Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah - List of Abbreviations and References to Rabbinic Writings.

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List of Abbreviations
Used in Reference to Rabbinic Writings
in this Work

The Mishnah is always quoted according to Tractate, Chapter (Pereq) and Paragraph (Mishnah), the Chapter being marked in Roman, the paragraph in ordinary Numerals. Thus Ber. ii. 4 means the Mishnic Tractate Berakhoth, second Chapter, fourth Paragraph.

The Jerusalem Talmud is distinguished by the abbreviation Jer. before the name of the Tractate. Thus, Jer. Ber. is the Jer. Gemara, or Talmud, of the Tractate Berakhoth. The edition, from which quotations are made, is that commonly used, Krotoschin, 1866, 1 vol. fol. The quotations are made either by Chapter and Paragraph (Jer. Ber. ii. 4), or, in these volumes mostly, by page and column. It ought to be noted that in Rabbinic writings each page is really a double one, distinguished respectively as a and b: a being the page to the left hand of the reader, and b the reverse one (on turning over the page) to the right hand of the reader. But in the Jerusalem Gemara (and in Yalkut [see below], as in all works where the page and column (col.) are mentioned) the quotation is often - in these volumes, mostly - made by page and column (two columns being on each side of a page). Thus, while Jer. Ber. ii. 4 would be Chapter II. Par. 4, the corresponding quotation by page and column would in that instance be, Jer. Ber. 4d; d marking that it is the fourth column in b (or the off-side) of page 4.

The Babyl. Talmud is, in all its editions, equally paged, so that a quotation made applies to all editions. It is double-paged, and quoted with the name of the Tractate, the number of the page, and a or b according as one or another side of the page is referred to. The quotations are distinguished from those of the Mishnah by this, that in the Mihnah Roman and ordinary numerals are employed (to mark Chapters and Paragraphs), while in the Babylon Talmud the name of the Tractate is followed by an ordinary numeral, indicating the page, together with a or b, to mark which side of the page is referred to. Thus Ber. 4a means: Tractate Berachoth, p. 4, first or left-hand side of the page.

I have used the Vienna edition, but this, as already explained, is not a point of any importance. To facilitate the verification of passages quoted I have in very many instances quoted also the lines, either from top or bottom.

The abbreviation Tos. (Tosephta, additamentum) before the name of a Tractate refers to the additions made to the Mishnah after its redaction. This redaction dates from the third century of our era. The Tos. extends only over 52 of the Mishnic Tractates. They are inserted in the Talmud at the end of each Tractate, and are printed on the double pages in double columns (col. a and b on p. a, col. e and d on p. b). They are generally quoted by Pereq and Mishnah: thus, Tos. Gitt. i. 1, or (more rarely) by page and column, Tos. Gitt. p. 150a. The ed. Zuckermandel is, when quoted, specially indicated.

Besides, the Tractate Aboth de Rabbi Nathan (Ab. de. R. Math.), and the smaller Tractates, sopherim (Sopher), semachoth (Semach.), kallah (Kall. or Chall), ¹ derekh erets (Der Er.), derekh erets zuta (commonly Der Er. S.), and pereq shalom (Per. Shal.) are inserted at the close of vol. ix. of the Talmud. They are printed in four columns (on double pages), and quoted by Pereq and Mishnah.

The so-called Septem Libri Talmudici parvi Hierosolymitani are published separately (ed. Raphael Kirchheim, Fref 1851). They are the massecheth sepher torah (Mass. Seph. Tor.), mas mezuzah (Mass. Mesus.), mas tephillin (Mass. Tephill.), mas tsitsith (Mass. Ziz.), mas abhadim (Mass. Abad.), mas kuthim (Mass. Cuth.), and mas gerim (Mass. Ger.). They are printed and quoted according to double pages (a and b).

