Baraita on the Thirty-two Rules

rdf:langString Baraita on the Thirty-two Rules

rdf:langString The Baraita on the Thirty-two Rules or Baraita of R. Eliezer ben Jose ha-Gelili is a baraita giving 32 hermeneutic rules, or middot, for interpreting the Bible. As of when the Jewish Encyclopedia was published in 1901–1906, it was thought to no longer exist except in references by later authorities. However, it was discovered in 1933 by H. G. Enelow, who published it in his "Mishnat Rabbi Eliezer," and in 1947 it was published again in Margaliot's edition of Midrash Hagadol to Genesis. Jonah ibn Janah is the oldest authority who drew upon this Baraita, but he did not mention it by name. Rashi makes frequent use of it in his commentaries on the Bible. It is mentioned in the commentary attributed Rashi in the Talmud, Horayot 3b. He either briefly calls it the thirty-two rules or designates it as the "Baraita (or sections [pirkei]) of R. Eliezer b. Jose ha-Gelili". Also the Karaite Judah Hadassi, who incorporated it in his Eshkol ha-Kofer, recognized in it the work of this R. Eliezer.