Bidspirit auction | DURAN, SHLOMO BEN TZEMACH. Cheshek

DURAN, SHLOMO BEN TZEMACH. Cheshek Shlomo [commentary to the Book of Mishlei - Proverbs.] FIRST EDITION. Title within architectural columns. ff. (8), 360, 10. Minor staining and worming. Modern morocco. Thick 4to. Vinograd, Venice 1146. Venice, Pietro & Lorenzo Bragadin for Giovanni Caleone, 1623. In his introduction the author provides his pedigree: He was the great-great-grandson of R. Shlomo ben Shimon Duran (RaSHBaSH, c. 1400-1467); whose maternal ancestry stemmed back to back to R. Moshe Nachmanides (RaMBaN). The author inherited from his illustrious ancestors the rabbinate of Algiers. He died there some time after 1593. In the present work, R. Shlomo Duran rejects the accepted notion, that of the three works composed by King Solomon (Song of Songs, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes), the Song of Songs was composed in Solomon’s youth. Though this opinion was embraced by Samuel ibn Tibbon (in his commentary to Ecclesiastes), this is a misreading of the text. Earthly, romantic love is but an allegory for love of the Divine. Such spiritual love is achieved only in maturity.