KIMCHI, kim'k� (KIMHI): The name of a Jewish family of scholars of Spanish descent, flourishing in France in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.
1. Joseph ben Isaac Kimchi, b. in southern
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3. David Kimchi, usually called Redak, the younger son of Joseph, was born at Narbonne c. 1160; d. there 1235. He often calls his father and his brother his teachers. As a grammarian and exegete David distinguishes himself by his diligent compilation of facts, sober judgment and clear expression. By making an exhaustive use of Abul-Walid, he enjoyed great authority among both Christians and Jews, although he possessed little originality. Reuchlin and Sebastian M�nster made large use of his works. These have been very frequently printed, many of his commentaries with Latin translations. E. K�nig's Lehrgeb�ude der hebr�ischen Sprache (Leipsic, 1881 sqq.) was compiled "in constant dependence upon Qimchi," and even now scholars may receive many a suggestion from Kimchi's works.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: In general: G. B. de Rossi, Historisches W�rterbuch der j�dischen Schriftsteller, pp. 164-171, Bautzen, 1839; Ersch and Gruber, Encyclop�die, lI. xxxvi. 54-57; J. Winter and A. W�nsche, Die j�dische Litteratur, ii. 191-205, 306-314, Treves, 1894; JE, vii. 494-497.
On 1: E. Bluth, in Magazin f�r die Wissenschaft des Jedenthums, 1891-92 passim; W, Bacher, in Revue des �tudes juives, vi (1883), 208-221. On 2: W. Bacher, ut sup., xxi (1890), 281-285. On 3: J. Tauber, Standpunkt und Leistung des David Kimchi als Grammatiker, Breslau, 1867; Encyclop�dia Britannica, xiv. 77-78.
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