Biur al Hatorah [Kabbalistic commentary to the Pentateuch]

BACHIAH BEN ASHER

Gershom Soncino

Pesaro

1514

Opening words within woodcut borders, opening of Genesis within elegant woodcut border, printed in two columns.

ff.274. Marginal repairs, final two leaves repaired with loss of some words.18th-century calf, modern slip-case. Folio Vinograd, Pesaro 32; Steinschneider CB no. 4525,3 col. 778; not in Adams.

RARE COMPLETE COPY. Great influential encyclopedic work utilizing wide variety of sources. Especially noteworthy are R. Bachiah’s Kabbalistic references as well as Midrashic interpretations. He was well versed in this literature and brings forth passages from lost Midrashim. For an excellent work on the Kabbalistic sources of R. Bachiah, see E. Gottlieb, Mekorotav shel R. Bachiah...Be’kitvei R. Yoseph Gikatilla in: Bar Ilan University Annual Vol. I (1969) pp. 306-26; and see R. Yitzchak Sag Nahor Ve’talmidav- Mekorot R. Bachiah Be’kitvei Ha’mekubalim, in: Bar Ilan University Annual, Samuel Bialoblocki Memorial Volume, (1964) pp.215-50

UNUSED - USE FOR FUTURE REFERENCE:

Bahya ben Asher’s commentary to the Torah is truly an encyclopedic work utilizing a wide variety of sources. Especially noteworthy are Bahya’s Kabbalistic references as well as Midrashic interpretations. He was well versed in this literature and brings forth passages from lost Midrashim. For an excellent work on the Kabbalistic sources of R. Bachya, see E. Gottlieb, “Mekorotav shel R. Bachya...be-Kitvei R. Yoseph Gikatilla,” Bar Ilan University Annual, Vol. I (1969), pp. 3063-26; idem, “R. Yitzchak Sagi Nahor ve-Talmidav - Mekorot R. Bachya be-Kitvei ha-Mekubalim,” Bar Ilan University Annual, Samuel Bialoblocki Memorial Volume, (1964), pp.215-50. The late Rabbi Chaim Dov Chavel published in Jerusalem an annotated version of Rabbenu Bachya which has gained wide acceptance, unlocking at least some of the commentary’s spiritual riches to the public at large