Samaritan Pentateuch
Original Author: Unknown (Traditional attribution to Moses)
Credit: The Samaritan community. Editor: Bemyamim Tsedaka
Original Date Written: Approximately 6th century BCE
The Samaritan Pentateuch is a version of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, known as the Torah, as preserved by the Samaritan community. It is written in the Samaritan script and contains some variations from the Masoretic Text, which is the authoritative Hebrew text for Judaism. The Samaritan Pentateuch holds significant religious and cultural importance for the Samaritans, who trace their lineage to the ancient Israelites who were not exiled during the Assyrian conquest of the Northern Kingdom of Israel in 720 BCE. The text emphasizes the centrality of Mount Gerizim as the holiest site for the Samaritans, providing valuable insights into their religious practices, beliefs, and history.
This landmark volume, republished in 2013, presents the first-ever English translation of the ancient Israelite Samaritan version of the Pentateuch by Benyamim Tsedaka. It preserves a version of the Hebrew text distinct from the traditional Masoretic Text that underlies modern Bible translations. Tsedaka's expert translation highlights over 6,000 differences between the two versions, and includes extensive explanatory notes, detailed appendices showing affinities with the Septuagint and Dead Sea Scroll texts, and a categorical name index with comparative information.