London, BL, Add. 12144
source date: A. Gr. 1172
edition published: 2023-04-21-05:00
language: ar; ar-Syrc; ar-Syrn; cop; de; en; fr; grc
availability: Distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/)

United Kingdom, London, British Library, Oriental Manuscripts, https://bl.syriac.uk/ms/19, Add. 12,144, London, BL, Add. 12,144, BL Add MS 12144, William Wright, Catalogue of the Syriac Manuscripts in the British Museum Acquired since the Year 1838, 853, William Wright, Catalogue of the Syriac Manuscripts in the British Museum Acquired since the Year 1838, DCCCLIII

[This manuscript contains: Severus of Edessa. A Catena Patrum, or Selections from the Writings of the Fathers, so arranged as to form a continuous commentary on the greater part of the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. In total, including sub-sections, this manuscript contains 28 items.]

Syriac

author: Severus of Edessa
title: A Catena Patrum, or Selections from the Writings of the Fathers, so arranged as to form a continuous commentary on the greater part of the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments
This compilation was made by a monk of Edessa, named Severus, A. Gr. 1172, A.D. 861. [Another manuscript of the same work is described by Assemani in the Bibl. Or., t. i., pp. 63 and 607; but he is certainly mistaken in speaking of it as "exaratus a Severo," the scribe being doubtless Simeon of Ḥiṣn Manṣūr. Copious extracts from this work are given in the Roman edition of Ephraim Syrus, t. i., pp. 116 seqq., t. ii., pp. 1—315.]
The books of Scripture are taken in the following order.
Ephraim Syrus is the chief authority on Kings, the Twelve minor Prophets, Ezekiel, Jeremiah and Lamentations, Daniel, and Isaiah. In the remaining fragments of the commentary on Genesis he is cited by name on fol. 3 a, ܕܡܛܠ. ܡܢܐ ܠܐ ܡܝ̣ܬ. ܐܕܡ ܒܦܓܪܗ̣. ܒܝܘ̇ܡܐ. ܕܐܟ̣ܠ. ܡܢ ܐܝܠܢܐ; as also once in the commentary on the Proverbs (ch. xxx. 15), fol. 117 a; and once in that on S. Matthew (ch. xxiii. 34), ܡܢ ܡܐܡܪܐ ܕܥܠ. ܒܝܬ ܝ̇ܠܕܐ, fol. 202 b.
On the New Testament the principal authority is John Chrysostom. He is also cited in the commentary on Genesis (ch. iii. 14, 15), fol. 3 a, and in that on Daniel (ch. xii. 11—13), ܡܢ ܗ̇ܘ ܕܥܠ ܝܘ̈ܕܝܐ (adversus Judaeos v.; Opera, torn, i., pp. 782-3), fol. 68 a.
The other writers whom the compiler quotes, are—
1. Athanasius, foll. 25 b (on Jonah, iii. 4), 229 a, ܡܢ ܡܐܡܪܐ. ܕܥܠ ܨܠܝܒܐ (on S. John, xix. 23.)
