The Kabala Unveiled (1933) by Frater Aquarius, Scribe

THE KAB KABALA UNVEI UNVEILED LED By F ra te r A quarius, Scribe INTRODUCTION

If you love mystery and the weird things which the human mind has  be en a b l e t o e v o l v e i n an a t t e m p t t o s o l v e t h e m y s t e r i e s o f l i f e , you w i l l f i n d t h i s c o u rs r s e o f s p e c i a l s tu t u d y v er e r y i n t e r e s t i n g a nd nd ve v e ry ry h e l p ful. We a re happy t h a t we a re a b le to p re se n t to you a re a l UNVEILING of t h i s m y s t e ri ri o u s s u b j e c t . I t i s u n d o u b te te d ly l y t h e m os os t w e i rd rd l y a r r a n g e d , m os os t m y s t e r i o u s l y a l l u r i n g a nd n d m y s t i f y i n g s u b j e c t t h a t t h e hu human m in in d e v er e r in i n v e n t e d i n an a n a t te t e m p t t o i n t e r p r e t d i v in i n e i m p r e s s io io n s . The students of mysticism in oriental countries are just as greatly m y s t i f i e d by by t h i s s u b j e c t a s a r e t h e p e o p le le i n t h e W e s te te rn rn W or or ld ; b u t the students in the Orient and the Near East have one advantage that t h e s t u d e n t s i n t h e W e st st e rn rn Wo Wo rld do n o t ha h a v e; e; t h e o r i e n t a l s t u d e n t s have had the truth of the Kabala explained to them, whereas the people in the W est est ern ern Wo W o rld have have had had only a fa ls e or w ro n g ly in ter p re ted form form of the Kabala given to them. The K a ba ba llaa d e a l s w i t h la la w s a n d p r i n c i p l e s t h a t a r e t h e m os ost m y s t e r i o u s a n d m os ost s u b t l e i n t h e u n i v e r s e . Some p e r s o n s h av av e s p e n t t h e i r e n t i r e lives trying to find the golden thread in the Kabala, and trying to l i f t t h e v e i l th t h a t s e e m s t o h id i d e i t f r o m a c l e a r u n d e r s ta ta n d i n g . It w ou ou ld t a k e t h e l i f e t i m e o f t h e a v e ra ra g e p e r s o n t o c o m p l e te t e l y an an d t h o r o u g h l y a n a l y z e t h e K a ba b a llaa i f h e h ad ad t o d e pe p e n d u po po n s e a r c h i n g t h ro ro u g h a l l o f t h e m od od er er n b o o k s t h a t h av a v e b e e n p u b l i s h e d o n th th e s ub ub  j e c t . No two tw o o f t h e s e b o o k s a g r e e , a n d n o s t u d e n t s o f t h e K&b&l &b&laa seem t o a g re r e e i n t h e i r a tt t t e m p ts t s to t o i n t e r p r e t i t a n d p r e se s e n t i t t o o t h e r s. s. The Kabala Kaba la a s a course of study has neve r been in co rp o ra te d am among the r e g u l a r g r a d e d c o u r s e s o f s tu tu d y o f t h e R o s i c r u c i a n O r de d e r i n m od o d e rn t i m e s s i m p ly l y be b e ca c a us u s e i t l e a d s t o s o many m y s t e ri ri o u s f i e l d s t h a t t h e a v e ra r a g e s t u d e n t w o ul ul d n o t h a v e a n o p p o r t u n i t y o f m a s t e r in in g i t a n d a p  p l y i n g i t . Some ome o f t h e more mo re e s s e n t i a l a n d p r a c t i c a l i d e a s c o n t a i n e d i n th t h e K a b al a l a a r e c o n t a i n e d i n ou ou r o t h e r R o s i c r u c i a n l e c t u r e s . B ut ut t h e m y s t e r i o u s t h i n g s t h a t seem t o f a s c i n a t e t h e human m in in d a nd nd h o l d i t in a sp e ll of the most weird for form m of mysticism axe no now to be exex p l a i n e d t o you i n t h i s s p e c i a l c o u r s e o f l e s s o n s . I t i s s a i d b y many o f t h e e m i n en e n t m y s t i o s o f E u ro ro pe pe a n d o t h e r c o u n t r i e s t h a t n o s t u d e n t o f m y s ti t i ci c i sm s m ca c a n s pe p e aak k f l u e n t l y a nd nd l e a r n e d l y o f t h e m y s t e r i o u s t h i n g s o f l i f e u n l e s s he he kn kno w s s o m e t h in in g a b o u t t h e K a b a la la . I t i s c o n s i d e r e d b y a g r e a t ma many p e r so s o n s t o be b e t h e m o st st i n t e l l e c t u a l sued h i g h l y i n t e l l i g e n t p r e s e n t a t i o n o f many s e c r e t d o c t r i n e s . Com p a r e d w i t h o t h e r more s im p l e s u b j e c t s o f s t u d y t h e K a b a la i s l i k e comcom p a r i n g t h e game game o f c h e s s w i t h t h e game o f c h e c k e r s . Perhaps too much mystery and mysticism has surrounded the Kabala, and

