Sepher Masoreth Ha’masoreth. * Sepher Tuv Ta’am [on cantillation points and grammatical accents]

LEVITA, ELIJAH BACHUR

Henricus Petri

Basle

1539

SECOND EDITION. Two works in one. Divisional title. Printer’s device at end of second work. Opening blanks with scholarly Latin notes. Extensive Latin marginalia

Vinograd, Basle 56; Mehlman 1864; Prijs 58; Adams E-110-11

These two works are often found with an abridged Latin text prepared by Sebastian Münster. It is unclear to bibliographers whether the three works were originally assembled together. Yudlov explains that the Latin version did appear on its own. It is likely therefore three variants exist: Hebrew alone, Latin alone and a compendium with both the Latin and Hebrew works bound together. Levita put forth the theory that the cantillation points (or trop) of the Torah were not Sinaitic but rather post-Talmudic in origin. This novel idea, which flew in the face of the simple sense of the Talmud (see TB Nedarim 37b and commentaries) became the subject of much controversy. Even an individual as innovative as Moses Mendelssohn defended the antiquity of the te'amim. But others such as Samuel David Luzzatto (SHaDaL) chimed in with Levita. See EJ, Vol. XI, col. 134