Also Yavneh or Javneh. A place near Joppa where, about A.D. 90, a council of rabbis declared the O.T. canon to be completed, ending the process of adding more. It is probable that the measure was partly defensive, precipitated by the increasing number of books being written by Christians. At this council the traditional text of the O.T. was decided upon and became known as the Masoretic (Heb. for “traditional”) text.

See also Canon; Masoretic Text.