Commentators:R. Avraham ibn Ezra/0

Ibn Ezra – Intellectual Profile

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Ibn Ezra

Name	R. Avraham ben Meir Ibn Ezra ר' אברהם בן מאיר אבן עזרא, ראב"ע
Dates	1092 – 1167
Location	Andalusia / Italy / Provence / France / England
Works	Commentaries on Torah and part of Nakh, math, science, and grammar works
Exegetical Characteristics
Influenced by	,R. Yonah ibn Janach, Yehudah Hayuj R. Saadia
Impacted on	All Major Jewish Bible commentaries  who came after him.

Background

Life

• Name – 
  • Hebrew name – 
  • _ name – 
• Dates – 1092-1167¹
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Works

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• Rabbinics – 
  • Talmudic novellae – 
  • Halakhic codes – 
  • Responses to the works of others – 
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• Jewish thought – 
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Torah Commentary

Characteristics

• Verse by verse / Topical – 
• Genre – 
• Structure –
• Peshat and derash –  Emphasis on Peshat. Rabbinic interpretations  are to be accepted  with regards to halakhic practice even in cases where they do not appear to  in keeping with the literal meaning of the text. Aggadic interpretations which are not in keeping with the literal meaning of the text do not have to be taken at face value.. Often employs philosophy, numerology and astrology to explain biblical  texts.

Methods

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Themes: God is incorporeal. Purpose of man is to know God obey His laws and cling to God.

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Textual Issues

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Sources

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• Foils – 

Occasional Usage

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Possible Relationship

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Impact

Later exegetes

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Supercommentaries

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¹ According to a statement found in several codices, Ibn Ezra (henceforth I.E.) died on a Monday, on the first day of 1 Adar  4927 (January 23, 1167) at the age of seventy-five.  If this date is accepted, then I.E. was born in 1092.  See M. Friedlander, ed. and trans., The Commentary of Ibn Ezra on Isaiah (London, 1873), p. Xxvii n. 54.  However, H. Graetz believes that I.E. was born between 1088 and 1089.  See H. Graetz, Divre Yeme Yisra'el, ed. and trans., S. P. Rabinowitz, Vol. 4, p. 212 (Warsaw, 1916).  Also see J.L.  Fleisher, Be-ezu Shanah Met Rabbenu Avraham ibn Ezra. pp. 5-16, in R. Avraham ibn Ezra, Kovetz Ma’amarim Al Toledatav Vi-Yetzirotav (Tzion. Tel Aviv, 1970).