Introduction

The Kabala Unveiled r e v e l a t io n s . T h i s i m p r e s s io n c o u ra g e t h e i n s i n c e r e s t u d e n t i n g t h e K a b a la .

m ay h av e b e e n c r e a t e d i n o r d e r t o d i s a n d t h e u n w o rth y on e fro m e v e r c o n s i d e r -

You a l o n e w i l l b e a b l e t o j u dg dg e a f t e r r e a d i n g t h i s c o u r s e o f s t u d y whether the Kabala is worthy of your further investigation or not. I n a g r e a t ma many m y s t i c s i t a w ak ak en en s a n d q u i c k e n s a s l e e p i n g , d or o r m an an t i n t e r e s t i n s o m et e t h in in g t h a t t h e y h av av e s t u d i e d f a r i n t h e p a s t , p e r ha ha p s i n a n o t h e r in in c a r n a t i o n . I n o t h e r m y s t ic i c s t h i s s tu t u d y a wa w a k en en s a r e  m em branoe o f p a s t e v e n t s a nd nd p a s t c o n t a c t s . In s t i l l other stud en ts t h i s s tu t u d y aw aw ak a k en en s n o t h i n g o l d b u t l e a v e s t h e m w i t h a s t r a n g e u n d er er s t a n d i n g o f so s ome o f th th e g r e a t m y s t e r i e s . t

Th is cours e of study no now b ef o re you you wa was pr ep ar ed by one one wh who ha s de lved d e e p ly l y i n t o t h e s u b j e c t , a nd n d who h a s n o t o n l y d i s c o v e r e d a g r e a t d e a l a b o u t t h e m y s t e r i e s of o f t h e K a b al a l a , b u t i s so t h o r o u g h l y f a m i l a r w i th th our R os icru cia n wor work th a t he can expLain i t to you you as one R os ieru eian to an o th er . And becau se of your advan advance cement ment in our R os icru cian wor work a nd n d yo y o u r s p e c i a l q u a l i f i c a t i o n s i t h a s b e e n re recommended t h a t y ou ou b e  p e r m i t t e d t o h a v e t h i s s p e c i a l s t u d y . We a s k t h a t y ou ke k e ep e p t h i s c o u r se s e o f s tu tu d y c o n f i d e n t i a l t o y o u r s e l f , a n d n o t 3how i t to any o the r R os icruc ian me member even even i f y ou b e lie v e , o r h e b e l i e v e s , t h a t he he i s r e a d y t o h a v e i t . L ik ik e a l l o f t h e R o s ic i c ru ru c i a n m on o n o g r a p h s t h a t a r e s e n t t o y ou ou , t h e s e a r e a l s o c o n f i d e n t i a l a nd nd s t r i c t l y p r i v a t e , a n d y o u a r e n o t b u r y in i n g th e m o r i n an a n y wa way p u r c h a s ing them hem to own them hem in such a man manne nerr th a t w ill giv e you th e freedom freedom to pass them on to others. You w i l l f i n d t h e r e a d i n g a nd n d s tu tu d y i n g o f t h i s s p e c i a l s u b j e c t in in t e n s e l y i n t e r e s t i n g , a nd n d d u r in in g t h e c o ur u r se s e o f t h e s tu tu d y s uc uc h n e c e s s a r y c h a r t s , d ia i a gr g r a m s, s , o r i l l u s t r a t i o n s w i ll l l b e f u r n is i s h e d t o y o u a s w i ll ll help to make every important point perfectly clear and understan dable. B ec e c au au se se t h i s c o u r s e i s g r a n t e d t o y o u t h ro r o u g h t h e p e r m i s s io io n o f t h e c e r t i f i c a t e w hioh you r e c e i v e d fr f r om om E g yp y p t t h e e m p h a si si s i n t h e c o u r s e o f s t u d y w i l l be be p l a c e d up up o n t h e E g y p t i a n m y s t i c a l u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f the Kabala* With these few words of introduction, and with our fondest hope t hat y o u w i l l f i n d t h i s s p e c i a l c o u r s e , a n d o t h e r s w h ic ic h we may b e p e r m i ttt e d t o s en e n d t o yo y o u f ro ro m ti tim e t o tim e u n d e r t h e p r i v i l e g e o f y o u r c e r t i f i c a t e f r o m E g yp y p t, t, i n t e r e s t i n g a n d h e l p f u l , we g r e e t yo yo u w i th th th th e a n c i e n t R o s ic i c r u c ia i a n g r e e t i n g s "o " o n a l l p o i n t s of o f th th e t r i a n g l e . " Fraternally, GRA GRAND ARCHIVI HI VIS ST OF AMORC P .S .S . P l e a s e n o t e t h a t you a r e p e r m i t te t e d t o t e l l o t h e r m e m be ber s t h a t you a r e a s p e c i a l s t u d e n t o f t h e K a b al a l a, a, a nd n d t h a t yo yo u h av av e b e en en p e r m i tt t t e d to t o ha h a v e s p e c i a l c o u r se s e s o f st stu d y by m r r a n t o f a c e r t i f i c a t e

