SeMaK (Small Book of Precepts) by Isaac ben Joseph of Corbeil with commentary by Perez ben Elijah of Corbeil, including: Table of Contents (fols. 1-3). SeMaK of 315 precepts (fols. 3a verso - 141).
Material
Parchment II + 142 + I leaves.
Both sides of the parchment are similarly treated; they are yellowish and matt.
Measurements
Full page: (269-272) x (202-210) mm.
Text space: (187-191) x (143-145) mm.
Scribes
The text is written by a single scribe, except for fol. 88-88v (a paper leaf inserted at the end of the quire, replacing the original leaf with its text), which is written by two later hands.
Script
The text is written in square Ashkenazi script in dark brown ink, while the script of the commentary inserted within the text is written in smaller square Ashkenazi script.
Fol. 88-88v is written in semi-cursive Ashkenazi script in dark brown ink.
Columns
The text is mostly written in three columns (width: 38-42 mm), except for the formula for the divorce contract which is written in one and two columns (fols. 62v-63), and the end of the text which is written in one column (fol. 141).
Number of lines
The text is written in 35 lines per page.
Ruling
Ruling in plummet, 36 horizontal and 1+2+2+1 vertical lines. The two top and two bottom horizontal lines are ruled across the entire page. On some leaves the margins are also ruled (e.g. fols. 39v and 79).
Pricking
Pricking in all margins. The pricking is now only noticeable in the inner margins, because the outer, upper and bottom margins were cropped.
Quires
13 quires of 12 leaves each, except for I4 (Table of Contents fol. 3a, between fols. 3-4, is unnumbered), IX1+11 (fol. 88, a single paper leaf added to replace the missing original page), XII6.
Catchwords
Catchwords for quires are written in small square script in the lower left-hand corner. Many of them are cropped.
Hebrew numeration
None.
Blank leaves
Fols. 3v, 3a, 141v.
24a |
Scribes |
|
24b |
Script |
|
24c |
Number of Lines |
|
24d |
Ruling |
|
24e |
Pricking |
|
24f |
Quires |
|
24g |
Catchwords |
|
24h |
Hebrew Numeration |
|
24i |
Blank Leaves |
|
25a |
Material Structure |
|
25b |
Material Decoration |
|
25c |
Material Bonding |
|
25d |
Material Inscription |
|
25e |
Material Additions |
|
25f |
Material Cloth |
|
25g |
Material Lining |
|
25h |
Tesserae Arrangement |
|
25i |
Density |
|
25j |
Colors |
|
26a |
Height |
|
26b |
Length |
|
26c |
Width |
|
26d |
Depth |
|
26e |
Circumference |
|
26f |
Thickness |
|
26g |
Diameter |
|
26h |
Weight |
|
26i |
Axis |
|
26j |
Panel Measurements |
|
27a |
Façade (main) |
|
27b |
Entrances |
|
27c |
Location of Torah Ark |
|
27d |
Location of Apse |
|
27e |
Location of Niche |
|
27f |
Location of Reader's Desk |
|
27g |
Location of Platform |
|
27h |
Temp: Architecture Axis |
|
27i< |
Arrangement of Seats |
|
27j |
Location of Women's Section |
|
27k |
Direction Prayer |
|
27l |
Direction Toward Jerusalem |
|
28a |
Coin Series |
|
28b |
Coin Ruler |
|
28c |
Coin Year |
|
28d |
Denomination |
|
None.
The name of the scribe, Abraham, is marked by a diagonal row of v's on fols. 42v, 100, and by a v above each letter of the name on fol. 47v.
Fols. 62v-63: Divorce contract (chapter 180):
זה טופס הגט מאבי ספר הזה: [...] פלוני בר' פלוני [...] בעשרים ושלושה לחדש סיון שנת חמשת אלפים ותשעים ושבעה לבריאת עולם למנין שאנו מנין בלוביין מתא דיתבא על נהר דילא [...] עד כאן שיטת הגט מאבי הספר הזה מכאן ואילך סדר מרפ"א (מורנו הרב פרץ [בן] אליהו): באחד בשבת בעשרים יום לחדש סיון שנת חמשת אלפים ותשעים ושבעה לבריאת עולם למנין [...]
