(RaDaK). Sepher Michlol [grammar]

KIMCHI, DAVID

Daniel Bomberg

Venice

1545

Edited by Elijah Levita. Title within architectural arch. Extensive marginalia in a petite Latin hand. On title page, Greek and Latin inscriptions: “Ex libris… July 1568. Jacobus Cappellus 1591.” On final page, owner’s signature: “Jacobi Cappelli 1603.”

Vinograd, Venice 246; Haberman, Bomberg 172; check Adams

The Michlol was David Kimchi’s chief grammatical work. The Michlol treats verbs comprehensively, covering the rules governing conjugation, changes of pronunciation and accents. It also contains complete tables of conjugations and is distinguished by the clarity of its style and its conciseness. Indeed, these qualities resulted in the Michlol’s supremacy over previous works. For centuries it was considered the leading grammar. See M. Waxman, Vol. I, p. 179. The penultimate page consists of an appreciation by R. Solomon ben Mazal Tov, who puns on the adage in Ethics of the Fathers, “If there is no flour (kemach), there is no Torah.”