The Guide for the Perplexed, Part 3

Moses Maimonides (1138 - 1204)
Translated by Michael Friedländer (1833 - 1910)

The Guide for the Perplexed, Part 3 (Arabic: دلالة الحائرين Dalālat al-ḥā'irīn דלאלת אלחאירין; Hebrew: מורה נבוכים Moreh Nevuchim) by Rabbi Moses ben Maimon the Sephardi (משה ברבי מימון הספרדי) who is commonly known as Maimonides and also referred to by the acronym Rambam (רמב״ם). The Guide was written in Judeo-Arabic using the Hebrew alphabet in the form of a three-part letter to the Rambam's student, Rabbi Joseph ben Judah of Ceuta. Maimonides says, "To give a full explanation of the mystic passages of the Bible is contrary to the Law and to reason; besides, my knowledge of them is based on reasoning, not on divine inspiration. I have not received my belief in this respect from any teacher, but it has been formed by what I learnt from Scripture and the utterances of our Sages, and by the philosophical principles which I have adopted. ... I ask you to study attentively the chapters which follow on this sublime, important, and grand subject, which is the pin upon which everything hangs, and the pillar upon which everything rests." Translated by Michael Friedländer who was principal of Jews' College. Cover: The Serpent Beguiled Me by cartoonist Robin Bougie. (Summary adapted from Wikipedia and the text)

Genre(s): Medieval, Other religions

Language: English

Keyword(s): philosophy (946), God (77), plato (38), judaism (29), aristotle (28), Torah (19), jewish (16), Moses (14), neoplatonism (7), platonism (4) ... [Show full list]