SECRE SECRET T DISC DISCOUR OURSE SE

NUMBER BER ONE By P ra te r Ac*uar iu s, THE KABALA

PAGE ONE S crib e

It has been frequently stated that no one can obtain a true knowledge o f t h e K a b a la l a , ( w h ic ic h i s a He He b r e w w o rd o f t e n s p e l t C a b a l a , Q u a b b a l la la , o r Kab'o Kab'oal ala, a, the tr u e m eanin eaning g of which which i s TRADITION,) u n le ss i t i s rec e i v e d o r a l l y fr f r o m a c om o m p e te te nt nt i n s t r u c t o r , A s i n c e r e s tu tu d y o f t h e m as as s of o f o c c u l t p o s t u l a t i o n s an a n d t r e a t i s e s t h a t ha h a v e be b e en en p u b l is is h e d t h ro r o u g h t h e p a s t fe fe w y e a r s , w ou ou l d a l m o s t le le a d a s t u d e n t t o b e l i e v e t h e st a te m e n ts mad made by t h e i r a u th o rs t h a t th e y have NO OTHER AUTHORITIES th a n t h a t w hich ha s be en r e v e a le d t o them i n a MY MYSTICAL MANNER, The The i n f e r e n c e b e i n g a lw l w a y s b a s e d on on t h e s t a te t e m e n t t h a t t h e y ha h a ve ve c o n t a c t e d a s o u rc rc e o f in i n f o r m a t i o n t h a t i s c l o s e d t o t h e a v e r a g e hu human b e i n g ; t h a t t h e y a r e t h e c h os o s e n e l e c t , a nd n d t h e i r w r it i t in i n g s a nd nd p o s t u l a t i o n s a r e n o t t o be be d i s p u t e d , b u t m us u st b e a c c e p t e d a s t h e o n l y r e v e a l e d t w i th th s . T h i s i s n o t a n e w p o s t u l a t i o n , f o r e ve v e ry ry w h er ere i n r e s e a r c h o f t h e cu c u st s t o m s o f th t h e a n c i e n t s , t h e p r i e s th t h o o d c o n t r o l l e d a l l s o u r ce ce s o f o c c u l t an a n d D i v in in e a nd n d m y s t i c k n ow ow le l e dg dg e, e, y e t o n l y a c a s u a l s u rv rv e y w i l l show t h a t t h e A n c i e n t P r i e s t h o o d h a d a p r e r o g a t i v e , p o s s i b l y a ss ss u m ed ed , t h a t th t h e s e l a t t e r d a y c u l t s , c a n n o t sh show a ny ny p re r e c ed ed e n c e f o r , e x c e p t crass materialism. I t i s e v e n v er e r y d i f f i c u l t t o s e cu c u re r e a tr t r u e h i s to to r y o f th e r i s e o f t h i s K a b a la la , a t r a d i t i o n a l t h e o  so s o p h y , a n d u n l e s s on o n e h a s a w o r ki k i n g k nowledge of the Hebrew language and an absolute unbiased and authentic h i s t o r y o f t h e Je J e w s o f t h e m e d ie i e v a l t im im e s , h e w i l l b e l o s t I n a m y s t ic ic maze f r o m w hi hic h t h e r e i s n o o u t l e t . I t sh a ll be, th e re fo re , my p u r po p o s e t o t a k e y o u t h ro ro u g h a v e ry r y i n t