This divorce contract is by the author of this book: […] Ploni bar Ploni (anonymous) […] on Sunday, Sivan 23, 5097 (=1337) […] here in the city of Louvain on the river Dijle […] Ploni bar Ploni (anonymous) […].
Here ends the divorce contract by the author of this book; from here on is the text of MaRaF (Morenu ha-Rav Perez [ben] Elijah): on Sunday, Sivan 20, 5097 (=1337) […].
Fol. 141: The SeMaK ends with an inscription in semi-cursive script written by Abraham stating that the Book of Precepts is completed:
סיימתי ספר המצות שבח/ לדר בערבות וביושר זכיתי/ לסיימו כן אזכה לקיימו והינו/ יפרס עלי סוכת שלומו חזק/ ויגן ממרומו עלי ועל זרעי ויהיה בעזרי אלהי
I have completed this book of precepts, praise the Lord that I was justly privileged to finish it, so that I shall be blessed to fulfill them (the precepts) … and my God will shield me and my seed from above, and be of help to me.
33a |
Group |
|
33b |
Subgroup |
|
33c |
Hallmark Identification |
|
33d |
Hallmark Group Classification |
|
33e |
Hallmark Reference |
|
Yellowish cardboard binding (280 x211 mm), probably of the 15th century. Stuck on the front cover is a mutilated vestige of dark brown leather, blind-tooled with a double frame of fillets and a central rectangle decorated with small semi-circular motifs. Modern grey linen spine with six single cords.
Watermarks of flyleaves: Unintelligible.
- Full page decoration: fol. 3a verso is decorated with dragons, hunting and battle scenes, and decorative panels for the initial words opening the SeMaK.
- Marginal decorations: fol. 134v is decorated in the lower and outer margins with a rampant lion, a deer and a Star of David.
- Many initial words opening various chapters are written in alternating brown and red letters.
The numbers of the chapters and some other words within the text are written in red.
38 |
Suggested Reconstruction |
• The text is accompanied by marginal annotations, corrections and additions written by later Ashkenazi hands, and some quotations on the relevant subjects, for example a quotation from Sefer Hasidim (fol. 136v).
Owners' inscriptions:
• On the recto of the first flyleaf there is an inscription in square Ashkenazi script in brown ink, probably by one of the owners:.עמודי גולה והוא סמ"ק להר"י מקורביל Amudei Golah (Pillars of the Diaspora) which is SeMaK of R. Itzhak of Corbeil.
• In the upper left-hand margin of fol. 1, by a 19th-century Ashkenazi hand: לה' הארץ ומלואה (תהלים כד,א) הלאלעזר סגל הורוויץ . The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof (Ps. 24:1), Eleazar Segal Horovitz. Another later inscription on the right is partly illegible: יוסף קח(?) אלפיך, Yosef Kah(?) alphekha(?).
• On fol. 141v there is an inscription deliberately covered by ink, probably by a later owner.
Inscriptions of librarians and researchers:
• A separate letter dated Nov. 1860 is located between the leaves of the manuscript. It was written by a librarian of the BSB concerning the acquisition of this manuscript from S. Rosenthal. In the catalogue of the library from 1856-1971 (Neuerwerbungen der Handschriften-abteilung, 1856-1971 (Cbm Cat. 99q.1, p. 17)) it is mentioned that Cod.hebr. 135 was exchanged by the antiquarian S. Rosenthal for other books in December 1860. The same librarian who wrote the catalogue inscribed the manuscript on the verso of the second front flyleaf: "Isaac ben Joseph von Corbeille […] ('Amudei golah') S.XIV. (1337)", and "Cod. hebr. 135" in the upper right corner.
