own. This he did in a manner so masterly and satisfactory, that it superseded every other previous attempt, and constitutes the present Mishna.
The Mishna became the chief object of study. The rules
of Hillel were increased and much acted on; expositions were
given upon the reasons that led to the decisions in the Mishna;
the expounders were called (
Hebrew characters) Amoraim, public lecturers,
and the exposition (Hebrew characters) Gemara.
After the death of Judah, many of his learned disciples,
objecting to the appointment of his second son Gamaliel, to
his father's office, emigrated to Babylon, and having erected
schools there, pursued the study of the Mishna. The academy
they established in Sura rivalled the one in Tiberias. The
Gemara of Tiberias, collated about 358 (A.D.) by an unknown
individual, is called Talmud Jerushalmi; and the Gemara of
Sura, the compilation of which was begun by R. Ashe (352-427),
continued by his disciple and friend, Rabina, and finished about
525, is called Talmud Babli. The latter surpasses the former
in comprehensiveness, perspicuity, and depth, is about four
times as large, and fills 2947 folio pages. Both united are
called The Talmud (Hebrew characters) book of instruction; and also (Hebrew characters)
Gemara. It contains the civil and ceremonial law, debates on
various branches of art and science, moral sayings, anecdotes,
expositions on different passages of Scripture, &c.[1]
100-500, A.D.—In Yadaim, (Sect. iii. 5.) we find that R. Akiba, one of the greatest Rabbins who lived in the first century, and president of the Academy of Bai-Barc, said, "The whole world was not worthy of the day in which this sublime Song was given to Israel; for all the Scriptures are holy, but this sublime Song is most holy." There can, therefore, be no doubt that the mysteries which this distinguished Rabbi found in the Song of Songs, he regarded as greater than those he discovered in any other portion of the Sacred Scriptures.
- ↑ Vide Jost, Allgemeine Geschichte des Israelitischen Volkes (1850), Zweiter Band, pp. 63, 130, sqq. 153, Graetz, Geschichte der Juden, Dritter Band, p. 210. Vierter Band, pp. 243-246, 441-443, 446, 473. Zunz, Vorträge, p. 52.
