Naphtali, a Proto-Joseph in the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs

Research notes: 
13/12/2011 AS Reader checked 26/12/2011 SE
Reference type: 
Journal Article
Author(s): 
Hillel, Vered
year: 
2007
Full title: 

Naphtali, a Proto-Joseph in the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs

Translated title: 
Journal / Book Title || Series Title: 
Journal for the Study of the Pseudepigrapha
Volume: 
16
Issue / Series Volume: 
3
Number of volumes: 
0
Series Title: 
Abbreviated Series Name: 
Collaborating Author: 
Place of Publication: 
Publisher: 
Pages: 
171-201
Chapter: 
Work type: 
Abstract: 

The Greek Testament of Naphtali (TNaph) 1.7, 8 states that Joseph, as a result of Rachel's prayer for a son like Naphtali from her own womb, was like ( μις) Naphtali in all things. Naphtali's association with Joseph, as well as developed Naphtali traditions stemming from the period of the Second Temple and reworked and remodeled in the Middle Ages, is well known from non-biblical traditions. Naphtali traditions are preserved in four different works 4QTestament of Naphtali (4QTNaph), the Greek Testament of Naphtali (TNaph), the Medieval Hebrew Testament of Naphtali (Heb. Naph.) and Midrash bereshit rabbati (BR). However, the writer of TNaph develops the comparison between Naphtali and Joseph beyond any known biblical or non-biblical tradition. For example, by equating Naphtali with Joseph, TNaph enhances the prestige of the 'Naphtali traditions'. As a result, the figure of Naphtali emerges as a type of Joseph, or, as a so-called proto-Joseph. This article seeks to demonstrate that such an understanding of Naphtali is borne out by an examination of the character of Naphtali as portrayed in TNaph and the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs (TPatr) as a whole and by the manner in which the author adopted and adapted traditional material.

Notes: 
Language: 
Alternative title: 
JSP
Date: 
Primary Texts: Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha: 
Composition / Author: 
Testament of Naphtali
Passage: 
1
Composition / Author: 
Testament of Naphtali
Passage: 
5^7
Edition: 
Original Publication: 
Reprint edition: 
URL: 
http://jsp.sagepub.com/content/16/3/171.full.pdf+html
DOI: 
ISBN: 
Accession number: 
Call num: 
Label: 
14/05/2007
Record number: 
5 176