The main purpose of the present paper is to show that for gersonides, abraham ibn ezra s astrology was a central source and point of reference on. Jewisharabic speaking poets such as samawal ibn adiya and moses ibn ezra differed very little in their writings from contemporary arab poets. He traveled widely and wrote a number of ethical treatises, poems, and other works. He argues that the word lehattot always means to pervert, and thus. Ultimately, most scholars agree that his place of birth was tudela.
However, abraham ibn ezra notes in his commentary on the song of songs that some say this stone is the color of the sky bloch 123 a coincidence that suggests, but cannot confirm, that the compilers of the general estoria relied at least in part on jewish sources in carrying the vulgate text of the song of songs over into castilian. The commentary of ibn ezra on isaiah by ibn ezra, abraham ben. Oct 18, 2015 however, abraham ibn ezra notes in his commentary on the song of songs that some say this stone is the color of the sky bloch 123 a coincidence that suggests, but cannot confirm, that the compilers of the general estoria relied at least in part on jewish sources in carrying the vulgate text of the song of songs over into castilian. Essays on the writings of abraham ibn ezra internet archive. He lived in the muslim portion of spain, and received a traditional spanish jewish education, studying torah as well as. Title this original title for ibn ezra s commentary on the torah is rarely used. Religion and science in abraham ibn ezras sefer haolam helda. In his youth, he studied all the branches of knowledge that arabic and jewish gifted and well to do youngsters could master, and.
Pdf the two commentaries of abraham ibn ezra on the book. Abraham ibn ezra was always a commentary studied by the learned scholars and because of that reason his greatness is not apparent to us. Tradition maintains that ibn ezra married judah halevis daughter after three of his children died and one son converted to islam, ibn ezra became a wanderer. They were written during his life of travel, and they reflect the unsteadiness of his outward circumstances. Abraham ben meir ibn ezra, poet, grammarian, traveller, neoplatonic philosopher, and astronomer, best known as a biblical exegete whose commentaries contributed to the golden age of spanish judaism. Offering translation and exposition on ibn ezras work, theologian and jewish historian m. However, when he would later move to cordoba, he would claim it to be his place of birth.
The anglican version of the book of the prophet isaiah amended according to the commentary of ibn ezra. Pdf gersonides astrology and abraham ibn ezra shlomo. There he passed the first five decades of his life, apparently eking out his living as a poet. You can also read more about the friends of the sep society. Abraham ben meir ibn ezra spanishjewish scholar britannica. Links to other web sites with information on abraham ibn ezra.
Rabbi abraham ben meir ibn ezra 10891164, from tudela, spain, was one of the alltime greatest. Rabbi abraham ben meir ibn ezra was born and educated in the golden age of muslim. Rabbi abraham ibn ezras commentary on the second book of. Abraham ibn ezra stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. Abraham ibn ezra ca 1096 ca 1164 was a medieval jewish polymath. In his youth, he studied all the branches of knowledge that arabic and jewish gifted and well to do youngsters could master, and was mainly known. Pdf aristotelian theories in abraham ibn ezras commentaries to. He fled from spain in 1140 b ecause of the almohad religious persecutions and travel ed to.
This book might the same one mentioned right below here. Abraham ben meir ibn esra auch abraham ben ezra, aben esra, avenesra, ebenesra. According to the most recent scholarship, he was born in either 1091 or 1092. This artist does not have any release groups or standalone recordings. Norman, ibn ezra, abraham ben meir, silver, arthur m. A companion, published by oxford university press abraham ibn ezrapoet, philosopher, grammarian, and biblical exeget 10891164 was born in tudela, spain, where he lived until he left in 1140 to wander to other lands. This pdf version matches the latest version of this entry. Ibn ezra was likely born in or around 1093 in tudela, at that time within the northern reaches of muslim spain. Author of perush hatorah, the commentary of ibn ezra on isaiah, mozne leshon ha. His wide travels and extensive studies afforded him a unique intellectual perspective, and his commentaries remain wellrespected.
Tradition maintains that ibn ezra married judah halevis daughter after three of his children died and one son converted to islam, ibn ezra became a. Whether youve loved the book or not, if you give your honest and detailed thoughts then people will find new books that are right for them. Moses ibn ezras poem kevarim min zeman kedemi behold ancient graves a spanish translation follows the englishengraved on a wall in the courtyard of the jewish museum in toledo, spain. He was one of the most distinguished jewish men of letters and writers of the middle ages. There is none more lonely than the man who loves only himself. Abraham ibn ezra was born in tudela, in the presentday spanish province of navarre, when the town was under the muslim rule of the emirs of zaragoza. Rabbi abraham ibn ezra, poet, philosopher, and mathematician, was one of the outstanding personalities produced by medieval jewry. Naftali ben menahem tells us about rabbi moshe taku who wrote a book about ibn ezra 50 years after his death ktav tamim, in regensburg, germany, in which he mentions a book by ibn ezra called the book of life sefer hahaim. Ibn ezra himself oncein an acrosticnames toledo as his native place monatsschrift, xlii. Ibn ezra excelled in philosophy, astronomyastrology, mathematics. Moses kinsman abraham ibn ezra, a poet, philosopher, grammarian, and bible commentator, attacked the language and style of the early pay.