2. Basil of Caesarea: foll. 199 b, ܡܢ ܗ̇ܘ ܕܗܘ̣ܦܟ: ܚܘܿܫ̈ܒܐ (on S. Matthew, xix. 17), 206 a (on S. Matthew, xxv. 26—30), 225 b (on S. John, xiv. 28), 226 b (on S. John, xvii. 5).
3. Cyril of Alexandria; foll. 14 b (on Hosea, i. 4), 20 a (on Amos, ix. 13), 24 a, ܡܢ ܦܘܫܩܐ ܕܐܫܥܝܐ ܢܒܝܐ (on Obad. 8), 32 b (on Zechariah, iv. 12), 33 b, ܡܢ ܗܠܝܢ ܕܒܬܫܡܢܫܬܐ. ܕܪܘܚ (on Zechariah, v. 9), 41 a, ܡܢ ܦܘܫܩܐ: ܕܐܫܥܝܐ ܢܒܝܐ (on Ezek. xiv. 19, 20), 73 b, from the same work (on Isaiah, xi. 15), 75 b, from the same (on Isaiah, xix. 1), 70 b, from the same (on Isaiah, xxi. 6) 93 a, from the same,ܡܢ ܡܐܡܪܐ ܕ܏ܚ (on Isaiah, lx. 9), 96 b, seqq., copious extracts from the same commentary, as far as fol. 116 a; 127 b (on Rom. ix. 3); 128 a, ܡܢ ܦܘܫܩܐ: ܕܐܫܥܝܐ. ܢܒܝܐ, and ܡܢ. ܦܘܫܩܐ: ܕܫܠܝܚܐ (on Rom. xi. 32); 133 b, ܡܢ ܟܬ݀ܒܐ ܕܣܝ̈ܡܬܐ (on 1 Corinth. xi. 3—5); 144 a (on 2 Corinth, xi. 24); 169 b, ܡܢ ܦܘܫܩܐ ܕܝܠܗ̇ ܕܐܓܪܬܐ, viz. on Hebr. vi. 4—6; 189 a, ܒܟܬ̇ܒܐ ܕܣܝ̈ܡܬܐ (on. S. Matth. xi. 12); 200 a, ܡܢ ܡܐܡܪܐ ܕ܏ܝܘ: ܕܠܘܩܒܠ: ܝܘܠܝܢܘܣ ܪܫܝܥܐ (on S. Matth. xix. 24); 214 b (on S. John, vi. 37), 229 b. (on S. John, xix. 23).
4. Daniel, bishop of Salach, [See Assemani, Bibl. Or., t. i., p. 495.] ܕܢܝܐܝܠ ܨ̇ܠܚܝܐ: foll. 30 a, ܡܢ ܦܘܫܩܐ ܕܡܙܡܘܪܐ ܏ܩܝܘ (on Haggai, ii. 21), 35 a, from the comment. on Ps. cii. 19, 20 (on Zechar. ix. 11), 44 a, from the comment, on Ps. cxxi. 1 (on Ezek. xxviii. 14), 59 a, from the comment, on Ps. cvii. 9 (on the Song of Songs, vi. 8), 73 b (on Isaiah, xi. 11), 83 a (on Isaiah, xxxv. 6, 7), 87 a, ܡܢ ܦܘܫܩܐ ܕܡܙܡܘܪܐ: ܕܡܐܐ ܘܥܣܪ̈ܝܢ (on Isaiah, xiv. 1—3), 96 b, ܡܢ ܦܘܿܫܩܐ̇ ܕܡܙܡܘܪܐ: ܕܡܐܐ. ܘܬܪ̈ܝܢ (on Isaiah, lxv. 17), 109 a, ܡܢ ܦܘܿܫܩܐ ܕ܏ܡܙ (on Isaiah, xxi. 9); 119 a, seqq., extracts from his comment, on Ecclesiastes, [This commentary on Ecclesiastes is not mentioned by Assemani.] ܡܢ ܦܘܫܩܐ ܪܒܐ. ܕܥܒܝ̣ܕ ܠܡܪܝ ܕܢܝܐܝܠ: ܡ̇ܠܦܢܐ. ܘܩܫܝܫܐ. (fol. 122 a).
5. Dionysius the Areopagite: ܕܩܕܝܫܐ ܡܪܝ ܕܝܘܢܣܝܘܣ. ܕܡܢ ܕܝ̇ܢ̈ܐ. ܕܐܪܝܣܦܓܘܣ ܡܢ ܐܓܪܬܐ ܕܠܘܬ: (on 2 Kings, xx. 9—11), fol. 13 b.
6. Epiphanius of Cyprus: foll. 25 b, ܡܢ ܫܪ̈ܒܐ ܕܥܒ̣ܝܕ ܠܗ. ܡܛܠ ܟܝ̈ܠ̣ܐ. ܘܡܬܩ̈ܠܐ: ܘܕܘܟܝ̈ܬܐ (on Jonah, i. 3), 132 b, ܡܢ ܡܐܡܪܐ. ܕܥܠ. ܟ̇ܝ̈ܠܐ. ܘܡܬܩ̈ܠܐ. (on 1 Corinth, vii. 18, 19).
7. Eusebius of Caesarea: fol. 176 a, ܡܢ ܟܬܒܐ ܕܡܛܠ. ܙܝܛܝܡ̈ܐܛܐ (ζητήματα) ܕܐܘܢܓܠܝܘܢ: ܢܘܿܗܪ ܥܠ ܗܠܝܢ ܕܡܢ ܠܬܚܬ. ܕܡܛܠ ܡ̇ܢܐ ܡܢ ܕܘܝܕ ܡܫ̇ܪܐ. ܡܬܝ: ܘܗܐ ܐܒܪܗܡ ܩܕܝܡ ܗܘܐ followed by several other extracts, as far as fol. 182 a, where we read: ܫܠܡ ܢܘܗܪ̈ܐ ܕܐܘܣܒܝܘܣ: ܡܢ ܟܬܒܐ. ܕܥܒܝ̣ܕ ܠܗ. ܥܠ ܫܪܝܐ. ܕܦܘ̈ܫܟܐ. ܕܡܬܝ̇ܬܝܢ: ܥܠ ܡ̈ܠܐ: ;ܡܕܡ. ܡܕܡ. ܡܕܡ. ܕܐܘܢ̈ܓܠܝܣܛܐ: ܕܡܣܬ݂ܒܪ̈ܢ܇ ܕܐܝܟ ܗ̇ܘ ܡܢ ܟܬܒܐ ܕܙܝܛܝ̈ܡܛܐ ܕܡܫ̇ܚܠܦܐܝܬ ܐ̇ܟܬܒ̣ܘ (on S. John, xx. 22), fol. 232 a.
