ELIJAH, GAON OF VILNA. Tzurath Ha’aretz LeGevulotheha [commentary to...

ELIJAH, GAON OF VILNA.
Tzurath Ha’aretz LeGevulotheha [commentary to selected verses from the Books of Joshua, Kings and Ezekiel, with text].

FIRST EDITION. Printed on blue tinted paper. Wide-margined copy.
ff. 44 (mispaginated as in all copies), lacking map. Marginal repairs. Modern calf. 4to. Vinograd, Shklow 124; Vinograd, Gr’a 22-24; D. Kamenetsky, Torath HaGr’a (2017) pp. 5-36 and 329-32.
Shklow: Aryeh Leib ben Schneor Feivish 1802

In this work the Vilna Gaon drew upon his extensive knowledge of geography and architecture in Biblical interpretation. The Gaon viewed such knowledge as an aid to Torah study and disapproved of the lack of interest in secular sciences that existed among certain Talmudists. On the broader relation between the Gaon and the sciences, see I. Atkes, The Gaon of Vilna: The Man and His Image (2002) pp. 37-72; and E. Stern, The Genius: Elijah of Vilna and the Making of Modern Judaism (2013) pp. 63-82. This Shklow edition was not written by the Gaon himself but by his students. The second edition, published in 1820 by the Gaon’s grandson R. Ya’akov Moshe of Slonim, contains a number of variances from the first edition, some of which are based upon a manuscript.