The Berlin edition of the »Biblia Hebraica« by Daniel Ernst Jablonski from the year 1699 is regarded as an important contribution to a struggle lasting over centuries to reconstruct the original Hebrew text of the Old Testament. At the same time, this work, which was produced by a press for printing Hebrew characters that Jablonski founded for this purpose, attracted much attention because of its exquisite typography.
The theologian Jablonski, one of the most important scholars in Berlin at the time, worked intensively on the textual criticism of the Hebrew Bible and was thus able to present a new, scientifically valid edition. Rather than merely refer to earlier printed versions, he also took numerous Hebrew manuscripts into account.
The State Library’s copy contains a dedication by Jablonski in his own hand to Otto von Schwerin – an indication of the good relations that the editor maintained to the Prince Elector´s court in the interests of the church.