Dear listfellows,
Perhaps you can help me on this one: In no. 36 of the *Problemata
Heloissae* (Migne PL 178, col. 717f.), Abaelard gives an
interpretation on I Sam 2:36 he says he has heard from a Jew:
Denique quod additur, 'Futurum est enim,' etc., ita Hebraeum quemdam
audivi exponentem: Nummus argenteus, siclus argenteus est, quo
unusquisque redimebat se a sacerdote. Torta panis, quicar, id est
quarta panis pars, quae pauperum oblatio erat.
"Finally, what is added, 'It shall be,' etc., I have heard a certain
Jew explain (in the following way): The silver coin is the silver
shekel everyone redeemed themselves with from the priest. The loaf of
bread is a *kikkar*, i.e. the fourth part of a bread, which was the
offering of the poor."
The term "quicar" is obviously Hebrew: *kikkar-lehem*, 'a loaf of
bread'. But I am unable (because I can't read Hebrew properly) to
trace the interpretation given, that it meant a "quarta panis pars,
quae pauperum oblatio erat". The meaning of *kikkar* (kaph-
kaph-resh), indeed, appears quite plain, 'a loaf'.
By the way, the usual exegesis of 1 Sam 2:35-36 was christological,
but Abaelard does not follow this line. Instead, he gives a litteral
or historical explanation. This reminded me of Rashi's approach, but
again, I am unable to find a source in Rashi.
Thanks a lot in advance,
Christoph
Uni Trier, Germany
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