SHNATON - An Annual for Biblical and Ancient Near Eastern Studies – is the most important Hebrew Journal for the research of Biblical Verse and the world in which it existed. It includes article from all areas of research of Biblical Studies in which are included Biblical Verse, Ancient Near East and its History, Languages and Literature all of which are inter linked with Biblical Verse, External Literature, the Judean Desert Scrolls, Ancient translations and the History of Commentary through the generations. The Annual also includes a special critical section for comprehensive criticism of recently published books in these issues.

The commentary on Qohelet is one of the few surviving remains of the commentary work written by Rabbi Shmuel Ben Meir (Rashbam), Rashi’s grandson and one of the leading French thinkers and commentators of the Middle Ages. This new edition seeks to reveal Rashbam’s unique contribution not only to the understanding of Qohelet, but also to the study of the bible. The authors attempt to re kindle among readers a new interest in the world of medieval biblical commentary and its significance in this day and age.

The 17 articles presented in this volume have been contributed by all members of the Department of Bible, both active and emeriti, and reflect some of the many interests and facets of research pursued within the department. The reader will encounter here the true sense of the "Jerusalem School" - a commitment to biblical studies which strives to unite the unique heritage of Jewish learning with the methodology and accomplishments of modern biblical research.

This book, designed for students of the Hebrew Bible and medieval exegesis, presents a small part of the work of R. Samuel ben Meir (Rashbam), the grandson of Rashi and one of the leading figures in Rashi’s school of exegesis in northern France. The authors show by their editing of the text, in translation and in introduction, the specific and unique contributions which Rashbam makes, not only to the understanding of Qoheleth, but to the text of the Hebrew Bible as a whole. They will surely stimulate research into the whole area of medieval exegesis. Rashbam רשבם is a Hebrew acronym for רבי שמואל בן מאיר (Rabbi Shmuel son of Meir) (c.1085 - c.1158). His father was Meir ben Shmuel and his mother was Yocheved, the daughter of Rashi. Like his grandfather Rashi, the Rashbam was a biblical commentator and Talmudist. He was also a leading French Tosafist. He was the older brother of the Tosafist Rivam and the Tosafist Rabbeinu Tam, also known as Jacob ben Meir. He was a colleague of Rabbi Joseph Kara. Rashbam was born in France in the vicinity of Troyes. He learned from Rashi and from the Riva. He was the teacher of his brother, Rabbeinu Tam. His commentary on the Torah is renowned for its stress on the plain meaning (peshat) of the text. This approach often led him to state views that were somewhat controversial (thus resulting in the omission of his commentary on the first chapters of Genesis in many earlier editions of the Pentateuch). Parts of his commentary on the Talmud have been preserved, and they appear on the pages of most of tractate Bava Batra (where no commentary by Rashi is available), as well as the last chapter of tractate Pesachim. Rashbam earned a living by tending livestock and growing grapes, following in his family tradition. Known for his piety, he defended Jewish beliefs in public disputes that had been arranged by church leaders to demonstrate the inferiority of Judaism.