To these must be added the so-called hesronot hasas, a collection of passages expurgated in the ordinary editions from the various Tractates of the Talmud. Here we must close, what might else assume undue proportions, by an alphabetical list of the abbreviations, although only of the principal books referred to: -

Ab. Zar. ²	The Talmudic Tractate	abodah zarah, on Idolatry.
Ab.	The Talmudic Tractate	pirqë abot, Savings of the Fathers.
Ab. de R Nath.	The Tractate	Abhoth de Rabbi Nathan at the close of vol. ix. in the Bab. Talm.
Arakh.	The Talmudic Tractate	arakin, on the redemption of persons or things consecrated to the Sanctuary.
Bab. K.	The Talmudic Tractate	baba qama ('First Gate'), the first,
Bab. Mets. [or Mez.]	The Talmudic Tractate	baba mesia ('Middle Gate'), the second,
Bab. B.	The Talmudic Tractate	baba batra ('Last Gate'), the third of the great Tractates on Common Law.
Bechor.	The Talmudic Tractate	bekorot, on the consecration to the Sanctuary of the First-born.
Bemid R.	The Midrash (or Commentary)	bemidbar raba, on Numbers.
Ber.	The Talmudic Tractate	berahot, on Prayers and Benedictions.
Ber. R.	The Midrash (or Commentary)	beresit raba, on Genesis.
Bets. [or Bez.]	The Talmudic Tractate	besah, laws about an egg laid on Sabbath and Fast-days, and on similar points connected with the sanctifying of such seasons.
Biccur.	The Talmudic Tractate	bikurim, on First-fruits.
Chag.	The Talmudic Tractate	hagigah, on the festive offerings at the three Great Feasts.
Chall.	The Talmudic Tractate	halah, on the first of the dough (Numb. 15:17).
Chull.	The Talmudic Tractate	hulin, the rubric as to the mode of killing meat and kindred subjects.
Debar R.	The Midrash	debharim raba, on Deuteronomy.
Dem.	The Talmudic Tractate	demai, regarding Produce, the tithing of which is not certain.
Ech. R.	The Midrash	ekah rabati, on Lamentations (also quoted as Mid. on Lament).
Eduy.	The Talmudic Tractate	eduyot (Testimonies), the legal determinations enacted or confirmed on a certain occasion, decisive in Jewish History.
Erub.	The Talmudic Tractate	erubin, on the conjunction of Sabbath boundaries. (See Appendix XVII.)
Midr. Esth.	The Midrash	on Esther.
Gitt.	The Talmudic Tractate	gitin, on Divorce.
Horay.	The Talmudic Tractate	horayot 'Decisions' on certain unintentional transgressions.
Jad. [or Yad.]	The Talmudic Tractate	yadayim, on the Washing of Hands.
Jebam. [or Yebam.]	The Talmudic Tractate	yebamot, on the Levirate.
Jom. [mostly Yom.]	The Talmudic Tractate	yoma, on the Day of Atonement.
Kel.	The Talmudic Tractate	kelim, on the purification of furniture and vessels.
Kerith.	The Talmudic Tractate	keritut, on the punishment of 'cutting off.'
Kethub.	The Talmudic Tractate	ketubhot, on marriage-contracts.
Kidd.	The Talmudic Tractate	qidusin, on Betrothal.
Kil.	The Talmudic Tractate	kilayim, on the unlawful commixtures (Lev. 19:19; Deut. 22: 9-11).
Kinn.	The Talmudic Tractate	qinim, on the offering of doves (Lev. 5:1-10; 12:8).
Midr. Kohel.	The Midrash	qoheleth or Eccles.
Maas.	The Talmudic Tractate	maaserot, on Levitical Tithes.
Maas Sh.	The Talmudic Tractate	maaser seni, on second Tithes (Deut. 14:22, &c.).
Machsh.	The Talmudic Tractate	maksirin, on fluids that may render products 'defiled,' or that leave them undefiled (Lev. 11:34, 38).
Makk. [or Macc.]	The Talmudic Tractate	makoth, on the punishment of Stripes.
Mechil.	The Talmudic Tractate	mekilta, a Commentary on part of Exodus, dating at the latest from the first half of the second century.
Megill.	The Talmudic Tractate	megilah, referring to the reading of the ('roll') Book of Esther and on the Feast of Esther.
Meil.	The Talmudic Tractate	meilah, on the defilement of things consecrated.
Menach.	The Talmudic Tractate	menahot, on Meat-offerings.
Midd.	The Talmudic Tractate	middoth, on the Temple-measurements and arrangements.
Mikv.	The Talmudic Tractate	miqvaot, on ablutions and immersions.
Moed K.	The Talmudic Tractate	moed qatan, on Half-holidays
Naz.	The Talmudic Tractate	nazir, on the Nasirate.
