II. THE SONS OF JACOB Vol. II, (pp. 185-222) 7 ShR 1. 1-3; Tan. Shemot 1; MHG II, 34. In contrast to Jacob who was a stern father to his children, Abraham and Isaac were indulgent, with the result that they subsequently suffered for their attitude. Ishmael, the son of Abraham, and Esau, the son of Isaac, would have been different men if their fathers had been less indulgent. 2 MHG I, 681-682, and II, 5, where the ,filial devotion and chastity of Jacob’s sons are particularly praised. On the designation of Jacob’s twelve sons as ‘‘fathers’”’, see Tosefta Ma‘aser Sheni (end), where it is also stated that all that God did for Israel was on account of these twelve sons (comp. Index, s. v. “‘Fathers, Merits of’’). A similar statement is also found in PR 4, 13a and 14a, with the additional remark that the creation of the world was brought about through the merits of ‘‘the twelve tribes.’’ See further vol. IV, p. 158, ‘‘The Seven Patriarchs’”; Sifre N., 11, where M38 can only refer to Israel’s great men in post-biblical times. Comp. the full discussion of the question, whether Mas ‘‘fathers” refers exclusively to the three patriarchs, in Ginzberg’s Unbekannte Sekte, 295-297. 3 Sifra 26. 45 and 42. In the second passage mention is made of the covenant with the ‘‘mothers” (the rabbis usually speak of the four mothers, Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, and Leah; comp. Index, s. v. Mothers). The old liturgy contains no reference to the covenant with the tribes or to the covenant with the mothers, and even in the later liturgy these covenants are rarely alluded to.
R. Gershon B. Judah (about 1000) is, it seems, the oldest paitan who, in his Selihah M73 751 for Ne‘ilah in the Ashkenazic ritual, speaks of the covenants made with the fathers, mothers, and tribes. 4 ShR 1. 5; Tan. Shemot 3; Tan. B. II, 3; MHG I, 681. For other explanations of these names see BaR 14. 10 and BR 81. 3; Sekel 290; vol. I, p. 362. Philo, De Somniis, 2. 3, is very likely the oldest authority to explain these names independently of the Bible; comp. also Philo, De Mutatione Nominum, 16. In this connection men378 Sons of Jacob [5-8 tion should be made of the haggadic etymology of the name Yehudi (“Jew’’), which is explained as ‘‘one who proclaims God’s unity” OTT =" from 1M); Panim Aherim 82; comp. also Apostolic Constitutions 11, 60. The Haggadah is interested not only in the names of the twelve tribes but also in the dates of their birth and death; comp. Seder ‘Olam 2; PRE 26; Tadshe 8; Lekah, Gen. 19. 31; Algazi, Toledot Adam; Heilprin, Seder ha-Dorot, I, 2192; Jub. 28. 11-12; 12 Testaments, passim. 5 MHG I, 683; BaR 13. 16. On Issachar as the tribe of scholars, see note 391 on vol. II, p. 144. The description of the tribe of Issachar as mathematicians in Yerushalmi Targumim Gen. 46. 1314, goes back to 1 Chron. 12. 33; comp. the full discussion of this point in the note referred to. ® Sabba, Wa-Yiggash, 56c, quoting an unknown Midrash. As to Aaron’s activity in Egypt and his crusade against the idolatrous Hebrews, see vol.
II, pp. 259 and 283, and vol. III, p. 457. With the exception of the three tribes of Reuben, Simeon, and Levi, all the others were addicted to idolatry, and for this reason the genealogical tables of these three tribes only are given in Scripture (Exod. 6. 14, seq.); Shir 4. 7.—The legend about the Benjamin tribe is an attempt to harmonize Gen. 46. 21 with Num. 26. 28, seg. A similar solution is already found in Jub. 44. 33-34 (Charles misunderstood this passage entirely), where it is stated that five of Jacob’s descendants disappeared in Egypt without leaving any trace; they are nevertheless counted among ‘‘the seventy souls’’ who entered Egypt with Jacob. The sentence concerning the sons of Judah in Jub., Joc. cit., is either a later addition or is to be taken parenthetically. For another solution of the apparent contradiction between, Gen. Joc. cit., and Num., loc. cit., see vol. III, p. 333—On the pious Naphtalites, see note 391 on vol. II, p. 144, and note 396 on vol. II, p. 146.—The difficult 22 (Gen. 46. 23) is explained in the following way: Dan had only one son; but this son had so many children that he was called “heath-rush”’ O°wn, because his children were as numerous as the heathrushes; Baba Batra 143b; BR 94. 9 (here the variant ]2 is given); Targum Yerushalmi Gen., loc. cit. (as to DON see Targum Yerushalmi Gen. 25. 3); ShR 32. 140. Charles, Jub. 44. 28, quotes the Rabbis to the effect that Dan had numerous children; but the Rabbis maintain the opposite view.
7 12 Testaments, Reuben 1-6; comp. Excursus II, Reuben. 8 12 Testaments, Simeon 1-5 and 8; comp. Excursus II, Simeon. 379 9-18] The Legends of the Jews 9 12 Testaments, Levi 1-2, 5-8, 11-12; comp. Excursus II, Levi. 10 12 Testaments, Judah 1-2, 12-14, 16. As to the gigantic strength of Jacob, see vol. I, pp. 404, seg., and 419, seqg., as well as vol. II, pp. 106, seg., and 108, seg. Comp. Excursus II, Judah. Ir 12 Testaments, Issachar 1-7, 12 12 Testaments, Zebulun 1, 5-8. On Zebulun as the mariner see vol. III, p. 237. Comp. Excursus II, Zebulun. 13 12 Testaments, Dan 1-6. As to Dan’s hatred of Joseph, see vol. II, p. 176. Comp. Excursus IT. ™4 12 Testaments, Naphtali 1-2 and Zawwaat Naphtali. Comp. Excursus II, Naphtali. tS 12 Testaments, Gad 1-2, 5-8. Comp. Excursus II, Gad. ™6 12 Testaments, Asher 1-8. It is the only Testament which exclusively consists of parenetic material without the slightest admixture of legend. t7 It is very likely that either Adam or Methuselah is to be added. Comp. Excursus II. ™8 12 Testaments, Benjamin 1-7, 10, and 12. 380
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