Is Scripture the origin of the Halakhah?
Scripture, in particular the Pentateuch, forms the natural starting point for any inquiry into origins in Judaism. The question answered here derives from a simple fact: the Pentateuch is privileged within the Rabbinic system, which links as much of the Halakhah to the Pentateuchal law codes as it p...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic/Print Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
2009
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| In: |
Religion
Year: 2009, Volume: 39, Issue: 1, Pages: 58-68 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Bible. Pentateuch, Bible. Pentateuch
/ Halacha
B Judaism / Exegesis |
| IxTheo Classification: | BH Judaism HB Old Testament |
| Further subjects: | B
Halacha
B Torah |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (doi) |
| Summary: | Scripture, in particular the Pentateuch, forms the natural starting point for any inquiry into origins in Judaism. The question answered here derives from a simple fact: the Pentateuch is privileged within the Rabbinic system, which links as much of the Halakhah to the Pentateuchal law codes as it possibly can. So it is quite natural to treat Scripture as the base-line and the Halakhic category-formations as the variable, in seeking the origin of the system. But what happens when we treat the system as the base-line and Scripture as the variable? Then we see that the Halakhic system viewed as a coherent statement does not originate in Scripture. Scripture is not the origin of the Halakhah. Why not? Because of this paradox: Scripture is necessary for the Halakhic system. But Scripture is insufficient for the Halakhic system. The Halakhic system is necessary for Scripture. The Halakhic system is sufficient without Scripture. It requires only Scripture's facts - and these on their own form no system. |
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| ISSN: | 0048-721X |
| Contains: | In: Religion
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1016/j.religion.2008.03.001 |