Difference between revisions of "Commentators:R. Avraham ibn Ezra/0"
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
m |
|||
| Line 51: | Line 51: | ||
<li><b>Location</b> –  Andalusia, Italy, France, Provence, England.<fn>Ibn Ezra's life can be divided into two main periods, until about 1140 in which he was centered in Andalusia, and from then until his death which he spent wandering through Christian lands (Italy, France and England).  In the first period his primary literary output was in the field of poetry, both secular and religious.  His Tanakh commentaries, grammatical and other works were written in the later period.<br/>Ibn Ezra's wanderings likely impacted his literayy output on many fronts.</fn></li> | <li><b>Location</b> –  Andalusia, Italy, France, Provence, England.<fn>Ibn Ezra's life can be divided into two main periods, until about 1140 in which he was centered in Andalusia, and from then until his death which he spent wandering through Christian lands (Italy, France and England).  In the first period his primary literary output was in the field of poetry, both secular and religious.  His Tanakh commentaries, grammatical and other works were written in the later period.<br/>Ibn Ezra's wanderings likely impacted his literayy output on many fronts.</fn></li> | ||
<li><b>Education</b> – Ibn Ezra was a polymath, engaging in many disciplines including Bible, Talmud,<fn>Ibn Ezra's commentary reveals a knowledge of Talmudic literature. According to Ezra-Tzion Melammed, Mefareshei HaMikra (Jerusalem, 1978): 678-694, Ibn Ezra refers to Rabbinic literature about 500 times.<br/>It should be noted that Rabbi Shelomo Luria did not consider Ibn Ezra to be a Talmudist. He charges that Ibn Ezra attributed Biblical laws to the Rabbis and Rabbinical laws to the Bible and claims that he permitted that which is forbidden and prohibited that which is permitted, concluding that his exegesis is not to be followed in matters of law. (Rabbi Shelomo Luria; Introduction to the Yam shel Shelomo).</fn> Midrash, grammar and philology, philosophy, mathematics, astronomy, astrology,<fn>For discussion of Ibn Ezra's attitude towards astrology and how it influenced his exegesis, see Y. Langermann, "Some Astrological Themes in the Thought of Ibn Ezra", in <i>Rabbi Abraham Ibn Ezra: Studies in the Writings of a Twelfth Century Polymath</i>, eds. I. Twersky and J. Harris (Massachusetts, 1993): 28-55 and ש. סלע, <i>אסטרולוגיה ופרשנות המקרא בהגותו של  אברהם אבן עזרא</i> (רמת גן, 1999).  Ibn Ezra believed that astrology is a true science and was not only a student of the discipline but also a practitioner of its arts. He authored a number of works dealing with astrology, some of which were translated into Latin, and he played a major role in spreading the science in his travels.</fn> and poetry.<fn>Many of Ibn Ezra's poems have been collected by D. Kahana in his book, רבי אברהם אבן עזרא: קובץ חכמת הראב״ע (ורשה, תרפ"ב). See also the <a href="https://benyehuda.org/author/20">Ben Yehuda Project </a>for a collection of his poems available online. In one of these, Ibn Ezra himself attests to his early poetic career, writing: "לפנים בנערים הבינותי שירים / בצואר העברים  נתתים לענקים" (ibid. p.22).  His poems are a source of much biographical information, speaking of his wanderings, poverty, and misfortunes. Thus, for instance, he humorously describes his threadbare cloak, "מעיל יש לי והוא כדמות כברה לחיטה להנפה או שעורה" (ibid, p. 11).  Elsewhere he laments his inability to make a living, "איגע להצליח ולא אוכל / כי עיותוני כוכבי שמי / לו אהיה סוחר בתכריכים / לא יגיעון אישם בכל ימי"  (ibid, p.10). One poem speaks of the illness which prompted his vow to expound upon the Torah ("ונדרתי לאל נדר י בחליי לבאר דת בהר סיני נתונה", ibid, p.70).<b><br/></b></fn></li> | <li><b>Education</b> – Ibn Ezra was a polymath, engaging in many disciplines including Bible, Talmud,<fn>Ibn Ezra's commentary reveals a knowledge of Talmudic literature. According to Ezra-Tzion Melammed, Mefareshei HaMikra (Jerusalem, 1978): 678-694, Ibn Ezra refers to Rabbinic literature about 500 times.<br/>It should be noted that Rabbi Shelomo Luria did not consider Ibn Ezra to be a Talmudist. He charges that Ibn Ezra attributed Biblical laws to the Rabbis and Rabbinical laws to the Bible and claims that he permitted that which is forbidden and prohibited that which is permitted, concluding that his exegesis is not to be followed in matters of law. (Rabbi Shelomo Luria; Introduction to the Yam shel Shelomo).