Torah, Shemot. Especially Large Codex on Parchment, with Differences from the Mesorah. C. 10th Century

Torah, Shemot. Especially Large Codex on Parchment, with Differences from the Mesorah. C. 10th Century

"Codex" [מִצְחָף] is the designation for ancient books written not in a scroll format, but in a page-by-page format, similar to the books in use today.

Latin origin of the name: Caudex - book or anthology. The original meaning of the Latin term is "tree trunk" due to the wooden boards used for writing.

The origin of mitzchaf is Arabic, and it already appears in books by the geonim. This term refers to handwritten works that have been bound and are read in a book format: page after page. The text appears on both sides of each page, as in today's printed books.

Especially large manuscript, arranged in three columns, [20] lines per column. Oriental script with Tiberian vowelization, c. 10th century. Ink on parchment.

The manuscript bears a passage from sefer Shemot:

Page 1 - from 16:18 "he who takes a minimal amount will not lack" to verse 31 "sweet as honey."

Page 2 - from verse 32 "Moshe said" ending with 17:5, "Take elders of the Jewish people with you."

Several mesorah-notes on the side of the text, with several differences from the traditional mesorah of today, some unfamiliar.

The style of script is similar to that of the renowned scribe Shlomo ben Boya'a, who wrote the Aleppo Codex, but it is not his script.

[1] leaf, taken from a binding. Expert's confirmation included.

Maximum dimensions - 430x357 mm.

Fine condition. Aging stains. Fading and peeling ink in several words. Delicate professional restoration to several tears in the margins, without lack in the text.