Exlibris and stamps:
• In the upper margin of fol. 4 there is a circular stamp with an eagle or swan in the centre surrounded by an inscription: PRIVIL(egio):SAC(rae):CES(areae):BEC(?):MAVCICO(?)
This stamp can be related to the privileges given to individuals, a right that the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire enjoyed. These privileges protected the printers, copper engravers, map makers and publishers for a time, and were also considered a recommendation for potential customers. It is unclear why such a stamp was put on the Hebrew manuscript.
• On the recto of the first flyleaf and on fol. 141v there is an oval stamp of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek from the 19th century: BIBLIOTHECA/ REGIA/ MONACENSIS.
Old signatures: None.
40 |
Main Surveys & Excavations |
Restored: January 1922.
Codex Maimuni, facsimile 1984 Codex Maimuni, the Illuminated pages of Kaufmann Mishne Torah
(facsimile co-edition Corvina/Helikon/Strassburger), Hungary 1984.
Porter 2003 P. Porter, Courtly Love in Medieval Manuscripts, London 2003.
Schwarzfuchs 2007 S. Schwarzfuchs, R. Banitt, Gottschalk, W. Bok, D. Dratwa and Y. Meroz,
"Belgium", Encyclopedia Judaica (2nd ed.), 3, USA 2007:280-287.
Sed-Rajna 1994 G. Sed-Rajna, Les Manuscrits Hébreux Enluminés des Bibliothèques de France,
Louvain-Paris 1994.
Sefer Mitzvot Katan Isaac of Corbeil, Sefer Mitzvot Katan, Jerusalem 2005.
Steinschneider 1895 M. Steinschneider, Die Hebräischen Handschriften der K. Hof- und Staatsbibliothek in München. Munich 1895.
Ta-Shma 2007 I. M. Ta-Shma, "Isaac ben Joseph of Corbeil", Encyclopaedia Judaica (2nd ed.), 10, USA
2007:43.
43a |
Short Name |
|
43b |
Full Name |
|
43c |
Volume |
|
43d |
Page |
|
|
47 |
Temp: Sys. Number / Doc. Name |
21859
OVRPO=ntl%3Atrue%2Cntl_localname%3Atrue%2Csubject%3A%2Csubject_detail%3A%2Cobject%3Atrue%2Cobject_detail%3A%2Cmaker_profession%3Atrue%2Cmaker_name%3Atrue%2Cmaker_detail%3Atrue%2Cdate%3Atrue%2Cperiod%3Atrue%2Cperiod_detail%3Atrue%2Cphotographer%3A%2Cphoto_date%3A%2Cphotographer_copyright%3A%2Corigin%3Atrue%2Corigin_detail%3Atrue%2Chistorical_origin%3Atrue%2Cschool%3Atrue%2Cschool_detail%3Atrue%2Ccommunity%3Atrue%2Ccommunity_detail%3Atrue%2Ccollection%3Atrue%2Ccollection_detail%3Atrue%2Ccopyright%3Atrue%2Csite%3Atrue%2Csite_detail%3Atrue%2Clocation%3Atrue%2Clocation_detail%3Atrue%2Cdescription%3A%2C&
Registrar |
Function: |
Name: |
Date: |
49 |
Documenter |
Prof. Aliza Cohen-Mushlin; Ilona Steimann |
2008; 2009 |
49a |
50 |
Researcher |
Prof. Aliza Cohen-Mushlin; Ilona Steimann; Yaffa Levy |
2009, 2014; 2008; 2014 |
50a |
51 |
Architectural Drawings |
|
|
51a |
52 |
Computer Reconstruction |
|
|
52a |
53 |
Section Head |
Michal Sternthal; Project Head: Prof. Aliza Cohen-Mushlin |
07-2016; 2008-2015 |
53a |
54 |
Editor |
Christine Evans |
2014 |
54a |
55 |
Donor |
Supported by the Fritz Thyssen Foundation |
|
55a |
Less Details