The Limits of Maimonideanism in Radak's Commentary on Creation

• In Event: Medieval Biblical Interpretation

Abstract

The 13th century witnessed a proliferation of Maimonideanism in Provence, initiated by Samuel Ibn Tibbon’s translations and development of Maimonides’ work. Radak, a contemporary of Ibn Tibbon, stands out as an early devotee of Maimonides who, as a systematic expositor of the Bible, produced not a philosophical work per se but a running commentary on Genesis with a pronounced Maimonidean bent. As might be expected, Radak retains his commitments to certain interpretive principles even as he seeks to incorporate many of Maimonides’ philosophical positions and their exegetical concomitants. It becomes of considerable interest, accordingly, to examine the parameters of Maimonides’ influence on Radak’s commentary, toward the goal of identifying (1) the limitations of Radak’s commitment to Maimonidean interpretation; (2) any mitigation of Radak’s standard interpretive constraints in his effort to accommodate Maimonidean exegesis; and (3) the salient expositions of the text that result from his incorporation of Maimonides’ positions. The present paper, focusing upon Radak’s standard commentary on Genesis (rather than upon his esoteric, Maimonidean-style commentary on the Eden and Cain narratives), addresses these questions by way of specific examples from his interpretation of the creation story. It is shown that the commentator’s Maimonideanism, while a dominant force in his exegesis, may be attenuated not only by considerations of philology and context but by his own philosophical-exegetical preferences. For example, the commentary features a recurring affirmation that the physical structure of the world attests to divine creation, wisdom, and control; and whereas this does not stand in any kind of conflict with Maimonidean thought, Radak’s emphasis upon these principles prompts multiple exegetical moves that transcend, modify, or oppose interpretations provided by Maimonides. In the final analysis, Radak’s exegesis of the creation story bespeaks a fascinating combination of, on the one hand, his firm adherence to Maimonidean philosophy, and, on the other, his notable independence and creativity when incorporating Maimonides’ contributions into a running biblical commentary.

author

• Yitzhak Berger, Hunter College, CUNY