Hebrew). Biblia Sacra Hebraea

(BIBLE,

Joseph Athias

Amsterdam

1659-61

Engraved Hebrew title incorporating five Biblical scenes. Second title and Preface in Latin. Three divisional titles with printer’s mark of Joseph Athias (see Yaari, Hebrew Printers’ Marks, 73). Square Hebrew characters with nikud (vowel points) and te’amim (trope or cantillation). Headpieces and tailpieces. Opening few leaves with penciled notations.

Vinograd, Amsterdam 262; Darlow & Moule 5131.

“The first Hebrew Bible with Arabic numeration of chapters and verses” (Fuks, Amsterdam 378). This Hebrew edition became the standard for generations. It contains a lengthy Preface by Johannes Leusden, Professor of the Sacred Tongue at Utrecht, as well as a Commendation by three Professors of Theology at the University of Utrecht including Gisbertus Voetius. Both Leusden and Voetius were Christian Hebraists. See A.L. Katchen, Christian Hebraists and Dutch Rabbis (1984) pp. 104-5; 147-8; 310, n. 25.