Mishle Sendebar

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Predating the expansion of the 'Western' Seven Sages narratives, composed some time before 1295, the Hebrew Mishle Sendebar (משלי סנדבר, Parables of Sendebar) is part of the broad 'Eastern' tradition, sharing many elements with the Syriac, Greek, Persian, Arabic, and Old Spanish versions. Like the other Eastern texts, Mishle Sendebar highlights the wisdom of a particular philosopher, Sendebar (also known as Sindbad, Syntipas, Sindban, etc.). Additionally, all the sages here tell two stories to every single story told by the empress (see story order, below).

However, Mishle Sendebar is also distinct from the other Eastern texts in some ways. Some of these differences are related to a distinct Hebrew literary tradition, evidenced in analogues or references to the Book of Esther and elements from the Torah, but some variations are also shown in the plot. For example, only in the Hebrew tradition is the empress forgiven at the end, once her crimes are revealed. Additionally, the Hebrew version alone of all the Eastern texts shares critical features with the Western Seven Sages tradition, as Morris Epstein explains in his introduction. As in the Seven Sages, in Mishle Sendebar the sages are named, and compete to secure the role of instructing the prince. The sages are named some variation of: Sendebar (Sndbad, Sndbr), Ipokras (Yofkot, Biars, Avpkrt), Apulin (Apuliyon, Aplbin, Upilin), Lukman (Luknin, Lukian, Lukmo, Ukmo, Ukimun), Aristalin (Aristotlie, Astile, Aristotilus, Istlin), Bind (Binr, Nishum, Bindi, Hind, Binur, Kind) and Amami (Amur, Amia, Amri, Amud, Omd, Amuz). The king is named Bibar (or similar), and his first wife's name is Beria; the son and the empress-figure are unnamed.

Identification and general Information
Reference Number
Siglum of the version of the Seven Sages	Mishle Sendebar
Version Number
Title	משלי סנדבר (Mishle Sendebar)
Author

Tradition and Lineage
Branch of the tradition	East
Adapted from (version)
Adapted into (version)
Source for composition and adaptation information

Recorded secondary versions
Mishle Sendebar Hebrew Mishle Sendebar Hebrew Group A Hebrew Prints Hebrew Group B Hebrew Prints Latin Mishle Sendebar

