The Mishnah
What is the Mishnah in Judaism?
The
Talmud comprises two elements, the Mishnah and the Gemara. The Mishnah is the
oral law as it was known up to the end of the second century A.D. The Gemara is
the interpretation of the oral law which the scholars of Babylon and of
Jerusalem produced between the beginning of the third century A.D. and the end
of the fifth century.
The Mishnah was an early form of the Jewish oral law or tradition. It was
gradually compiled into written form between the 2nd century B.C. and the 2nd
century A.D. This oral law became known as the "fence" or "hedge"
(Hebrew, gdr) around the written law. The Jews developed this complex
system of oral laws as a safeguard to make certain the strict observance to the
written law and thus to prevent future punishment and exile at the hands of
their enemies for failure to keep God's commandments. The Pharisees were the
great observers of the oral tradition.
The Mishnah, in Judaism, was a codified collection of Oral Law—legal
interpretations of portions of the Biblical books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers,
and Deuteronomy and other legal material. Together with the Gemara, or Amoraic
commentary on the Mishnah, it comprises the Talmud. Next to the Scriptures the
Mishna is the basic textbook of Jewish life and thought, and is traditionally
considered to be an integral part of the Torah revealed to Moses on Mount Sinai.
The sifting and recording of the body of oral interpretations of Biblical law
was the work of the Tannaim, the final compilation being made during the rule of
Judah ha-Nasi. The Mishnah is divided into six Orders:
The Tractates of the Mishnah
The Pharisaic rabbis spent much time making oral comments on the Law. Those made
in the first two centuries AD were compiled by Judah Hanasi about AD 200 to form
the important collection known as the Mishnah. These rabbis were known as the 'Tannaim'
(Teachers) and were chiefly concerned with decisions about regulations. A less
important collection of their comments is known as the 'Tosefta' (enlargement).
The later expositions on the Mishnah by the 'Amoraim' (Expositors ) of Palestine
and of Babylonia were known collectively as the Gemara (Completion). The
combined text of the Mishnah and the related Gemara is known as the Talmud.
These Pharisaic traditions form the basis of orthodox Judaism today.
Sermons commenting on the scriptures, known as 'Midrashim' were also compiled.
The earlier Tannaitic Midrashim were mainly concerned with regulations They
included commentaries on Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.
The later Amoraic Midrashim include much folklore and legendary materials. The
greatest collection, the 'Midrash Rabbah' was not compiled until the sixth or
seventh century AD. It includes commentaries on both the five books of the Law
(the Pentateuch) and the five 'scrolls' of Canticles, Ruth, Lamentations,
Ecclesiastes and Esther.
John 10:34 "Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your law.."
Rabbinical Literature and Second Temple Judaism
The
Rabbinic Writings, The Mishnah, and the Talmud. During the first century A.D.
the Pharisaic rabbis created many commentaries on the Torah. When Jesus began
his ministry He attacked the Pharisees for putting their traditions above the
word of God. All the writings and commentaries of the first two centuries A.D.
were compiled and organized into a collection by a man named Judah Hanasi around
200 A.D. forming a collection called the Mishnah. The Pharisaic rabbis were
known as the "Tannaim" which in Hebrew is translated teachers, and these men
were the teachers who regulated the law. There was another collection of their
commentary which was much smaller, it was known as the Tosefta which in Hebrew
means "enlargement". The later commentaries on the Mishnah were made by
"expositors".
Introduction