e r e s t i n g a n d I ho ho pe pe e n l i g h t e n i n g j ou o u rn r n e y i n a s e r i e s o f a r t i c l e s on t h e v a l u e o f t h e K ab a b al ala t o s t u d e n t s o f m e t a p h y s ic ic s . T h is i s j o u rn r n e y w i l l o f n e c e s s i t y sh ow t h e  p o s t u l a t i o n s o f n a n y e x p o n e n t s o f t h i s o e c u l t s c i e n c e , i t s u s e s a n d a b u s e s ; how i t h a s co co m b in in ed e d e s o t e r i c k no n o w le le dg d g e w i th t h e x o t e r i c k n ow ow l ed ed g e; e; how i t h a s e n d e a v o r e d t o make o f t h e K a b a la la t h e k e y o f t h e T a r o t c a r d s , 78 in. number nu mber,, a str o lo g y , s ta r w orship, orshi p, num erology erology,, and many th in g s t h a t w i l l b e v e ry r y i n t e r e s t i n g t o u s a s R o s io i o r u o ia i a n s t u d e n t s to t o sh o w t h e a b s o l u t e d i f f e r e n c e i n o u r te t e a c h i n g s w hi h i c h a r e b a s e d on on a b s o l u t e t r u t h s a n d th t h o s e o f t h e K a ba b a la la w hi h i c h a r e c l a i m e d t o b e D i v in in e r e v e l a t i o n s t o t h e s e l e c t e d fe few . One o f t h e m os o s t a b u se s e d id i d e a s t h a t t h e s e s e l f  s t y l e d m y s te te r y s c h o o l s h a ve v e a d a p t e d i s t h a t t h e K a b a la l a i s o f t wo wo k i n d s , t h e (HAL a n d t h e WRITTEN. One E n g lis h w ri te r on th e su b je c t s a id ; "The "The term ’Unwritt e n Q a b a la la h 1 i s a p p l i e d t o c e r t a i n k n o w le le d g e w hi hic h i s n e v e r e n t r u s t e d t o w r i t i n g , b u t c om om m u ni n i c at at e d o r a l l y . I may s a y n o m or or e o n t h i s p o i n t , n o t e v e n w h e th e r I MY MYSELF HAVE o r HAVE NOT r e c e i v e d i t . " O t h e r s c h o o l s , a n d I m i g h t s a y m any o f th th em em s m a l l p u b l i s h i n g c o n c e r n s i n Eu E u ro ro pe p e an a n d A m e r ic i c a ,. , . w i th th t h e i r e n t i r e " sc s c h o o l" l " l o c a t e d u n de d e r th th e  pa  p a lm s o f t h e i r h a n d s s t a t e t o t h e i r s t u d e n t s t h a t THEY KNOW FULLY b o t h m etho ds o f OR ORAL an d PU PUBLISHED KABALA, h u t t h a t i t i s s e t f o r t h in s y m b o l ic i c a l l a n g u a g e , w i th t h p u r p o s e f u l b l i n d s a n d s u b te te rf r f u g es e s t o c o n fu fu s e t h e u n i n i t i a t e d ; s o o f th t h e f ew e w who u n d o u b te t e d ly ly e x i s t a t t h e p r e s e n t d a y who h av av e r e c e i v e d th t h e t e a c h i n g s , i t s t r u e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n m us ust r e main a secret*

