On the Date of Composition of the Book of Commandments by the Qaraite Levi b. Yefet

In this article Dr Nadia Vidro proposes to revise the date of composition of the Book of Commandments to 1009 CE

On the Date of Composition of the Book of Commandments by the Qaraite Levi b. Yefet

The Book of Commandments of the influential Qaraite scholar Levi b. Yefet is traditionally dated 1006/7 CE. This date is based on the Hebrew translation of the Book of Commandments and is irreconcilable with a calendrical characteristic of this year provided by Levi b. Yefet. In this article I propose to revise the date of composition of the Book of Commandments to 1009 CE. This date is given in a copy of the Arabic original of the code and is calendrically consistent. I also discuss events in the calendar of Palestinian Qaraites that prompted Levi b. Yefet to mention the year in which he was writing and that took place due to irregular weather patterns.

DOI: 10.1163/18750214-bja10033

---