Manus 21: De Lingua Hebraica. , early 18th c.

Language: Latin. Date: early 18th c. Title: De Lingua Hebraica [On the Hebrew Language] ; incipit: “Dissertation Prima. De Derivatione nominis Hebreae.” Creator: Unknown. Place of creation: Unknown. Physical description: Paper, 124 numb. leaves, [2 blank leaves] ; 21 x 17 cm. Summary: Lecture notes in Latin for a course in the history of Biblical texts. A note housed with the manuscript dates the text to the early 18th century and identifies its author as Protestant:

Judging from the author’s desire to establish the fact that Hebrew is the oldest of all languages, the manuscript dates from the early 18th century. This was a favorite thesis of 17th century biblical scholars. But he is writing somewhat later, for he cites the Walton Polyglot Bible of 1697 (p. 124). The Author is Protestant, for he eschews the elaborate references to “Sacra Scriptura” characteristic of Catholic writers, and uses the names of saints, e.g., Jerome, Augustine, without the designation “Saint.”

The text contains, among others, sections devoted to the division of the scriptures, to the Talmud, and to various translations of the Biblical texts, e.g. “De versionibus arabicis,” “De versionibus Latinis,” etc. Note: Bound in original quarter brown leather over marbled paper boards. Gilt decoration and title to spine ; blue speckled edges ; cream endpapers. Text written in a single hand, only on recto of leaves ; right margin of most leaves ruled in gray. Hinges cracked ; front cover detached. Gift of Bern Dibner, n.d. Call #: Manus 21