</fn> Midrash, grammar and philology, philosophy, mathematics, astronomy, astrology,<fn>For discussion of Ibn Ezra's attitude towards astrology and how it influenced his exegesis, see Y. Langermann, "Some Astrological Themes in the Thought of Ibn Ezra", in <i>Rabbi Abraham Ibn Ezra: Studies in the Writings of a Twelfth Century Polymath</i>, eds. I. Twersky and J. Harris (Massachusetts, 1993): 28-55 and ש. סלע, <i>אסטרולוגיה ופרשנות המקרא בהגותו של  אברהם אבן עזרא</i> (רמת גן, 1999).  Ibn Ezra believed that astrology is a true science and was not only a student of the discipline but also a practitioner of its arts. He authored a number of works dealing with astrology, some of which were translated into Latin, and he played a major role in spreading the science in his travels.</fn> and poetry.<fn>Many of Ibn Ezra's poems have been collected by D. Kahana in his book, רבי אברהם אבן עזרא: קובץ חכמת הראב״ע (ורשה, תרפ"ב). See also the <a href="https://benyehuda.org/author/20">Ben Yehuda Project </a>for a collection of his poems available online. In one of these, Ibn Ezra himself attests to his early poetic career, writing: "לפנים בנערים הבינותי שירים / בצואר העברים  נתתים לענקים" (ibid. p.22).  His poems are a source of much biographical information, speaking of his wanderings, poverty, and misfortunes. Thus, for instance, he humorously describes his threadbare cloak, "מעיל יש לי והוא כדמות כברה לחיטה להנפה או שעורה" (ibid, p. 11).  Elsewhere he laments his inability to make a living, "איגע להצליח ולא אוכל / כי עיותוני כוכבי שמי / לו אהיה סוחר בתכריכים / לא יגיעון אישם בכל ימי"  (ibid, p.10). One poem speaks of the illness which prompted his vow to expound upon the Torah ("ונדרתי לאל נדר י בחליי לבאר דת בהר סיני נתונה", ibid, p.70).<b><br/></b></fn></li> | ||
| − | <li><b>Occupation</b> – Poet, teacher, and Bible commentator</li> | + | <li><b>Occupation</b> – Poet, teacher,<fn>During his wanderings it seems that Ibn Ezra supported himself by tutoring and writing commentaries for his various wealthy patrons. In the introduction to his commentary on Eikhah, he writes:"ואני אברהם ב״ר מאיר מארץ מרחקים / הוצאתני מארץ ספרד חמת המציקים / וספרי אלהי בגלותי היו בידי מחוקקים".</fn> and Bible commentator</li> |
<li><b>Family</b> – Not much is known of Ibn Ezra's family. It is possible that he sired five children,<fn>See his Second Commentary to Shemot 2:2 where, in discussing how to determine dates of birth, he writes, "I myself have tried it five times", perhaps implying that at the time of the writing, he had five children. [It is possible, however, that he is not speaking of his own family at all, but how he attempted to determine the dates of birth of other children.]</fn> but only one is known by name,  Yitzchak, who was a poet of note.<fn>Yitzchak is reported to have converted to Islam while in Babylonia. See Chapter 3 of Al-Charizi's ספר תחכמוני where he writes, "וְיִצְחָק בְּנוֹ גָּם הוּא מִמְּקוֹר הַשִׁיר שָׁאָב. וְעַל שִירֵי הַבֵּן מִזִּיו הָאָב. אַךְ בְּבוֹאוֹ לְאַרְצוֹת מִזְרַח. כְּבוֹד ה' עָלָיו לֹא זָרָח. וְהֵסִיר מֵעָלָיו מְעִילֵי הַדָּת הַיְקָרִים. וּפָשַׁט אֶת בְּגָדָיו וְלָבַשׁ בְּגָדִים אֲחֵרִים.".  In a poem, "יריבוני עלי עזבי ברית אל" attributed to Yitzchak (though not all agree that he is fact the author), he confesses to his conversion, but claims that it was but an outward show, closing with a plea for forgiveness, "כבר שבתי לצל כנפי שכינה / אבקש ממך הא-ל מחילה".  See, though, J. L. Fleisher, "Eleh Toledot Yitzhak ben Avraham" Apiryon 5:1 and D. Kahana, Rabbi Avraham ibn Ezra Vol. 2 (Warsaw, 1922):78-81 who dispute the allegations of conversion. According to Kahana, Yitzchak’s patron converted to Islam and the apostasy was mistakenly attributed to Yitzchak.</fn> It is possible that he predeceased his father.<fn>See Ibn Ezra's heartrending poem, "<a href="https://benyehuda.org/read/6149">אבי הבן</a>" where he speaks of the death of his son: "אֲבִי הַבֵּן קְרַב לִסְפֹּד, כִּי אֵל מִמְּךָ רִחַק  / אֶת-בִּנְךָ אֶת-יְחִידְךָ אֲשֶׁר אָהַבְתָּ, אֶת יִצְחָק... אַךְ לָרִיק יָגַעְתִּי וְיָלַדְתִּי לַבֶּהָלָה / כִּי-אֵיךְ יִשְׂמַח לִבִּי – וַיִּגְוַע וַיָּמָת יִצְחָק".  Some, however, have suggested that the poem is not a lament over Yitzchak's death, but over his apostasy (see the previous note).</fn> </li> | <li><b>Family</b> – Not much is known of Ibn Ezra's family. It is possible that he sired five children,<fn>See his Second Commentary to Shemot 2:2 where, in discussing how to determine dates of birth, he writes, "I myself have tried it five times", perhaps implying that at the time of the writing, he had five children. [It is possible, however, that he is not speaking of his own family at all, but how he attempted to determine the dates of birth of other children.]