The Wars of the Lord (Milhamot Adonai)

Introduction

Gersonides’ main philosophical work, written in Hebrew and completed in 1329 after about twelve years. Its six books treat the immortality of the soul, dreams and prophecy, God’s knowledge, providence, the heavenly bodies and the eternity or creation of the world. Book V, the longest, contains a full astronomy with Gersonides’ own observations and a description of his measuring instrument, later called Jacob’s staff; it was usually copied separately and partly translated into Latin. On God’s knowledge of future choices and on creation from a formless body he openly departs from Maimonides. The work was first printed at Riva di Trento in 1560, without the astronomical book.

Connections

Builds on

• Long Commentaries on Aristotlec. 1190 · Ibn Rushd (Averroes)

Criticizes

• The Guide for the Perplexedc. 1190 · Maimonides

Criticized in

• The Light of the Lord (Or Adonai)c. 1410 · Hasdai Crescas