From the Middle Ages until the present, the development of astrology among Jews was associated mainly with the name of Abraham Ibn Ezra (1089–1167). His scientific corpus deals with mathematics, astronomy, scientific instruments and tools, and the Jewish calendar; but especially with astrology. This volume is the first product of a larger enterprise—a scientific edition of all twelve Ibn Ezra’s astrological treatises—and offers a critical Hebrew text of the two versions of Ibn Ezra’s
Sefer ha-Te'amim, the Book of Reasons, accompanied by an annotated translation and commentary. The two treatises presented here were designed by Ibn Ezra to offer “reasons”, “explanations”, or “meanings” of the raw astrological concepts formulated in the introduction to astrology that Ibn Ezra entitled
Reshit Hokhmah (Beginning of Wisdom).
Shlomo Sela, Ph.D (1998) in History of Science, Tel-Aviv University, is a lecturer in the Bible and Jewish Philosophy Departments at Bar-Ilan University. His research focuses on Jewish attitudes toward the sciences, with special interest in the history of astrology in the Middle Ages. He has recently published
Abraham Ibn Ezra and the Rise of Medieval Hebrew Science (Brill, 2003).
CONTENTS
Introduction
Part One: First Version of the Book of Reasons by Abraham Ibn Ezra. Hebrew Text and English Translation
Part Two: Notes to the First Version of the Book of Reasons
Part Three: Second Version of the Book of Reasons by Abraham Ibn Ezra. Hebrew Text and English Translation
Part Four: Notes to the Second Version of the Book of Reasons
Part Five: Appendixes
Glossary of Technical Terms
Bibliography
Index
All those interested in the history of astrology, astronomy and mathematics in the Middle Ages, in Jewish philosophy and history in the Middle Ages, in Abraham Ibn Ezra’s scientific work and biblical exegesis.