Spreading Secrets: Kabbalah and Esotericism in Isaac ibn Sahula's Meshal ha-kadmoni

Abstract

Isaac ibn Sahula's Meshal ha-kadmoni, a classic of medieval Hebrew literature, was composed in Castile during one of the most prolific periods in the development of classical Kabbalah. This article argues that while ibn Sahula chose to avoid discussion of the ten sefirot and other forms of symbolism typically associated with kabbalistic writings from this period, he nonetheless sought to promote a worldview in the Meshal ha-kadmoni that bears a distinct affinity to medieval Kabbalah. Throughout the text, ibn Sahula's articulations of matters relating to divine providence over individuals and the natural order, the origin and nature of the human soul, and the attainment of prophetic insight, all resonate deeply with kabbalistic texts from 13th century Castile. Moreover, ibn Sahula consistently emphasizes the importance of esoteric knowledge, accessible exclusively to Jews as a secret tradition or "kabalah" deriving from revelation in antiquity, which constitutes the inner core of Judaism. The Meshal ha-kadmoni thus serves as an important witness to the major concerns and values of the cultural context in which many of the classics of medieval Kabbalah, including the zoharic literature, took shape.