«Nemici e interpreti»: John Lightfoot e l’uso delle fonti ebraiche antiche nell’interpretazione dell’Ultima cena

The Anglican biblical scholar and Hebraist John Lightfoot (1602-1675) is one of the pioneers of using ancient Hebrew literature to interpret the New Testament within the Christian context. In his work Horae Hebraicae et Talmudicae (1658-1678), he attempts to outline the authentic experience of Jesus and his disciples by considering coeval practices and customs. The author’s endeavor is connected to the history of the utilization and evaluation of rabbinic literature by Christians. The essay provides an example of his approach, which emerges from the reconstruction of the Last Supper (Matthew 26:17-30). Lightfoot comments on the episode by drawing from the established Jewish rules found in rabbinic literature and the prescriptions codified by the influential Jewish philosopher Moses Maimonides concerning the Passover meal.