Pseudo-Philo

Pseudo-Philo is the name commonly used for a Jewish pseudepigraphical work in Latin , so called because it was transmitted along with Latin translations of the works of Philo of Alexandria but is very obviously not written by Philo. Its more proper Latin title is Liber Antiquitatum Biblicarum , a title generally rendered in English as the Book of Biblical Antiquities . It chronicles biblical history from Adam to the death of Saul with omissions, modifications, and additions to the biblical texts. Many of its additions have parallels in other Jewish traditions. The temple is said to be still standing which indicates a date of composition before 70 CE. That the narrative breaks off at the death of Saul is usually considered quite strange, and some scholars have reasoned that this implies that there were further parts of the work which are now missing. It is believed to have been written in Hebrew and then translated into Greek and the Greek translated again into Latin , with the unfortunate result that a large number of proper names not found in Biblical texts are garbled beyond restoration. It is probably the earliest reference for many later legendary accretions to the Biblical texts, such as the casting of Abraham into the fire, Dinah 's marriage to Job , and Moses born circumcised. It also contains several other embellishments which deviate quite substantially from the norm, such as Abraham leading a rebellion against the builders of the Tower of Babel (the reason for him being cast into the fire). Amongst the several speeches it proclaims were made by the protagonists is a strange Psalm it attributes to David . This particular psalm constitutes an exorcism , which not a few scholars have argued is based on an actual ritual of exorcism that was carried out in the days of the author. There is also a lament about the human sacrifice of Jephthah 's daughter, with the daughter being the singer. Commentators have noted that the characterisation of the daughter is (like other female characterisations in Pseudo-Philo) much stronger and more positive than that of her biblical counterpart . She has a name (Seila), and her role is as wise and willing, rather than passive and reluctant, participant. One commentator has observed that 'the author has done his utmost to put this woman on the same level as the patriarchs, in this case especially Isaac' . Parts of this work were brought back into Hebrew for the medieval Chronicles of Jerahmeel .

Pseudo-Philo is the name commonly used for a Jewish work in Latin , so called (false Philo) because it was transmitted along with Latin translations of the works of Philo of Alexandria, but is very obviously not written by Philo. Its more proper Latin title is Liber Antiquitatum Biblicarum , a title sometimes translated into English as the Book of Biblical Antiquities . Parts of this work were brought back into Hebrew for the medieval Chronicles of Jerahmeel . Pseudo-Philo: Rewriting the Bible . The Biblical Antiquities of Philo .

Pseudo-Philo is the name commonly used for the unknown, anonymous author of Biblical Antiquities. This text is also commonly known today under the Latin title Liber Antiquitatum Biblicarum (Book of Biblical Antiquities), a title that is not found, per se, on the Latin manuscripts of Pseudo-Philo's Biblical Antiquities. Pseudo-Philo’s Biblical Antiquities is preserved today in 18 complete and 3 fragmentary Latin manuscripts that date between the eleventh and fifteenth centuries CE. In addition, portions of Pseudo-Philo's Biblical Antiquities parallel material also found in the Chronicles of Jerahmeel , a 14 century Hebrew composition. The Latin text of Pseudo-Philo’s Biblical Antiquities circulated in some Latin collections of writings by Philo of Alexandria. Scholars have long recognized the pseudonymous character of the text now known as Pseudo-Philo’s Biblical Antiquities. Primary in this regard is a vastly differing approach to and use of the Jewish Scriptures than that of Philo of Alexandria. Pseudo-Philo: Rewriting the Bible . The Biblical Antiquities of Philo . The Studia Philonica Annual . 9 : 239– 263. The Politics of Philo Judaeus: Practice and Theory .

Pseudo-Philo is the name commonly used for the unknown, anonymous author of Biblical Antiquities . This text is also commonly known today under the Latin title Liber Antiquitatum Biblicarum (Book of Biblical Antiquities), a title that is not found on the Latin manuscripts of Pseudo-Philo's Biblical Antiquities . Pseudo-Philo's Biblical Antiquities is preserved today in 18 complete and 3 fragmentary Latin manuscripts that date between the eleventh and fifteenth centuries CE. In addition, portions of Pseudo-Philo's Biblical Antiquities parallel material also found in the Chronicles of Jerahmeel , a 14th-century Hebrew composition. The Latin text of Pseudo-Philo's Biblical Antiquities circulated in some Latin collections of writings by Philo of Alexandria. Scholars have long recognized the pseudonymous character of the text now known as the Biblical Antiquities . Primary in this regard is a vastly differing approach to and use of the Jewish Scriptures than that of Philo of Alexandria. Pseudo-Philo: Rewriting the Bible . The Biblical Antiquities of Philo . The Studia Philonica Annual . 9 : 239– 263. The Politics of Philo Judaeus: Practice and Theory .

Pseudo-Philo is the name commonly used for the unknown, anonymous author of the Biblical Antiquities . This text is also commonly known today under the Latin title Liber Antiquitatum Biblicarum (Book of Biblical Antiquities), a title that is not found in the Latin manuscripts . Although probably originally written in Hebrew , it is preserved today only through a Latin translation found in 18 complete and 3 fragmentary manuscripts that date between the eleventh and fifteenth centuries CE. In addition, material paralleling that in the Biblical Antiquities is also found in the Chronicles of Jerahmeel , a 14th-century Hebrew composition. The Latin text of the Biblical Antiquities circulated alongside Latin translations of the authentic writings of Philo of Alexandria . Scholars have long asserted the pseudonymous character of the text now known as the Biblical Antiquities . Primary in this regard is a vastly differing approach to and use of the Jewish scriptures . Pseudo-Philo: Rewriting the Bible . The Biblical Antiquities of Philo . Pseudo-Philo: Rewriting the Bible . Jewish Quarterly Review . 10 : 308– 312. The Studia Philonica Annual . 9 : 239– 263. The Politics of Philo Judaeus: Practice and Theory .