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Abraham ibn Ezra
1089–1167 · Iberia (Tudela)Iberian
Description
Abraham ben Meir Ibn Ezra was one of the most distinguished Jewish biblical commentators and philosophers of the Middle Ages. He was born in Tudela, Taifa of Zaragoza. Ibn Ezra is especially well-known to readers outside of the Jewish tradition as a major source of inspiration for Spinoza's early modern source-criticism on the authorship of the Law of Moses, appearing in theTheologico-Political Treatise.
Facts
| Born | c. 1089 - 1092, Tudela, Taifa of Zaragoza |
| Died | c. 1164 - 1167 |
| Known for | writing commentaries, grammarian |
| Children | Isaac ibn Ezra |
Life & work in brief
Summarised by section — one row per topic, for fast reading.
| Work / contribution | Significance |
|---|---|
| Biography | Abraham Ibn Ezra was born in Tudela, one of the oldest and most important Jewish communities in Navarre. |
| Works | In Spain, Ibn Ezra had already gained the reputation of a distinguished poet and thinker. |
| Influence on biblical criticism and philosophy of religion | In his commentary, Ibn Ezra adhered to the literal sense of the texts, avoiding Rabbinic allegory and Kabbalistic interpretation. |
| Bibliography | Ibn Ezra composed his first book on astrology in Italy, before his move to France: |
| Legacy | The crater Abenezra on the Moon was named in honor of Ibn Ezra. |
| Burial | According to Jewish tradition, Abraham ibn Ezra was buried in Cabul in the Lower Galilee alongside Judah Halevi. |