Life of Maimonides

xv

Moreh Nebuchim Literature. Analysis of the Guide for the Perplexed

xxvii

PART I.

Introduction--

Dedicatory Letter

1

The Object of the Guide

2

On Similes

4

Directions for the Study of this Work

8

Introductory Remarks

9

chapter

I

The homonymity of Ẓelem

13

II

On Genesis iii. 5

14

III

On tabnit and temunah

16

IV

On raah, hibbit and ḥazah

17

V

On Exod. xxiv. 10

18

VI

On ish and ishshah, aḅ and aḅot

19

VII

On yalad

19

VIII

On maḳom

20

IX

On kisse

21

X

On ‘alah, yarad

22

XI

On yashab

23

XII

On kam

24

XIII

On ‘amad

25

XIV

On adam

25

XV

On naẓab, yaẓab

25

XVI

On Ẓur

26

XVII

On Mishnah Ḥagigah ii. 1

27

XVIII

On ḳarab, naga‘, niggash

27

XIX

On male

28

XX

On ram, nissa

29

XXI

On ‘abar

30

XXII

On ba

32

XXIII

On Yaẓa, shub

32

XXIV

On halak

33

XXV

On shaken

34

XXVI

On "The Torah speaketh the language of man"

34

XXVII

On Targum of Gen. xlvi. 4

35

XXVIII

On regel

37

XXIX

On ‘aẓeb

37

XXX

On akal

39

XXXI, XXXII

On the Limit of Man's Intellect

40, 42

XXXIII to XXXVI

On the Study and the Teaching of Metaphysics

43-52

XXXVII

On panim

52

XXXVIII

On aḥor

53

XXXIX

On leb

54

XL

On ruaḥ

55

XLI

On nefesh

56

XLII

On .hayyim-mavet

56

p. x

XLIII

On ḳanaf

57

XLIV

On ‘ayin

58

XLV

On shama‘

58

XLVI, XLVII

On the Attribution of Senses and Sensation, to God

59, 63

XLVIII

The Targum of shama‘ and raah

64

XLIX

Figurative Expressions applied to Angels

65

L

On Faith

67

LI-LX

On Attributes

68-89

LI

On the Necessity of Proving the Inadmissibility of Attributes in reference to God

68

LII

Classification of Attributes

69

LIII

The Arguments of the Attributists

72

LIV

On Exod. xxxiii. 13; xxxiv. 7

75

LV

On Attributes implying Corporeality, Emotion, Non-existence and Comparison

78

LVI

On Attributes denoting Existence, Life, Power, Wisdom and Will

79

LVII

On the Identity of the Essence of God and His Attributes

80

LVIII

On the Negative Sense of the True Attributes of God

81

LIX

On the Character of the Knowledge of God Consisting of Negations

83

LX

On the Difference between Positive and Negative Attributes

87

LXI

On the Names of God

89

LXII

On the Divine Names composed of Four, Twelve and Forty-two Letters

91

LXIII

On Ehyeh, Yah, and Shaddai

93

LXIV

On "The Name of the Lord," and" The Glory of God"

95

LXV

On the phrase "God spake"

96

LXVI

On Exod. xxxii. 16

98

LXVII

On shabat and naḥ

99

LXVIII

On the Terms: The Intellectus, the Intelligens and the Intelligibile

100

LXIX

On the Primal Cause

102

LXX

On the attribute rokeb ba‘arabot

105

LXXI

The Origin of the Kalām

107

LXXII

A Parallel between the Universe and Man

113

LXXIII

Twelve Propositions of the Kalām

120

LXXIV

Proofs of the Kalām for the creatio ex nihilo

133

LXXV

Proofs of the Kalām for the Unity of God

138

LXXVI

Proofs of the Kalām for the Incorporeality of God

141

PART II.

