ISAAC BEN SAMUEL HA-SEFARDI:
Spanish Biblical exegete; flourished in the eleventh and twelfth centuries. From his commentary, which is written in Arabic, it seems that Isaac b. Samuel lived in Palestine; Steinschneider ("Hebr. Bibl." vi. 114) concluded that he lived at Aleppo. Isaac b. Samuel is regarded as the successor in Biblical exegesis of Judah ibn Balaam and Moses ibn Gikatilla. The authorities he quotes are the geonim Saadia, Sherira, and Hai, and Judah ibn Ḳuraish, Judah ibn Balaam, Nathan ben Jehiel, and Moses ibn Gikatilla. In turn, Isaac's commentary is frequently quoted by the exegete Abraham b. Solomon (Steinschneider, "Hebr. Bibl." xx. 10). His commentary to the second book of Samuel is found in the British Museum (Or. 2388).
Bibliography:
- G. Margoliouth, in J. Q. R. x. 385-403;
- Bacher, ib. x. 729;
- Joseph Derenbourg, in R. E. J. v. 139;
- Steinschneider, Hebr. Bibl. vi. 114;
- xx. 10, 11.
