Targum
the general term for the Aramaic versions often paraphrasesof the Old Testament, which became necessary when, after and perhaps during the Babylonian Exile, Hebrew began to die out as the popular language, and was supplanted by Aramais.
The origin of the Targum itself is shrouded in mystery. The first signs of it-as an already fixed institution-have been found by some in Neh. viii: 8, and according to tradition Ezra and his coadjutors were its original founders. At first, and indeed for many centuries, the Targum was not committed to writing, for the same reason that the "Oral Law" or Halakhah itself was not at first intended ever to become fixed as a code for all times. In the course of time, however, both had to yield to circumstances, and their being written down was considered preferable to their being utterly forgotten, of which there was no small danger. Yet a small portion only of the immense mass of oral Targums that must have been produced has survived.
All that is now extant are three distinct Targums on the Pentateuch, a Targum on the Prophets, Targums on the Hagiographa-viz. on Psalms, Job, Proverbs, the five "Megilloth" (Song of Songs, than, by its maturer angelology, its abbreviations, and other signs, appears to be a later recension of the Jerushalmi. It cannot well have been composed before 750. As a version this Targum is of small importance; but it is valuable as a storehouse of allegories, parables, sagas, and the like popular poetry of its time. Its general use lies more in the direction of Jewish literature itself, as well as of archæology and antiquities of the early Christian centuries, than in that of a mere direct interpretation of the Bible text.
The Targum on the Prophets is ascribed to one R. Joseph, president of the Babylonian academy of Sora about 322. This Targum, while tolerably literal in the first-the historical-books, gradually becomes a frame for Haggada, which it introduces at every turn and at great lengths.
Joseph the Blind, to whom the foregoing mg Targum is ascribed, is the reputed author of Targums on the Hagiographa. Several centuries lie between him and them, their date being approximately 800 and 1,000. Certain distinctions between the different books must further be made. The Targums on Psalms, Job, and Proverbs were probably contemporaneous compositions due to private enterprise in Syria. The two former are made more paraphrastic than Ruth, Lamentations, Esther, Ecclesi- the last, which resembles closely the astes), another Targum on Esther, one on Chronicles, one on Daniel, and one on the apocryphal pieces of Esther. The most important of the three Pentateuch Targums is the one named after Onkelos, probably a corruption of Akylas (Aquila, a proselyte, one of Gamaliel's pupils), whose Greek version had become so popular Syriac version. The paraphrase on the five "Megilloth" mentions the Mohammedans, and is of later date, probably one man's work. It is principally a collection of more or less poetical fancies, traditions, and legends to which the single verse in hand merely seems to furnish the keynote. Its dialect lies somewhat between the East and West Aramaic.
TARGUM The Targum on the Book of Chronicles -almost unknown till it was printed in the 17th century -also belongs to a late period, and was probably composed in Palestine. A Persian version of a Targum on Daniel (unedited) is all that has been discovered on that book as yet. It was probably composed in the 12th century, the tury, the influence of the early Crusades visible in it. By 900 in Africa and Spain the Targum had begun in public, Arabic, or the national language being substituted. In Targum is still used in the ancient manner, the meturgeman standing beside the reader and rendering verse by verse.
TARIFA (-rē'fä), the most S. town of Europe; a seaport of Spain, in the prov- ; a seaport of Spain, in the province of Cadiz in ince of Cadiz in Andalusia; 21 miles S.
W. of Gibraltar. The town is still quite Moorish in aspect, and retains its alcazar causeway connects it with a small island, on which are some powerful fortifications and a lighthouse, 135 feet above the sealevel. Tunny and anchovy fishing is and has been since Roman times the principal occupation of the inhabitants, but the preparation of leather is also carried on, and there is a trade in sweet oranges. was occupied in A.
D. 710 by the pioneers of the Moorish invasion, under Tarif Abûit obtained its Arabic name of Jezîret-Tarîf (Tarîf's island). from the Moslems, after an obstinate siege, in 1292, by Sancho IV. of Castile, and its first Spanish governor de Guzman, celebrated in the Romancero for his valiant defense of the town against the besieging Moors in 1294. in 1294. During the Peninsular War successfully defended by Gough with 1,800 British troops and 700 Spaniards against a besieging army of 10,000 French (December, 1811, to Janabout 12,500.