The Text of the Shema Yisrael in Qumran Literature and Elsewhere

Abstract

This chapter studies the textual history of the Shema Yisrael, Deut 6:4-9, as attested by Second Temple Jewish literature and manuscripts. Because the Shema Yisrael was used in various liturgical contexts in late Second Temple Judaism, the study raises the question of how a text's liturgical use affected its textual history. The chapter first addresses the question if there are differences between quotations and allusions in ancient Jewish literature and what can be regarded as a quotation and allusion and what not. It then lists the textual witnesses to Deut 6:4-9 as well as its quotations and allusions. The chapter compiles a list of variant readings and discusses the importance of these variants. In the end, it draws some conclusions about the textual history of Deut 6:4-9 and about how its text was affected by its possible liturgical use. Keywords:ancient Jewish literature; Second Temple period; Shema Yisrael; textual history