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Guide for the Perplexed, Part 3

Guide for the Perplexed, Part 3

by Moses Maimonides

MedievalOther religions
54 chapters14h 11mEnglish1904

About this book

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)

Chapters (54)

1Introduction & I. The "Four Faces" are Human Faces with four different peculiarities
529
2II. The Ḥayyot and the Ofannim
1141
3III. Further Explanation of the Ḥayyot and the Ofannim derived from Ezek. x.
347
4IV. The rendering of Ofan by Gilgal in the Targum of Jonathan
421
5V. 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)
405
6VI. On the Difference between the Vision of Ezekiel and that of Isaiah (vi.)
240
7VII. The Different Ways in which the Prophet perceived the Three Parts of the Mercabah (Chariot)
708
8VIII Man has the Power to Control his Bodily Wants and Earthly Desires
1421
9IX. The Material Element in Man Prevents him from Attaining Perfection
270
10X. God is not the Creator of Evil
592
11XI. Man is the Cause of his own Misfortunes
182
12XII. Three Kinds of Evil : (1) That caused by the Nature of Man ; (2) Caused by Man to Man ; (3) Caused by Man to himself
1418
13XIII. The Universe has No other Purpose than its own Existence
1715
14XIV. It is the Will of the Creator that the Spheres regulate the Affairs of Mankind
544
15XV. Impossible Things are not ascribed to the Creator, but it is difficult to Prove the Impossibility in each Individual Case
318
16XVI. On God's Omniscience
542
17XVII. Five Theories concerning Providence
2116
18XVIII. Every Individual Member of Mankind enjoys the Influence of Divine Providence in proportion to his Intellectual Perfection
490
19XIX. It is an ancient Error to Assume that God takes no Notice of Man
733
20XX. God's Knowledge is Different from Man's Knowledge
713
21XXI. The Creator's knowledge of His Production is Perfect
338
22XXII. Object of the Book of Job, and Explanation of the First Two Chapters
1136
23XXIII. Job and his Friends Discuss the various Theories concerning Providence
1591
24XXIV. On Trials and Temptations
1135
25XXV. The Actions of God are Not Purposeless
865
26XXVI. The Divine Precepts Serve a certain Purpose
796
27XXVII. The Object of the Divine Precepts is to Secure the Well-being of Man's Soul and Body
454
28XXVIII. This Object is easily seen in some Precepts, whilst in others it is only known after due Reflection
406
29XXIX. On the Sabeans or Star-worshippers
1688
30XXX. It is one of the Objects of the Law of Moses to Oppose Idolatry
351
31XXXI. The Law Promotes the Well-being of Man by teaching Truth, Morality and Social Conduct
283
32XXXII. Why did God give Laws to Oppose Idolatry instead of Uprooting it directly?
1741
33XXXIII. Another chief Object of the Law is to Train Man in Mastering his Appetites and Desires
568
34XXXIV. The Law is based on the ordinary condition of man
268
35XXXV. Division of the Precepts into Fourteen Classes
760
36XXXVI. First Class of Precepts, to Know, Love and Fear God
396
37XXXVII. Second Class, Laws concerning Idolatry
2260
38XXXVIII. Third Class, Moral Precepts
97
39XXXIX. Fourth Class, Laws relating to Charity
1080
40XL. Fifth Class, Compensation for Injury and the Duty of Preventing Sin
725
41XLI. Sixth Class, Punishment of the Sinner
2525
42XLII. Seventh Class, Equity and Honesty
519
43XLIII. Eighth Class, Sabbath and Festivals
928
44XLIV. Ninth Class, Prayer, Tefillin, Ẓiẓit and Mezuzah
112
45XLV. Tenth Class, The Temple, its Vessels and its Ministers
1327
46XLVI. Eleventh Class, Sacrifices
2705
47XLVII. Twelfth Class, Distinction between Clean and Unclean; and on Purification
1354
48XLVIII. Thirteenth Class, Dietary Laws
815
49XLIX. Fourteenth Class, Marriage Laws
2713
50L. On Scriptural Passages with seemingly Purposeless Contents
1178
51LI. How God is worshipped by a Perfect Man
2719
52LII. On the Fear of God
463
53LIII. Explanation of Ḥesed (Love), Mishpat (Judgment), and Ẓedaḳah (Righteousness)
418
54LIV. On True Wisdom
1514

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