139 10. Tosefta Seder Moed............................................................... 145 i. Tractate Shabbat ..................................................................... 145 ii. Tractate Erubin........................................................................ 150 iii. Tractate Pisha (Pesahim).......................................................... 153 iv. Tractate Sheqalim.................................................................... 157 v. Tractate Kippurim (Yoma)...................................................... 157 vi. Tractate Sukkah....................................................................... 167 vii. Tractate Yom Tob (Besah)....................................................... 172 viii. Tractate Rosh Hashanah......................................................... 175 ix. Tractate Ta#aniyyot (Ta#anit)................................................... 176 x. Tractate Megillah .................................................................... 179 xi. Tractate Mo#ed (Mo#ed Qatan) ............................................... 181 xii. Tractate Hagigah..................................................................... 182 xiii. Summary.................................................................................. 186 11. Tosefta Seder Nashim ............................................................ 205 i. Tractate Yebamot .................................................................... 205 ii. Tractate Ketubot...................................................................... 211 iii. Tractate Nedarim .................................................................... 213 iv. Tractate Nezirut (Nazir) .......................................................... 213 v. Tractate Sotah.......................................................................... 215 vi. Tractate Gittin ......................................................................... 220 vii. Tractate Qiddushin.................................................................. 221 viii. Summary.................................................................................. 221 12. Tosefta Seder Neziqin ........................................................... 231 i. Tractate Baba Qamma............................................................ 231 ii. Tractate Baba Mesia................................................................ 234 iii. Tractate Baba Batra................................................................. 234 iv. Tractate Sanhedrin.................................................................. 234 v. Tractate Makkot ...................................................................... 237 vi. Tractate Shebuot ..................................................................... 237 vii. Tractate #Eduyyot..................................................................... 238 viii. Tractate #Abodah Zarah.......................................................... 238 ix. Tractate Horayot ..................................................................... 239 x. Summary.................................................................................. 240 13. Tosefta Seder Qodoshim ....................................................... 245