The Aramaic Bible: Targums in their Historical Context

SHINAN The Aggadah of the Palestinian Tar gums 217
reveal any un-targumic sign is worthy of reappraisal in this regard.
D'lDio roon (Treatise of Scribes), no stranger to the targumic milieu,
determines that 'if they translated [in the synagogue] or delivered the
sermon, the reader from the prophets can make do with a short
reading of three verses'. 30 In other words, Targum and the aggadic or
midrashic sermon were seen as alternative entities of the synagogue,
hand in glove as it were, yet nevertheless different and differentiated;
one replacing the other.
I sought to propose a new methodology for clarifying the thematic
affinity between Targum and the world of Midrash. I am all too aware
that applying my suggestion to each and every case will entail a great
deal of work, but tna« to»x uish> (the more you toil, the greater is
your reward). Even so, if I think back to R. Le Deaut's rather
despairing: 'Will it ever be possible to draw a division line between
Targum and Midrash and to distinguish them radically?' 31 it appears
to me that I have responded, at least in part, to his call of distress.
30. Ed. M. Higger (New York, 1937), pp. 250-51 [Hebrew].
31. R. Le Deaut, The Current State of Targumic Studies', BTB 4 (1974), p. 19.
LeDdaut's discussion of 'Targum and Midrash' (pp. 18-22) was very helpful in
formulating my thoughts on this issue.