Levi ben Gershom, Ralbag

views updated

Levi ben Gershom, Ralbag, or Gersonides (1288–1344). Jewish philosopher and Bible commentator. He was an eminent Talmudist who wrote a commentary on Berakhot (now lost) and probably a commentary on the thirteen hermeneutical rules of R. Ishmael (publ. 1800). He wrote several commentaries on Averroesʾ paraphrases and commentaries on Aristotle and on the Bible. His major philosophical work was the Sefer Milhamot Adonai (The Book of the Wars of the Lord), written between 1317 and 1329. Divided into six parts, it deals with the immortality of the soul, prophecy, divine knowledge, providence, the celestial spheres, and creation.

More From encyclopedia.com