Abstract
This article is a comprehensive, and comparative analysis of the most relevant medieval Jewish exegetes who wrote commentaries on or explanations of Psalm 2: Saadiah Gaon, Yefet ben Eli, Salmon ben Yeruham, Rashi, Josef Bechor Shor, Abraham ibn Ezra, David Kimhi, Jacob ben Reuben, Menahem ha-Meiri, and Isaiah of Thrani. Comparison will show the different solutions provided by medieval Jewish exegetes to the question as to which historical or eschatological figures, nations, or kingdoms the psalm refers to. Other controversial issues such as the place of Psalm 2 within the book of Psalms are also explored.
Highlights
Psalm 2 is one of the most controversial chapters in the book of Psalms
In her book on the history of interpretation of psalms 1 and 2 in Jewish and Christian tradition, Gillingham dedicates an entire chapter to Rabbinic and Medieval exegesis, in which she examines some details of the explanations of Rashi, Maimonides, Jacob ben Reuben, David Kimhi, and Abraham ibn Ezra on the first two psalms.[3]
Fered by Rashi of this psalm have been studied by Grossman,[5] Signer,[6] Harris,[7] and Lasker.[8]. It is the purpose of this article to make an extensive and comparative analysis of the most important medieval Jewish exegetes who wrote commentaries or explanations on this psalm, namely, Saadiah Gaon, Yefet ben Eli, Salmon ben Yeruham, Rashi, Josef Bechor Shor, Abraham ibn Ezra, David Kimhi, Jacob ben Reuben, Menahem ha-Meiri, and Isaiah of Thrani
Summary
Janse on the reception history of this psalm.[2] In her book on the history of interpretation of psalms 1 and 2 in Jewish and Christian tradition, Gillingham dedicates an entire chapter to Rabbinic and Medieval exegesis, in which she examines some details of the explanations of Rashi, Maimonides, Jacob ben Reuben, David Kimhi, and Abraham ibn Ezra on the first two psalms.[3] The anti-Christian comments of Jacob ben Reuben and David Kimhi on Psalm 2 are analyzed by R. JOURNAL OF HEBREW SCRIPTURES fered by Rashi of this psalm have been studied by Grossman,[5] Signer,[6] Harris,[7] and Lasker.[8] It is the purpose of this article to make an extensive and comparative analysis of the most important medieval Jewish exegetes who wrote commentaries or explanations on this psalm, namely, Saadiah Gaon, Yefet ben Eli, Salmon ben Yeruham, Rashi, Josef Bechor Shor, Abraham ibn Ezra, David Kimhi, Jacob ben Reuben, Menahem ha-Meiri, and Isaiah of Thrani. The comparison and contrast of the explanations of these authors will show that medieval Jewish exegesis of this psalm, far from being unanimous, led to a diversity of viewpoints on the references in the psalm to historical or eschatological figures, nations, and kingdoms, and on the place of Psalm 2 within the book of Psalms
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