Q&A: The Sages from Linguistic Precision According to the Malbim
The Sages from Linguistic Precision According to the Malbim
Question
The Malbim on Joshua chapter 1 writes that the Oral Torah is linguistic precision and essential understanding of the roots of the holy tongue, and understanding the essence of the word and its definition.
And I also heard that it is a combination of the essence of the letters and the words, the vowels and the cantillation marks, where each time the understanding changes accordingly, and that is how the Sages derived their understanding.
What do you think?
And also, what do you think about passages in Bava Batra where there are no verses and no interpretation of Scripture—what is their authority on the matter?
Answer
That does not sound plausible to me. I would give more weight to reasoning.
The authority of the Talmud is not connected to verses. Its halakhic determinations, regardless of their source, are binding.