Rabbinic interpretation of Scripture in the Mishnah.

• Author: Goldberg, Abraham

Rabbinic Interpretation of Scripture in the Mishnah. BY ALEXANDER SAMELY. Oxford: OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS, 2002. Pp. xi + 481. $85.

The title of Alexander Samely's book gives little indication that its primary aim is to explain the mishnaic approach to Scripture in terms of modern critical studies of language. The layout of the book is close to that of a treatise in linguistic studies, and indeed the very chapter titles would fit a work on language study. A reader not well versed in modern language studies would seemingly find difficulty in understanding much of what Samely presents. Yet to the author's credit there is constant detailed explanation of how the idiomatic interpretation of Scripture is understood in "the general frame of philosophy of language," including constant reference to the classic works in modern language study and digressions into topics of concern in modern linguistics. Samely's work might even serve as part of a general introduction to modern linguistics, with a classic text such as the Mishna being the basis for demonstration. Indeed, Samely's scientific language analysis can apply to any literary work, and, in fact, Samely makes occasional references to Shakespeare to highlight a point in the mishnaic use of language.

It is not easy, however, to give modern language definition to every aspect of mishnaic interpretation, although Samely is innovative in developing a particular terminology of his own, which he has done remarkably well. He has developed a complex of language formulations which he calls "resources." These mark the thematic interpretative options in the mishnaic interpretation of Scripture. Although almost all of these can be found in modern language studies, the special character of mishnaic interpretation requires some modification, as Samely explains, and there is admittedly occasional uncertainty. The definition of each "resource" is based "in the rich and diversified conceptual apparatus supplied by academic discourse on linguistics, reading and philosophy of language" (p. 2). It takes for granted, however, that the Mishna has a consistent approach to Scripture, which, as we shall see, has yet to be proven.

The technical term that the author uses to denote mishnaic interpretation of Scripture is "hermeneutics," which appears on the flyleaf and is used throughout the book, substituting for "interpretation" of the title. Although technically correct, Samely makes a very wide use of the term. Whereas...