Isaac Ben-elia Ben-samuel

Isaac ben-Elia ben-Samuel a Jewish commentator who flourished in the beginning of the 18th century, deserves our notice as the author of

(1.) A Commentary on the Psalms, published at Dyrhenfurt, under the title of תהלים עם לקוטי מגדים, the Psalms with a valuable catena (1728), consisting of excerpts from the celebrated expositions of Rashi, D. Kimchi, etc., giving also an abridgment of Alsheich's commentary, entitled רוממות אל, and a German explanation of the difficult words.

(2.) A Commentary on Proverbs, entitled צם לקוטי מגדים משלי, Proverbs with a valuable catena (Wandsbeck, 1730-31), composed of excerpts from the expositions of Rashi, D. Kimchi, Ibn Ezra, Levi b. — Gershon, Salomon b. — Melech, giving also a German explanation of the difficult expressions, and an abridgment of Alsheich's exposition called רוב פנינים; and

(3.) A Commentary on the Sabbatic Lessons from the Prophets, entitled פני יצחק, the face of Isaac (Wandsbeck, 1730), which consists of excerpts from nine of the most distinguished commentators, viz. Rashi, Ibn Ezra, D. Kimchi, Levi b. — Gershon, Abrabanel, Alsheich, Samuel b. — Laniado, J. Arama, and Joseph Albo. The works of Isaac b Elia are very valuable, inasmuch as they enable the Biblical student to see on one page the expositions of the best and most famous Jewish commentators on every difficult passage, without being obliged to search for them in inaccessible and costly volumes. — Kitto, Biblical Cyclopcedia, 2, 410.