RaLBaG). Milchamoth Hashem [“Wars of the Lord”: philosophy]

LEVI BEN GERSHON (GERSONIDES /.

Jacob Marcaria

Riva di Trento

1560(-61)

FIRST EDITION. Title within ornamental border and featuring Cardinal Madrucci’s device - patron of the printing enterprise (see Amram pp. 296-97; Yaari, Hebrew Printers’ Marks, no. 28). Marginalia in a Sephardic hand.

Vinograd, Riva di Trento 20; Adams L-606

The Author (1288-1344) was a native of Languedoc in the south of France, a polymath, who excelled in the fields of Biblical exegesis, philosophy, mathematics and astronomy. The last distinguished Aristotelian not only in the Jewish world, but in all of Medieval Europe, Gersonides was also the only Jewish disciple of Aristotle who accepted the entire Aristotelian system, including those particulars that seemingly contradict aspects of the Jewish world-view. In Milchamoth Hashem, a work on which Gersonides labored for twelve years, he analyzes philosophical matters pertaining to the immortality of the Soul, the nature of prophecy, Divine omniscience and providence, the nature of the heavenly spheres and the question of the eternity of matter. For a detailed analysis of Gersonides’ inquires in Milchamoth Hashem and critical comparison to Aristotle’s beliefs, see I. Zinberg, A History of Jewish Literature, Vol. III, pp.129-39.