we had not the evidence of their exclusio n of such works as those of Ben Sirach and

others, there could be no rational doubt that in their time the Canon, as presently existing,

was firmly fixed, and that no work of comparatively late date could have found

admission into it. The period of their activity is sufficiently known, and too near what

may be called the historical times of Rabbinism, for any attempt in that direction, without

leaving traces of it. Lastly, we come to the indications of a critical revision of the text by

'Chananyah and his College,'39 shortly before the time of our Lord. Thus we have, in all, a

record of four critical revisions of the Canon up to time of Christ.

3. Any attempt to set forth in this place a detailed exposition of the Exegetical Canon of

the Rabbis, or of their application, would manifestly be impossible. It would require

almost a treatise of its own; and a cursory survey would neither be satisfactory to the

writer nor instructive to the general reader. Besides, on all subjects connected with

Rabbinic exegesis, a sufficient number of learned treatises exists, which are eas ily

accessible to students, while the general reader can only be interested in such general

results as have been frequently indicated throughout these volumes. Lastly, the treatment

of certain branches of the subject, such as a criticism of the Targumim , really belongs to

what is known as the science of 'Introduction,' either to the Old Testament, in manuals of

which, as well as in special treaties, all such subjects are fully discussed. Besides these

the student may be referred, for a general summary, to t he labours of Dr. Hamburger

(Real- Encycl.). Special works on various branches of the subject cannot here be named,

since this would involve an analysis and critical disquisition. But for a knowledge of the

Rabbinic statements in regard to the Codices and the text of the Old Testament, reference

may here be made to the short but masterly analysis of Professor Strack (Prolegomena

Critica), in which, first, the various codices of the Old Testament, and then the text as

existing in Talmudical times, are discussed, and the literature of the subject fully and

critically given. The various passage are also mentioned in which the Biblical quotations

in the Mishanah and Gemara differ from our present text.40 Most of them are, however, of

no exegetical importance. On the exegesis of the Rabbis generally, I would take leave to

refer to sketch of it given in the 'History of the Jewish Nation,' ch. xi., and especially in

App. V., on 'Rabbinical Exegesis,' where all its canons are enumerated. Some brief

notices connected with Rabbinic Commentaries quoted in this work will be found at the

beginning of vol. i.