This fascinating work represents the peak of philosophical, allegorical interpretation of the Middle Ages. The book by Rabbi Levi rests on Talmudic, midrashic, halakhic, rich philosophical and scientific sources, and evokes admiration in its readers, who are left impressed by the scope of the author's knowledge and fertile imagination.
Towards the end of the thirteenth century,the
Provençal Jewish philosopher R. Levi ben Avraham wrote aunique treatise – an
in-depth Hebrew encyclopedia of the sciences and of Judaism entitled LivyatḤen.
R. Levi was known already in his lifetime as a leading exponent of the
philosophical-allegorical interpretation of the Torah and of rabbinic midrash.
In the Jewish part of his encyclopedia he deals with a myriad of topics,
including Jewish ethics, prophecy, the reasons for the commandments, the stories
of Moses and the patriarchs, the principles of faith, the Work of Creation, the
Work of the Chariot, and the interpretation of rabbinic midrash and aggadah.
Prior to LivyatḤenR. Levi wrote an encyclopedic poem of over 1000 stanzas
in rhymed meter entitled Batei ha-Nepheshve-ha-Laḥashim. This poem is
devoted to the same topics in science and Judaism that are later discussed in
great detail in his treatise.