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t h e w o rl rl d h i s ow own t h e o r i e s , e ac a c h on one more w i ld ld a n d i l l o g i c a l t h a n t h e o t h e r , u n t i l i t be b e c o m es es a s e r i o u s m a t te t e r f o r t h e r e a l s t u d e n t t o ma make up' h is mi min d whether whether the re i s a r e a l so lu tio n to the "m ystery1' o r n ot.  No  Now l e t u s g i a r t o u t w i t h one c l e a r a n d l o g i c a l s t a t e m e n t , .and .an d t h a t i s , in th e CO COSMIC LAWS t h a t hav e t o do w it h t h e UNIVERSE t h e r e n e v e r w er er e , n e ve v e r a r e a n d n e v e r w i l l h e a ny ny c o n f u s i o n s an an d m y s t e r i e s ; t h a t t he h e Su S upreme I n t e l l i g e n c e o f t h e C r e a t o r s e t o u t v e r y p l a i n l y t h a t  pu  p u rp o s e of man i n t h e schem sch emee o f e v o l u t i o n , a n d p u t n o b l i n d f o l d s o r tr a p s in the the path of th o se wh who d e s ir e to KNOW. True, no knowledge w he he t h e r i t b e e x o t e r i c o r e s o t e r i c c an a n h e o b t a i n e d w i th th o ut u t a p ro r o pe p e r t r a i n i n g , a nd n d j u s t a s th th e v a r i o u s e x o t e r i c s c h o o l s t e a c h me dicine, law, an d th e o th e r a r t s and s c ie n c e s , so th e re AR ARE ARCANE SCHOOLS th a t te ac h ES ESOTERIC law s and e c ie n c e s t o i t s s tu d e n ts . To the f ri v il o u s mind minded ed,, the a ttain m en t of C o smic mic Co nsciousness w ill alwa always ys be a m ystery. yster y. The g re a t M asters tea ch th a t a tech niqu e i s necessary, i f the stu d en t i s n ot to wa w a n d er in to a maze of terms and a b s t r a c t t h e o r i e s , w hi hi c h e v e n t u a l l y d e t r a c t fr fro m t h e h a l o a n d l u r e o f r e a l k no no wl w l e d g e. e. T hey r i g h t l y s t a t e t h a t a t ec e c h n iq iq u e i s n o t t h e r e s u l t o f a p r o c e s s of of r e a s o n i n g , n o r a p e r s o n a l b e l i e f , f a i t h o r theory. theor y. But But ra th e r t h a t i t i s an accum ulation of know knowlledge edge of w ays a n d means a p p r o p r i a t e t o o b t a i n " t h e e n d w i th th t h e l e a s t l o s s o f e f f o r t ,  bo  b o th p h y s i c a l a n d m e n t a l . T h i s t h e n m akes ak es t h e s t u d e n t s o f t h e p r o p e r ly eq uip ped A rcane Sch ool AC ACTORS an d n o t TH THEORISTS. Thus th e d i s coveries and practical works of the Rosierucians of the past stand a s a c h a ll l l e n g e a n d a n e x a m pl p l e f o r a l l t im im e . I t i s f o r t h i s v e r y p ur ur  pose  po se t h a t e v e r y l e c t u r e t h a t s t u d e n t s r e c e i v e , c o n t a i n s a t h r e e  f o l d l e ss s s o n , s o t h a t b y t h e p r o p e r te te c h n i q u e e a ch ch s t u d e n t r e c e i v e s a t h o r o u g h t r a i n i n g t h a t c a n b e u s ed e d I n h i s d a i l y l i f e , a nd nd g r a d u a l l y a s t h e y e a r s r o l l b y , h e s e c u r e s t h e t e c h n iq i q u e t h a t u n f o l d s t o hi h im , t h e r e a l b l e s s i n g a nd n d p r i v i l e g e o f l i v i n g a n d o f r e n d e r i n g s e r v ic ic e t o a l l he he c o n t a c t s . M a r g o l i s, s , a l e a r n e d a u t h o r i t y , s e t s f o r t h t h e TORAH ( a H eb eb r ew wo wo r d m ea ea n in g t h e LA LAW) w hi hi c h I s r a e l r e c e i v e d w i t h j o y f u l r e a d i n e s s a t t h e f o o t o f M ount S i n a i , w as as i n t h e o p i n i o n o f t h e r a b b i s , o r i g i n a l l y inr t en en d ed e d f o r a l l m a nk n k in in d a s a g u i d e t o t h e i r s a l v a t i o n . God s p o k e n o t i n s e c r e t ( I s a i a h 4 5 .1 .1 9 ) b u t i n t h e op o p e n a nd nd f r e e d e s e r t , t h a t a l l men might have have ac c e ss to th e re v e a le d word word.. Now j u s t a t what what time time th e Jews in P a le s tin e ce ase d to use HEBREW a s a spok spoken en language i s a m oo oo te te d q u e s t i o n . The o l d e r v ie ie w h a s i t t h a t th t h e Je J e ws ws l o s t t h e i r HEBREW speech in th e B ab ylon ian c a p ti v it y when whence ce th ey b ro ug ht back w ith them them the ARAMAIC. Hebr Hebrew ew and Aramaic a re s i s t e r lan gu ag es , belon gin g to a group kn known a s SEMETIC and com prisin g in a d d iti o n A rabic, E thlo pic and an d A asyroBaby lonia. There The re i s a clo se resem blance among a l l o f th them in i n s t r u c t u r e a nd n d v o c a b u l a ry r y , a nd n d H eb eb r ew i s r e l a t e d t o Aramaic Aramaic as Lo Low German or Dutch Dutch i s r e l a te d to High Germ German an.. In th e days of H ezekiah, Aramaic was was u n d er st o o d by th e c our Her g;  t o th e co common s o l d i e r i t me meant a n u n i n t e l l i g i b l e g i b b e r i s h . E z ra r a ( in in t h e 5 t h Cen tury RC.) i s r e p o rt e d to have rea d th e LAW (The (The Torah) Torah) to the a s -

