Introduction : the formation of Judaism in its canon -- Mishnah and Scripture, Yerushalmi and Midrash collections : principles of composition -- Yerushalmi and Bavli : alike and not alike -- The Talmuds and the Mishnah -- The Talmuds and Scripture -- The Talmuds and the sages -- What the Bavli contributes -- The matter of topic -- The matter of rhetoric -- The Yerushalmi : partial evidence of a complete system -- The Bavli : Judaism in conclusion