Abarbanel on Jeremiah

Abarbanel on Jeremiah, Introduction 1

(Translated by Chat GPT) Isaac Abravanel said: Three characteristics are found in humans. The first characteristic is in their souls, as they will be engraved and formed within them with their intellect and wisdom, the true forms of things as they exist. According to how this characteristic will be in a person's soul, the level of wisdom and completeness will be in a wise person or a prophet. As long as one engraves within their soul the true forms of things, the level of the wise who perceive through investigation and inquiry, and the prophets in whom the spirit of God speaks, will be superior. Therefore, this first characteristic pertains to things that exist in the wise and prophetic soul. The second characteristic is that which is engraved in language and speech according to what is depicted in the soul. Just as the soul depicts what is in reality, language and speech will depict what is in the soul. In this characteristic, there is also a great distinction among people, according to the eloquence each possesses in speech. This is what is called the language of scholars, to speak and express oneself clearly and elegantly, reflecting whatever the soul depicts without inhibition. In this, the advantage of eloquent speakers and poets over one another lies. And generally, every wise person or prophet will have an advantage over their peers in this characteristic as well. The third characteristic is in writing. When a wise person or a prophet writes in a book what he has spoken or what he desires to speak, just as the drawing of the soul is the first characteristic, and the articulation in speech is the second, so the narratives of language and its assertions will be inscribed in writing. This is the third characteristic. In this, there is also a significant difference among people, not only in the form of writing and its eloquence but also in the accuracy and correctness of the writing. There should be no mistake or error, neither in gender nor plurality, neither in tense nor any other aspect that would imply an error in meticulous writing. Thus, these three characteristics encompass the virtues and advantages of the wise or the prophets over the authors of books. This includes the ability to depict the soul, the eloquence of speech, the accuracy of writing, and correctness in the book. King Solomon elaborated on all of this at the end of the book of Ecclesiastes. As he said, "Moreover, the Preacher was wise; he still taught the people knowledge, and he pondered and sought out and set in order many proverbs. The Preacher sought to find delightful words and to write words of truth correctly." This means that the completeness found in the wise person is greater than the first characteristic, which is the depiction of one's soul and the extent of wisdom. When he said, "Moreover, the Preacher was wise; he still taught the people knowledge," it shows the completeness found in him is also greater than the second characteristic, which is eloquence of speech. For the learning of others, it is fitting that it be according to their reception. For a suitable student, they should learn with much inquiry and balance, and for an inferior student, if they begin with inquiry, they should learn with parables according to their level of inquiry. Therefore, it was said concerning learning, "and he pondered and sought out," which is for the suitable students, and "set in order many proverbs," which is against those who begin with wisdom. However, against the completeness of the third characteristic, which is in writing and compiling books, it was said, "The Preacher sought to find delightful words," which is the beautiful and well-ordered language included in the second characteristic. Concerning writing and compiling books, it was said, "and to write words of truth correctly," meaning that the writing should be like its companions, accurate without error, words of truth without falsehood or error at all. Solomon, the king, explained the necessity of perfection in language, to teach the people in writing and compiling books. Because at the beginning of his wisdom, these two were not necessary for him, as he was the king of Israel, and it was sufficient for him to attain wisdom and depict the soul. Therefore, he said first, "Moreover, the Preacher was wise, still teaching the people knowledge," meaning that he did not suffice with the completeness of his soul alone but also completed the people of his generation in learning and those who came after him in studying his books. Thus, he also said here, "The Preacher sought to find delightful words," meaning that his words were like nails firmly fixed, and even though the authors of books may learn and take from the words of their predecessors as if they are thieves of words, there is no shame in being compilers who collected and received from the words of others, as all wisdom comes from one source, which is God, from whom wisdom and understanding come, and all the wise have learned from Him. From these words, it is understood that everyone should learn beautifully in his saying, and even more so should those who are cautious produce many books and complete them. And the intention is not to avoid making them but to be cautious and diligent in making them, and not to say, "Many have already written before me, why should I bother with other compositions?" for our fathers left us a place to excel in it.