Abraham ben meir ibn ezra was considered a distinguished writer of the middle ages, examining poetry, linguistics, philosophy, and hebrew scripture. The latter is printed in all major editions of the. The life and work of abraham ibn ezra by david mccann. Tradition maintains that ibn ezra married judah halevis daughter. Religion and science in abraham ibn ezras sefer haolam. Ibn ezra, avraham article about ibn ezra, avraham by the. Abraham ibn ezra, the peripatetic spanishjewish scholar and poet, produced two commentaries to several biblical books, among them the book of esther.
This paper studies gersonides use of the astrology prevalent in his day, namely, horoscopic astrology. Their poetry included passages borrowed from the bible and quran as well as allusions to both works. The golden age of spain produced some magnificent jewish scholars. He traveled widely and wrote a number of ethical treatises, poems, and other works click the link for more information. The two commentaries of abraham ibn ezra on the book of esther. Perhaps with the availability of his books in pdf form, free on the internet, more people will begin to reexamine his contribution to our jewish heritage and grow in their knowledge and respect of this great sage. One notorious apikoros named hiwa albalkhi, writing in ninthcentury persia, offered two hundred awkward questions to the faithful. Greece, india, persia, and so on that had been merging into muslim. Abraham ibn ezra was born in toledo, spain in 1089. It was during his selfchosen exile that he wrote his brilliant works. While the biblical commentaries of abraham ibn ezra 10891167. Having to leave his native city on account of the vexations inflicted on the jews, he travelled through a. He argues that the word le hattot always means to pervert, and thus. Born in 1089, ibn ezra was a friend of judah halevi.
After three of his children died and one son converted to islam, ibn ezra became a wanderer. At the time, the town was under the muslim rule of the emirs of zaragoza. This paper investigates gersonides use of the astrology prevalent in his day, namely, horoscopic astrology. Norman strickman rabbi abraham ben meir ibn ezra 10921164 was one of the outstanding scholars produced by medieval sephardic jewry. Abraham and astrology abraham s writings on astrology comprise about a dozen short books, covering natal, electional, horary, medical, and mundane astrology. It is taken to mean the book of the upright and is the title of a work that is cited in the bible. Taking aben ezra s work as a whole, it consists rather in popularizing rabbinic andalusian ideas on latin and saxon soil than in producing original thought.
Abraham and astrology abrahams writings on astrology comprise about a dozen short books, covering natal, electional, horary, medical, and mundane astrology. He was born in granada about 1055 1060, and died after 18. The two commentaries of abraham ibn ezra on the book of. The life of abraham ibn ezra can be divided into two periods. The beginning of wisdom is a one of the most important of the basic medieval texts of astrology. Abraham ben meir ibn ezra article about abraham ben meir. A celebrated spanish rabbi, born at toledo in 1092. He has played an important role in the fields of biblical exegesis, poetry, grammar, astronomy, astrology, mathematics, and natural sciences. He was called the wise, the great, the admirable doctor. It shows that for gersonides, abraham ibn ezra was a central source and point of reference on which he relied wherever he drew on astrology. Media in category abraham ibn ezra the following 4 files are in this category, out of 4 total.
His chief claim to fame, however, is his commentary on the bible. The combinatorial astrology of rabbi abraham ibn ezra. These exciting anathemas, of course, ensured that his worrying questions would remain current for as long as the orthodox commentaries would be read. Abraham ibn ezra was born in tudela, one of the oldest and most important jewish communities in the presentday spanish province of navarre. Ezra, ramat gan, 1999, and abraham ibn ezra and the rise of medieval science, leiden. Significance of the equinoxes in abraham ibn ezras. Other readers will always be interested in your opinion of the books youve read. He drew upon himself the usual thunderous cursesmay his name be forgotten, may his bones be worn to nothingalong with detailed refutations and denunciations by abraham ibn ezra and others. Shlomo sela, abraham ibn ezras introductions to astrology.
Besides, ibn ezra and maimonides were convinced that prophecy was a higher level of intellect, not a miraculous delivery of divine information. Ibn ezra, avraham religion, spiritualism, and occult rabbi avraham ben meir ibn ezra was a renowned jewish scholar born in eleventhcentury spain. He was born in tudela in northern muslim spain and received his education in the great centers of learning in cordoba, christian toledo and saragossa. Sela, abraham ibn ezra and the rise of medieval hebrew science.
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