135:, from whose commentaries on the Bible and polemical works, including some no longer in existence, he gives many extracts. Thus in regard to Ex. xxxv. 3 he discusses with Saadia the kindling of a fire by a non-Jew on Sabbath, a practise which the Karaites considered to be forbidden. Yefet reproaches Saadia with being unfaithful to the principles he himself had laid down for the interpretation of the Law, according to which no deductions by analogy are admissible in definite revealed precepts. On Lev. xxiii. 5 Yefet cites fragments from Saadia's "Kitab al-Tamyiz", a polemical work against Karaism, in which the author states that there are three sects which are divided on the question of the new moon: (1) the Rabbinites, who, except in special cases, determine it by the
562:, surnamed by the Karaites "ha-'Iḳḳesh" (= "the intriguer"), published by Pinsker in his "Liḳḳuṭe Ḳadmoniyyot", p. 19. Yefet endeavors in this epistle to demonstrate that there is no trace of oral tradition in Scripture, and consequently the Mishnah, Talmud, and other rabbinical writings fall under the prohibition "Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you" (Deut. iv. 2).
727:
173:
very closely (he is the first known
Karaite commentator to do so), though he never acknowledges it as a source, and he quotes Talmudic teachings frequently, likewise without attribution. In his style and idioms also he bears a deep debt to Talmudic writings, and his interpretations are very often
126:
Yefet's commentary is largely a compilation of others' views, though he also includes many original interpretations, but in general his
Karaite sources are lost. Unlike his Karaite predecessors in the field of Bible exegesis, Yefet realized the importance of grammar and lexicography for the
127:
interpretation of
Scripture, although he did not excel in either. The interest which his commentaries present lies chiefly in the accumulation of material for the history of the differences between traditional Judaism and the Karaites; for he enters into lengthy disputes with traditional
228:, who robbed all nations and dealt treacherously with his own people, and Isaiah 47:9 ("Suddenly, in one day: / Loss of children and widowhood / Shall come upon you in full measure") to the downfall of Islam. In the following verse, he sees an allusion to the
565:"Sefer ha-Miẓwot", treating of the precepts, and containing many controversies with the Rabbinites; mentioned by Yefet in the commentaries to I Sam. xx. 27; Dan. x. 3. Some fragments of this work were found in the Library of St. Petersburg and published by
283:
Nearly the whole Arabic text on all the
Biblical books is extant in manuscripts in European libraries (Leiden, Oxford, British Museum, London, Paris, Berlin, etc.). The parts which have been published are:
1037:
Eleazar Iser
Szadzunski is the E. Lawrence Marwick whose preliminary edition of the commentary to the Minor Prophets was published posthumously in 2003. His dissertation is possibly lost.
583:
another work by his father, entitled "Safah
Berurah", the contents of which are unknown (the supposition of Fürst that it was a grammatical treatise is considered to be erroneous).
550:
The "Maskilim" (Karaite teachers) who, endowed with the knowledge of the Torah, are generous with the dissemination of their wisdom, in return for which they accept no recompense).
161:, he denies their authority: they are to be applied, he claims, only when it is not possible to explain the passage literally. Thus, notwithstanding his veneration for
505:. One of his comments about the Rabbanites, writing on his Arabic commentary on Isaiah, Yefet ben Ali digresses as follows: "This section refers to the people of the
1068:
110:. They were accompanied by a very literal translation of the Hebrew text, which often violated the rules of Arabic grammar. These writings influenced the
559:
416:
326:
452:
322:
426:
336:
255:" (Proverbs 1:7) denotes "the knowledge" of astronomy, medicine, mathematics, etc., the study of which is to be undertaken before that of
291:
1:1-5 (Stroumsa 2000) 11:10-25:18 (Zawanowska 2012) Joseph
Narratives (Polliack, announced) Babel and Binding of Isaac (Zawanowska 2022)
1104:
139:; (2) the sect of the Tiflis, which follow the molad absolutely; and (3) a sect which is guided by the first appearance of the moon.
989:
678:). The name Ḥasan ("handsome") was seen as an Arabic equivalent of Yefet, based on the contemporary derivation of Yefet from
637:
623:
609:
1099:
251:, to which he refers many prophecies. Unlike his predecessors, he was not an opponent of secular science. To him the word "
572:"'Iyyun Tefillah", in ten chapters, treating of all that pertains to prayer; extant in manuscript (Paris MS. No. 670).
