Tosefta su Esodo 27:10

Rabbi Yosei says, it would have been befitting for the Torah to have been given through Ezra had Moses not preceded him. It is said of Moses "aliyah" ("ascending") and it is said of Ezra "aliyah." It is said of Moses "aliyah" (Ex. 19:3): "And Moses ascended (alah) to God." It is said of Ezra "aliyah" (Ezra 7:6): "He, Ezra, ascended (alah) from Babylon." What is the "aliyah" that is mentioned? As to Moses, he taught Torah to Israel, as it is said (Deut. 4:14), "And God commanded me at that time to teach you [laws and statutes, to perform them in the Land into which you are crossing to take possession]." As to Ezra, he taught Torah to Israel, as it is is said (Ezra 7:10), "For Ezra prepared his heart to seek out the Torah of God, and to perform it, and to teach Israel the laws and the statutes." But even he was given the authority [to implement] the script and the language [of Scripture, as it is said (Ezra 4:7), "And he wrote a letter written in Aramaic [script] and interpreted (or 'translated') in Aramaic." [This means that] just as it was interpreted in Aramaic, so too it was written in Aramaic. And it says (Dan. 5:8), "And they could not read the writing, etc." It teaches that on that very same day it was given. And it says (Deut. 17:18), "And he is to write for himself a copy of this Torah (or 'teaching')." [This refers to] the Torah of the future, which would change [in script and language]. And why is the name [of the script] referred to as "Assyrian"? Because it ascended with them from Assyria. Rebbi says, with Assyrian script the Torah was [originally] given to Israel, but once they sinned, its language was changed for them, but once they returned in the days of Ezra, Assyrian was returned to them, as it is said (Zech. 9:12), "Return to Bizzaron, etc." Rabbi Shimon ben Elazar says in the name of Rabbi Elazar ben Parta, who said in the name of Rabbi Elazar of Modiin, with this script the Torah was given to Israel, as it is said (Ex. 38:17), "The hooks (vavei) of the columns." The vavei (i.e., the letter "vav"): That they looked like columns. And it says (Esther 8:9), "And to the Jews in their own script and their own language." What is "their own language" -- in this language. Why then is its name called Assyrian ("ashuri")? Because its writing is beautiful ("m'oshar"). If so, why is it said (Deut. 17:18), "And he is to write for himself a copy of this Torah"? It teaches that [the king] writes two Torahs for himself: One that comes in and goes out with him, and one that he brings to rest inside the Temple. The one that comes in and goes out with him -- he may not bring it to a thermal bath or to a bathhouse, as it is said (Deut. 17:19), "It shall be with him, and he shall read from it, all the days of his life, etc." [This indicates] in a place that is fitting to read, in which he is only occupied with the needs of the public. [If regarding the king] it says, "It shall be with him, and he shall read with it, all the days of his life" -- then how much more so for other men! And similarly (Deut. 34:9), "Joshua ben Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses leaned his hands on him, etc." And so too it says (Ex. 33:11), "And Joshua ben Nun the lad," and so too it says (Josh. 1:8), "Do not let this Sefer Torah depart from your mouth, but speak of it day and night." These things are a kal v'chomer: If as to Joshua ben Nun, who was occupied with the conquest of the Land and is about to divide the land among [the tribes of] Israel, it is said "Do not let [it] depart, etc.," then how the much more so for other men!