Judah Ibn Shabbethai (Known Also As Judah Levi Ben Isaac)

Spanish poet of the end of the twelfth century. He has been identified with the physician Judah b. Isaac of Barcelona, who is praised as a poet by Al-Ḥarizi (ch. 46), but he may also have lived at Burgos. He is a master of the "mosaic" style, and skilfully applies Biblical and Talmudic phrases; his humor is spontaneous. Judah ibn Shabbethai is the author of "Milḥemet ha-Ḥokmah weha-'Osher" and "Minḥat Yehudah Sone ha-Nashim." The former work (called also "Melek Rab") is in the style of the "maḳamah," in rimed prose interspersed with short poems. It was written in 1214, and is addressed to the nasi Todros ha-Levi Abulafia, who is called upon, at the end of the work, to act as judge in a poetical dispute. It appeared at Constantinople in 1543 (?), and was probably printed for the last time as an appendix to Abraham b. Ḥasdai's "Ben ha-Melek weha-Nazir" (Warsaw, 1894).

"Minḥat Yehudah Sone ha-Nashim" (called also "Sefer Zeraḥ" or "Taḥkemoni") likewise is written in the style of the maḳamah. It is a humorous satire on women, and is a much better piece of work than the "Milḥemet." It was written in 1218 and dedicated to Abraham al-Fakhkhar (ben ha-Yoẓer). Like the "Milḥemet," it appears to have been first printed at Constantinople, in 1543, the last reprint being in Eliezer Ashkenazi's "Ṭa'am Zeḳenim" (Frankfort-on-the-Main, 1854).

Bibliography:

  * Steinschneider, Cat. Bodl. col. 1369 et seq.



G. H. B.