</fn> but only one is known by name,  Yitzchak, who was a poet of note.<fn>Yitzchak is reported to have converted to Islam while in Babylonia. See Chapter 3 of Al-Charizi's ספר תחכמוני where he writes, "וְיִצְחָק בְּנוֹ גָּם הוּא מִמְּקוֹר הַשִׁיר שָׁאָב. וְעַל שִירֵי הַבֵּן מִזִּיו הָאָב. אַךְ בְּבוֹאוֹ לְאַרְצוֹת מִזְרַח. כְּבוֹד ה' עָלָיו לֹא זָרָח. וְהֵסִיר מֵעָלָיו מְעִילֵי הַדָּת הַיְקָרִים. וּפָשַׁט אֶת בְּגָדָיו וְלָבַשׁ בְּגָדִים אֲחֵרִים.".  In a poem, "יריבוני עלי עזבי ברית אל" attributed to Yitzchak (though not all agree that he is fact the author), he confesses to his conversion, but claims that it was but an outward show, closing with a plea for forgiveness, "כבר שבתי לצל כנפי שכינה / אבקש ממך הא-ל מחילה".  See, though, J. L. Fleisher, "Eleh Toledot Yitzhak ben Avraham" Apiryon 5:1 and D. Kahana, Rabbi Avraham ibn Ezra Vol. 2 (Warsaw, 1922):78-81 who dispute the allegations of conversion. According to Kahana, Yitzchak’s patron converted to Islam and the apostasy was mistakenly attributed to Yitzchak.</fn> It is possible that he predeceased his father.<fn>See Ibn Ezra's heartrending poem, "<a href="https://benyehuda.org/read/6149">אבי הבן</a>" where he speaks of the death of his son: "אֲבִי הַבֵּן קְרַב לִסְפֹּד, כִּי אֵל מִמְּךָ רִחַק  / אֶת-בִּנְךָ אֶת-יְחִידְךָ אֲשֶׁר אָהַבְתָּ, אֶת יִצְחָק... אַךְ לָרִיק יָגַעְתִּי וְיָלַדְתִּי לַבֶּהָלָה / כִּי-אֵיךְ יִשְׂמַח לִבִּי – וַיִּגְוַע וַיָּמָת יִצְחָק".  Some, however, have suggested that the poem is not a lament over Yitzchak's death, but over his apostasy (see the previous note).</fn> </li> | ||
<li><b>Teachers</b> – </li> | <li><b>Teachers</b> – </li> | ||
<li><b>Contemporaries</b> – R. Yehuda Ha-Levi,<fn>Ibn Ezra was on close terms with Rabbi Yehuda HaLevi. In his Biblical commentary, he cites him over 20 times. Various traditions even suggest that there were family ties between the two. Some claim that Ibn Ezra's son Isaac was married to Yehuda HaLevi's daughter.  [See שלמה ד. גויטיין, "רבנו יהודה הלוי לאור כתבי הגניזה", תרביץ כ"ד (תשט"ו - 1955): 141-143]. Others claim that Ibn Ezra and Rabbi Yehuda HaLevi were cousins, while yet others suggest that Ibn Ezra married R. Yehuda HaLevi's daughter [See, for example, Abarbanel on Shemot 2:2, where he refers to Yehuda HaLevy as Ibn Ezra's "חותן". See also the discussion of E. Fleischer and M. Gil in their book יהודה הלוי ובני חוגו (ירושלים, 2001)]. However, there are no contemporary records that substantiate these traditions. Shelomo Pirchon (מחברת הערוך ד:ב) attests to Ibn Ezra's accompanying R. Yehuda HaLevy to Africa and a letter from the Cairo Geniza reveals that Ibn Ezra’s son, Yitzchak, accompanied Rabbi Yehuda HaLevi on his journey to Egypt [See ש. ד. גויטיין, "הפרשה האחרונה בחיי רבנו יהודה הלוי", תרביץ כד (תשט"ו): 27.]  The two were on such intimate terms that after R. Yehuda HaLevi's death, Ibn Ezra wrote a poem in his honor, imagining the great poet inviting him to join him in the next word.</fn> Rabbi Moshe ibn Ezra,<fn>Rabbi Moses ibn Ezra (c. 1055- c.1135) was a prominent poet from a powerful family with connections to the court of Granada. He was brought up in wealth and culture. Rabbi Moses composed both secular and liturgical poetry. He and Rabbi Abraham ibn Ezra were not related.</fn> Rabbi Joseph ibn Tzadik,<fn>Rabbi Joseph ibn Tzadik was a dayyan (religious judge), philosopher and poet. His work Olam Katan (The Microcosm) was praised by Maimonides and is alluded to in Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch.</fn> Rashbam, R. Tam.<fn>Rabbi Jacob ben Meir Tam (1100 -1171) was a grandson of Rashi, a tosafist, and and one of the leading Talmudic authorities of his age. Ibn Ezra made the acquaintance of R. Tam in his journeys from southern to northern France. The two broke bread and Rabbenu Tam later paid homage to Ibn Ezra in a poem: "I am Abraham’s acquired servant / I bow and prostrate myself before him." Ibn Ezra responded:  "Is it right for the shepherd and knight of God’s people to lower his head in a letter to a despised man / Far be it for the angel of God to bow before Baalam."</fn></li> | <li><b>Contemporaries</b> – R. Yehuda Ha-Levi,<fn>Ibn Ezra was on close terms with Rabbi Yehuda HaLevi. In his Biblical commentary, he cites him over 20 times. Various traditions even suggest that there were family ties between the two. Some claim that Ibn Ezra's son Isaac was married to Yehuda HaLevi's daughter.  [See שלמה ד. גויטיין, "רבנו יהודה הלוי לאור כתבי הגניזה", תרביץ כ"ד (תשט"ו - 1955): 141-143]. Others claim that Ibn Ezra and Rabbi Yehuda HaLevi were cousins, while yet others suggest that Ibn Ezra married R. Yehuda HaLevi's daughter [See, for example, Abarbanel on Shemot 2:2, where he refers to Yehuda HaLevy as Ibn Ezra's "חותן". See also the discussion of E. Fleischer and M. Gil in their book יהודה הלוי ובני חוגו (ירושלים, 2001)]. However, there are no contemporary records that substantiate these traditions. Shelomo Pirchon (מחברת הערוך ד:ב) attests to Ibn Ezra's accompanying R. Yehuda HaLevy to Africa and a letter from the Cairo Geniza reveals that Ibn Ezra’s son, Yitzchak, accompanied Rabbi Yehuda HaLevi on his journey to Egypt [See ש. ד. גויטיין, "הפרשה האחרונה בחיי רבנו יהודה הלוי", תרביץ כד (תשט"ו): 27.]  The two were on such intimate terms that after R. Yehuda HaLevi's death, Ibn Ezra wrote a poem in his honor, imagining the great poet inviting him to join him in the next word.</fn> Rabbi Moshe ibn Ezra,<fn>Rabbi Moses ibn Ezra (c. 1055- c.1135) was a prominent poet from a powerful family with connections to the court of Granada. He was brought up in wealth and culture. Rabbi Moses composed both secular and liturgical poetry. He and Rabbi Abraham ibn Ezra were not related.</fn> Rabbi Joseph ibn Tzadik,<fn>Rabbi Joseph ibn Tzadik was a dayyan (religious judge), philosopher and poet. His work Olam Katan (The Microcosm) was praised by Maimonides and is alluded to in Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch.</fn> Rashbam, R. Tam.<fn>Rabbi Jacob ben Meir Tam (1100 -1171) was a grandson of Rashi, a tosafist, and and one of the leading Talmudic authorities of his age. Ibn Ezra made the acquaintance of R. Tam in his journeys from southern to northern France. The two broke bread and Rabbenu Tam later paid homage to Ibn Ezra in a poem: "I am Abraham’s acquired servant / I bow and prostrate myself before him." Ibn Ezra responded:  "Is it right for the shepherd and knight of God’s people to lower his head in a letter to a despised man / Far be it for the angel of God to bow before Baalam."</fn></li> | ||
<li><b>Students</b> – </li> | <li><b>Students</b> – </li> | ||
| − | <li><b>Time period</b> – Ibn Ezra lived during the Almohad's invasion of Moslem Spain | + | <li><b>Time period</b> – Ibn Ezra lived during the Almohad's invasion of Moslem Spain and their forced conversions of Jews to Islam on pain of death. This likely contributed to Ibn Ezra's leaving of Spain and his subsequent wanderings.<fn>See his introduction to Kohelet where he speaks of leaving Spain in haste and fear, "ומארצו נפרד, אשר היא בספרד, ואל רומי ירד, כנפש נבהלת."  The sentiment is echoed in his introduction to Eikhah, where he similarly speaks of being forced to leave due to oppressors "ואני אברהם ב״ר מאיר מארץ מרחקים / הוצאתני מארץ ספרד חמת המציקים".</fn> He wrote an elegy lamenting the destruction of the Jewish communities in Spain in the aftermath of the invasion.<fn>M. Cohen, in his work, <i>Under Crescent and Cross (</i>New Jersey, 1994): 183, notes the uniqueness of the elegy, being the only “clear cut example of a poetical Jewish reaction to an outbreak of Islamic persecution.”  It reads, in part, "אֲהָהּ יָרַד עֲלֵי סְפָרַד רַע מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם / וְסֶפֶד רַב עֲלֵי מַעֲרָב לְזֹאת רָפוּ יָדַיִם / עֵינִי עֵינִי יֹרְדָה מַּיִם / בְּכוֹת עֵינַי בְּמַעְיָנַי עַל עִיר אַלְיוֹסְנָהּ / בְּאֵין אָשָׁם לְבָדָד שָׂם הַגּוֹלָה שָׁכְנָה / בְּאֵין סַלֵּף עֲדֵי אֶלֶף שְׁנַיִם וְשִׁבְעִים שָׁנָה / וּבָא יוֹמָהּ וְנָד עִמָּהּ וְגַם הָיְתָה כְּאַלְמָנָה / בְּאֵין תּוֹרָה וְאֵין מִקְרָא וְהַמִּשְׁנָה נִטְמְנָה". See <a href="https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%90%D7%94%D7%94_%D7%99%D7%A8%D7%93_%D7%A2%D7%9C%D7%99_%D7%A1%D7%A4%D7%A8%D7%93#%D7%A7%D7%99%D7%A0%D7%AA_%D7%94%D7%90%D7%91%D7%9F_%D7%A2%D7%96%D7%A8%D7%90">here</a> for the full text.</fn>  In addition, the first (1095) and second crusades.(1150) took place during his lifetime.</li> |
</ul> | </ul> | ||
</subcategory> | </subcategory> | ||
| Line 80: | Line 80: | ||
<li>""I will not make mention of the reasons offered by the masoretes as why certain words are spelled full and at other times defectively because all their reasons are of a Midrashic nature...<br/><br/></li> | <li>""I will not make mention of the reasons offered by the masoretes as why certain words are spelled full and at other times defectively because all their reasons are of a Midrashic nature...<br/><br/></li> | ||
