Shem Tov's Hebrew Matthew

[Ahanu]

What is the scholarly consensus on Shem Tov's Hebrew Matthew?

James Tabor writes:

Howard argues that Shem Tov did not create the Hebrew Matthew himself (e.g., translating from the Latin) but had an existing Hebrew text to work with-as he sometimes comments on its scribal errors and strange readings. Matt 11:11 is a good case in point, as the Greek, Latin, and all other Matthean witnesses contain the qualifying phrase: "nonetheless, the least in the Kingdom of heaven is greater than he." Shem Tov comments on the unique Hebrew version he is following, and how its lack of such a phrase implies that John is greater than Jesus. If he were translating from the Latin, Greek, or any other version such a comment would be meaningless.

Does any other scholar support a similar view? Did the Jewish community have a copy of the Hebrew Matthew?

 

[Ahanu]

Gah! I misspelled the title of the thread. For any grammarians out there, my apologies.

 

[Ahanu]

In other words, Shem Tov's Hebrew Matthew could be more reliable than the Greek Matthew. Very significant (if it is true).

I have no clue why scholars would sleep on that.