Ibn-giath, Isaac Ben-juhudah

Ibn-Giath, Isaac ben-Juhudah a Jewish Rabbi of a very distinguished family who resided in Lucena, not far from Cordova, was born about 1030. He was a very able philosopher and hymnologist, and well conversant with the Talmud. He is said to have written a Commentary on Ecclesiastes, which has not as yet come to light. From the frequent quotations made from it by the best interpreters and lexicographers, it appears that it contained important contributions to the critical exposition of this difficult book. From the references to his writings made by Aben-Ezra (comp. comment. on De 10:7; Ps 147:3), Kimchi (Lexicon, under articles שרק, ענה, עמת, סור, נבע, זכר), and Solomon ben-Melech (comment. on 2Sa 22:36), it is evident that Ibn-Giath most have also written some other exegetical and grammatical treatises, and that he materially contributed to the development of Biblical exegesis. This devotional poetry, which is rather inferior to Ibn-Gebirol's (q.v.), is used in the Jewish service to the present day. He lied in 1089. See Zunz, Synagogale Poesie d. Mittelalters, p. 225 sq.; Fürst, Biblioth. Jude 1:1, 332 sq.; Sachs, Die Religiose Poesie d. Juden in Spanien (Berlin, 1845), p. 46, etc., 255, etc.; Landshut, Amude Aboda (Berl. 1857), fasciculus 1, 111, etc.; Gratz, Gesch. der Juden, 6, 74.