<li>"If it were not for the men of the Mishnah and Talmud, the Torah of our God and its very memory would have  everything perished. For these scholars properly analyzed everything in the Torah, They explained and clarified the precepts and statutes of the Torah for us in accordance with their tradition. At times they find clear evidence for their traditions in the Torah, At other times, they find mere supports for their traditions. One who is intelligent can discern when the sages understand a text literally and when they do midrashically. For all their interpretations do not follow one course "  (Yesod Mora 6. The Sectet of the Torah; A translation of Abraham ibn Ezra's Yesod Mora; 1995 by H. Norman Strickman p. 84).</li> | <li>"If it were not for the men of the Mishnah and Talmud, the Torah of our God and its very memory would have  everything perished. For these scholars properly analyzed everything in the Torah, They explained and clarified the precepts and statutes of the Torah for us in accordance with their tradition. At times they find clear evidence for their traditions in the Torah, At other times, they find mere supports for their traditions. One who is intelligent can discern when the sages understand a text literally and when they do midrashically. For all their interpretations do not follow one course "  (Yesod Mora 6. The Sectet of the Torah; A translation of Abraham ibn Ezra's Yesod Mora; 1995 by H. Norman Strickman p. 84).</li> | ||
| − | </ul> | + | </ul><ul> |
| − | <ul> | ||
<li>Aggadic interpretations which are not in keeping with the literal meaning of the text do not have to be taken at face value. Thus Ibn Ezra notes that the Rabbinic statement that “Noah drank from his vineyard on the day he planted it” is not to be taken literally.  Neither is the Rabbinic statement that  that God showed Moses the knot of the tefillin to be taken according to its plain meaning. "These words (of the sages) are correct. However, its meaning is not in accordance with that of the wise men of this generation who interpret the Rabbinic statement literally. On the contrary, this has a deeply hidden secret meaning."  </li> | <li>Aggadic interpretations which are not in keeping with the literal meaning of the text do not have to be taken at face value. Thus Ibn Ezra notes that the Rabbinic statement that “Noah drank from his vineyard on the day he planted it” is not to be taken literally.  Neither is the Rabbinic statement that  that God showed Moses the knot of the tefillin to be taken according to its plain meaning. "These words (of the sages) are correct. However, its meaning is not in accordance with that of the wise men of this generation who interpret the Rabbinic statement literally. On the contrary, this has a deeply hidden secret meaning."  </li> | ||
<li>Ibn Ezra employs grammar, astrology, philosophy,<fn>See Ibn Ezra's comment on Gen. 18:21 and Ps. 1:6. </fn> and numerology 21<fn>See Ibn Ezra on Ex. 3:15.</fn>   to explain biblical texts.</li> | <li>Ibn Ezra employs grammar, astrology, philosophy,<fn>See Ibn Ezra's comment on Gen. 18:21 and Ps. 1:6. </fn> and numerology 21<fn>See Ibn Ezra on Ex. 3:15.</fn>   to explain biblical texts.</li> | ||
| Line 99: | Line 98: | ||
<li>The perfect is at times to be observed as a pluperfect. See I.E. on Gen. 2:8.</li> | <li>The perfect is at times to be observed as a pluperfect. See I.E. on Gen. 2:8.</li> | ||
</ul> | </ul> | ||
| − | </ul> | + | </ul><ul> |
| − | <ul> | ||
<li><b><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Astrology:</span></b> </li> | <li><b><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Astrology:</span></b> </li> | ||
<ul> | <ul> | ||
| Line 155: | Line 153: | ||
<li>R. Solomon ibn Gabirol.(1020-1070 C.E.)</li> | <li>R. Solomon ibn Gabirol.(1020-1070 C.E.)</li> | ||
<li>Grammarians - R. Judah ibn Chayyu( c. 950-1000), R. Jonah ibn Janach (c. 920-c 970); R Menahchem ben Saruk (c. 910- c. 970 C.E.); Dunash ben Labrat (920-990 C.E.)</li> | <li>Grammarians - R. Judah ibn Chayyu( c. 950-1000), R. Jonah ibn Janach (c. 920-c 970); R Menahchem ben Saruk (c. 910- c. 970 C.E.); Dunash ben Labrat (920-990 C.E.)</li> | ||
| − | <li></li> | + | <li> –</li> |
</ul> | </ul> | ||
<li><b>Teachers</b> – </li> | <li><b>Teachers</b> – </li> | ||
Version as of 10:56, 2 May 2021
Ibn Ezra – Intellectual Profile
This page is a stub.
