Midrash Tehilim Rabatha. [Midrashic commentary to the Book of Psalms] * MIDRASH SHMUEL [Midrashic commentary to the Book of Samuel] * Midrash Mishlei [Midrashic commentary to the Book of Proverbs]

(MIDRASH).

Daniel Bomberg

Venice

1546

Third edition. (Midrash Tehilim was published in Constantinople in 1512 [until Psalm 119]; and in Salonika in 1515 [Psalms 119-150]. Thus, this is the first complete edition.) Title within architectural arch. Divisional title. Opening word of each part within an elaborate floral woodcut border.

Vinograd, Venice 273; Habermann, Bomberg 193; Adams M-1426

The Midrash Tehilim was most likely composed towards the end of the tenth-century, probably in Southern Italy. It is chiefly a compilation of sayings relating to the verses of the Psalms scattered throughout the Agadah, but it also contains some original material. Midrash Tehilim is followed by R. Mattathias Ha-Yizhari’s commentary to the 119th psalm, Perush ha-Alpha Beta (58d-66b). Ha-Yizhari (Spain, 14th-15th century) was descended from a Narbonne family which emigrated to Aragon after the expulsion from France in 1306. This is the only work of the Spanish philosopher to be published. He left in manuscript a commentary on Avoth. Concerning Ha-Yizhari, see EJ, Vol.11, cols. 1129-1130. The Midrash Mishlei is more in the form of an Aggadic commentary to the Book and contains sayings, parables, proverbs and short homiletic interpretations on each chapter. Its date of composition is approximately the same as that of Midrash Tehilim. M. Waxman, A History of Jewish Literature I, p. 143. The middle segment of Midrash Shmuel has been excised from our copy.