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spoken in Palestine vas a dialect differing from the Babylonian v a r i e t y an a n d c o u l d n o t h av av e b e e n i m p o r t e d f r o m t h e E a s t . I t h as th e re fo re been argu ed th a t the change cha nge of spee sp eech ch must must have have occurr occ urred ed in P ales t i n e i t s e l f , a c e n t u r y o r so s o a f t e r E z r a. a. B ut ut we know now t h a t a J e w i s h M i l i t a r y c o l o n y w hi h i c h s e t t l e d i n E g yp y p t l o n g b e f o r e C a m by by s e s (529522 (529522 BC) spoke spoke and wrote Aramaic in th e daye of Nehemiah Nehemiah.. T his m i l i t a r y s e t t le l e m e n t f a s f or o r m e d b e ca c a u se s e E gy g y pt pt h a d h o r s e s , a n d P a l e s t i n e h a d more p e o p le l e t h a n i t c o u l d s u p p o r t , a n d s o t h e J u d e a n k i n g s f ro ro m Solom on dow nw ard t r a d e d t h e i r s u b j e c t s f o r h o r s e f l e s h . J e w i s h s o l d i e r  i serve d in the army army of Paa Paamme mmeti tich ch II (5945 (594589 89 BC) a g a in st th e E thio  p i a n s . A l a r g e b o d y o f Je w s m i g r a t e d t o E gy pt a f t e r t h e m u rd e r o f G edaliah, o v e rr u lin g the o p p o sitio n of Jere m iah wh who was made to acc accomom pany th th e e x i l e s . Long b e f o r e t h e c o n q u e s t o f E g y p t b y C am byse by ses, s, J e w s h a d b e e n s e t t l e d a s m i l i ta t a r y c o l o n i s t s on t h e s o u th t h e rn rn f r o n t i e r o f t h e r ea e a lm lm . Of f o r c e f u l d e p o r t a t i o n s i n t h e P e r s i a n p e r i o d a nd nd l a t e r  by  b y t h e f i r s t P t o l e m i e s we r e a d i n a n c i e n t w r i t i n g s ; a s l a t e a s Roman Roman t i m e s J e w s i n h a b i t i n g a S y r ia ia n v i l l a g e c a l l e d t h em e m s e lv lv e s a s P e r s i a n in a lle g ia n c e . The Jew was in Egyp Eg yptt be for e the Greek, Greek, bu t under the s ec ec on on d P to to le le m y a l r e a d y t h e l a r g e a n d i n f l u e n t i a l J e w i s h c o m m un un it ity o f A lexand ria beg began an to exoha exohange nge th e ir Arama Aramaiic spee speeoh oh fo r th e langu age of the go verning race whi which was the Gree Greek. k. I t was in the re ig n of the second second Ptol Ptolemy, emy, s urna urname med d P hilad elp hu s (285 (285347 347 BC) th a t the t r a n s l a t i o n o f t h e LA LAW (T he P e n t a t e u c h ) i n t o G re reek i s p l a c e d by t h e c i r c u m s t a n t ia i a l n a r r a t i v e known a s t h e E p i s t l e o f A r i s t e a s w hi hic h p u r p o r t s t o be b e a c on o n te t e m p or o r ar ar y r e c o r d by by on one o f t h e k i n g ' s c o u r t i e r s . We must mus t