Moses the Punctuator

Moses The Punctuator (ר משה הגקרן), or the Cantor (חזן), a Jewish exegetist, lived in London about the middle of the 13th century, and is noted as the author of the well-known Treatise embodying the rules about the points of the Hebrew Scriptures, called דרכי הניקוד והנגינות, or כללי הניקוד, also in the MSS. הוריית הקורא. Excerpts of this treatise, made by Jacob ben- Chayim, were first printed with the Massora in the Rabbinic Bible (Venice, 1524-25), and since in all the editions of the Rabbinic Bible. The treatise has also been published separately with a short commentary by Zebi ben- Menachem (Wilna, 1822), and with corrections and German notes by Frensdorff (Hanover, 1847). Those who recognise the real importance of the Hebrew vowel-points and accents will find in this unpretentious treatise a useful guide. R. Moses was thoroughly acquainted with and quotes the grammatical and exegetical writings of his predecessors, as Chayug, Rashi, Ibn-Ganach, Ibn-Ezra, Parchon, etc. See Steinschneider, Bibliographisches Handbuch, page 95; Zunz, Zur Geschichte und Literatur, page 111; Ginsburg, in Kitto, Bibl. Cyclop. s.v.