8. George, bishop of the Arabs: [See Assemani, Bibl. Or., t. i., p. 494.] fol. 180 a, ܥܡ. ܕܝܢ ܗܠܝܢ. ܟܠܗܝܢ ܬܚ̈ܘܝܬܐ: ܐܦ ܡܪܝ ܓܘܪܓܝ: ܗ̇ܘ ܕܡܬܩ̣ܪܐ: ܐ܏ܦܝܣܩܘܦ. ܕܥܡ̈ܡܐ: ܐܡ̣ܪ ܡܕܡ. ܕܛ̇ܒ ܢܗ̇ܝܪ. ܟܕ ܐ̇ܡܪ. ܗܟܢܐ (on S. Luke, i. 36).
9. Gregory Nazianzen: foll. 127 b, ܡܢ ܡܐܡܪܐ: ܕܥܠ. ܡ̇ܦܩ. ܒܪܘܚܐ. ܕܥܠ ܟܗܢܘܬܐ (on Rom. ix. 3), 134 a (on 1 Corinth, xii. 28).
10. ܐܝܦܘܠܝܛܘܣ ܕܪܘܡܝ, ܐܝܦܘܠܝܛܝܣ ܕܪܘܡܝ, Hippolytus: foll. 39 a (on Ezek. i. 4, etc.), 58 a, ܡܢ ܦܘܫܩܐ ܕܫܐܪܬ ܫܝܪܝܢ. (on the Song of Songs, iv. 14), 68 a, margin (mutilated), on Antiochus Epiphanes in the book of Daniel; 177a (on S. Matthew, i. 11). [Two of these passages, foll. 39 a and 177 a, have been edited by Dr. de Lagarde in his Analecta Syriaca, 1858.]
11. Isidore of Pelusium: foll. 9 a (on 2 Kings, ii. 19—22), 123 a, ܡܢ ܐܓܪܬܐ ܕܠܘܬ݀ ܐܪܐܟ݁ܬܐܘܣ (on Proverbs, xxiv. 16), and two other extracts; 124 b (on Rom, ii. 24), 182 a, ܡܢ ܐܓܪܬܐ. ܕܠܘܬ. ܐܣܛܦܢܐ ܝܚܝܕܝܐ (on S. Matthew, iii. 4), 182 b (on S. Matth. iii. 10 and 12), 188 a (on S. Matth. xi. 2, 3), 193 a, ܡܢ. ܐܓܪܬܐ: ܕܠܘܬ. ܕܝܕܝܡܘܣ (on S. Matth. xiii. 33), 198 a, (on S. Matth. xvii. 27), 199 b ,ܠܘܬ. ܦܛܪܘܣ. ܝܚܝܕܝܐ (on S. Matth. xix. 11), 202 a (on S. Matth. xxii. 21), 204 a, ܡܢ ܟܬܒܐ ܕܐܓܪܬܐ ܕܥܒܝ̣ܕܐ ܠܗ: ܠܘܬ: ܐܢܫ: ܐܢܫ. (on S. Matth. xxiv. 17), 232 b (on S. John, xxi. 15, seqq.).
12. Jacob of Batnae: foll. 6 b, ܒܡܐܡܪܐ ܕܥܠ ܥܪܘܩܝܗ ܕܐܠܝܐ (on 1 Kings, xix.), 8 a, ܡܢ ܡܐܡܪܐ. ܕܥܠ ܡܘܬܗ ܕܢܒܘܬ (on 1 Kings, xxii. 21, 22), 71 a, ܡܢ ܡܐܡܪܐ: ܕܥܠ. ܐܫܥܝܐ ܢܒܝܐ. (on Isaiah, vi. 6, 7).
13. Jacob of Edessa: foll. 3 b, ܥܠ ܦܪܕܝܣܐ: ܘܥܠ. ܬܘܩܢܗ: ܘܒ̣ܪܝܬܗ̣: ܕܐܕܡ: ܡܢ ܟܬܒ̇ܐ ܕܐܣܟܘ̈ܠܝܐ ܐܝܟ ܕܒܙܥܘܪ̈ܝܬܐ: ܘܡܪܗ̇ܛܐܝܬ, 5a , ܡܢ ܟܬܒ̇ܐ ܕܣܟܘܠܝܘܢ (on 1 Kings, xvii. 6), 7 b, ܡܢ. ܣܟܘܠܝܘܢ. ܕ܏ܝܛ: ܕܟܬܒ̇ܐ ܕܡ̈ܠܟܘܬܐ (on 1 Kings, xxi. 19), 10 b ,ܡܢ ܐܓܪܬܐ. ܕܠܘܬ. ܝܘܚܢܢ. ܐܣܛܘܢܪܐ (on 2 Kings, iv. 38—41), 13 b, ܡܢ ܟܬܒ̇ܐ ܕܣܟܘ̈ܠܝܘܢ (on 2 Kings, xx. 12), 32 a (on Zechar. iii. 9), 32 b (on Zechar. iv. 12), 33 b, (on Zechar. vi. 1), 45 b, ܡܢ ܐܓܪܬܐ ܕܠܘܬ ܐܕܝ (on Ezek. xxxvii. 1, seqq.), 47 a (on Ezek. xlvii. 1, seqq.), 52 b, ܡܢ ܐܓܪܬܐ. ܕܠܘܬ. ܝܘܚܢܢ. ܐܣܛܘܢܪܐ: ܡܛܠ ܒ̈ܢܝ ܪܟܒܝܐܡ (on Jerem. xxxv. 1, seqq.) 54 b, on the epoch of the captivity of Daniel, 62 a, ܡܢ ܣܟ݁ܠܝܐ, on Evīl-merodach, the successor of Nebuchadnezzar, 62 b (on Dan. v. 25), 63 b, ܡܢ ܐܓܪܬܐ. ܕܥܠ ܦܘܿܫܩܐ ܕܙܟܪܝܐ (on Zechar. vi. 1), 65 a, ܡܢ ܐܓܪܬܐ. ܕܠܘܬ݀ ܝܘܚܢܢ. ܐܣܛܘܢܪܐ (on Dan. ix. 26), 67 b, ܕܟܡܐ ܫ̈ܢܝܐ ܚܝ̣̇ܐ ܕܢܝܐܝܠ, how many years Daniel lived, 68 a, on Joachim, the husband of Susanna, 116 a, ܡܢ ܣܟܘܠܝܘܢ. ܕܬܠܬܥܣܪ̈ [ܕܟܬ݀ܒܐ ܕܡ̈ܬܠܐ] (on Prov. viii. 22), 116 b, ܣܟܘܠܝܘܢ ܏ܕܝܗ (on Prov. ix. 1), 117 a, ܡܢ ܟܬܒ̇ܐ ܕܣܘ̈ܟܘܠܝܐ (on Ecclesiast. i. 4, seqq.), with other extracts, as far as fol. 118 b; 122 a, ܡܢ ܣܟܘܠܝܘܢ ܕܥܣܪ̈(on Eccles. xi. 9, 10, and ch. xii.), 144 b, ܡܢ ܐܓܪܬܐ. ܕܠܘܬ. ܡܘܫܐ (on 2 Corinth, xii. 2), 152 a, ܡܢ ܐܓܪܬܐ. ܕܠܘܬ. ܝܘܚܢܢ. ܐܣܛܘܢܪܐ. (on Philipp. ii. 10), 180 a, on the genealogy of the Virgin Mary, 229 b (on S. John, xix. 25).