1109:
554:
Before devoting himself to
Biblical exegesis Yefet wrote several other works of lesser importance. Among these were:
1119:
1072:
520:
The common people who neither desire wisdom nor think about it; they know no more about religion than to go to the
1129:
147:
Yefet claims full freedom for the exegete, refusing to admit any authority for the interpretation of the
1124:
1114:
474:
744:
730: One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the
1094:
753:
152:
1077:
845:
267:
Yefet's commentaries were much used by succeeding
Karaite exegetes and were often quoted by
544:
8:
630:
The Arabic
Translation and Commentary of Yefet ben 'Eli the Karaite on the Book of Esther
509:
and to the best among them as well. They are at present divided into four classes :
539:
The studious among the common people, whom the Exilarchs teach them the nonsense of the
955:
908:
679:
376:
166:
69:
commentator on the Bible, during the "Golden Age of Karaism". He lived about 95 years,
985:
947:
900:
795:
695:לקוטי קדמוניות: לקורות דת בני מקרא והליטעראטור שלהם : ע״פ כתבי יד עבריים וערביים
633:
619:
605:
400:
388:
81:
815:
939:
892:
576:
494:
422:
382:
318:
268:
248:
115:
92:
between 950 and 980, where he died. The Karaites distinguished him by the epithet
979:
736:
693:
487:
406:
354:
294:
288:
66:
58:
805:
740:
351:(Tomal 2000, dissertation; Marwick 2003; Nadler-Akirav 2009, dissertation, 2021)
748:
470:
464:
394:
312:
306:
221:
162:
1088:
951:
904:
731:
533:
442:
372:
366:
360:
202:
118:, who quotes Yefet forty-two times in his commentary of the minor prophets.
785:
502:
458:
448:
348:
342:
244:
237:
194:
107:
103:
430:
665:
580:
436:
300:
186:
175:
959:
927:
912:
880:
566:
439:(ben-Shammai 1969, M.A. thesis; Hussain 1987, dissertation; Sadan 2020)
229:
179:
345:(Schroeter 1871; Klein 1897; Lehrman 1927, dissertation; Marwick 2003)
825:
521:
275:, some of them were rendered into Hebrew either in full or abridged.
89:
943:
896:
514:
506:
256:
252:
225:
206:
190:
775:
525:
490:
339:
1880; Birnbaum 1942, dissertation; Polliack and Schlossberg 2009)
157:
835:
558:
an epistle in rimed prose refuting the criticism on Karaism by
540:
412:
272:
217:
170:
132:
128:
1055:
Byzantine translation of, misattributed to Salmon ben Yeruham.
595:
Jephet Ibn Ali the Karaite, A Commentary of the Book of Daniel
498:
332:
233:
213:
148:
136:
111:
95:
77:
981:שרח מגלת אחשורוש: ל[ל]שיך אלפאצל אלמעלם אבו עלי ...
529:
363:(Marwick 2003; Schlossberg 2004; Andruss 2007, M.A. thesis)
198:
85:
575:"Kalam", perhaps a liturgical work, extant in manuscript.
201:, whom enemies can not annihilate; and he admits that the
978:
Ali (ha-Levi), Japheth ben; Wechsler, Michael G. (2008).
455:
1903, dissertation; Markon 1927; Nemoy 1952; Butbul 2003)
169:, he often rejects their interpretations. He follows the
189:
treatment of scripture. He, however, symbolizes several
881:"Yefet ben 'Ali and His Influence on Biblical Exegesis"
977:
928:"The Arabic Commentary of Yefet ben 'Ali on Hosea"
230:sufferings inflicted by Muslim rulers on the Jews
216:with the greatest violence. For him the words of
1086:
579:, Yefet's son, mentions in his "Muḳaddimah" to
357:(Friedmann 1901; Polliack and Schlossberg 2002)
517:who pretend to be the possessors of knowledge;
735:
369:(Szadzunski 1937, dissertation; Marwick 2003)
926:Nemoy, Leon (1943). Birnbaum, Philip (ed.).
673:
391:(Heisz 1902; Polliack and Schlossberg, 2020)
243:Yefet was no less bitter in his attacks on
185:Yefet was an adversary of the philosophico-
461:(Bland 1966; Vajda 1971; ben-Shammai 1976)
193:narrations, as, for instance, that of the
878:
197:, in which he finds a representation of
691:
670:Abu 'Ali Ḥasan b. 'Ali al-Lawi al-Baṣri
486:He was also known for his expertise of
445:(Jung 1867; Bargès 1884; Alobaidi 2010)
240:, forbidden to ride on horseback, etc.
