Anan ben David (jan 1, 715 – jan 1, 795)

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A Babylonian scholar of exilarchic descent who rejected the binding authority of the Talmud and the Oral Law, arguing that Jews should derive practice directly from Scripture. Rabbanite sources say he founded his sect after being passed over for the office of Exilarch, though this account comes from his opponents. His Aramaic Sefer ha-Mitzvot laid out an alternative legal system that was often stricter than rabbinic law. His followers, the Ananites, were a precursor to Karaism, which took its mature form a century later under Benjamin al-Nahawandi and Daniel al-Qumisi. The dictum attributed to him — search Scripture well and do not rely on my opinion — became the movement's motto.

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