The Author's Introduction. The Twenty-Six Propositions employed by the Philosophers to prove the Existence of God

145

I

Philosophical proofs for the Existence, Incorporeality, and Unity of the First Cause

149

II

on the Existence of Intelligences or purely Spiritual Beings

154

III

The Author adopts the Theory of Aristotle as least open to Objections

156

IV

The Spheres and the Causes of their Motion

156

V

Agreement of the Aristotelian Theory with the Teaching of Scripture

159

VI

What is meant by the Scriptural Term "Angels"

160

VII

The Homonymity of the term "Angel"

162

VIII

On the Music of the Spheres

163

IX

On the Number of the Heavenly Spheres

163

X

The Influence of the Spheres upon the Earth manifesto itself in four different ways

164

XI

The Theory of Eccentricity Preferable to that of Epicycles

166

XII

On the Nature of the Divine Influence and that of the Spheres

168

XIII

Three Different Theories about the Beginning of the Universe

171

p. xi

XIV

Seven Methods by which the Philosophers sought to prove the Eternity of the Universe

174

XV

Aristotle does not scientifically demonstrate his Theory

176

XVI

The Author refutes all Objections to Creatio ex nihilo

178

XVII

The Laws of Nature apply to Things Created, but do not regulate the Creative Act which produces them

178

XVIII

Examinations of the Proofs of Philosophers for the Eternity of the Universe

181

XIX

Design in nature

184

XX

The Opinion of Aristotle as regards Design in Nature

189

XXI

Explanation of the Aristotelian Theory that the Universe is the necessary Result of the First Cause

190

XXII

Objections to the Theory of the Eternity of the Universe

192

XXIII

The Theory of Creatio ex nihilo is preferable to that of the Eternity of the Universe

195

XXIV

Difficulty of Comprehending the Nature and the Motion of the Spheres according to the Theory of Aristotle

196

XXV

The Theory of Creation is adopted because of its own Superiority, the Proofs based on Scripture being Inconclusive

199

XXVI

Examination of a passage from Pirḳe di-Rabbi Eliezer in reference to Creation

200

XXVII

The Theory of a Future Destruction of the Universe is not part of the Religious Belief taught in the Bible

201

XXVIII

Scriptural Teaching is in favour of the Indestructibility of the Universe

202

XXIX

Explanation of Scriptural Phrases implying the Destruction of Heaven and Earth

204

XXX

Philosophical Interpretation of Genesis i.-iv.

212

XXXI

The Institution of the Sabbath serves (1) to Teach the Theory of Creation, and (2) to promote Man's Welfare

218

XXXII

Three Theories concerning Prophecy

219

XXXIII

The Difference between Moses and the other Israelites as regards the Revelation on Mount Sinai

221

XXXIV

Explanation of Exodus xxiii. 20

223

XXXV

The Difference between Moses and the other Prophets as regards the Miracles wrought by them

223

XXXVI

On the Mental, Physical and Moral Faculties of the Prophets

225

XXXVII

On the Divine Influence upon Man's Imaginative and Mental Faculties through the Active Intellect

227

XXXVIII

Courage and Intuition reach the highest degree of Perfection in Prophets

229

XXXIX

Moses was the fittest Prophet to Receive and Promulgate the Immutable Law, which succeeding Prophets merely Taught and Expounded

231

XL

The Test of True Prophecy

232

XLI

What is Meant by "Vision"

234

XLII

Prophets Received Direct Communication only in Dreams or Visions

236

XLIII

On the Allegories of the Prophets

238

XLIV

On the Different Modes in which Prophets Receive Divine Messages

240

XLV

The Various Classes of Prophets

241

XLVI

The Allegorical Acts of Prophets formed Parts of Prophetic Visions

245

XLVII

On the Figurative Style of the Prophetic Writings

247

XLVIII

Scripture ascribes Phenomena directly produced by Natural Causes to God as the First Cause of all things

249

PART III.

The Author's Introduction and Apology for Publishing, contrary to the Teaching of the Mishnah, an Interpretation of Ezek. i.

251

p. xii

I

The "Four Faces" are Human Faces with four different peculiarities

252

II

The Ḥayyot and the Ofannim

252

III

Further Explanation of the Ḥayyot and the Ofannim derived from Ezek. x.