14. John the monk, ܝܘܚܢܢ ܝܚܝܕܝܐ: fol. 189 a (on S. Matthew, xi. 12).
15. Mārūthā, ܡܪܝ ܡܪܘܬܐ , [See Assemani, Bibl. Or., t. i., p. 174 seqq.] bishop of Tagrīt, fol. 206 b, ܕܟܡܐ. ܙܒ̈ܢܝܢ: ܐܬܡܫ̣ܚ ܡܪܢ. (on S. Matth. xxvi. 7), 207 a (on S. Matth. xxvi. 26, seqq.), 229 a (on S. John, xix. 17), 230 b (on S. John, xx. 1, seqq.).
16. Philoxenus, or Xenaias, of Mabūg ܡܪܝ ܐܟܣܢܝܐ: fol. 125 a, ܡܢ ܡܐܡܪܐ ܕܥܠ: ܢ̇ܟܦܘܬܐ܀ ܘܠܘܩܒܠ. ܩܪܒܐ: ܕܙܢܝܘܬܐ (on Rom. vii. 1, 2).
17. Phocas of Edessa; [See Assemani, Bibl. Or., t.i., p. 468; and above, p. 493, no. DCXXV (Add. 12,151 [...]).] fol. 163 b, ܡܢ ܢܘܗܪܐ. ܕܕܝܢܘܣܝܘܣ: ܕܥܒ̣ܝܕ ܠܦܘܩܐ. ܐܘܪܗܝܐ (on 2 Timothy, ii. 13).
18. Severus of Antioch: foll. 6 a, ܡܢ ܟܬܒ̇ܐ ܕܐܒܠܘܓܝ, i.e. 'Απολογία τοῦ Φιλαλήθους, or Defense of his work entitled ὁ Φιλαλήθης (on 1 Kings, xviii. 31), 11 a (on 2 Kings, v. 17), 11 b (on the word ܡܐܟܒܐ, i.e. מַכְבֵּר, in 2 Kings, viii. 15), 18 a, ܡܢ ܐܓܪܬܐ ܕܠܘܬ: ܐܘܦܪܟܣܝܘܣ (on Amos, iii. 6), 40 b, ܡܢ ܐܓܪܬܐ̇ ܕܠܘܬ: ܡܝܛܐܘܣ [Assemani has "ad Mitraeum," Bibl. Or., t. i., p. 607.] (on Ezek. ix. 4), 41 a (on Ezek. xi. 19 and xviii. 31), 42 a (on Ezek. xvi. 46), 43 a (on Ezek. xxi. 25), 44 a (on Ezek. xxix. 6), 46 a, ܡܢ ܡܐܡܪܐ. ܕܐܪ̈ܒܥܝܢ. ܘܬܪ̈ܝܢ, from hom. epithron. xlii. (on Ezek. xliv. 19), 46 b, ܡܢ ܡܐܡܪܐ. ܕܥܠ ܝܘܚܢܢ. ܡܥܡܕܢܐ (on Ezek. xlvi. 1), 76 a (on Isaiah, xix. 18), 87 b, ܡܢ ܐܓܪܬܐ: ܕܠܘܬ ܐܘܦܪܟܣܝܘܣ. ܩܒܘܩܠܪܐ (on Isaiah, xiv. 7), 93 b, ܡܢ ܟܬܒ̇ܐ ܕܐܦܝܬܪܢܝܘܢ. (on Isaiah, Ixi. 1), 96 a, ܡܢ ܡܐܡܪܐ ܕܐܫܬܬܥܣܪ̈ (on Isaiah, lxv. 17), 105 a, ܡܢ ܐܓܪܬܐ̣. ܕܠܘܬ. ܐܝܪܙܩܠܝܢܝ [ܐܝܪܐܩܠܝܢܝ](on Isaiah, xviii. 7), 116 b, ܡܢ ܐܓܪܬܐ: ܕܠܘܬ ܓܘܪܓܝܐ: ܦܛܪܩܝܐ: ܘܠܘܬ ܒܪܬܐ ܕܝܠܗ (on Prov. xxv. 1), 118 b, ܡܢ ܐܓܪܬܐ. ܕܠܘܬ ܩܐܣܪܝܐ (on Ecclesiast. v. 1), 119 a ,ܡܢ ܐܓܪܬܐ ܕܠܘܬ ܐܡܘܢܝܘܣ ܩܫܝܫܐ ܕܐܠܟܣܢܕܪܝܐ. (on Ecclesiast. i. 9), 123 a, ܡܢ ܐܓܪܬܐ: ܕܠܘܬ ܐܘܓܢܝܐ ܡܫܡܫܢܬܐ: ܘܪܝܫܬ̇ ܕܝܪܐ (on Prov. xxiii. 