Language:
English
Year of publication:
2021
Titel der Quelle:
Accounting for the Commandments in Medieval Judaism
Angaben zur Quelle:
(2021) 137-155
Keywords:
Ibn Ezra, Abraham ben Meïr, Criticism and interpretation
;
Ten commandments Criticism, interpretation, etc., Jewish
;
History
;
Bible. Theology
;
Jewish law Philosophy
Abstract:
Abraham Ibn Ezra (1089–1164) writes extensively on the Ten Commandments in his two commentaries on Exodus 20:1–17 and in his commentary on Deuteronomy 5:5–21. His treatment of these passages raises four basic exegetical questions, each one addressing an important theological problem:1. Did God pronounce all Ten Commandments or only the first two?2. Can the statement “I am the Lord your God” (Exod 20:2) be reckoned as one of the Ten Commandments?3. Why are there discrepancies between the wording of the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20 and in Deuteronomy 5? 4. Why are the reasons for some of the commandments different in Exodus and Deuteronomy? Ibn Ezra offers rational arguments to resolve these questions, presents an original interpretation of the Ten Commandments as a whole, and delineates the meaning of each one individually. In addition, Ibn Ezra disputes Judah ha-Levi’s (ca. 1075–1141) interpretation of the expression “I am the Lord your God” (Exod 20:2). He also explains the correspondence between nine of the Ten Commandments and the nine spheres of heaven.
DOI:
10.1163/9789004460942_009
URL:
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