255

IV

The rendering of Ofan by Gilgal in the Targum of Jonathan

256

V

The Vision of Ezekiel is divided into three stages: (1) Ḥayyot (=the Spheres); (2) Ofannim (=Earthly elements); and (3) the man above the Ḥayyot (=Intelligences)

257

VI

On the Difference between the Vision of Ezekiel and that of Isaiah (vi.)

258

VII

The Different Ways in which the Prophet perceived the Three Parts of the Mercabah (Chariot)

259

VIII

Man has the Power to Control his Bodily Wants and Earthly Desires

261

IX

The Material Element in Man Prevents him from Attaining Perfection

264

X

God is not the Creator of Evil

265

XI

Man is the Cause of his own Misfortunes

267

XII

Three Kinds of Evil: (1) That caused by the Nature of Man; (2) Caused by Man to Man; (3) Caused by Man to himself

267

XIII

The Universe has No other Purpose than its own Existence

272

XIV

It is the Will of the Creator that the Spheres regulate the Affairs of Mankind

277

XV

Impossible Things are not ascribed to the Creator, but it in difficult to Prove the Impossibility in each Individual Case

279

XVI

On God's Omniscience

280

XVII

Five Theories concerning Providence

282

XVIII

Every Individual Member of Mankind enjoys the Influence of Divine Providence in proportion to his Intellectual Perfection

289

XIX

It is an ancient Error to Assume that God takes no Notice of Man

290

XX

God's Knowledge is Different from Man's Knowledge

292

XXI

The Creator's knowledge of His Production is Perfect

295

XXII

Object of the Book of Job, and Explanation of the First Two Chapters

296

XXIII

Job and his Friends Discuss the various Theories concerning Providence

299

XXIV

On Trials and Temptations

304

XXV

The Actions of God are Not Purposeless

307

XXVI

The Divine Precepts Serve a certain Purpose

310

XXVII

The Object of the Divine Precepts is to Secure the Well-being of Man's Soul and Body

312

XXVIII

This Object is easily seen in some Precepts whilst in others it is only known after due Reflection

313

XXIX

On the Sabeans or Star-worshippers

315

XXX

It is one of the Objects of the Law of Moses to Oppose Idolatry

320

XXXI

The Law Promotes the well-being of Man by teaching Truth, Morality and Social Conduct

321

XXXII

Why did God give Laws to Oppose Idolatry instead of Uprooting it directly?

322

XXXIII

Another chief Object of the Law is to Train Man in Mastering his Appetites and Desires

327

XXXIV

The Law is based on the ordinary condition of man

328

XXXV

Division of the Precepts into Fourteen Classes

329

XXXVI

First Class of Precepts, to Know, Love and Fear God

331

XXXVII

Second Class, Laws concerning Idolatry

332

XXXVIII

Third Class, Moral Precepts

338

XXXIX

Fourth Class, Laws relating to Charity

339

XL

Fifth Class, Compensation for Injury and the Duty of Preventing Sin

342

XLI

Sixth Class, Punishment of the Sinner

344

XLII

Seventh Class, Equity and Honesty

350

p. xiii

XLIII

Eighth Class, Sabbath and Festivals

352

XLIV

Ninth Class, Prayer, Tefillin, Ẓiẓit and Mezuzah

354

XLV

Tenth Class, The Temple, its Vessels and its Ministers

355

XLVI

Eleventh Class, Sacrifices

359

XLVII

Twelfth Class, Distinction between Clean and Unclean and on Purification

366

XLVIII

Thirteenth Class, Dietary Laws

370

XLIX

Fourteenth Class, Marriage Laws

372

L

On Scriptural Passages with seemingly Purposeless Contents

380

LI

How God is worshipped by a Perfect Man

384

LII

On the Fear of God

391

LIII

Explanation of Ḥesed (Love), Mishpat (Judgment), and Ẓedaḳah (Righteousness)

392

LIV

On True Wisdom

393