Perushim al Tana’ch [commentary to various portions of the Bible]

IBN BALA’AM, JUDAH BEN SAMUEL.

Spain

13th century

Manuscript in Judeo-Arabic in Hebrew letters, written in early medieval Sephardic square hand on paper.

An early manuscript known as Kitab al-Tarjih, with a number of UNPUBLISHED portions, including Shirath Ha’azinu. The most complete manuscript extant of this text is Oxford ms. no. 292, which however lacks the end of Deuteronomy found in the present manuscript. Toledo born R. Yehudah (Abu Zakariya Yahya) ben Shmuel ibn Bala’am (c.1000-1070), was a prolific author of philological and exegetical works in Judeo-Arabic. He also composed Hebrew liturgical poetry and was a halachic authority. R. Yehudah’s surname has been the subject of lengthy debate, the most appropriate reading appears to be Bil’am (from “ben-al-am,” son of his paternal uncle). It has been suggested that this manuscript originated from the Cairo Genizah. A short, but comprehensive codicological report supplied here by Prof. Shlomo Zucker.