Johann Buxtorf the Elder

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Johann Buxtorf the Elder

Johann Buxtorf the Elder (born December 15, 1564 in Kamen , Westphalia , † September 13, 1629 in Basel ) was a German Reformed theologian and founder of Hebrew and Aramaic linguistics in Germany .

Life

Buxtorf was born the son of a pastor of the same name, studied at the High School in Herborn from 1585 and moved to the University of Basel in 1588 . There he took over the chair of Hebrew in 1591, which he held until his death. In 1614/15 he was the rector of the university. He died of the plague at the age of 64 .

Buxtorf wrote numerous books, including a Hebrew grammar (1605) and several dictionaries. His most important work is the Lexicon chaldaicum talmudicum et rabbinicum , which was completed by his son Johann Buxtorf the Younger and which was published in Basel in 1640. His Juden-Schul (1603) described Jewish life and customs and was of great importance for a more objective perception of Judaism in the early modern period. The Bibliotheca rabbinica (1613), the earliest bibliography of Hebrew books , was also widely used . He had an argument with Louis Cappel , who advocated a late dating of the Hebrew vowel signs , which his son continued.

Buxtorf's endeavors were to print a Hebrew Bible with a collection of the most important Jewish Bible commentaries. For this purpose, he obtained permission for two Jews to settle in Basel. He maintained a lively correspondence with Jewish scholars in Germany , Holland and Constantinople . His attitude to Judaism meant, after a long period of extreme oppression, the turn to greater tolerance. Buxtorf left behind a large number of letters which today are extremely instructive for the spiritual life of that time.

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