Ned.	The Talmudic Tractate	nedarim, on Vowing.
Neg.	The Talmudic Tractate	negaim, on Leprosy.
Nidd.	The Talmudic Tractate	nidah, on female levitical impurity (menstrua).
Ohol.	The Talmudic Tractate	oholot, on the defilement of tents and houses, specially by death.
Orl.	The Talmudic Tractate	orlah, on the ordinances connected with Lev. 19:23.
Par.	The Talmudic Tractate	parah, on the Red Heifer and purification by its ashes.
Peah	The Talmudic Tractate	peah, on the corner to be left for the poor in harvesting.
Pes.	The Talmudic Tractate	pesahim, on the Paschal Feast.
Pesiqta	The Book pesiqta	, an exceedingly interesting series of Meditations or brief discussions and Lectures on certain portions of the Lectionary for the principal Sabbaths and Feast Days.
Pirqé de R. Eliez.	The Haggadic	Pirqé de Rabbi Eliezer, in 54 chapters, a discursive Tractate on the History of Israel from the creation to the time of Moses, with the insertion of three chapters (xlix.-li.) on the history of Haman and the future Messianic deliverance.
Rosh haSh.	The Talmudic Tractate	ros haSanah, on the Feast of New Year
Sab.	The Talmudic Tractate	zabim, on certain levitically defiling issues.
Sanh.	The Talmudic Tractate	sanhedrin, on the Sanhedrim and Criminal Jurisprudence.
Sebach.	The Talmudic Tractate	zebahim, on Sacrifices.
Shabb.	The Talmudic Tractate	sabat, on Sabbath-observance.
Shebh.	The Talmudic Tractate	sebiit, on the Sabbatic Year.
Shebu.	The Talmudic Tractate	sebuot, on Oaths, &c.
Sheqal.	The Talmudic Tractate	seqalim, on the Temple-Tribute, &c.
Shem R.	The Midrash	semot raba on Exodus.
Shir haSh R.	The Midrash	sir hasirim raba, on the Song of Solomon.
Siphra		The ancient Commentary on Leviticus, dating from the second century.
Siphrey		The still somewhat older Commentary on Numb. and Deuter.
Sot.	The Talmudic Tractate	sotah, on the Woman accused of Adultery.
Sukk.	The Talmudic Tractate	sukah, on the Feast of Tabernacles.
Taan.	The Talmudic Tractate	taanit, on Fasting and Fast-Days.
Tam.	The Talmudic Tractate	tamid, on the daily Service and Sacrifice in the Temple.
Teb. Yom.	The Talmudic Tractate	tebul yom ('bathed of the day'), on impurities, where there is immersion on the evening of the same day.
Tem.	The Talmudic Tractate	temurah, on substitution for things consecrated (Lev. 27:10).
Ter.	The Talmudic Tractate	terumoth, on the priestly dues in produce.
Tohar.	The Talmudic Tractate	toharot, on minor kinds of defilement.
Tanch.	The Midrashic Commentary	tanhuma (or yelamdenu), on the Pentateuch.
Ukz.	The Talmudic Tractate	uqsin, on the defilement of fruits through their envelopes, stalks, &c.
Vayyik R.	The Midrash	vayyikra raba, on Leviticus.
Yalk.	The great collectaneum:	yalkut simeoni, which is a catena on the whole Old Testament, containing also quotations from works lost to us. ³

¹ It is to be noted that in the marginal and note-references the old mode of indicating a reference (as in the first ed. of this book) and the, perhaps, more correct mode of transliteration have been promiscuously employed. But the reader can have no difficulty in understanding the reference.

² Mark the note on previous page.

³ It will, of course, be understood that we have only given the briefest, and, indeed, imperfect, indications of the contents of the various Talmudic Tractates. Besides giving the Laws connected with each of the subjects of which they treat, all kindred topics are taken up, nay, the discussion often passes to quite other than the subjects primarily treated of in a Tractate.

All Books in Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

BOOK 1 Preparation for the Gospel Jewish World in Days of Christ	BOOK 3 The Ascent: From the River Jordan to the Mount of Transfiguration	BOOK 5 The Cross and the Crown Jesus' last week on earth
BOOK 2 From Manger in Bethlehem to Baptism in Jordan	BOOK 4 The Descent: From Mount of Transfiguration to the Valley of Death	REFERENCES APPENDICES LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

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