1087:
1081:(2nd ed.). via Jewish Virtual Library.
174:borrowed from the exegetical works of
151:; and, although he sometimes uses the
16:10th-century Karaite Bible commentator
925:
698:(in Hebrew). דרוק פאן א. דעללא טאררע.
973:
971:
969:
874:
872:
721:
719:
717:
715:
713:
711:
709:
707:
705:
602:Yefet Ben `Eli`s Commentary on Hosea
547:, instead of what might profit them;
674:
604:, Bar-Ilan University Press, 2009.
467:(Wechsler 2006, dissertation, 2008)
62:
13:
800:. des Judenthums und Seiner Sekten
616:Japheth ben Ali´s Book of Jeremiah
587:
165:, the founder of Karaism, and for
14:
1141:
1062:
966:
869:
860:Die Arabische Literatur der Juden
702:
102:His commentaries were written in
1105:10th-century rabbis in Jerusalem
725:
675:אבו עלי חסן בן עלי אלללוי אלבצרי
618:, Equinox Publishing Ltd, 2009.
600:M. Polliack and E. Schlossberg,
597:, Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1889.
1049:
1040:
1031:
848:, in J. Q. R. x. 533, xi. 327;
757:. New York: Funk & Wagnalls
493:, and for his polemics against
303:32 (Sokolow 1974, dissertation)
1022:
1013:
1004:
919:
685:
650:
481:
1:
419:1846, 1861; ben-Shammai 1976)
70:
792:, 1841, pp. 76 et seq.;
262:
7:
1100:10th-century Abbasid rabbis
932:The Jewish Quarterly Review
885:The Jewish Quarterly Review
278:
142:
121:
65:) was perhaps the foremost
10:
1146:
153:thirteen hermeneutic rules
879:Birnbaum, Philip (1941).
593:D. S. Margoliouth (ed.),
297:Balaam poetry (Avni 2003)
106:, and covered the entire
44:
36:
28:
21:
1110:Jewish biblical scholars
692:Pinsker, Simḥah (1860).
643:
238:compelled to wear badges
99:(teacher of the Exile).
48:Commentator on the Bible
1120:Critics of Christianity
1073:Japheth ben Eli ha-Levi
754:The Jewish Encyclopedia
632:, Leiden: Brill, 2008.
528:to Sabbath and to say "
63:יפת בן עלי הלוי (הבצרי)
751:; et al. (eds.).
403:(de Vreugd, announced)
232:, who are loaded with
1078:Encyclopaedia Judaica
984:BRILL. pp. XVI.
846:Moritz Steinschneider
628:Michael G. Wechsler,
315:(Wechsler, announced)
220:, "Ha, you ravager" (
88:), he later moved to
1130:Judeo-Arabic writers
842:xxviii. 151 et seq.;
409:(Nadler-Akirav 2021)
397:(Nadler-Akirav 2021)
325:1969, dissertation;
178:or the doctrines of
780:Liḳḳuṭe Ḳadmoniyyot
769:Jewish Encyclopedia
1069:Haggai Ben-Shammai
832:viii. 691, x. 246;
812:. ii. 124 et seq.;
810:Gesch. des Karäert
433:1898; Sasson 2015)
385:(Livne-Kafri 1993)
167:Benjamin Nahawandi
131:, especially with
1125:People from Basra
991:978-90-04-16388-1
745:"Japheth ha-Levi"
638:978-9-00416-388-1
624:978-1-84553-664-0
614:Joshua A. Sabih,
610:978-965-226-343-8
335:(Schroeter 1867;
155:laid down in the
82:Abbasid Caliphate
52:
51:
1137:
1115:Critics of Islam
1056:
1053:
1047:
1044:
1038:
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996:
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689:
683:
677:
676:
654:
560:Jacob ben Samuel
495:Rabbinic Judaism
269:Abraham Ibn Ezra
249:rabbinic Judaism
224:33:1), refer to
116:Abraham ibn Ezra
75:
72:
64:
19:
18:
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1139:
1138:
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1065:
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1046:Then anonymous.
1045:
1041:
1036:
1032:
1028:Then anonymous.
1027:
1023:
1019:Then anonymous.
1018:
1014:
1010:Then anonymous.
