TARGUM

term applied to translations which are also expansions and commentaries on the Old Testament. The T’s were written in Aramaic, which became the ordinary language of the people when Hebrew was practically a dead language—about the time of Christ. The Hebrew Scriptures were read in the synagogue, and the custom grew up of translating what had been read into Aramaic, and with translation came interpretation. The T’s were handed down orally for some time, and can hardly have a umed their present form before about 400 A. D. Of T’s on Pent a teuch there are (a) T. of the Jerusalem (only fragmentary), T. of Jonathan ben Uzziel—these both derived from an earlier Jerusalem T. The T. on the Prophets is called by the name of Jonathan, and is probably IV. cent.; there was probably a Jerusalem 1. on the prophets too. Le important T’s also exist on the Hagiographa (except Daniel, Ezra, and Nehemiah). (ancient Josa, or Julia Traducta), seaport, on Strait of Gibraltar, Cadiz, Spain; tunny and anchovy fisheries. Pop. 13,800.