R. Shemuel b. Chofni Gaon – Intellectual Profile

R. Shemuel b. Chofni Gaon
Name	R. Shemuel b. Chofni Gaon ר' שמואל בן חפני גאון (הכהן), רשבח"ג
Dates	9??-1013
Location	Baghdad
Works	Commentary and translation on Torah, Halakhic works
Exegetical Characteristics	Rationalist
Influenced by	R. Saadia
Impacted on

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Name – R. Samuel b. Ḥofni Gaon
- Hebrew name – ר' שמואל בן חפני גאון
Dates – 930/940s¹ - 1013²
Location – Baghdad³
Education – He was educated in the yeshiva of Sura which he would later head.⁴
Occupation – Av Beit Din and Gaon of Yeshivat Sura
Family – Hofni, Shmuel's father, was the Av Beit Din of the Yeshiva of Sura, which was headed by the Gaon, Shemuel's uncle, Nehemiah. Shmuel had (at least) one son named Israel and two daughters,⁵ one of whom was married to R. Hai Gaon, son of R. Sherira Gaon.⁶
Contemporaries – R. Sherira ben Hananiah
Time period – Some sources indicate that R. Shemuel was among the last Geonim (head of the Yeshiva) of Sura. However, it is known that after his death, the Yeshiva was headed by Dosa son of R. Saadia Gaon, and after that, by R. Shmuel ben Hofni's son Israel.⁷
World outlook – R. Shemuel ben Hofni was likely the most prolific author of the Geonim, having written at least 60 books, and he was also among their most intellectually daring. In several passages, he demonstrates that he is aware of this individualistic worldview and willingness to deviate from the accepted opinions of his predecessors, although he is also willing to admit when he makes a mistake.⁸

Biblical commentaries – Bereshit (2nd half), Bemidbar, Devarim
Rabbinics:
- Talmudic novellae – Commentaries on Bavli Shabbat, Yevamot, Ketubot, and Introduction to the Study of Mishnah and Talmud
- Halakhic codes – many treatises on various subjects
- Responsa – several found in collections of Geonic responsa

The verses are examined for any textual anomalies, and these anomalies are explained from a rationalist point of view in keeping with the simple meaning of the text.