Radak’s Lexical Shorashim and his Biblical Commentaries: A Comparison of his Biblical Interpretations between the Two Works

• In Event: Medieval Biblical Interpretation

Abstract

Radak’s lexical Shorashim and his later biblical commentaries belong to distinct, yet overlapping genres. It would be expected that in writing his commentaries, he would refer at times to his earlier linguistic work. While it is true that in the commentaries he does often rely on or even reiterate interpretations he had presented earlier, in many cases he actually contradicts explanations he had offered previously.

This paper assesses the relationship between Radak’s approaches in the two works, by analyzing differences in actual interpretations of individual verses between the linguistic Shorashim and the commentaries. Some of the contradictions in interpretation can be attributed to the difference in genres. However, in a considerable number of cases the most plausible explanation for the rejection of his earlier interpretation would appear to be a change in his own views.

The paper confirms that when writing his commentaries, Radak did not feel constrained by the biblical interpretations he had offered previously in his linguistic Shorashim. These self-contradictions demonstrate his development over time as an exegete, as well as his flexibility and adaptability in being open to new interpretations—a tendency that may well have fostered his success as an exegete.

author

• Naomi Grunhaus, Yeshiva University