Hebrew Bible with colophon
In the colophon of this bible manuscript, the scribe tells the reader about the distressing circumstances under which he worked. He had to flee and hide from Jews of his local town who wanted to give him up to the authorities (we don’t know why). He complains about the lack of good quality copies to work from, asking future readers to correct any errors they encounter and judge him kindly. Eventually, he finished the book in 1601 in the Jewish town of Darb Al-Hanashat. Later owners from the al-Nadaf family have also left their mark on the volume, including a harsh curse against anyone who would dare to steal it.
Hebrew Bible containing the Latter Prophets
Darb Al-Hanashat (Yemen), 1601
Gaster Hebrew MS 673
Folio 272b
Colophon by the scribe Joseph ben Jonah ben Oded ben Saadiah ben Ḥaṭar ben Masʿūd known as al-Fatiḥi.
