Bi’ur al HaTorah [commentary to the Pentateuch].

AUCTION 74 |
Thursday, November 09th,
2017 at 1:00
Fine Judaica: Printed Books, Manuscripts, Autograph Letters & Graphic Art
Lot 20
BACHIAH BEN ASHER.
Bi’ur al HaTorah [commentary to the Pentateuch].
Pesaro:
Est: $5,000 - $7,000
PRICE REALIZED $5,000
R. Bachiah ben Asher ibn Halawa (1255-1340) was one of the most eminent Iberian exegetical writers to the Bible. His work derives heavily from unsourced Kabbalistic material, as well as from the writings of Nachmanides. Bachiah saw himself as a spiritual heir to the latter, as he was taught by Nachmanides’ student, R. Solomon ben Adret (RaSHB”A).Although this volume underwent the censor, an 18th-century hand has provided the effaced text (ff. 26a, 63b, et al). In any event, the censor’s ink has now worn out to the point that the words beneath are easily visible. Especially detested by the censor were descriptions of Divine retribution against Israel’s oppressors, as well as negative references to Edom (i.e. Rome), the symbol of Christian Europe.