6. Other Exegetical Midrashim

LekaJ,a tob, by a Bulgarian author, Tobia ben Eliezer, was probably written in 1097 and reedited by the author in 1107. It deals with the Pentateuch and with the Rolls, and is "half commentary, half haggada, largely from early sources." An edition appeared at Vilna, 1880, edited by A. M. Padua. Hidrsahim. Sekel tob was composed by Menahem ben Solomon in 1139, and deals with Genesis and Exodus. Strictly, this work does not belong to the Midrashim. Bereshith rabba major is often assigned to Moses of Narbonne (first half of the eleventh century), who is asserted to have compiled commentaries on the Biblical books (cf. A. Epstein, Moses had-Darwhon aus Narbonne, Vienna, 1891). Midrash Shamuel is a haggadie explanation of verses from the books of Samuel, collected from the Palestinian Talmud, Genesis rabba, Leviticus rabba, and other early sources. It is edited by S. Buber, Cracow, 1893; ef. on it W. Becher in Revue des Etudes juivea, xxvi (1893), 304-309. Mid rash Yonah is a poetical amplification of the book of Jonah, based on the Pirke Elimer (printed at Prague, 1595; Altona, e. 1770). MidraghTehilim (or Shohar tob), on the Psalms, is composed of two very different parts, divided at the end of Pa. axviii.; it is not the work of a single redactor, and the manuscripts show different recensions. It is probably the result of a long-continued collection of remarks, homilies, and expositions from the most varied sources. The date and even the region in which it was made are not decided. In printed form it is often found with the midrash to Samuel and to Proverbs-so the editions of Venice, 1546; Prague, 1613; Amsterdam, 1730. It was issued separately at Lemberg, 1851; Warsaw, 1873; and by S. Buber, Vilna, 1891. Midrash Meshalle, on Proverbs, was first cited by Rabbi Hananel (c. 960 A.D.), and uses the Babylonian Talmud (ed. S. Buber, Vilna, 1893). Midraah whir haahirim, on Canticles, has used the Palestinian Talmud, Genesis rabba, Pesi$ta, Leviticus rabba, and lost sources. The Midrash Ruth, in eight parts, was cited by Rabbi Rashi, and is from about the same sources as that on Canticles. Midrash Xohelech, on Ecclesiastes, is in three parts, and is discussed by L. Grilnhut, Krih'sche Untersuchung, Frankfort, 1892. Midrash Esther (or Haggadath MegiTla) is in six parts, each marked with an introduction; but the work was evidently not completed according to the intention of the author. The material is nearly all of high antiquity, taken from the Palestinian Talmud, Genesis rabba, Leviticus rabba, and Pirke Eliezer. The is of Palestinian origin. Other midrashim to the Rolls are three on Canticles, ed., respectively, by S. Buber (Berlin, 1894), S. Schechter (Cambridge, 1896), and L. Griinhut (Jerusalem, 1897). S. Buber published a collection of haggadie commentaries on Esther (Vilna, 1886), also Agadische Abhandluugen cum Buche Esther (Craw, 1897).