Proofs of Oral Torah: Haggai's Quiz

We've often made the case that the Jewish Oral tradition¹ is a fundamental pillar for unlocking insights into the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament.

There are numerous examples - and so we will begin a series that concisely calls a few of these into the light.

The Oral Torah

For the Jewish people, the oral tradition plays a vital role in the daily observances of the commandments, festivals, and more.

The Mishnah states that its transmission can be traced back to the giving of the Torah at Sinai at the event known as Shavuot:

Moses received the Torah from Sinai, and transmitted it to Joshua, and Joshua to the elders, and the elders to the prophets, and the prophets transmitted it to the men of the Great Assembly. – Pirke Avot 1:1

In fact, the tradition continues to this day, ever-unfolding and revealing guidance as new complexities and circumstances emerge.

Though some may not be convinced, one way to illustrate the vitality of the Oral Torah is through exploring examples in the Biblical texts themselves that affirm its importance.

In this work, we will briefly explore an example in the Book of Haggai that many readers may overlook.

The Context of the Book of Haggai

The Book of Haggai is one of the twelve minor prophets in the Hebrew Bible, situated in the post-exilic period of Jewish history.

Dated to around 520 BCE, Haggai delivers a series of messages urging the Jewish people to rebuild the Second Temple in Jerusalem. His prophecies are concise but densely packed with meaning, making them an ideal case study for exploring the depth added by oral tradition.

A Pop Quiz

In the second chapter of Haggai, G_D encourages the Prophet to quiz the Kohanim, the keepers of the Temple, to ensure they are prepared for the rigorous and important tasks ahead.

Haggai wanted to ensure they have not forgotten the laws of purity through the duration of their exile². It was more than plausible that the exile had caused a lapse in the transmission of the oral tradition, and though they qualify as Priests, they may not have the requisite knowledge to execute the offerings correctly. This would be a significant problem for the nation.

We read³:

Thus says the Lord of hosts; "Ask now a Torah of the priests, saying, If one carries consecrated meat in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt he touches bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any food, does it become holy?"

In this first line, the Hebrew word used is "Torah", indicating that the answer is considered within the realm of Torah knowledge.

Haggai is asking questions to test their knowledge of ritual purity and the various degrees associated with contamination. It is important to note, that the answer to his question can not be found in the Written Torah.

And the priests answered and said, No.

Haggai asks another question pertaining to the cross-contamination.

Then said Ḥaggai, "If one that is unclean by a dead body touches any of these, shall it be unclean?" And the priests answered and said, "It becomes unclean."

It seems evident that Haggai was not satisfied with their answers: