Hebrew. LATER PROPHETS). With the commentary of DAVID BEN JOSEPH KIMCHI

(BIBLE,

Sons of Gershom Soncino

Pesaro

1515-16

Title within four piece white-on-black woodcut border of Renaissance ornament. Letters of initial words within white-on-black decorative vignettes

Vinograd, Pesaro 11; Adams B-1280

No doubt the leading exegete of the prodigious Kimchis, David wrote on all the Prophetic Books as well as Psalms, Chronicles and Genesis. His method follows that of the Peshat, yet often utilizes Derash, employing aggadic interpretations. As an adherent of Maimonides’ philosophical views, David Kimchi introduces Maimonidian ideas into his commentaries although also expoundingcertain events as “visions.” Notably, in his commentary upon the Prophet Ezekiel’s vision of the Divine Chariot (Ezekiel, Chap. I), Kimchi presents a lengthy philosophical exposition concerning the Theophany. (See: M. Waxman, Vol. I, pp. 199-200; D. Amram, the Makers of Hebrew Books in Italy (1909) pp. 60-61. According to the renowned rabbi and bookseller ,R. David Frankel -some Pesaro prints are even rarer than incunabula. To our knowledge, no complete copy of this edition has ever appeared at public auction.