1), 126 a, ܡܢ ܡܐܡܪܐ: ܕܐܫܬܬܥܣܪ̈ (on Rom. viii. 19), 131 a, ܡܢ ܐܓܪܬܐ: ܕܠܘܬ: ܦܝܠܘܟܣܢܘܣ: ܐܦܝܣܩܘܦܐ (on l Corinth, iii. 12) and ܡܢ ܗܠܝܢ: ܕܠܘܬ: ܩܐܣܪܝܐ ܦܛܪܝܩܝܐ (on 1 Corinth, v. 9—11), 131 b (on 1 Corinth, vi. 15 — 20), 134 a (on 1 Corinth, xi. 27—29), 134 b, ܡܢ ܐܓܪܬܐ ܕܠܘܬ: ܐܪܟܠܐܕܣ [Assemani, Bibl. Or., t. i., p. 607, has "ad Archelaum,"ܐܪܟܠܐܘܣ.] ܕܡ̇ܝܬܐ ܣܗ̈ܕܘܬܐ ܕܡ̈ܠܦܢܐ (on 1 Corinth, xiii. 1), 135 a, ܡܢ ܐܓܪܬܐ: ܕܠܘܬ. ܐܢܣܛܣܝܐ. ܡܫܡܫܢܝܛܐ (on 1 Corinth, xiv. 16), 136 b (on 1 Corinth, xv. 28), 167 a, ܡܢ ܐܓܪܬܐ ܕܠܘܬ ܐܘܦܪܟܣܝܘܣ (on Hebr. i. 3), 179 a (on S. Matth. ii. 2), 180 a, ܐܡܪ ܓܝܪ ܒܐܦܝܬܪܘܢܝܘܢ. ܕܝܠܗ܀ ܒܡܐܡܪܐ. ܗܟܢܐ. (on S. Luke, i. 36), 182 a (on S. Matth. iii. 1), 184 b (on S. Matth. v. 25), 188 b (on S. Matth. xi. 11, 12), 190 b (on S. Matth. xii. 19—21), 191 a, ܡܢ ܐܓܪܬܐ ܕܠܘܬ: ܩܣܪܝܐ (on S. Matth. xii. 31), 197 a, ܡܢ ܐܓܪܬܐ. ܕܠܘܬܐ ܐܝܣܝܕܘܪܘܣ ܩܘܡܝܣ (on S. Matth. xvii. 5), 198 b, ܡܢ ܡܐܡܪܐ. ܏ܕܝܐ: ܕܐܦܝܬܪܢܝܘܢ. (on S. Matth. xviii. 10), 203 a, ܡܢ ܐܓܪܬܐ ܕܠܘܬ. ܐܢܣܛܣܝܐ (on S. Matth. xxiii. 35), 204 a, ܡܢ ܐܓܪܬܐ : ܕܠܘܬ: ܩܐܣܪܝܐ (on S. Matth. xxiv. 20), 224 b ,ܡܢ ܐܓܪܬܐ ܕܠܘܬ ܩܣܪܝܐ (on S. John, xiii. 27), 227 a (on S. John, xvii. 6 and 25), 229 a (on S. John, xix. 23), 231 b (on S. John, xx. 17), 232 b (on S. John, xxi. 11 and 15).
There are besides anonymous extracts on the Song of Songs, foll. 55 b, seqq., 59 b, seqq.; and on S. Matthew, ch. xvii. 27, fol. 198 a. The commentary on Genesis, foll. 1 and 2, seems to be taken chiefly from Jacob of Edessa.
At the end of the commentary on the Old Testament, fol. 123 b, is the following colophon:
ܫܠܡ. ܒܥܘܕܢܪܗ̣ ܕܡܪܢ܆ ܦܘܫܩܐ ܕܟܠܗ̣̇ ܥܬ݀ܝܩܬܐ: ܗ̇ܢܘ ܕܝ̣ܢ. ܕܚܡ̈ܫܐ. ܣܦ̣ܪ̈ܐ: ܕܡܘܫܐ̣. ܥܡ ܫܪܟܐ. ܕܢܒ̈ܝܐ̣. ܕܥܒ̣ܝܕܝܢ: ܠܡܪܝ ܐܦܪܝܡ̣. ܘܠܡܪܝ ܝܥܩܘܒ̣ ܐܘܪܗܝܐ: ܘܠܩܕܝܫܐ. ܩܘܪܝܠܠܘܣ܀ ܡܣܝ̇ܟܐܝ̇ܬ܇ ܘܐܝܟ. ܕܒܙܥܘܪ̈ܝܬܐ.
On fol. 233 b (which is slightly torn) is a similar colophon:
ܫܠܡ. ܒܥܘܕܪܢܗ: ܕܡܪܢ ܠܡܟ̣ܬܒ: ܒܟܬܒܐ. ܗܢܐ ܆ ܦܘܫܩܐ ܆ ܕܚ̈ܡܫܐ : ܣܦ̣ܪ̈ܐ : ܕܡܘܫܐ : ܢܒܝܐ ܀ ܘܦܘܫܩܐ : ܕܟܠܗܘܢ : ܢܒ̈ܝܐ : ܕܫܪܟܐ : ܘܦܘܫܩܐ ܕܫܠܝܚܐ : ܘܕܐܘܢܓܠܝܘܢ : ܕܡܬܝ : ܘܕܝܘܚܢܢ : ܐܝܟ ܕܒܡ̈ـ[ـܢܘܬ]ܐ : ܙܥܘܪ̈ܝܬܐ : ܕܥܒ̣̈ܝܕܝܢ ܠܩܕܝܫܐ : ܡـ[ـܪܝ ܐܦܪܝܡ] ܘܡܪܝ ܝܥܩܘܒ̣ : ܐܦ܏ܝܣܩ: . . . ـܬܝܩܬܐ: . . . ܘܠܫܠܝܚܐ : . . . ܐܝܘܐܢܝܣ܀
See additions.
  title: Genesis
  title: Kings
  title: The Twelve minor Prophets
  title: Ezekiel
  title: Jeremiah and Lamentations
  title: The Song of Songs
  title: Daniel and Susanna
  title: Isaiah
    title: A supplement
  title: Proverbs and Ecclesiastes
  A passage of Ecclesiasticus, ch. xlvii. 2, is explained on fol. 123 a.
  author: Paul
  title: The Epistles of S. Paul
    title: Romans
    title: 1 Corinthians
    title: 2 Corinthians
    title: Galatians
    title: Ephesians
    title: Philippians
    title: Colossians
    title: 1 Thessalonians
    title: 2 Thessalonians
    title: 1 Timothy
    title: 2 Timothy
    title: Titus
    title: Philemon
    title: Hebrews
  title: The Gospel according to S. Matthew
  title: The Gospel according to S. John