Please contact us if you would like to assist in its development.
Please contact us if you would like to assist in its development.
| 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. Saadia Gaon, R. Yonah ibn Janach, R. Yehudah Hayuj |
| Impacted on | Most Jewish Bible commentators. His though great impact on Chasidei Ashkenzaz |
Background
Life
- Name – Avraham ben Meir ibn Ezra1
- Dates – 1092-11672
- Location – Andalusia, Italy, France, Provence, England.3
- Education – Ibn Ezra was a polymath, engaging in many disciplines including Bible, Talmud,4 Midrash, grammar and philology, philosophy, mathematics, astronomy, astrology,5 and poetry.6
- Occupation – Poet, teacher,7 and Bible commentator
- Family – Not much is known of Ibn Ezra's family. It is possible that he sired five children,8 but only one is known by name, Yitzchak, who was a poet of note.9 It is possible that he predeceased his father.10
- Teachers –
- Contemporaries – R. Yehuda Ha-Levi,11 Rabbi Moshe ibn Ezra,12 Rabbi Joseph ibn Tzadik,13 Rashbam, R. Tam.14
- Students –
- Time period – Ibn Ezra lived during the Almohad's invasion of Moslem Spain and their forced conversions of Jews to Islam on pain of death. This likely contributed to Ibn Ezra's leaving of Spain and his subsequent wanderings.15 He wrote an elegy lamenting the destruction of the Jewish communities in Spain in the aftermath of the invasion.16 In addition, the first (1095) and second crusades.(1150) took place during his lifetime.
Works
- Biblical commentaries – Ibn Ezra wrote a commentary on all five books of the Torah,17 Yeshayahu,18 Trei Asar, Tehillim,19 Iyyov, the 5 Megillot,20 and Daniel. The commentaries on Mishlei and Ezra-Nechemiah attributed to Ibn Ezra were likely authored by Moshe Kimchi.21
- Grammar – Ibn Ezra wrote several grammatical works including: 22ספר מאזנים, ספר צחות23, שפת יתר,24 שפה ברורה25, and יסוד דקדוק26.
- Astronomy – Ibn Ezra wrote many astrological works including: Reshit Hokhmah,27 Safer Ha-Te’ammim,28 Keli Nechoshet,29 Ta’ame Luhot Al-Ku’arizmi, 30 Sefer Ha-Ibbur, Response to Three Questions of Rabbi David Narboni, and Sefer Ha-Me’orot31
- Rabbinics – Ibn Ezra did not compose Talmudic novellae or Halakhic codes.
- Philosophy / Jewish thought – Ibn Ezra's philosophical views can be found scattered throughout his Torah commentaries, but he also wrote several works which heavily focused on such issues. His work, יסוד מורא וסוד התורה, discusses the rationale behind Biblical commandments.32 His ערוגת המזימה פרדס החכמה deals with the existence of God, while ספר השם, as its name suggests, discusses the names of God.
Torah Commentary
Characteristics
- Verse by verse / Topical – Ibn Ezra's commentary is generally a local, verse by verse commentary, marked by brevity and an empahisis on grammar and linguistic issues. However, there are many exceptions where Ibn Ezra includes lengthy discussions of philosophical and other issues including God's name,33 the Priestly Garments, Ten Commandments, Golden Calf, and Moses' request to see the face of God. The essays are occasionally introduced with the words "Avraham the Author says", or "the Words of Avraham".
- Peshat and derash – Ibn Ezra distinguishes between the authority he grants the interpretations of the Sages in legal and narrative material, finding their words binding with regards to the former34 but not the latter.
- Emphasis on Peshat.35
- In his introduction to his commentary on the Torah,Ibn Ezra writes:
- ""I will not make mention of the reasons offered by the masoretes as why certain words are spelled full and at other times defectively because all their reasons are of a Midrashic nature...
