Chizkuni [commentary to the Chumash].
Auction 94 |
Thursday, June 17th,
2021 at 11:00am
Rare & Excellent Hebrew Printed Books: From the Library of Arthur A. Marx
Lot 94
Chezekiah ben Manoach.
Chizkuni [commentary to the Chumash].
Cremona: Vicenzo Conti 1559
Est: $2,000 - $3,000
PRICE REALIZED $2,200
Chizkiah ben Manoach lived in the thirteenth century, probably in France. The details of his biography are unknown. He is the author of Chizkuni, a popular commentary on the Torah, which is actually a compilation of insights culled from the Midrashim, as well as the writings of twenty Rishonim, including Rashi, Rashbam and Ibn Ezra. However, Chizkuni does not name any of his sources (other than Rashi), as he felt that one should focus on the message rather than the messenger (Sefaria).
Although the Chizkuni was included in Bomberg's 1524 edition of the Pentateuch, this Cremona issue is the first separate edition. See EJ, Vol. VIII, cols. 459-60 (illustrated).
Meir Benayahu writes that most copies of the Chizkuni are lacking ff. 155-156, which were removed by Church censorship (see his Hebrew Printing at Cremona (1971) p. 211), fortunately,<<this copy is entirely complete.>>