un de rstan d th a t th e chang changee i n P a le sti n e from from He Heb rew to Aramai Aramaicc wa was gr ad u al, Heb Heb re w succ succumb umbin ing g in th e N orth E a r li e r tha n in the South. For a time both lang uag es wer were spoken spoken and und erstood , u n t i l a t le n g th HEBREW *va nis he d from from th e mouth mouth of th e pe op le, and in th e main beca became me a SACRED TONGUE u n d e rs to o d on ly by th e le a rn e d , b u t UNKNOWN to th e u n l e t t e r e d who co n ve rs ed in Aram aic. But th e Word of Go God was was to be un de rsto od by the pe op le. J u s t ho how e a r l y t h e o us u s t o m a r o s e f o r t h e Be r a p t u r e s , t h e T or o r a h a nd nd t h e P r o p h e t s i n p a r t i c u l a r , t o b e r e a d on on t h e S ab a b ba b a th th i n t h e s y n a g o g u e i s n o t known. B ut ut when t h e s e l e s s o n s ha h a d b e co m e a f i x e d i n s t i t u t i o n , i t f o l l o w ed ed o f n e c e s s i t y t h a t a t r a n s l a t i o n i n t o t h e p e o p l e ' s s pe p e ec ec h s h ou o u ld ld g o h an a n d i n h an an d w i th th t h e r e a d i n g o f t h e o r i g i n a l . The r a b b i s c a l l e d t h i s t r a n s l a t i o n TARGUM, b u t t h e na name i s s p e c i f i c a l l y a p p l i e d t o t h e A ra ra ma m a i c v e r s i o n . A t f i r s t t h e Ta Ta r g u a i w a s o r a l . Beside the rea d er s t o o d th t h e T ar ar g e m an an (h ( h en e n ce c e t h e w o rd rd 'd 'd r a g o m a n ') ') t h e o f f i c i a l i n t e r  p r e t e r . A v e r s e , o r i n t h e c a s e o f t h e P r o p h e t s a c o n n e c t e d s e c t i o n , n o t e x c e ed e d i n g t h r e e v e r s e s , w as as r e a d i n H e b r e w a nd n d im i m m e d ia i a te t e ly ly t r a n s la te d in to Aramaic. Aramaic. Both the o ri g in a l from from the SCROLL, and the tr a n s l a t i o n from from MEMORY, were to be d ecla im ed in th e same p it c h , and th e i n t e r p r e t e r was e n j o in i n e d n o t t o l e a n a g a i n s t th t h e d es e s k, k , b u t i n a d eef e r e n t i a l p o s t u r e t o s t a n d so some way o f f . The t r a n s l a t i o n f r e q u e n t l y a s s u me m e d t h e c h a r a c t e r o f f r e e e x p o s i ti t i o n w i th t h a v ie ie w o f ' i n c u l c a t i n g t h e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n w hi hi c h t h e s c h o o l s p l a c e on t h e l a w o r c us u s to to m a n d in ge ne ral to b rin g down t h e S c r i p t u r a l w or or d t o t h e c o m p re r e h en e n s io io n o f t h e common p e o p l e . The p r o p h e t i c l e s s o n s n a t u r a l l y l e n t th th e m s e lv lv e s t o p l if i f ic ic a t i th e i n t e t e r t u rn r n e d p re re a c h e d pref