Monday, January 19, 2009

אברבנאל על צפרדעא

Abravanel (or Abarbanel) accepts the explanation of Ibn Ezra that the correct translation should be crocodiles (or alligators) and has a fascinating geographical excursus to support this explanation.

Note the important historical point on the thousand Jewish children who were exiled to this distant alligator infested island in order to convert them to Christianity.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

I was excited to see your post from almost a year ago with this info. This is the only place I have found online pointing this out. Note that Saadia on Ps 78:45 (see Kafih's edition) also says that צפרדע means "crocodile." I suspect that Ibn Ezra got it from Saadia.

 
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