XIV. JOSEPH, sirnamed the Blind1, was, as is said, a Professor in the university of Sara, about the year 351. The Jews call him the Great Light, or Saghi-Nabor. He is Ganz Tze-mach David ad an. 113.likewise sirnamed Sinai, because he gloried in having a perfect knowledge of all the traditions, which had been delivered to Moses on mount Sinai. He is said to be the author of the Chaldee Paraphrases upon the Psalms, Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Solomon’s song, Ruth and Esther. But it is not universally agreed, that the Paraphrases upon all these Books are by the same Author, there being so Huet de claris Interpret. § 6.visible a difference in his style and method; for sometimes he is too close and concise, and sometimes again too copious and diffuse. For example, He is very long upon the Canticles and Ecclesiastes, but much shorter upon the other Books. His style is neither pure nor correct; and the fables of the Mishna and Talmud are to be observed in his works, The names of Turks and Constantinople are to be met with in them, for which reason F. Morin, says, that they are of a much later composition than the Jews will allow. Elias the Morin. Exercit. l. 2. exercit. 8. c. 2.Levite says, that there are several footsteps of the Babylonish, Greek, Latin, and Persian Elias Levita Præfat. in Meturgamin.languages to be discerned in them.
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Footnotes
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Translators’ note. He is indeed commonly called Josephus Cæcus, or Josephus the Blind: but this is not to be understood as if he were blind of both eyes: for then he could not have done this work. The word in Hebrew, by which he is so de- nominated, signifieth Luscum, one that is blind of one eye, as well as Cæcum, one that is blind of both eyes, Prid. Connect. &c. Part ii. Book viii. ↩