ABARBANEL.

son of Don Judah, He was of Spanish

DON ISAAC ABARBANEL, the was born in Lisbon, in 1437. extraction,* the family having originally fled from Spain to avoid one of the persecutions which so often harrassed the Jews of that country. His education was suitable to the distinction and wealth of his father, and his abilities and acquirements procured for him the admiration of his own and subsequent ages. He was in high estimation with Alphonso, who admitted him to the honor of being one of his privy counsellors, a mark of confidence, of which the influential Jew showed himself to be worthy. He was also minister of finance both in Spain and in Portugal. The death of this monarch, however, put an end to his dignity. Don Juan II., bent upon oppressing the nobility and elevating the royal power, introduced important changes into the administration, which produced dangerous commotions among

*The family of Abarbanel was one of opulence and distinction. Some indeed, have not scrupled to derive his origin from David, but this appears altogether idle and unfounded. See Wolf, Vol. 1. p. 628.

the grandees. Abarbanel, who was probably implicated in the measures of the Duke of Braganza, although he had withdrawn from public affairs, was suddenly summoned to the king's presence. He was on his way thither, when he received timely notice that his obedience would probably cost him his life. Immediately he returned, and collecting his family and most valuable effects, he fled to Castile, where he spent some time in literary pursuits, and wrote his annotations on the prophets. He was much respected by the Jews there, and soon acquired the confidence of Ferdinand and Isabella, doubtless by some disclosures which he made of the relations of Portugal.

Abarbanel availed himself of the favorable regard of the royal pair, with the view of benefitting his Jewish brethren. But his efforts were unsuccessful. Scarcely had he heard of the edict banishing the Jews from Spain, than he threw himself at the feet of the sovereigns, laid before them the misery and deplorable consequences which such a measure would necessarily produce, and offered them immense sums to enable them to carry on their wars with the Moors, on condition of recalling the ruinous decision. His earnestness made a strong impression on the royal minds. Bnt the effect of his eloquent representations, and the hope of the Jews, were frustrated by the entrance of the grand inquisitor Torquemada, with a crucifix in his hand. "Judas," said he to the

sovereigns, "sold his master for thirty pieces of silver; your highnesses are willing to sell him again for 30,000 pieces of gold. Here he is, take him and dispose of him quickly."

On the expulsion of the Jews from Spain, Abarbanel retired to Naples, and shortly afterwards he went to Messina. The invasion of Charles VIII, who took Naples in the same month, was in all probability unexpected by him, as he had left his family in that city. He afterwards proceeded to Corfu, where he had the satisfaction of recovering his commentary on the Pentateuch, composed at Lisbon, the manuscript of which had been stolen from him. This work he enlarged, and completed it in the following year at Minopolis, where he lived with his family. During his residence at that place, he composed a number of learned works. His exposition of Daniel is said to be particularly worthy of notice, in a historical point of view, and also on account of the hope expressed in it of the advent of the Messiah within 70 years at farthest. If the author could have been chagrined at a foresight of the failure of his expectation, and at the same time have anticipated the predictions of numerous commentators subsequently to his own age, he might have consoled himself by the consideration, that in committing a palpable error on this point, he was only one of a multitude of prophets, who felt a brotherly sympathy in his mortification.

In after life Abarbanel settled in Venice, where he maintained no slight degree of influence with the senate. He died there in 1508, at the age of 71 years, and was buried at Padua.

Abarbanel is well known as an able commentator, although tedious from the immense number of questions which he is constantly proposing, to which he returns correspondent answers. He was a keen and sarcastic opponent of the Christians, and his commentaries, particularly those on the later prophets, abound with attacks on Christ and his Church. His hostility is not to be wondered at, as his views must have been founded on the wretched abuses of our holy religion by which he was surrounded, and which exercised so impolitic and flagitious an influence on the persons and property of his nation. Some notice of his various commentaries and other works may be seen in the Biographie Universelle, Tom. I. p. 102, 103, in Wolf, Vol. I. p. 628-640, III 540-544 and VI. 876, 877, and in Bartolocci, part. iii. p. 876-884.

Thus, for example, he interprets Isa. v. 8, of the monks and priests, who appropriated estates to themselves, and verse 11, of their luxurious banquets in their monasteries. At times, it is hardly to be supposed that he is serious, as where he explains v. 18 of the bell ropes. These instances are given by Gesenius in his Introduction to Isaiah, § 17, note 76., Vol i. p. 126. Abarbanel is described by Bartolocci, part iii. p. 875-6, as a most indefatigable student and remarkably ready writer, but an interpreter not to be relied on, a bitter enemy to Christians, writing execrations against them at the very time that he was paying court to their princes.

SAADIAS, THE GAON.

RABBI SAADIAS BEN JOSEPH, was born in Fayoum* in Egypt in the year 892. He is generally distinguished by the term Gaon with the article prefixed, the or hag-gaon. This is a title of honor, equivalent to the illustrious, by which, in that period the learned heads of Jewish schools were designated. It is applied by Aben Ezra and others to Saadias by way of distinction, on account of his extraordinary merit. The rectorship of the school in Sora near Babylon becoming vacant, the Resh Gelutha,† that is the prince or president of the Jews in that country, David Ben Zaccai, could not immediately determine whom he would appoint to fill this station. Two persons of distinction and character seemed to possess nearly equal claims to the office in question. Zemach Ben Sahen was a descendant of a learned line of progenitors in Sora ; Saadias, the Egyptian, had acquired an established reputation for his extensive

*Called also Al Fimiu and Pethom. + Head of the Captivity.