Literary text: T-S AS 134.72 + T-S NS 312.127a + T-S NS 312.127b

Description

Dirge for Rabbenu Bahlul (probably Bahlul b. Yosef active in early 11th-century Qayrawān). T-S AS 134.72 has writing only on recto and does not join directly, while T-S NS 312.127a + T-S NS 312.127b have writing on both sides and appear to join directly. The join is based on the fact that both pieces are in the same handwriting and contain a dirge for Bahlūl rhyming on -im, but it is also possible that these come from two distinct copies. T-S AS 134.72 contains a fragmentary header mentioning that "which arrived with Mevorakh" and "dirge for Rabbenu Bahlūl in the year [...]." The portion on T-S NS 312.127a + T-S NS 312.127b also refers to a certain Maṣliaḥ (whom God "filled in his (Bahlūl's?) place"), the sage Shemuʾel, and Rabbis Moshe and Yiṣḥaq. The marginal text in Judaeo-Arabic says "there were four who died: the youngest was Maṣliaḥ, and Shemuʾel ha-Ḥakham, and Yiṣḥaq, and in the west R. Moshe Tāhertī). The end of the portion on on T-S NS 312.127a + T-S NS 312.127b again refers to Bahlūl. Join: Alan Elbaum.