1009:
1005:
1000:
999:
992:
976:
967:
944:10.2307/1452006
924:
920:
897:10.2307/1452331
877:
870:
760:
758:
749:Singer, Isidore
726:
724:
703:
690:
686:
662:Japheth ha-Levi
658:Japheth ben Ali
655:
651:
646:
590:
588:Further reading
484:
327:Joshua A. Sabih
309:(Robinson 2015)
281:
265:
212:Yefet attacked
145:
124:
74: 914-1009
73:
40:10th century CE
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1143:
1133:
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1097:
1095:Karaite rabbis
1083:
1082:
1064:
1063:External links
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1039:
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1021:
1012:
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998:
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990:
965:
938:(4): 501–506.
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863:
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823:
816:Heinrich Grätz
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163:Anan ben David
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45:Known for
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771:bibliography:
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756:
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746:
743:(1901–1906).
742:
738:
733:
732:public domain
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271:. Written in
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79:
68:
60:
56:
55:Yefet ben Ali
47:
43:
39:
35:
31:
27:
23:Yefet ben Ali
20:
1076:
1051:
1042:
1033:
1024:
1015:
1006:
980:
935:
931:
921:
891:(1): 51–70.
888:
884:
859:
855:p. 941;
852:
839:
829:
819:
809:
806:Julius Fürst
799:
789:
788:, in Jost's
786:Salomon Munk
779:
768:
767:
759:. Retrieved
752:
694:
687:
669:
666:Judeo-Arabic
661:
657:
652:
629:
615:
601:
594:
553:
503:Christianity
485:
459:Ecclesiastes
282:
266:
245:Christianity
242:
211:
195:burning bush
184:
156:
146:
125:
108:Hebrew Bible
104:Judeo-Arabic
101:
93:
54:
53:
581:Deuteronomy
482:Other works
475:Margoliouth
427:Z. Auerbach
329:2009, 2013)
301:Deuteronomy
234:heavy taxes
187:allegorical
176:Saadia Gaon
29:Nationality
1089:Categories
802:, ii. 348;
567:A. Harkavy
377:Hirschfeld
337:Tottermann
180:Mutazilism
112:rabbinical
94:maskil ha-
76:. Born in
952:0021-6682
905:0021-6682
826:Poznanski
782:, passim;
522:Synagogue
515:Exilarchs
431:E. Günzig
401:Zechariah
389:Zephaniah
263:Influence
90:Jerusalem
1071:(2006),
840:R. E. J.
830:J. Q. R.
507:Diaspora
423:Proverbs
383:Habakkuk
319:Jeremiah
279:Editions
257:theology
226:Muhammad
207:allegory
191:Biblical
143:Exegesis
122:Approach
84:(now in
32:Karaites
1075:, from
960:1452006
913:1452331
862:, § 44.
798:, Gesch
790:Annalen
776:Pinsker
761:Jul 26,
734::
545:sorcery
532:" and "
526:Sabbath
491:grammar
407:Malachi
355:Obadiah
295:Numbers
289:Genesis
247:and on
158:Mishnah
80:in the
67:Karaite
988:
958:
950:
911:
903:
858:idem,
851:idem,
836:Bacher
822:v. 28;
820:Gesch.
741:I. Br.
636:
622:
608:
543:, and
541:Talmud
501:, and
488:Hebrew
471:Daniel
465:Esther
429:1866;
417:Bargès
413:Psalms
395:Haggai
313:Judges
307:Joshua
273:Arabic
218:Isaiah
205:is an
171:Targum
133:Saadia
129:rabbis
59:Hebrew
956:JSTOR
909:JSTOR
838:, in
828:, in
747:. In
680:י-פ-ה
656:Also
644:Notes
524:from
499:Islam
477:1889)
379:1911)
373:Nahum
367:Micah
361:Jonah
333:Hosea
253:da'at
214:Islam
149:Torah
137:molad
114:sage
96:Golah
78:Basra
986:ISBN
948:ISSN
901:ISSN
796:Jost
763:2017
634:ISBN
620:ISBN
606:ISBN
577:Levi
530:Amen
513:The
449:Ruth
349:Amos
343:Joel
199:Jews
86:Iraq
940:doi
893:doi
437:Job
37:Era
1091::
968:^
954:.
946:.
936:33
934:.
930:.
907:.
899:.
889:32
887:.
883:.
871:^
818:,
808:,
778:,
739:;
737:K.
704:^
668::
664:;
660:,
536:";
497:,
259:.
236:,
209:.
182:.
71:c.
61::
994:.
962:.
942::
915:.
895::
765:.
682:.
672:(
569:.
473:(
451:(
425:(
415:(
375:(
321:(
57:(
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