- "If it were not for the men of the Mishnah and Talmud, the Torah of our God and its very memory would have everything perished. For these scholars properly analyzed everything in the Torah, They explained and clarified the precepts and statutes of the Torah for us in accordance with their tradition. At times they find clear evidence for their traditions in the Torah, At other times, they find mere supports for their traditions. One who is intelligent can discern when the sages understand a text literally and when they do midrashically. For all their interpretations do not follow one course " (Yesod Mora 6. The Sectet of the Torah; A translation of Abraham ibn Ezra's Yesod Mora; 1995 by H. Norman Strickman p. 84).
- Aggadic interpretations which are not in keeping with the literal meaning of the text do not have to be taken at face value. Thus Ibn Ezra notes that the Rabbinic statement that “Noah drank from his vineyard on the day he planted it” is not to be taken literally. Neither is the Rabbinic statement that that God showed Moses the knot of the tefillin to be taken according to its plain meaning. "These words (of the sages) are correct. However, its meaning is not in accordance with that of the wise men of this generation who interpret the Rabbinic statement literally. On the contrary, this has a deeply hidden secret meaning."
- Ibn Ezra employs grammar, astrology, philosophy,36 and numerology 2137 to explain biblical texts.
- Grammar - In his intropduction ot his commenatry, Ibn Ezra notes that he will employ grammar "ובעבותות הדקדוק נקשר".
- Scripture uses abridged phrases and sentences. See I.E. on Gen. 2:9; Gen. 6:13.
- Scripture often omits prepositions. The omitted preposition is to be supplied by the reader. See I.E. on Ex. 20:11.
- Scripture at times employs an adjective but leaves out the noun which it qualifies. See I.E. on Ecc. 10:1.
- At times Scripture omits the subject or object in a verse because it is implied by the verb used. See I.E. on Gen. 25:25; 48:1; 50:26.
- The vav is not always to be translated as "and". At times it is not to be translated. See I.E. on Gen. 1:2.
- When a verb in the singular governs a noun, the verb refers to each one of the plural. See I.E. on Gen. 49:22; Ecc.10:1.
- Scripture employs superfluous letters. See I.E. 1:5.
- Scripture at times employs the imperfect with the meaning of a perfect. See I.E. on Ex. 15:1.
- Scripture at times employs the perfect with the meaning of an imperfect. See I.E. on Gen. 23::13.
- The perfect is at times to be observed as a pluperfect. See I.E. on Gen. 2:8.
- Astrology:
- "One who knows the ways of the spheres knows the mind of the Most High. ."38
- "It is because of the changes in the arrangement of the seven planets that what comes into being today is made known by one day to the next day; this day to the next day, and one generation to the next generation. This goes on forever, for there is something new each day. (Ps. 19:3)."
- "The writing of the heavens (the arrangement of the planets and stars) is read in all places. Intelligent people all over the world understand it." (Ps.19:5)
- "The book of the living (Ps. 69:29) refers to the heavens. All the decrees that are destined to come are there written. They were there inscribed on the day that they were created." (Ibid.)
- "It has been empirically established that each and every nation has a specific star and constellation." (Deut. 4:19).
- "God raised Israel to a very high level in that God, and not any star, is Israel's guide. Israel is thus God's portion."
(Deut. 4:19).
Methods
- Ibn Ezra noted that Hebrew and Arabic sister languages and he occasionally uses Arabic to explain Hebrew words.
Themes
- Philosophy –
-
- God – God is incorporeal, God is the All. Purpose of man is to know God, obey His laws, and cling to God.
- The Precepts: According to Ibn Ezra’s calculations, there are only about sixty mitzvot in the Torah, though he believed that each one has infinite implications.39
- "Every precept, be it minor or major, must be weighed in the scale of one's heart wherein the Eternal has implanted some of His wisdom. Thus if there appears something in the Torah that is intellectually impossible to accept or contrary to the evidence of our senses then we must search for a hidden meaning. This is so because intelligence is the basis of the Torah. The Torah was not given to ignoramuses. Man's intelligence is the angel which mediates between him and his God. (Ibn Ezra Introduction to Commentary on the Torah).
- Ibn Ezra distinguished among three types of mitzvot.
- Rational laws. Ibn Ezra refers to these as pikkudim (deposits) because God deposited them in the mind, and they were known via human reasoning even before the Torah was given.40 These include civil laws and injunctions against incest, adultery and the like.41
- Symbolic precepts. This category includes commandments that serve as reminders of the rational laws or of precepts that all Israelites, both men and women, are obligated to be conscious of at all times. The Sabbath, which recalls creation, is an example.42
- Esoteric commandments. This group inlcudes commandments that possess a purpose that only a few can fathom. An individual is obligated to observe these commandments even if he does not understand their purpose or function.43
- God – God is incorporeal, God is the All. Purpose of man is to know God, obey His laws, and cling to God.
- Defense of Rabbinic Judaism against attacks by Karaites and others.
Textual Issues
- Manuscripts –
- Printings –
- Textual layers –
Sources
Significant Influences
- Earlier Sources –
- R. Saadiah Gaon (892-942 C.E.)
