Linked post
http://seforim.blogspot.com/2013/08/rav-shmuel-ben-hofni-gaon.html
Excerpts
"Scholars of the Geonim era are aware of Rav Shmuel's rationalistic approach to Torah and Mitzvot. With the publication of D.E. Sklare's groundbreaking volume on Rav Shmuel,[18] his cultural background in M`utazilite Kalaam (Philosophy), has become more readily understood. Rav Shmuel's approach was already noted by his son in law, Rav Hayya in a teshuvah,[19] who takes his father in-law to task for delving too deeply into Arabic Philosophy.[20]"
"Perhaps the most well known comment by Rav Shmuel expressing his rationalistic viewpoint is his commentary to the 'witch of `Ein Dor' episode (1 Sam. 28:3-25). His view is cited by Radak ad loc as well as in the fragmentary commentary of R. Yehudah ibn Bala'am, and in a responsa preserved in a Genizah fragment.[21] In short, King Shaul seeks out a witch to raise the spirit of Shmuel HaNavi, who in turn informs him that he will perish tomorrow in battle.
As a rationalist, Rav Shmuel does not accept that there are evil forces in the world (Ruach HaTumah) and as such, sorcery can not conjure up the dead, but rather is nothing more than slight of hand."
Read full article
No comments:
Post a Comment