MAIMONIDES (Moses), or MOSES THE SON OF MAIMON, a celebrated rabbi, called by the Jews the eagle of the doctors, was born of an illustrious family at Cordova in Spain, in 1131. He is commonly named Moses Egyptius, because he settled in Egypt, where he spent his whole life in quality of physician to the sultan. Here he opened a school, which was soon filled with pupils from all parts; from Alexandria and Damascus especially, whose proficiency under him spread his fame all over the world. He was no less eminent in philosophy, mathematics, and divinity, than in medicine. Casaubon affirms it may be truly said of him, as Pliny of old said of Diodorus Siculus, that "he was the first of his tribe who ceased to be a trifer." It would be tedious to enumerate all the works of Maimonides; some
Main some were written originally in Arabic, but are now
Main- extant only in Hebrew translations. "Those (says
tence. Collier,) who desire to learn the doctrine and the
canon law contained in the Talmud, may read Mai-
monides's compendium of it in good Hebrew, in his
book intitled Tad; wherein they will find great part
of the fables and impertinences in the Talmud entirely
discarded. But the More Nevochim is the most valued
of all his works; designed to explain the obscure words,
phrases, metaphors, &c. in Scripture, which, when li-
terally interpreted, have either no meaning or appear
absurd.