- R. Moshe, Ha-Kohen ibn Giqatilah(11th century)
- R. Solomon ibn Gabirol.(1020-1070 C.E.)
- Grammarians - R. Judah ibn Chayyu( c. 950-1000), R. Jonah ibn Janach (c. 920-c 970); R Menahchem ben Saruk (c. 910- c. 970 C.E.); Dunash ben Labrat (920-990 C.E.)
- –
- Teachers –
- Foils – Post Talmudic Midrashic commentaries on Scripture . He writes: [The midrashic method] " was adopted by the scholars in the land of the Greeks and Romans,They do not rely on grammar but rather on Midrashic exegesis... Since the the interpretations quoted in these works are already found in the books of the ancients, why do these later interpreters tire us by writing them again....Anyone with a little bit of intelligence and certainly one who has knowledge of the Torah can create his own Midrashim. The Midrashic interpretations are like clothes to the naked body. Concerning such interpretations our sages of blessed memory said, a verse never loses its literal meaning." (Ibn Ezra's Commentary on the Pentateuch; translated and annotated by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur Silver; N.Y. 1988. pp.11;13.).
- Karaitic Commentaries.
- Ibn Ezra concludes his introduction to his commentary on the Pentateuch as follows: "Heaven forbid that we should join the Sadducees who claim that the traditions of the Rabbinic sages contradict the literal meaning of Scripture and the rules of grammar. The fact of the natter is that our ancient sages are true and all their words are true. (Ibn Ezra's Commentary on the Pentaeuch;Translated and Annotated by H. Norman Strickman & Arthur Silver; New York 1988, 17-19).
- Christian Commentaries.
- The third approach (approach to Biblical interpretation) is the way of darkness and gloom.... This is the approach of those who invent secret explanations for everything in Scripture (Christian Theologians). They believe that the laws and statutes of the Torah are riddles. I will not expend much time answering them for, they are a people who do err in their heart (Ps. 95:10).... we must interpret literally, take as it is written and believe everything in the Torah which does not contradict reason. We should not grope walls as the blind do... Why should we turn what is evident into mysteries?
- Isaiah 7:14 :Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign: behold, the young woman shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
- "It is to me a matter of surprise that there are those who say the prophet here refers to their god. This can not be so, for the sign was given to [King] Ahaz, and the man they consider god was born many years afterwards. Furthermore , the prophet says 'Yea, before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land [Syria and Ephraim, whose two kings thou hast a horror of], shall be forsaken.' Now Syria and Ephraim were wasted in the sixth year of King Hezekiah" thus the prophecy refers to the 8th cent. B.C.E. and not to the first century B.C.E.
- And The Lord Appeared: "Behold, a few say that God is three men. He is one and he is three and they are inseparable They forget that Scripture expressly states and the two angels came to Sodom at even ( Gen. 19:1)." The latter clearly shows that the three are separable and can not refer to God who is one.
Occasional Usage
- –
Possible Relationship.
- According to Ezra Fleischer, evidence from the Cairo Geneza reveals that Ibn Ezra's son Isaac, married Judah Ha-Levi's daughter.44 However, it should be noted that in all his references to Judah Ha-levi in his commentaries, Ibn Ezra never refers to Judah Ha-Levi as his father in law.
Impact
Later exegetes45
- Rabbi Yehudah He-Chasid46
- Rabbi David Kimchi (1160-1235)
- Rabbi Moshe ben Nachman (1195-1270)
- Rabbi Levi ben Gershon (1288-1344).
- Rabbi Don Yitzchak Abravanel (1437-1508).
- Maimonides - The many parallels between the teachings of Ibn Ezra and those of Maimonides (1138–1204) have led some to suggest that the works of Ibn Ezra influenced Maimonides.47 Ibn Ezra also impacted on the Chasidei Ashkenaz.48
Supercommentaries
- Filwarg, Yonah. Benei Reshef. Petrogrd , 19:00
- Krinsky, Yehudah Leib. Mechokeke Yehudah, New York 1975.
- Lipshitz, Avraham.Pirush R. Avraham ibn Ezra Al Hoshe'a., New York, 1988.
- Netter, Shelomo Zalmen. Pirush al Ibn Ezra (in Horeb editions of Mikra'ot Gedolot. New York Berlin, 1928)
- Meijler, Yitzchak. Ezrah Le-Havin, Saint Petersburg. 1902.
- Shemual ibn Motot. Megillat Setarim in Margaliot Tuva.Jerusalem, 1973
- <address>Simon, Uriel. Shenei Pirushei R. Avraham ibn Ezra Le-Terei Asor; Kerech Alef, Hoshe'a ,Yo'el, Amos. Israel, 1989.</address>
- <address>Sheinfeld, Nechemiah. Da'at Ezra. Mosad Ha-Rav Kook. Jerusalem, 2010.</address>
- <address>Sherim, Yitzchak. Be'er Yitzchak. Israel, 5789.</address>
- <address>Yosef Ben Eliezer Tov-Elem Ohel Yosef in Margaliot Tuva.Jerusalem, 1973.</address>
