(BIBLE)
Biblia Rabbinica - Mikra’oth Gedoloth. Pentateuch ...

Biblia Rabbinica - Mikra’oth Gedoloth. Pentateuch with Targum and Masoretic notes, and commentaries of Rashi, ibn Ezra and Ba`al HaTurim. Prophets with commentaries of Rashi, Radak, Ralbag and Rabbenu Yeshayah.
Four parts bound in four volumes. Four titles within woodcut architectural arch. Opening word of each Book within a decorative woodcut border. On title of first volume, Hebrew inscription of former owner
Samson Cohen Modon of Mantua (see below). * Vol. I (Pentateuch): ff. (6), 228, 8 (Targum Yerushalmi). Marginal repairs on ff. 17, 24-5, 63. Anti-Christological remark on f. 17v. as well as other lines struck by Church censor.
     * Vol. II (Early Prophets): ff. (1), 234-441.
     * Vol. III (Later Prophets): ff. (1), 442-685. Title fragmentary and crudely laid down on a contemporary leaf extracted from elsewhere, ff. 442- 446 repaired with loss.
      * Vol. IV (Hagiographa): ff. 687-817, 863-926. Lacking ff. 818-862 (Five Megilloth). Following ff. 926 are ff. 89-949, (1): Mesorah Gedolah and final leaf consisting of poem by Elijah Levi Bachur. Title laid down, some loss of text, f. 688 and f. 694 crudely remargined with some loss.
     Variously stained. Uniform modern boards. Folio. Vinograd, Venice 328; Habermann, Bomberg 192; Darlow & Moule 5093; Adams B-1225.

Venice: Daniel Bomberg, 1546-8.


The third and finest edition of Bomberg’s Rabbinic Bible.
     The poet Samson Cohen Modon (1679-1727) was a member of the delegation sent by the Jewish community of Mantua to pay homage to Emperor Charles VI in Vienna. It appears that the extensive marginalia to the first three Parshiyoth of Bereishith, as well as those to the Mesorah Gedolah, published at the conclusion of Vol. IV, are in Modon`s own hand. In the first instance, Modon`s notes comprise a virtual super-commentary to Ibn Ezra`s introductory riddle and his commentary to Bereshith/Noah/Lech Lecha. In the latter instance, Modon`s punctilious notes deal with the correct text of the Bible. See JE, Vol. VIII, p. 639.