Connected manuscripts

Manuscript Language Location Date of Production Berlin Staatsbibliothek Ms. lat. qu. 618 Latin Berlin, Staatsbibliothek 1407 British Library Harley 5449 Hebrew London, British Library 1601 - 1700 Budapest Jewish Theological Seminary University Library Ms. K 59 Hebrew Budapest, Jewish Theological Seminary - University of Jewish Studies Library 1400 - 1500 Cincinnati Hebrew Union College Library Ms. 2187 Hebrew Persian Cincinnati, Hebrew Union College Library Cincinnati Hebrew Union College Library Ms. 598 Hebrew Cincinnati, Hebrew Union College Library 1750 - 1850 Città del Vaticano Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana Ebr. 100 Hebrew Città del Vaticano, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana 1450 - 1500 Città del Vaticano Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana Ebr. 271 Hebrew Città del Vaticano, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana 1375 - 1425 Città del Vaticano Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana Ebr. 296 Hebrew Città del Vaticano, Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana 1400 - 1500 Jerusalem, National Library of Israel Ms. 2087=28 Hebrew Jerusalem, National Library of Israel 1721 Jerusalem, National Library of Israel Ms. 3935=8 Hebrew Jerusalem, National Library of Israel 1531 Jerusalem, Schocken Institute for Jewish Research of The Jewish Theological Seminary Ms. 13316 Hebrew Jerusalem, Schocken Institute for Jewish Research Library 1700 - 1900 Leipzig Universitätsbibliothek B. H. 27 Hebrew Leipzig, Universitätsbibliothek 1619 Leipzig Universitätsbibliothek B. H. 34 Hebrew, Latin Leipzig, Universitätsbibliothek 1650 - 1700 London British Library Or. 10578N (Gaster 1354) [Cairo Genizah fragments] London, British Library London British Library Or. 16091 Hebrew London, British Library 1775 - 1825 London Montefiore H486 Hebrew London, Montefiore Library 1758 London School of Jewish Studies Ms. 35 Hebrew Unknown 1601 - 1800 New York Jewish Theological Seminary of America MS 2374 (Steinschneider 11) Hebrew New York, Jewish Theological Seminary of America Library 1401 - 1450 New York Jewish Theological Seminary of America MS 4879 (Steinschneider 33) Hebrew Aramaic New York, Jewish Theological Seminary of America Library 1709 New York Jewish Theological Seminary of America MS 4932 Hebrew New York, Jewish Theological Seminary of America Library 1800 - 1900 New York Jewish Theological Seminary of America MS 5048 Hebrew New York, Jewish Theological Seminary of America Library 1800 - 1900 New York Jewish Theological Seminary of America MS 8502 Judeo-Italian New York, Jewish Theological Seminary of America Library 1660 - 1661 New York Jewish Theological Seminary of America MS 9936 New York, Jewish Theological Seminary of America Library 1862 Oxford Bodleian Library Bodley Or. 135 Hebrew Oxford, Bodleian Library 1215 - 1275 Oxford Bodleian Library MS Heb. d. 11 Hebrew Oxford, Bodleian Library 1325 Paris Bibliothèque nationale de France, Hébreu 1282 Hebrew Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France 1350 - 1500 Paris Bibliothèque nationale de France, Hébreu 675 Hebrew Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France 1605 - 1700 Parma Biblioteca Palatina Parm. 2291 Hebrew Parma, Biblioteca Palatina 1450 - 1500 Parma Biblioteca Palatina Parm. 2294 Hebrew Parma, Biblioteca Palatina 1525 - 1575 Parma Biblioteca Palatina Parm. 2457 Hebrew Parma, Biblioteca Palatina 1300 - 1400 St Petersburg National Library of Russia EVR I 272 Hebrew St Petersburg, National Library of Russia (Российская национальная библиотека) 1494 Strasbourg Bibliothèque Nationale Universitaire Réserve Joffre MS.3.981 Hebrew Strasbourg, Bibliothèque Nationale et Universitaire 1700 - 1900 Turin Biblioteca Nazionale MS 218 A VII (lost) Hebrew 1400 - 1500 Warszawa Żydowski Instytut Historyczny im Emanuela Ringelbluma Ms. 281 Hebrew Warszawa, Żydowski Instytut Historyczny im Emanuela Ringelbluma (Jewish Historical Institute) 1601 - 1700 Warszawa Żydowski Instytut Historyczny im Emanuela Ringelbluma Ms. 871 Hebrew Warszawa, Żydowski Instytut Historyczny im Emanuela Ringelbluma (Jewish Historical Institute) 1801 - 1900

Language and Composition
Original language of version	Hebrew
Language of text	Hebrew
Regional or specific language of version
Translated into (languages)	French, Arabic, Latin, German (High and Low German)
Place of composition
Date of composition	1100 - 1295
Islamic date of composition
Hebrew date of composition
Source for date of composition	Epstein (1967)

Modern Scholarship and Editions
Modern research literature	Epstein (1967), Epstein (1958), Hilka (1912), Epstein (1959), Perry (1959), Gaster (1936), Steinschneider (1878), Needler (1977), Pratelli (2010), Lacarra (2009), Krönung (2016)
Modern Editions	Epstein, Tales of Sendebar (1967), Habermann, Mishle Sindbad (1946), Cassel, Mischle Sindbad (Hebrew, with translation into German) (1888), Pratelli, Mišlê Sendebār (2010)

Notes and Commentary
Note
Notes on motifs
Notes on the frame

Pattern of embedded stories in this version
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Connected prints
Print Language Location Date of Print Divre ha-Yamim shel Moshe Rabbenu. Constantinople: R. Samuel Ibn Naamias, 1516 Hebrew 1516 JL Divre ha-Yamim shel Moshe Rabbenu. Venice: Giovanni di Gara, 1605 Hebrew 1605 Sefer Divre ha-yamim shel Mosheh rabenu. Venice: 1544 Hebrew 1544 JL