Large manuscript – early transcription of the book Ot Nefesh – an elucidation on the Ibn Ezra’s commentary on the Torah. Tirna, c. 16th Century.
As known, the Ibn Ezra’s commentary on the Torah is considered one of the most important and fundamental elucidations of its verses. His method was to explain the verses according to their simple meaning, as he indicates at length in his preface to the Torah. In certain places, he is very brief, and his words are difficult to comprehend. Dozens of books have been written to explain his intent. This manuscript deals entirely with explanations of the Ibn Ezra’s elucidation with faithfulness to the accepted method of commentary and an expert in-depth scholarly understanding and total mastery of all realms of Torah.
Leading researchers are uncertain to this day as to the authorship of this commentary. There are those who attribute it to the Ralba”g, and those who say that Rabbi Yedayah HaPenini wrote it, and those who claim it was Asher Karkash. Copies of this book are found in prominent libraries around the world. This important work has only recently been printed (after 1971) by comparison of this copy and the copy in the British Museum. There are differences here from what was printed in the book.
The transcriptionist’s signature appears at the end of the work: “G-d, having granted me the privilege of writing this elucidation, allow me to study it and other sefarim without limit, signed, Yoel bar Yosef of Tirna.”
114 written pages. 20 cm. Early Italian autograph script. Glosses on several leaves.
Moderate-fine condition. Thick, high-quality leaves. Many old worming perforations. Aging stains. New binding with matching slipcase.