This comprehensive book provides a lucid introduction to Rabbinic Judaism, defined as the Judaism built on the story of God's revelation to Moses of the Torah at Sinai.
Jacob Neusner outlines and examines the four stages in which the initial period of the historical development of Rabbinic Judaism divides, beginning with the Pentateuch and ending with its definitive and normative statement in the Talmud of Babylonia. He traces the development of Rabbinic Judaism by exploring the relationships between and among the cognate writings which embody its formative history.

Preface 1. The Pentateuchal Stage 2. From Scripture to the Mishnah 3. The Mishnah on its own: The Initial Statement 4. The Mishnah in Pentateuchal Context: Continuity and Change 5. The Talmuds: The Conclusive Statement 6. The Talmuds in Pentateuchal Context: Israel in History Acknowledgements and Bibliography Index