CHAPTER XXII
Isaac Abarbanel
Abarbanel’s Philosophy and Biblical Commentaries.—Elias Levita.—Zeëna u-Reëna.—Moses Al-shech.—The Biur.
The career of Don Isaac Abarbanel (born in Lisbon in 1437, died in Venice in 1509) worthily closes the long services which the Jews of Spain rendered to the state and to learning. The earlier part of his life was spent in the service of Alfonso V of Portugal. He possessed considerable wealth, and his house, which he himself tells us was built with spacious halls, was the meeting-place of scholars, diplomatists, and men of science. Among his other occupations, he busied himself in ransoming Jewish slaves, and obtained the co-operation of some Italian Jews in this object.
When Alfonso died, Abarbanel not only