Vellum, about 14 3/4 in. by 12 1/2, consisting of 233 leaves, a few of which, at the beginning and end, are much stained and slightly torn. The volume originally consisted of 35 quires [Not 36, as erroneously given in the manuscript, for sheet 34 is signed ܠܕ on the first leaf and ܠܗ on the last.], signed with letters; but the first 12 have been lost, with the exception of two leaves of ܐ and one leaf of ܒ. Each page is divided into two columns (only fol. 1 b has three), of from 36 to 49 lines. It was written in Egypt, A. Gr. 1392, A.D. 1081.

233 ff.

- Vellum, about 14 3/4 in. by 12 1/2, consisting of 233 leaves, a few of which, at the beginning and end, are much stained and slightly torn. The volume originally consisted of 35 quires [Not 36, as erroneously given in the manuscript, for sheet 34 is signed ܠܕ on the first leaf and ܠܗ on the last.], signed with letters; but the first 12 have been lost, with the exception of two leaves of ܐ and one leaf of ܒ. Each page is divided into two columns (only fol. 1 b has three), of from 36 to 49 lines. It was written in Egypt, A. Gr. 1392, A.D. 1081.

The writing is an inelegant Estrangělā, with occasional Greek vowels.

- Colophon Doxology

After the colophon follows the doxology, after which the compiler, Severus, proceeds thus:

ܐܬܓ̣ܡܪܬ݀ ܗܟܝܠ ܝܨܝܦܘܬܐ ܕܥܠ ܣܝܡܬܐ ܗܕܐ ܡܘܬܪܢܝܬܐ ܠܫ̈ܢܝܢ ܥܣܪ̈ : ܒܐܝ̣̈ܕܝ ܚܛ̇ܝܐ ܘܣܢܝ̣ܩ ܥܠ ܪ̈ܚܡ̣ܐ̣. ܣܐܘܪܐ ܛܘܒܢܐ ܪܚ̇ܡ ܥܡܠܐ܆ ܒܫܢ̣ܬ ܐܠܦܐ ܘܡܐܐ. ܘܫܒܥܝܢ. ܘܬܪ̈ܬܝܢ. ܒܡܢܝܢܐ ܕܝܘ̈ܢܝܐ. ܒܐܝܪܚ ܐܕܪ ܒܥܣܪ̈ܝܢ ܘܚܡܫܐ ܒܗ. ܒܕܝܪܐ [ܕ]ܩܕܝܫܬܐ. ܒܐܪܒܐܪܐ. ܕܒܛܘܪܐ ܕܐܘܪܗܝ܀ ܒܝܘ̈ܡܝ ܛܘܒܬܢܐ ܡܪܝ ܝܘܚܢܢ ܦܛܪܝܐܪܟܐ. ܘܚܣܝܐ ܡܝܛ܏ܪܘܦ ܩܘܣܛܢܛܝܢܘܣ. ܐܬܡ̣ܬܚ ܠܗ ܙܒܢܐ ܕܥـ[ـܒܕ ܒܗ ܗܠܝـ]ـ̣ܢ ܡܢ ܒܠ̣ܝ ܟܬܒ̈ܐ. ܐܝ̣ܨܦ ܕܝܢ ܘܥܒ̣ܕ ܥܡܠܐ ܗܢܐ ܟܠܗ: ܘܠܩ̇ܛ ܢܘܗܪ̈ܐ ܗܠܝܢ ܡܢ ܥܬܝܩܬܐ ܘܚܕܬܐ܇ ܡܛܠ ܒܘܝܐܐ ܕܝܠܗ ܘܕܗܠܝܢ ܕܦܓ̇ܥܝܢ. ܘܡܦ̣ܝܣ ܐܢܐ ܠܟܠ ܡ̇ܢ ܕܠܒ̇ܟ ܠܗ ܘܝ̇ܬܪ ܡܢܗ. ܐܘ ܨ̇ܒܐ ܕܢܟܬ݂ܒܝܘܗܝ̣. ܕܢܡ̇ܠܐ ܡܠܬܐ ܟܬܝܒܬܐ ܕܐܡܪܐ̇. ܕܨܠܘ ܚܕ ܥܠ ܚܕ ܕܬܐܬܣܘܢ̣. ܘܡܛܠ ܚܘܒܗ ܕܡܫܝܚܐ̣ ܢܟܬܒܝܘܗܝ ܠܥܘܗܕܢܐ ܗܢܐ. ܘܢܨ̇ܠܐ ܥܠܘܗܝ ܕܚܛܝܐ ܕܐܡܝܪ̣. ܕܢܐܣܐ ܡܪܝܐ ܟܘܬܡ̈ܬܐ ܕܚ̈ܛܗܐ ܕܐܝܬ ܠܗ ܒܢܦܫܗ ܘܦܓܪܗ. ܒܨ̈ܠܘܬܐ ܕܢܒ̈ܝܐ ܕܐܬܢ̇ܒܝܘ܇ ܘܫܠܝܚ̈ܐ ܕܣ̇ܒܪܘ̣. ܘܕܡ̈ܠܦܢܐ ܕܦܫ̇ܩܘ. ܡܐܠܘܢ ܕܝܢ ܕܩܕܝܫܬܐ ܝ̇ܠܕܬ ܐܠܗܐ ܡܪܝܡ. ܘܕܟܠܗ ܚܘܕܪܐ ܕܩܕܝ̈ܫܐ ܕܡܢ ܥܠܡ ܐܡܝܢ܀܀܀ ܣܝ̇ܟܢܢ ܕܝܢ ܦܘܫܩܐ ܕܥܬܝܩܬܐ. ܕܡܪܝ ܐܦܪܝܡ. ܐܠܦܝ̈ܐ ܚ̈ܡܫܐ ܘܫܬܡܐܐ܀ ܘܕܡܪܝ ܝܥܩܘܒ ܐܘܪܗܝܐ. ܕܐܘܪܝܬܐ ܟܠܗ̇ ܘܕܐܝܘܒ ܘܕܝܫܘܥ ܒܪܢܘܢ. ܥܡ ܢܘܗܪ̈ܐ ܙܥܘܪ̈ܐ ܕܡ̈ܒܕܪܝܢ ܒܗ ܒܟܬܒܐ. ܬܪܝܢ ܐ̈ܠܦܝܢ ܘܬܡܢܡܐܐ ܘܫܬܝܢ܀ ܣܝ̇ܟܝܢ ܕܝܢ ܕܫܠܝܚܐ ܦܘܠܘܣ ܘܕܐܘ̈ܢܓܠܝܐ [ܕ]ܡ݊ܬܝ ܘܝ݊ܘܚܢܢ. ܕܐܝ܏ܬܘ ܣܘܓܐܗܘܢ ܕܡܪܝ ܐܝܘܐܢܝܣ. ܘܕܫܪܟܐ ܕܐܚܪ̈ܢܐ. ܡܕܡ ܡܕܡ ܬܪܝܢ ܐ̈ܠܦܝܢ ܏ܘܬ. ܟܠܗܘܢ ܕܝܢ ܡܣܝ̇ܟܐܝܬ ܥܣܪ̈ܐ ܐ̈ܠܦܝܢ. ܘ܏ܦ. ܘܐܫܬܝܢ.܀ The labour bestowed for ten years upon this profitable treasure has been brought to a conclusion by the hands of the sinner, who has need of mercy, the labour-loving monk Severus, in the year of the Greeks 1172 (A.D. 861), on the 25th of the month of Adār, in the monastery of the holy Barbara, on the hill of Edessa, in the time of the blessed Mār John the Patriarch [John iii. See Assemani, Bibl. Or., t. ii., p. 348; Le Quien, Oriens Christ., t. ii., col. 1374.] and the pious Metropolitan Constantine. He (Severus) spent the time, during which he was engaged in this work, without books; but he laboured hard, and performed all this work, and collected these elucidations from the Old and New Testaments, for the comfort of himself and of all who may fall in (with them). And I implore every one who takes it and derives profit from it, or wishes to copy it, to fulfil the written word that says: "Pray for one another, that ye may be healed" (S. James, v. 16). And for the love of Christ, let him transcribe this record, and pray for the aforesaid sinner, that the Lord may heal all the sin-sores that are upon his soul and body, through the prayers of the Prophets who have prophesied, etc. We have numbered the exposition of the Old Testament (as given in this book); of Mār Ephraim 5600 (scholia); and of Mār Jacob of Edessa on the whole Torah, and Job and Joshua, with a few illustrations scattered through the book, 2860 (scholia). And we have numbered the exposition of the Gospels of S. Matthew and S. John, which is chiefly by Mār John (Chrysostom), with some extracts from other (commentators, and it consists of) 2400 (scholia). The whole, then, as numbered, amounts to 10,860 (scholia).

- Colophon

After the compiler Severus' note, we read:

