Genesis Rabbah - Date

Date

It is difficult to ascertain the exact date of the editing of Genesis Rabba. It was probably undertaken not much later than that of the Jerusalem Talmud. But even then the text was probably not finally closed, for longer or shorter passages could always be added, the number of prefatory passages to a section be increased, and those existing be enlarged by accretion. Thus, beginning with the Torah portion Vayishlach, extensive passages are found that bear the marks of the later haggadah, and have points of connection with the Tanhuma homilies. The passages were probably added at an early date, since they are not entirely missing in the older manuscripts, which are free from many other additions and glosses that are found in the present editions. In the concluding chapters, Genesis Rabba seems to have remained defective. In the sections of the Torah portion Vayigash, the comment is no longer carried out verse by verse; the last section of this Torah portion, as well as the first of the Torah portion Vayechi, is probably drawn from Tanhuma homilies. The comment to the whole 48th chapter of Genesis is missing in all the manuscripts (with one exception), and to verses 1-14 in the editions. The remaining portion of this Torah portion, the comment on Jacob's blessing (Gen. 49) is found in all the manuscripts — with the above-mentioned exceptions — in a revision showing later additions, a revision that was also used by the compiler of the Tanhuma Midrash edited by Solomon Buber. The best manuscript of Genesis Rabba is found in the Codex Add. 27,169 of the British Museum. It was used for the critical edition issued by J. Theodor.