Targum Pseudo-Jonathan

Targum Pseudo-Jonathan is a western targum (translation) of the Torah (Pentateuch) from the land of Israel. Its correct title is Targum Yerushalmi ("Jerusalem Targum"), which is how it was known in medieval times. But because of a printer's mistake it was later labeled Targum Jonathan, in reference to Jonathan ben Uzziel. Some editions of the Pentateuch continue to call it "Targum Jonathan" to this day.

The Talmud relates that Yonatan ben Uziel, a student of Hillel, fashioned an Aramaic translation of the Prophets. It makes no mention of any translation by him of the Torah. So all scholars agree that this Targum is not due to Yonatan ben Uziel. Indeed, de Rossi (16th century) reports that he saw two very similar complete Targumim to the Torah, one called "Targum Yonatan Ben Uziel" and the other called "Targum Yerushalmi". A standard explanation is that the original title of this work was "Targum Yerushalmi", which was abbreviated to ת"י (TY), and these initials were then incorrectly expanded to "Targum Yonatan" which was then further incorrectly expanded to "Targum Yonatan ben Uziel". For these reasons, scholars call it "Targum Pseudo-Jonathan".

The first of these manuscripts cited by de Rossi is thought to have been the basis of the first printing in Venice (1591) where the false title "Targum Yonatan ben Uziel" is used. The second manuscript - the only known one to still exist - is in the British Museum and was published by Ginsburger in 1903.

This "targum" is more than a mere translation. It includes much Aggadic material collected from various sources as late as the Midrash Rabbah as well as earlier material from the Talmud. So it is a combination of a commentary and a translation. In the portions where it is pure translation, it often agrees with the Targum Onkelos.

As to the date of its composition, this is a matter of dispute. The majority opinion, on the basis of much internal evidence, is that it cannot date from before the Arab conquest of the Middle East despite incorporating some older material. For example, Ishmael's wife is called by the legendary Arabic name Fatimah. As an upper bound, it is referred to (perhaps for the first time) in 15th century commentaries. Gottlieb puts the time of composition toward the end of the eighth century. On the other hand, since the Geonim are unfamiliar with it, and Rashi doesn't mention it, Rieder puts the composition some time after Rashi, perhaps during the period of the crusades. The one surviving manuscript was probably written in the 16th century and is an unknown number of generations removed from the original.

An analysis of Targum Pseudo-Jonathan has been published recently by Beverly Mortensen.

ee also

*Targum
*Targum Jonathan
*Targum Onkelos
*Torah

References

* [http://www.jstor.org/view/00481009/ap050001/05a00070/0 Palestinian Targum and New Testament - Novum Testamentum © 1963]