Asceticism, Eschatology, Opposition to Philosophy. The Arabic Translation and Commentary of Salmon ben Yeroham on Qohelet (Ecclesiastes)

Leiden: Brill, 2012. First edition. Hardcover. Fine. Octavo. xiv, 645, (1)pp. Indices and 14 page bibliography. Text in English and Hebrew. Green buckram lettered in white with red band near top of spine. A fine, as new copy.

"Robinson's edition is exemplary... This volume is an important addition to any collection of Karaitica, medieval Jewish biblical exegesis and Judeo-Arabic studies." Pinchas Roth, Tikvah Scholar at the NYU Tikvah Center

Salmon b. Yeroham (fl. 930-960) - foundational figure in the Jerusalem school of Karaite exegesis - produced a substantial and influential corpus of polemical writing and biblical interpretation, including commentaries on Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Song of Songs, Lamentations, Qohelet, Esther, Ruth, and Daniel. Asceticism, Eschatology, Opposition to Philosophy: The Arabic Translation and Commentary of Salmon ben Yeroham on Qohelet (Ecclesiastes) presents a first critical edition of the Judaeo-Arabic Qohelet commentary together with an annotated English translation. The introduction situates Salmon's work in the history of Jewish Qohelet exegesis, explains Salmon's method of translating Qohelet into Arabic, identifies his sources and discusses his method of interpretation. The main themes Salmon finds in "Solomon's" book of wisdom - central themes in the early Karaite movement in general - will be explored at length, especially asceticism, eschatology, and an uncompromising opposition to reading "foreign books." (Publisher)

Contents: Preface; Acknowledgements; A Few Remarks on Format; Part I. Introduction; Chapter One. Qohelet in Karaism; Chapter Two. On Salmon's Arabic Translation of Qohelet; Chapter Three. Sources and Use of Sources; Chapter Four. Methods and Approaches; Chapter Five. Main Themes: Asceticism, Eschatology, Opposition to Philosophy; Chapter Six. Description of the Manuscripts and Method of Editing; Chapter Seven. Remarks on the English Translation; Part II. Salmon b. Yeroham's Commentary on Qohelet -- Critical Edition and English Translation Qohelet 1; Qohelet 2; Qohelet 3; Qohelet 4; Qohelet 5; Qohelet 6; Qohelet 7; Qohelet 8; Qohelet 9; Qohelet 10; Qohelet 11; Qohelet 12; Bibliography; Index Locorum; Index of Medieval Authors; General Index (OCLC)

Volume 45 in the Brill series "Etudes sur la Judaisme Medieval." (EJM) and also Volume 5 of "Karaite Texts and Studies."