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 01 Introduction & I. The "Four Faces" are Human Faces with four different peculiarities Geoffrey Edwards
00:08:49
Play 02 II. The Ḥayyot and the Ofannim Geoffrey Edwards
00:19:01
Play 03 III. Further Explanation of the Ḥayyot and the Ofannim derived from Ezek. x. Geoffrey Edwards
00:05:47
Play 04 IV. The rendering of Ofan by Gilgal in the Targum of Jonathan Geoffrey Edwards
00:07:01
Play 05 V. The Vision of Ezekiel is divided into three stages: (1) Ḥayyot (=the Spheres); (2) Ofannim (=Earthly elements); and (3) the man above the Ḥayyot (=Intelligences) Geoffrey Edwards
00:06:45
Play 06 VI. On the Difference between the Vision of Ezekiel and that of Isaiah (vi.) Geoffrey Edwards
00:04:00
Play 07 VII. The Different Ways in which the Prophet perceived the Three Parts of the Mercabah (Chariot) Geoffrey Edwards
00:11:48
Play 08 VIII Man has the Power to Control his Bodily Wants and Earthly Desires Geoffrey Edwards
00:23:41
Play 09 IX. The Material Element in Man Prevents him from Attaining Perfection Geoffrey Edwards
00:04:30
Play 10 X. God is not the Creator of Evil Geoffrey Edwards
00:09:52
Play 11 XI. Man is the Cause of his own Misfortunes Geoffrey Edwards
00:03:02
Play 12 XII. Three Kinds of Evil : (1) That caused by the Nature of Man ; (2) Caused by Man to Man ; (3) Caused by Man to himself Geoffrey Edwards
00:23:38
Play 13 XIII. The Universe has No other Purpose than its own Existence Geoffrey Edwards
00:28:35
Play 14 XIV. It is the Will of the Creator that the Spheres regulate the Affairs of Mankind Geoffrey Edwards
00:09:04
Play 15 XV. Impossible Things are not ascribed to the Creator, but it is difficult to Prove the Impossibility in each Individual Case Geoffrey Edwards
00:05:18
Play 16 XVI. On God's Omniscience Geoffrey Edwards
00:09:02
Play 17 XVII. Five Theories concerning Providence Geoffrey Edwards
00:35:16
Play 18 XVIII. Every Individual Member of Mankind enjoys the Influence of Divine Providence in proportion to his Intellectual Perfection Geoffrey Edwards
00:08:10
Play 19 XIX. It is an ancient Error to Assume that God takes no Notice of Man Geoffrey Edwards
00:12:13
Play 20 XX. God's Knowledge is Different from Man's Knowledge Geoffrey Edwards
00:11:53
Play 21 XXI. The Creator's knowledge of His Production is Perfect Geoffrey Edwards
00:05:38
Play 22 XXII. Object of the Book of Job, and Explanation of the First Two Chapters Geoffrey Edwards
00:18:56
Play 23 XXIII. Job and his Friends Discuss the various Theories concerning Providence Geoffrey Edwards
00:26:31
Play 24 XXIV. On Trials and Temptations Geoffrey Edwards
00:18:55
Play 25 XXV. The Actions of God are Not Purposeless Geoffrey Edwards
00:14:25
Play 26 XXVI. The Divine Precepts Serve a certain Purpose Geoffrey Edwards
00:13:16
Play 27 XXVII. The Object of the Divine Precepts is to Secure the Well-being of Man's Soul and Body Geoffrey Edwards
00:07:34
Play 28 XXVIII. This Object is easily seen in some Precepts, whilst in others it is only known after due Reflection Geoffrey Edwards
00:06:46
Play 29 XXIX. On the Sabeans or Star-worshippers Geoffrey Edwards
00:28:08
Play 30 XXX. It is one of the Objects of the Law of Moses to Oppose Idolatry Geoffrey Edwards
00:05:51
Play 31 XXXI. The Law Promotes the Well-being of Man by teaching Truth, Morality and Social Conduct Geoffrey Edwards
00:04:43
Play 32 XXXII. Why did God give Laws to Oppose Idolatry instead of Uprooting it directly? Geoffrey Edwards
00:29:01
Play 33 XXXIII. Another chief Object of the Law is to Train Man in Mastering his Appetites and Desires Geoffrey Edwards
00:09:28
Play 34 XXXIV. The Law is based on the ordinary condition of man Geoffrey Edwards
00:04:28
Play 35 XXXV. Division of the Precepts into Fourteen Classes Geoffrey Edwards
00:12:40
Play 36 XXXVI. First Class of Precepts, to Know, Love and Fear God Geoffrey Edwards
00:06:36
Play 37 XXXVII. Second Class, Laws concerning Idolatry Geoffrey Edwards
00:37:40
Play 38 XXXVIII. Third Class, Moral Precepts Geoffrey Edwards
00:01:37
Play 39 XXXIX. Fourth Class, Laws relating to Charity Geoffrey Edwards
00:18:00
Play 40 XL. Fifth Class, Compensation for Injury and the Duty of Preventing Sin Geoffrey Edwards
00:12:05
Play 41 XLI. Sixth Class, Punishment of the Sinner Geoffrey Edwards
00:42:05
Play 42 XLII. Seventh Class, Equity and Honesty Geoffrey Edwards
00:08:39
Play 43 XLIII. Eighth Class, Sabbath and Festivals Geoffrey Edwards
00:15:28
Play 44 XLIV. Ninth Class, Prayer, Tefillin, Ẓiẓit and Mezuzah Geoffrey Edwards
00:01:52
Play 45 XLV. Tenth Class, The Temple, its Vessels and its Ministers Geoffrey Edwards
00:22:07
Play 46 XLVI. Eleventh Class, Sacrifices Geoffrey Edwards
00:45:05
Play 47 XLVII. Twelfth Class, Distinction between Clean and Unclean; and on Purification Geoffrey Edwards
00:22:34
Play 48 XLVIII. Thirteenth Class, Dietary Laws Geoffrey Edwards
00:13:35
Play 49 XLIX. Fourteenth Class, Marriage Laws Geoffrey Edwards
00:45:13
Play 50 L. On Scriptural Passages with seemingly Purposeless Contents Geoffrey Edwards
00:19:38
Play 51 LI. How God is worshipped by a Perfect Man Geoffrey Edwards
00:45:19
Play 52 LII. On the Fear of God Geoffrey Edwards
00:07:43
Play 53 LIII. Explanation of Ḥesed (Love), Mishpat (Judgment), and Ẓedaḳah (Righteousness) Geoffrey Edwards
00:06:58
Play 54 LIV. On True Wisdom Geoffrey Edwards
00:25:14