Hakdama-Rambam’s introduction to Mishnah Torah
The chronological order of the teaching of Torah from Moshe on Sinai until today
- From Sinai until Yehoshua-The giving over of the written and oral Torah:
- The oral Torah was also given on Sinai: All the mitzvahs that were given to Moshe on Sinai were given together with their explanations, which is known as the oral Torah.
- The writing of the written Torah: Moshe wrote the entire written Torah prior to his death in his own handwriting.
- Distributing the written Torah to the tribes: Moshe gave a Torah scroll to each one of the tribes and is well placed one of the scrolls inside of the ark as testimony.
- Not writing the oral Torah: The oral Torah was never written by Moshe and rather he orally instructed it to the elders, and to Yehoshua, and to the rest of the Jewish people. It is for this reason that it is called the oral Torah.
- Who did Moshe teach the oral Torah to? The oral Torah was taught by Moshe in his court to the 70 elders in its entirety. Particularly, it was taught to the following three people: Elazar, Pinchas, and Yehoshua.
- Teaching it to Yehoshua to teach the masses: [Amongst the above three students] it was particularly taught to Yehoshua who was the prime pupil of Moshe. Moshe handed to him the oral Torah and instructed him regarding it to be in charge of teaching it to the masses.
- Yehoshua teaches the oral oral tradition to his generation: Yehoshua spent his entire life teaching oral Torah to the masses, and many elderly sages received the oral Torah from Yehoshua.
- The order of sages who received the oral tradition from Yehoshua until Rabbeinu Hakadosh:
- Eli received the oral tradition from the elders and from Pinchas.
- Shmuel received the oral tradition from Eli and his court.
- David received the oral tradition from Shmuel and his court.
- Achiyah Hashiloni: Achiyah Hashiloni received the oral tradition from David and his court. He was around during the time of the exodus from Egypt and was a Levite. Although he also heard the teachings from Moshe, he was of young age at the time.
- Eliyahu received the oral tradition from Achiyah Hashiloni and his court.
- Elisha received the oral tradition from Eliyahu and his court.
- Yehoyada, the priest, received the oral tradition from Elisha and his court.
- Zechariah received the oral tradition from Yehoyada and his court.
- Hoshea received the oral tradition from Zechariah and his court.
- Amos received the oral tradition from Hoshea and his court.
- Yeshayahu received the oral tradition from Amos and his court.
- Michah received the oral tradition from Yeshayahu and his court.
- Yoel received the oral tradition from Michah and his court.
- Nachum received the oral tradition from Yoel and his court.
- Chabbakuk received the oral tradition from Nachum and his court.
- Tzefaniah received the oral tradition from Chabbakuk and his court.
- Yermiyahu received the oral tradition from Tzefaniah and his court.
- Baruch ben Neriyah received the oral tradition from Yermiyahu and his court.
- Ezra and the Anshei K’nesset Hagedolah: Ezra and his court received the oral tradition from Baruch and his court, which is known as the Anshei K’nesset Hagedolah and included Chaggai, Zechariah, Malachi, Daniel, Chananiah, Mishael, Azariah, Nechemiah ben Chakaliah, Mordechai, Zerubavel and many other sages for a total of 120 in all.
- Shimon Hatzadik: The last member of the Anshei K’nesset Hagedolah who counted as one of the 120 men, was Shimon Hatzadik. He received the Oral tradition from all of the sages of the assembly and he served as the High Priest after Ezra.
- Antignos Ish Socho and his court received the oral tradition from Shimon Hatzadik and his court.
- Yosse ben Yo’ezer of Tzreidah and Yosef ben Yochanan of Jerusalem and their court received the oral tradition from Antignos and his court.
- Yehoshua ben Perachiah and Nittai of Arbel and their court received the oral tradition from Yosse ben Yo’ezer and Yosef ben Yochanan and their court.
- Yehudah ben Tabbai and Shimon ben Shatach and their court received the oral tradition from Yehoshua ben Perachiah and Nittai of Arbel and their court.
- Shemayah and Avtalion and their court received the oral tradition from Yehudah and Shimon and their court. They were both Geirim.
- Hillel and Shammai and their court received the oral tradition from Shemayah and Avtaliyon and their court.
- Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai and Rabbi Shimon, the son of Hillel the elder, received the oral tradition from Hillel and his court.
- The students of Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai: Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai had five students who were great sages and received the oral tradition from him. They were: Rabbi Eleazar the great, Rabbi Yehoshua, Rabbi Yossi the priest, Rabbi Shimon ben Netanel and Rabbi Elazar ben Arach.
- Rabbi Akiva ben Yosef received from Rabbi Eleazar the great. Yosef, his father, was a Ger. Rabbi Akiva’s colleagues also received the oral tradition from Rabbi Eleazar the great.
- Rabbi Yishmael and Rabbi Meir who was the son of a Ger, received the oral tradition from Rabbi Akiva. Rabbi Meir and his colleagues also received the oral tradition from Rabbi Yishmael.
- The colleagues of Rabbi Meir included: Rabbi Yehudah, Rabbi Yossi, Rabbi Shimon, Rabbi Nechemiah, Rabbi Elazar ben Shamu’a, Rabbi Yochanan the shoemaker, Shimon ben Azzai, and Rabbi Chananiah ben Teradion.
- The colleagues of Rabbi Akiva included: Rabbi Tarfon – the teacher of Rabbi Yossi Hagelili, Rabbi Shimon ben Elazar, and Rabbi Yochanan ben Nuri.
- Rabban Gamliel Hazakein received the oral tradition from Rabban Shimon, his father – the son of Hillel Hazakein.
- Rabban Shimon, his son, received the oral tradition from him.
- Rabban Gamliel, his son, received the oral tradition from him.
- Rabban Shimon, his son, received the oral tradition from him.
- Rabbi Yehudah, the son of Rabban Shimon received the oral tradition from his father and from Rabbi Elazar ben Shamu’a, and from Rabban Shimon and his colleagues. He is referred to as Rabbenu Hakadosh.
