The Aramaic and Palestinian Targums

More about the book

The book explores the historical significance of Targum, the Aramaic translations of the Hebrew Torah created by Temple elders. It highlights the Aramaic and Palestinian versions as the oldest and most widely used, tracing their origins to the Babylonian exile in 597 BCE. During this period, Aramaic became the common language among the Israelites, while Hebrew transitioned to a scholarly role, primarily used by the priestly class. The text argues for an even earlier inception of these translations, emphasizing their cultural and linguistic impact on the Jewish people.