The title page has the florets typical of Jabez publications. It informs that the begin­ning of the work was on 8 Tevet [5]325 (Tuesday, December 22, 1564). The text is in a single column in rabbinic type, excluding headings, which are in square letters. The title page is followed by an introduction from the author (la-3b) and then the text, which includes Mekhilta (4a-IOb), Torat Kohanim (Sfji-a, Ila-13b), Sifrei (13b-24a), Midrash Rabbah (2Ib-63b), M. Tanhuma (64b-72b), M. Shmu'el (73a-77b), M. Tillim (77a-85b), M. Mishlei (85b-87b), M. Ha;:,ita (87b-96b), M. Ruth (96b-100a), M. Esther (100a-103a), M. Eicha (103a-llOa), M. Kohelet (II Oa-116b), Yalkut me-ha- Torah (Bereshit, 116b-124a), Yalkut sha'ar ha-Torah (124b-143a), Kunteres Aharon (143a-144a), Yalkut Nevi'im (144a-163a), Yalkut sha'ar ha-Ketuvim (164b-173a), and Seder Kedusha (173b-18Ib). Yalkut Nevi'im also includes a sec­tion Yalkut Tillim. The volume concludes with errata, renumbered as 2a-b, and words in praise of the work from R. Solomon ben Isaac ha-Levi. In addition to the introduction to the book there are also brief introductory paragraphs to Mekhilta and Midrash Rabbah.

In the introduction to Ot Emet, R. Benveneste, who refers to himself as the corrector, begins by stating that one who does not read the introduction will not know the rules followed and therefore will not understand the annotations. He then gives his reasons for writing the book, that is, he has read midrashim over these many years, and noted mistakes and errors that have fallen into the text over time, as is well known. He has annotated accord­ing to his ability, searching every phrase where there is a difficult or questionable read­ing throughout all midrashim so that he might find that phrase, annotating it in its place. He has recorded those annotations so that whomever wishes may edit his copy of the Midrash to correct the words of our sages which have become distorted over time. The work is entitled Ot Emet (letter of truth) because it instructs as to the correct text. He has appended as a separate section Seder Kedusha to correct errors that have fallen into the printed editions of the prayer book, editing according to the Talmud, poskim, commenta­tors, and other prayer books.

R. Benveneste further informs that although he had originally composed a work in four parts, that is, textual revision, elucidation of difficult texts, indices of parallel texts in obscure passages, and linguistic and material interpretations of questionable sections, he has printed only the first three, the last omitted rather than subject himself to the sharp criticism that apparently was part of the active intellectual milleau in Jewish Constantinople.

Ot Emet was reprinted in Prague (1624) and a facsimile edition of this Salonika print­ing was published in Jerusalem (1970).

הגהות ומראי מקומות במדרשי חז"ל. מתוך ההקדמה: "ואלו המדרשים ... מכילתא וספרא וספרי ומדרש רבה ור' תנחומא ... ומדרש שמואל ותלים ומשלי וחמש מגילות (דפוס ויניציא [ש"ה-ש"ו]) וילקוט מהתורה עם הקונטריס האחרון שלו [שאלוניקי רפ"ו] וילקוט מנביאים וכתובים [שם רפ"א] ... במקומות שיש קושי ... אני מורה המקום ... בתלמוד בבלי ובירושלמי ובמדרש אחר ... ובמפרשים ... ובמדרש המכילתא ורבה וחמש מגילות ומדרש שמואל ומשלי אני כותב גם ההגהה שהגיה ... ר' יהודה גדליה נ"ר ... וביאור המלות ... וגם במכילתא וספרא וספרי אני מביא ... מפירוש א' קצר שנמצא בביתינו מכתיבת יד ואיני יודע ממי ... הוא". על פירושו של ר' יהודה גדליה למדרש רבות, עיין: מדרש רבה. דף קעג,ב-קפא: "סדר קדושה (הטעיות שנפלו בסדור התפלות מדפוס [ויניציאה ש"ט] והגהותיו על פי התלמוד והפוסקים והמפרשים זצ"ל וע"פ מקצת סדורים) ... ויש בו ג"כ קצת הגהות שהעתקתי מסדור א' של ... ר' שלמה אלקבץ". דף קפב,ב: "אמר שלמה בן ... ר' יצחק לבית הלוי", דברים בשבח הספר בצירוף שיר הפותח: עושו וחושו כל בני עיון. אוצר השירה והפיוט, ג, עמ' 260, מס' 295.