The Alba Bible. A transcription of Moses Arragel Spanish translation

Moses Arragel, a Jewish scholar from Guadalajara, settled in Maqueda in 1422 and was invited to prepare this Spanish translation of the Bible (with a commentary) by Don Luis de Guzman, grand master of the order of Calatrava. Arragel initially declined, claiming that such a work by a Jew would never be accepted by Christians. He eventually agreed to proceed, and completed his work in 1433. Arragel’s commentary demonstrates that he was familiar with both Jewish and Christian Bible scholarship, and he notes where the Jewish version differs from the Christian one. Arragel’s manuscript included his correspondence with Guzman and other Franciscian scholars. The many illustrations in the manuscript are of Christian origin, though they were also influenced by the Midrash. “The last great Jewish Bible project in Spanish, Abraham Usque's Ferrara edition of 1553, was based on Arragel's 15th-century version and is thought to have inspired translators in Christian Spain.” See EJ, s.v. “Arragel, Moses” and “Bible: Modern Versions.” This fine, extensive folio edition contains Arragel’s Spanish text with copious fascimiles of illustrations from the original