The Book of Job in Medieval Jewish Philosophy

by Robert Eisen

Medieval Jewish philosophers have been studied extensively by modern scholars, but even though their philosophical thinking was often shaped by their interpretation of the Bible, relatively little attention has been paid to them as biblical interpreters. In this study, Robert Eisen breaks new ground by analyzing how six medieval Jewish philosophers approached the Book of Job. These thinkers covered are Saadiah Gaon, Moses Maimonides, Samuel ibn Tibbon, Zerahiah Hen, Gersonides, and Simon ben Zemah Duran. Eisen explores each philosopher's reading of Job on three its relationship to interpretations of Job by previous Jewish philosophers, the way in which it grapples with the major difficulties in the text, and its interaction with the author's systematic philosophical thought. Eisen also examines the resonance between the readings of Job of medieval Jewish philosophers and those of modern biblical scholars. What emerges is a portrait of a school of Joban interpretation that
was creative, original, and at times surprisingly radical. Eisen thus demonstrates that medieval Jewish philosophers were serious exegetes whom scholars cannot afford to ignore. By bringing a previously-overlooked aspect of these thinkers' work to light, Eisen adds new depth to our knowledge of both Jewish philosophy and biblical interpretation.

Genres: Judaism

336 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Matt Schneeweiss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Alex K. for recommending this book to me at the start of the summer. It has already proven indispensable in my prep for teaching Iyov in high school.

Eisen, Professor of Religion and Judaic Studies at George Washington University, is what I call “the good kind of academic”: not just interested in historical influences and context, but genuinely committed to presenting each thinker’s ideas on their own terms, in a way that serves both Beis Midrash learners and academics.

He surveys six approaches to Iyov:

1. Saadia Gaon (882-942) — the first philosophical commentary on the sefer.

2. Rambam (1138-1204) — whose chapters on Iyov in the Moreh (3:22–23, built on 3:8–21) shaped the trajectory of later commentaries more than any other.

3. Shmuel ibn Tibbon (1150-1230), — arguably more radical than his rebbi, the Rambam.

4. Zeraḥiah Ḥen (early 13th c.) — a Maimonidean who held firmly to Rambam's philosophy but read the sefer differently, the first Rishon to write a full pasuk-by-pasuk commentary, and my new best friend (more on him in a Substack post later this week).

5. Ralbag (1288-1344) — who, as usual, followed Rambam’s lead but forged his own path.

6. Rashbatz (1361–1444) — the representative anti-Maimonidean.

Each chapter analyzes the background, antecedents, philosophy, exegesis, and (for the three who wrote them) commentary. The seventh chapter, "Medieval Jewish Philosophy and the Exegesis of Job," compares and contrasts these six approaches against the backdrop of medieval Jewish commentary and philosophy. The brief final chapter, "Job Medieval, Job Modern" shows how sophisticated and original these commentaries remain by modern standards.

Unlike many academic works that can feel dry, this one kept me rapt. Clarity, readability, and real insight are never guaranteed in books like this, and I was glad to find all three.

Next time someone asks me how to learn Iyov, I’ll point them here. Given how many pages I've bent down and how many times I’ve already gone back to review, I know it’ll stay on my desk all year.

[John Antony · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very important book that fills a gaping lacuna in the reception history of the Book of Job.