Scribal Secrets

The text of the Torah includes not only its words, but also various atypical scribal features. Prime among these are the dots over certain letters, various letters written either large or small, and the exceedingly odd placement of two inverted Hebrew letters surrounding one passage. What are these features doing there? How old are they? Do they carry meaning? How have they been interpreted over the years? James Diamond brings the reader on the journey through the Torah text in search of a response to these questions.

""In this, alas posthumous, work, the author invites his readers to explore with him an area of Hebrew Bible studies that is often ignored, namely that of the para-textual markings in the Torah text: the dotted words, large and small letters, and much more. In an engaging and non-technical style, the author guides the reader through the multitude of explanations that have been advanced over the years to explain these singular scribal curiosities. This book is warmly recommended for anyone interested in the text of the Torah and printed editions of the Hebrew Bible."" --David Marcus, Jewish Theological Seminary

""A remarkably readable discussion of several obscure markings in Torah scrolls and the Hebrew Bible that are overlooked by most readers. Diamond (z.l.) has set aside the 'numbingly technical' analysis of these extraordinary points--dots marking ten words in the Torah, large and small letters, inverted nuns--and guides us through the many ways these phenomena have been interpreted by rabbis and exegetes."" --Harold P. Scanlin, United Bible Societies Consultant (Emeritus) on Scholarly Editions and Helps

James S. Diamond (d. 2013) had a distinguished career in two fields: as a Hillel rabbi on various elite U.S. campuses, and as a teacher of Hebrew literature and comparative literature at those same universities. His most recent position was at Princeton University (retired 2004).

Robert Goldenberg is Professor Emeritus of History and Jewish Studies at Stony Brook University. Gary A. Rendsburg serves as the Blanche and Irving Laurie Professor of Jewish History at Rutgers University.