ܐܝܬܘܗܝ ܟܬܒܐ ܗܢܐ ܕܚ̈ܝܐ ܘܕܝܘܬܪܢܐ ܕܫܡܘܐܝܠ ܒܨܝܪܐ. ܕܒܫܡܐ ܠܡ ܛܘܒܢܐ ܐܘܟܝܬ ܐܣܛܘܢܪܐ. ܕܐܝ̣ܨܦ ܘܥܡ̣ܠ ܘܣ̣ܪܛ ܐܝܟ ܚܝܠܗ ܘܐܝܟ ܒܨܝܪܘܬ ܝܕܥܬܗ. ܡܛܠ ܕܐܝܟ ܙܢܐ ܕܣܐ̇ܡ ܐܢܫ ܝܘܩܢܐ ܫܒܝܚܬܐ ܩܕܡܘܗܝ. ܘܨ̇ܒܐ ܗ̣ܘ ܕܢܬ݀ܕܡܐ ܒܗ. ܟܕ ܠܐ ܩܪܝ̣ܒ ܠܗ. ܐܘܿܡܢܗ ܕܝܘܩܢܐ. ܐܝܟ ܕܣ̇ܒܪ ܐܢܐ ܕܠܟܠܢܫ. ܝܕܝܥ̣ܐ. ܕܣ̇ܓܝ ܡܬܐ̣ܠܨ ܘܥ̇ܡܠܐ. ܘܣܪܚ ܣܘܓܐ ܕܣܡ̈ܐܢܐ. ܘܗ̇ܝ ܕܝܢ ܒܡܘܗܒܬܐ ܕܡܢ ܐܠܗܐ ܡܪܚܡ̇ܢܐ. ܐܬ̇ܐ ܦܘܠܚܢܐ ܠܫܘܡܠܝܐ܀ ܒܗ̇ ܒܕܡܘܬܐ. ܐܢܐ ܕܘ̇ܝܐ. ܗ̣ܘܝܬ ܝ̇ܬܝܪ ܡܢ ܬܠ̈ܬ ܫ̈ܢܝܢ. ܕܡܬܕܢ̇ܩ ܐܢܐ ܒܫܘܡܠܝܗ ܕܟܬܒܐ ܗܢܐ ܕܦܘܫ̈ܩܐ ܪ̈ܘܚܢܝܐ܀ ܘܢܣ̣ܒ ܫܘܡܠܝܐ ܒܐܝ̈ܕܝ ܚ̇ܛܝܐ ܕܐܡܝܪ. ܒܕܝܪܐ ܩܕܝܫܬܐ ܕܝ̇ܠܕܬ ܐܠܗܐ. ܕܒܓܙ̇ܪܬܐ ܕܒܩܠܝܡܐ ܕܐܠܟܣܢܕܪܝܐ ܪܒܬܐ. ܒܝܨܝܦܘܬܐ ܕܣܒ̈ܐ ܡܒܪ̈ܟܐ ܘܙܕܝܩ̈ܐ ܐܘܟܝܬ ܐܒܪܗ̈ܡܝܐ. ܡܪܝ ܡܘܗܘܒ مَوْهُوب ܘܡܪܝ ܦܗܕ فَهْد ܘܒ̈ܢܝܐ ܪ̈ܚܝܡܐ ܕܝܠܗܘܢ ܝܘܚܢܢ ܘܡܢܨܘܪ مَنْصُور ܝܪ̈ܘܬܐ ܕܡ̈ܠܟܘܬܐ ܕܫܡܝܐ ܘܒ̈ܢܝ ܓܢܘܢܐ ܕܢܘܼܗܪܐ ܐܡܝܢ܀ ܢܣ̣ܒ ܫܘܡܠܝܐ ܟܬܒܐ ܗܢܐ ܒܥܣܪ̈ܝܢ ܘ܏ܗ ܒܐܕܪ ܝܪܚܐ. ܒܫܢܬ ܐܠܦ ܘ܏ܫ. ܘ܏ܨ. ܏ܘܒ. ܕܝܘ̈ܢܝܐ. ܒܝܘܡ ܣܘܒܪܗ̇ ܕܝ̇ܠܕܬ ܐܠܗܐ ܘܒܬܘܠܬ ܒܟܠܙܒܢ ܛܘܒܢܝܬ ܐܡ݊ــ݊ܪܝ݊ܡ܀ ܐܠܐ ܡܦܝ̣ܣ ܐܢܐ ܠܟܠ ܡ̇ܢ ܕܠܒ̇ܟ ܠܗ. ܘܝ̇ܬܪ ܡܢܗ. ܐܘ ܨ̇ܒܐ ܕܢܟܬܒ܏ܝܘ ܕܢܬܪܨ ܐܝܟ ܚܝܠܗ. ܘܠܐ ܢܥܕܘܠ ܡܛܠ. ܕܟܠ ܒ̇ܪܝܐ ܚܣܝܪܐ ܐܝܟ ܕܟܬܝ̣ܒ܆ ܕܡܛܠ ܚܘܒܗ ܕܡܫܝܚܐ. ܢܡ̇ܠ̣ܐ ܡܠܬܐ ܟܬܝܒܬܐ ܕܐܡ̇ܪܐ . ܕܨ̇ܠܘ ܚܕ ܥܠ ܚܕ ܕܬܐܬ̇ܣܘܢ̣. ܨ̇ܠܘ ܥܠܘܗܝ ܕܚ̇ܛܝܐ ܕܐܡܝ̣ܪ. ܘܥܠ ܐܒܗ̈ܘܗܝ ܒ̈ܚܝܐ . . . This book of life and profit belongs to the humble Samuel, who is in name a monk or stylite; who laboured, and worked, and wrote, according to his strength and the smallness of his knowledge. Just as a man places before him a beautiful picture, and wishes to copy it in the absence of the artist, and (as I think is known to every one) takes great pains, and works hard, and is lavish of his pigments, and so, by the gift of the merciful God, the work is brought to its completion; in the same way I too, a feeble man, have been toiling hard for more than three years at the perfecting of this book of spiritual expositions. It was finished by the hands of the aforesaid sinner, in the monastery of the Mother of God, which is in Gāzartā, in the region of Alexandria the Great, through the care of the blessed and just elders, who are like unto Abraham, Mār Mauhūb and Mār Fahd, and their beloved sons John and Mansur, heirs of the kingdom of heaven and children of the bridechamber of light. Amen. This book was finished on the 25th of the month of Adār, in the year of the Greeks 1392 (A.D. 1081), on the day of the Annunciation of the Mother of God and perpetual Virgin, the blessed Mary. But I beseech every one who takes it and profits by it, or wishes to copy it, to correct it according to his ability, and not to find fault, because every creature is feeble; as it is written (above) that, for the love of Christ, he should fulfil the written word that says, ‘Pray for one another, that ye may be healed.' Pray for the aforesaid sinner and for his parents in this life……….

AD 1081 AG 1392 The monastery of the Mother of God, which is in Gāzartā, in the region of Alexandria the Great

Manuscript description based on Wright's Catalogue . abbreviated by the Syriaca.org editors.

William Wright Catalogue of Syriac Manuscripts in the British Museum Acquired since the Year 1838 London 1870 DCCCLIII 2:908-914