ABSTRACT
The Torah, the Pentateuch in particular within ancient Israelite Scripture, received as God’s word in God’s own wording, formed the highest authority of all in Rabbinic Judaism. Demonstration of a proposition by appeal to Scripture, properly interpreted, would therefore settle all questions. More broadly still, the great issues of the formative age tended to work themselves out in conflict over the meaning of ancient Israel i te Scr ipture. Hence when we understand the paramount authority of Scripture and tradition, we uncover the deepest layers of authority to which the kindred religions appeal. But how matters worked themselves out-at issue then is how the sages of Scripture identified the message set forth by the commanding voice of Scripture-defines the governing question. Precisely what told them those passages of Scripture, among many candidates, that would definitively settle questions, overcome schism and set holy Israel upon the right path? Bitter disputes on just these matters marked every initiative in Scripture and its interpretation.
