Synopsis "Commentary of Abarbanel on the Torah: Genesis - Parashat Bereishit"
After 500 years, the Torah commentary of Don Isaac Abarbanel (Peirush Abarbanel) is now available in English. This volume covers the initial Creation of the Universe from nothingness, and constitutes one quarter of Abarbanel's commentary on the book of Genesis.Abarbanel, also pronounced Abravanel or Abrabanel, is known as a "seeker of truth". He is not beyond questioning the "established" Judaic thinkers, or anyone else, if he thinks they are wrong. He is not afraid to cite non-Jewish thinkers when he believes they are right. His words are sometimes controversial, but never uninteresting. He is extensively quoted by academics, biblical scholars, and other philosophers. Until now, he was not accessible to the lay English-speaker.His style, maintained here, was to cite a verse or set of verses, then ask probing questions, which he answers in detail. The questions and answers are cross-referenced by footnote here. He also extensively quoted a word or two from biblical sources, assuming the reader would know the full verse and context. Those are now cited by footnote here as well.This is a word-by-word translation, not a supercommentary. These are the words of Abarbanel, merely rendered into English.
