The Serugin, Te’amim, and Meturgeman in Christian Perspective-part 11

The Serugin, Te’amim, and Meturgeman in Christian Perspective-part 11

            It is generally believed by authors that the system called “Tiberian” is the most authentic system of accentuation.  Since the oldest OT scrolls [older than the Dead Sea Scrolls, c150 BC—c70 AD] are no longer available it is at least possible that the original scrolls of the OT contained the te’amim above and below the OT texts (as we will discuss later). The concept that is most meaningful from this discussion recorded in the Encyclopedia Judaica is that an overwhelming amount of scholars believe that the purpose of the te’amim was to control vocalization of all OT Scripture.       

            Although the system of te’amim found in the MT is often considered the ‘newest system’, it is possible that it is very ancient and is ipso facto  much more authoritative than if it was invented by the Masoretes at the time of the School of Tiberius. “The oldest manuscript known to contain these cantillation signs is the ‘Codex of the Prophets’ written by Moses ben Asher, which dates from 895 CE.” Haik-Vantoura, TMotBR, p. 46. Suzanne Haik-Vantoura also asserts, “Thus it appears that a graphical system, obviously reserved to the Levites alone, must have existed from early antiquity—a notation piously preserved from vulgarization both then and later.” Haik-Vantoura, TMotBR, p. 161.  Macy Nulman states, “Throughout the ages there have been various opinions concerning the origin of the te’amim.  Some scholars maintain that the Torah that Moses received on Mount Sinai was furnished with the vowel points and accentuation.  Others believe that the Torah that Moses received on Mount Sinai did not have the vowel points and accentuation but that Moses wrote a second Torah exactly like the first and added the vowel points and accentuation.”  Nulman, CEofJM, p.245.  Some writers who believe that Moses had the ability and expertise to add the graphic signs to the Torah base their belief on Acts 7:22, “And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.”  However, there is no existing proof that Moses learned this form of musical notation while in Pharaoh’s court.